00DAD,
I couldn't agree more. Elders don't do much to save marriages. There the three reasons, according to the rules, for separation. But separation is tolerated, even if that criterion isn't met. Witnesses are told to go to them for help and they do little to nothing. Of course, what can they do to save a marriage? They are not equipped because their office is built on hay and stubble.
Going back to the founders, Russell and Rutherford--both had marriage problems, both were separated or divorced from their mates. Of all people, surely their 'superior' application of Bible principles would help them build strong marriages, surely holy spirit would direct their family life so as to be an exemplary example for their flock and give them freeness of speech in the matter. With this foundation, what hope could be within the organization for getting help in regard to marriage?
Similarly, I wonder if it was because of Rutherford's problems with alcohol, as to why the organization takes a relatively soft line with drunkenness. In Corinthians, a course of drunkenness is mentioned as the same criteria as fornication for expelling a person from the congregation. But two or three acts of fornication is prosecuted with all gusto, while I have seen certain elders get drunk repeatedly. Reports of drunkenness have been very rampant in Bethel…at most, workers were talked to, then sent back to work. There should be no double standard. If one is merciful toward one, then one should also be merciful to the other.
Of course, many of those who get drunk, simply don't come forward about the matter. Good idea! I had a friend who once told me after I came confessed a matter to the elders, "You were never more of a Christian than the day you came forward." To that, I now say, I was never more of a fool!
In page 38, paragraph 19, of the Shepherd the Flock of God book, it says, "If it comes to light or an appointed brother confesses that he has committed a disfellowshipping offense years in the past: The body of elders may determine he can continue to serve if the following is true: The immorality or other serious wrongdoing occurred more than a few year ago, and he is genuinely repentant, recognizing that he should have come forward immediately when he sinned. (Perhaps he has even confessed to his sin seeking help with his guilty conscience. He has been serving faithfully for many years, has evidence of God's blessing, and has the respect of the congregation."
The implications of this paragraph is astounding. As a Witness, I had been taught that failure to confess would doom me. It would not only affect me come Armageddon, it would impede the holy spirit from flowing in the congregation. In a talk, one elder equated the lack of confessing as the same as jumping off the building. The longer you waited, the worse things would be. Such a person could never have God's blessing ever until they got matters straight via the elder arrangement.
Had I read this paragraph when I was IN, I would have simply waited a few years, become appointed a servant, and then confessed. For reading this, as long as the judical sin was committed before their appointment, not only would they not be disfellowshipped, but they could very well keep their office.
How many publishers could have avoided being shunned by family and friends and have kept their reputation had they known this? Of course, they like me, would never have read this paragraph while IN, because they were afraid to ever read this rulebook. I didn't want leprosy in my forehead.
With this in mind, if you are still IN, and are somehow still a believer, and you feel compelled to confess, keep paragraph 19 in mind.
One has to be careful within the organization who to speak to, when confessing something on one's conscience, or even when finding even doctrinal flaws with WTS dogma. In this regard, "Do not put YOUR faith in a companion. Do not put YOUR trust in a confidential friend. From her who is lying in your bosom guard the openings of your mouth."
"Do not put your trust in nobles, nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs." This includes elders. As Micah said regarding such men, "Their best one is like a brier, their most upright one is worse than a thorn hedge."
And as it is written in Jeremiah: “Woe to the shepherds who are destroying and scattering the sheep of my pasturage!” is the utterance of Jehovah. Therefore this is what Jehovah the God of Israel has said against the shepherds who are shepherding my people: “YOU yourselves have scattered my sheep; and YOU kept dispersing them, and YOU have not turned your attention to them.”
How many of us sheeplike ones have ourselves ignored, then dispersed and scattered via disfellowshipping?
