The more I read about ritual shunning and disfellowshiping in the Society, the more I wonder how the Governing Body and elders have pulled the proverbial wool over the eyes of the congregation. First, the Society doesn’t consider itself a “church” (unlike the ancient Christians, who did consider themselves to be part of a church). Yet, like other sectarians, they have their hands out for contributions and exercise immense power over their members. I don’t know whether it suggests a ten percent contribution or not, but since Armageddon is just around the corner, it’s probably a good idea.
But how does the Society explain the words of Jesus?
And I say also unto thee, that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. (Matt. 16:18-19)
The Society claims it’s not a church...so shouldn’t the people be looking for the church of Jesus Christ? And if Peter was given the keys of the kingdom of heaven, does the Society hold those keys today? If so, how did they get them? If not, shouldn’t they?
The real question here is if the Society doesn’t have the power to loose on Earth, then how can it disfellowship anyone? And why doesn’t it use the term “excommunicate,” which is to ostracize, banish, cut off, exclude, eject or expel. Disfellowshiping is essentially the same thing, but considered less drastic. Fellowshipping is “companionship of individuals in a congenial atmosphere and on equal terms,” so disfellowshiping would be a reversal of that. In Catholicism and most formal religions, excommunication means a withdrawal of salvation, whereas disfellowshiping is a withdrawal of fellowship. Catholics (even hardened Mafia killers) fear excommunication because it means sure damnation. And the reason they fear the church is because of those dreaded “keys.” If the church says you’re out on Earth, you’re out in Heaven!
Now if the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses don’t have the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, they, nor their underlings, can either bind or loosen. Certainly they have the legal right to include or exclude from their society of worshipers, but its legitimacy as God’s organization on the earth is open for serious doubt. In the past, Yahweh called prophets and apostles when he wished to bring something about. This would usually come by way of angelic ministrations, and he never, ever, departed from that mode of operating.
So if the Society isn’t a church and it doesn’t have the keys of the kingdom, and if it can’t bind or loose in Heaven or Earth or affect your salvation in any way, shape or form, nor is there the slightest evidence the Society was founded by Yahweh, then why do members fear judicial action and disfellowshiping?
There’s nothing in the scriptures saying people can’t believe what they wish, or that they’ll be destroyed by God if they fail to abide by the Society’s instructions, yet people are terrified by the people who should be their best friends.