Shunning is unloving because it hurts. Love doesn't hurt.
Why is shunning unloveing
by poopie 13 Replies latest jw friends
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CalebInFloroda
First of all, the idea that shunning is like the Pharisees is wrong. Shunning is a Gentile practice, not a Jewish one.
Second practically all Christian denominations and scholars (except for Fundamentalists and JWs) have denounced the New Testament descriptions and narratives about the Pharisees as polemical and not based in fact. You may want to consult The Jewish Annotated New Testament and the NABRE New Testament (official Catholic translation) and read the footnote apparatus of each volume for examples on how both history and internal New Testament evidence belies the authenticity of these caricatures.
Shunning is indeed evil, and while some individual Jews have taken it upon themselves to avoid certain family members who may have converted to Christianity for example, this is definitely not the attitude of the majority, especially today.
The shunning idea was invented by the apostle Paul and ascribed to the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth and are contrary to Torah. Jews believe that Torah forbids the rejection of other people, and in fact that Torah demands that we love and treat all people fairly, welcoming one another and working together to make the world a better place.
All modern Jews are descendents of the Pharisees, and the majority of branches of Judaism condemn shunning practices. We are inclusive at our places of worship, even welcoming non-Jews to be part of our worship communities. We accept and fully embrace the LGBT community, and Reform Jews even have rabbi's that perform same-sex marriages.
So before you start pointing at any type of Jew, past or present, and claiming they were or are like JWs, you might want to check your facts. It is not only evil to shun. It is also evil to ascribe to our neighbor things that are not true.
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ron rawson
The Apostle Paul warned the Corinthians not to be too harsh in their shunning of a man who was guilty of sexual immortality / adultery:
2 Co 2:5-11: Now if anyone has caused sadness, he has saddened, not me, but all of you to an extent—not to be too harsh in what I say. This rebuke given by the majority is sufficient for such a man; now you should instead kindly forgive and comfort him, so that he may not be overwhelmed by excessive sadness.
I therefore exhort you to confirm your love for him. For this is also why I wrote to you: to determine whether you would give proof of your obedience in all things.
If you forgive anyone for anything, I do also. In fact, whatever I have forgiven (if I have forgiven anything) has been for your sake in Christ’s sight, so that we may not be overreached by Satan, for we are not ignorant of his designs.
Otherwise, Paul said, if you are not forgiving, but are harsh, then you've been overreached by Satan.
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truthseekeriam
Because it ruins the relationship you had with those you shun or those who shun you. Once you show conditional love, it's over! It changes how you feel about each other forever.