If a Christian's speech or behaviour is contrary to God's standards as expressed in the Bible, the Scriptures give clear directions on how such a person should be treated, in order to benefit the individual and the Christian congregation. (Matthew 18:15-17 Galatians 6:1) What Jesus says at Matthew 18:17 is of paramount importance as to how an unrepentant Christian wrongdoer should be treated; "If he does not listen even to the congregation, let him be to you just as a man of the nations and as a tax collector ."
God's son gives two commands here, both of which have been distorted by men.
He orders that the last stage in trying to correct an offender's behaviour, should be that all in the congregation be made aware of the corrupt conduct being perpetrated.
(The apostle Paul confirms at 1 Timothy 5:20 that this is exactly what Christ's meant. Paul did not say that that two or three elders would carry out a judge and jury function in secret discussions. He stated that 'all' would know the reasons why someone was being reproved (to whatever extent) in order for it to serve as a warning to 'all' in the faith)
If still unrepentant, then the person had to be removed from the congregation.
Having been disfellowshipped, the individual was to be treated as "a man of the nations and as a tax collector." The standard was set by Christ himself!
However, the practice of 'shunning' - refusing to speak to such a person - cannot by any stretch of the imagination be reconciled with what Jesus said, otherwise, 'men of the nations and tax collectors' must also be shunned! So much for preaching the good news'.
Therefore, in order not to "go beyond the things written" and invalidate God's Word by adhering to the traditions of men, we must verify for ourselves- under pain of death - the scriptural, Christian, and loving way in which errant ones should be treated.
The Scriptures which are used to justify the figurative 'stoning to death' of a friend or relative should be examined closely:
1 Corinthians 5:11
- "But now I am writing YOU to quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man."Titus 3:10
- "As for a man that promotes a sect, reject him after a first and a second admonition."1 Timothy 1:20 -
"Hy·me·nae′us and Alexander belong to these, and I have handed them over to Satan that they may be taught by discipline not to blaspheme."1 John 2:19 -
"They went out from us, but they were not of our sort; for if they had been of our sort, they would have remained with us. But [they went out] that it might be shown up that not all are of our sort."2 John 9-11 -
"He that does remain in this teaching is the one that has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to YOU and does not bring this teaching, never receive him into YOUR homes or say a greeting to him .* For he that says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works."(* Literally, "never receive him into YOUR homes to be rejoicing to him.")
The word 'shunning' does not appear in any of these verses, nor in any other Bible references to disfellowshipped ones.
Shunning was instigated in the 20th Century by men who based the practice on a false reasoning of the aforementioned verses. The Greek word 'synanamignymi' which Paul used at 1 Corinthians 5:11 means ' to keep company with, be intimate with one'. Paul was admonishing Christians to effectively distance themselves from social contact with such persons. Nothing to indicate shunning.
Thereafter, disfellowshipped ones would be regarded as people of the nations, and be invited to put faith in Christ and repent.
This is conclusively confirmed in the Bible and in everyday life by millions of Jehovah's Witnesses.
The shunning of disfellowshipped ones has no basis in Scripture. An 'apostate' is defined as someone who 'stands away from the teachings or abandons a faith in such'. As such, Satan the Devil is viewed as the very first apostate. Was he shunned? By reading Job 1:6-12; 2:1-7, and Matthew 4:1-11, it is clear that God and Jesus had no concept of a shunning policy for someone who was opposed to their thinking. In the four Gospel accounts, Jesus furnishes us with numerous further examples of how he was more than willing to speak to apostates - the Pharisees and the Sadducees - whom he said were Satan's offspring!
At Mark 3:22-30 Jesus actually called them over to himself, in order to to preach to them. Neither Jehovah nor Christ would condemn us for copying their examples, would they? Likewise, when preaching the good news of the Kingdom, every Witness is obliged to speak to 'apostates' - people within Christendom! Christendom is apostate, isn't it? Or are there differing degrees and classes of apostates?
Other gigantic 'elephants in the room' which must be reasoned on by everyone affected by the shunning doctrine, are these;
1) If shunning is a command from Jehovah through His Word the Bible, (and no one , but no one is exempt from obeying God's commands) then why are elders permitted to break this 'law' with impunity by speaking to unrepentant disfellowshipped ones, with the aim of 'encouraging' them back to the Kingdom Hall?
2) If a disfellowshipped person lives at home with their Witness relatives, they can all continue to act just as a normal everyday family would - sharing in entertainment, conversing, and showing love and affection to each other. But if the disfellowshipped person moved out that home and into the house next door, all of the above would cease instantly!
Why would one of God's rigid 'commands' suddenly become so flexible? This is what happens when people 'go beyond the things that are written' and impose their own interpretation on Scriptures, for whatever motives!
'Does not interpretation belong to God?' . (Genesis 40:8; 2 Peter 1:20)
'Under pain of death'
- anyone who disfellowships a person for having a different point of view from theirs on a Bible matter, and causes that person to be figuratively 'stoned to death' by their judgement, condemns themselves by their actions. (Matthew 25:41-46)