Apostasy Unforgivable?

by professor 12 Replies latest jw friends

  • professor
    professor

    Do Witnesses teach that Apostasy is an unforgivable sin?

    I was taught this by my parents. But, I am wondering if this is a JW doctine. Isn't apostasy in their eyes considered sinning against the spirit, something which you cannot be forgiven for?

  • Dawn
    Dawn

    Yes, JW's teach that Apostasy is the unforgivable sin. However, if you read the scripture in context - when Jesus said any "sin except blasphemy of the holy spirit" - he was responding to those Pharisees that said his miracles were from Satan. Calling God's work Satan's work basically - it was not "apostasy" - and it is not a "do it one time and you're out" kind of thing, it's a continual type of action.

  • Perfection Seeker
    Perfection Seeker

    I just posted a question about this two days ago. My mom said that apostacy was the unforgiveable sin. Then I asked her if someone was an apostate, then decided it WAS the "TRUTH" what would happen? She said- Jehovah is a loving god & would forgive then & welcome them back. "So it isn't the unforgiveable sin?" She couldn't answer it- said she'd research it. Course, the research she does is all in the WTS literature...........

  • larc
    larc

    I guess times have changed. When I was a JW, I was taught that the only unforgiveable sin was cursing God. Is there anything in print these days on the subject.

  • willy_think
    willy_think

    Oh no! My dad is screwed he was a catholic before his Apostasy. Too bad he wasn't told that before he converted.

  • Mary
    Mary

    My understanding is that the "unforgivable sin" is someone who speaks against the Holy Spirit. Jesus said that anyone who spoke against the Father or the Son, was one thing, but anyone speaking against the Holy Spirit would never be forgiven.

    Of course, off the record, the Society interprets this as anyone who speaks out against THEM or their interpretation of the scriptures, even when it's shown that they are wrong. A good example is Ray Franz......to the Governing Body, he is the worst sort of "apostate" and to their warped thinking, he will never be forgiven for trying to expose the lying and deceitfulness that goes on behind closed doors............

    All the Witnesses that appeared on Dateline: they're considered 'apostates' which is why half of them have been disfellowshipped........little bit of a difference between what the bible considers apostacy, and what the WTS considers to be apostacy.....

  • zenpunk
    zenpunk

    I just read a book comparing Catholicism to Protestantism. Basically, the idea of Unforgivable Apostasy is a Protestant one. The Catholics believe that as long as you seek forgiveness at some point before you die, you're ok. There is no sin during a lifetime that can forever alienate you.

  • Dismembered
    Dismembered

    Mary

    Your explanation is exactly right on the money.

    Edited by - Dismembered on 9 July 2002 11:54:56

  • Stealth
    Stealth

    Jesus was against the corrupt organised religion of his day.

    Jesus was the first apostate.

  • cyrano
    cyrano

    I read an interesting bible commentary which said that blasphemy against the spirit is basically someone who bieleves in Christ but chooses to live in 'sin' and refuses to repent. Without repenting, the sinner cannot be forgiven.

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