So-and-so is no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses

by wannabefree 35 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  wannabefree

  With all of the legal mumbo jumbo and technicalties that the Organization uses (recently brought to light in the Australian case), I couldn't help but wonder what power the "no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses" really has or even means from a technical standpoint, since the Organization is so technical. We know what it means when the announcement is made, but in reality, So-and-so never really belonged to any of the groups in the first place. The law says that association or membership is voluntary, therefore the Organization has the right to expel and shun someone for not following the guidelines expected of members.

  What are the rank and file members of?

  Which Organization does one become a member of at baptism that they can be expelled from for not following Organizational rules?

  All of the names the Organization uses are legal. JW's aren't members of any of them.

  Paul said to reject those who subverted the teachings of/about the Christ.

  So-and-so is no longer a Christian?

  So-and-so is no longer a member of the great crowd of other sheep or of the little flock?

  Just wondering.

  "The Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses" is a legal term, and biblically according to the Watch Tower definition only technically applies to the anointed, Christ's brothers, but legally it has been implied that it stands for the Governing Body. So technically, no rank and file is a member of what would seem to be what they thought they were, Christians who are Jehovah's Witnesses. Weird.
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  designs

  But you are told to make the checks out to either Watchtower or jehovah's witnesses.... that's what really matters.
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  wannabefree

  so at baptism, what should be said is something like ....

  "By your affirmative answers, you show that you are qualified to voluntarily associate yourself with the Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses even though you are not an actual member and you are ordained as voluntary ministers to distribute literature published by The Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of which you are also not a member."

  .... sooooo, baptism as a JW isn't a "Christian baptism" in any sense of the term, it is not a dedication to Jehovah, it is a commitment to ally yourself with legal corporations collectively called "God's Organization" while not actually being members of them .... therefore, what in the world can the Organization expell a member from?
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  designs

  ...maybe we didn't really leave anything.
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  wannabefree

  ...maybe we didn't really leave anything.

  and that is what I am thinking, the Watch Tower is big on technicality and legality, how can you no longer be something you never were?
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  sizemik

  how can you no longer be something you never were?

  I Guess it's all part of the deception . . . they steal your mind first . . . then everything else just follows. And you never got back anything of value in return . . . zilch.

  It just shows what a complete rip-off it all is.
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  DaCheech

  lawyers
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  sabastious

  Interesting points. I wonder if we will eventually get the transcripts from the Victorian courts. That way we could show family members that they aren't actually Jehovah's Witnesses they are just suckers.

  -Sab
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  dgp

  I think it is just the announcement that they will shun you from that moment on.

  I have always wondered how active Jehovah's witnesses would react if someone were disfellowshipped in, say, Australia, moved to the US and attended a Kingdom Hall. How would they find out that Mr Australian was disfellowshipped?
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  wha happened?

  There were a lot of rumours about how the heirchy works among JW's. I remember when I first studied, I was told there was a software program that translates articles into any language. That was a farce. Also, that all the anointed are consulted around the world. That was crap as well.

  With the internet it's getting too easy to call them on all this. Now with all the legal battles which require all these facets of the organization to be identified, they take a much more legal definition than a religious one, which contradicts what the majority of JW's believe. That the WTB&TS is a religious organization, and that they are truly concerened about our personal spiritual condition.