by willowstreet 5 Replies latest jw friends
Hello,
I am trying to help a DF'd friend who is being shunned by her family.
I had told her about the frequently asked questions on the official website of JW's, that it had written that the Watchtower does not shun family members.
Having a hard time finding that...didn't it used to be there? Have they changed ?
willowstreet
They have changed it... more of the "current truth" affect... (truth seems to change a lot in the bOrg)
Current:
Those who become inactive in the congregation, perhaps even drifting away from association with fellow believers, are not shunned. In fact, special effort is made to reach out to them and rekindle their spiritual interest. If, however, someone unrepentantly practices serious sins, such as drunkeness, stealing or adultery, he will be disfellowshipped and such an individual is avoided by former fellow-worshipers. Every effort is made to help wrongdoers. But if they are unrepentant, the congregation needs to be protected from their influence. The Bible clearly states: 'Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.' (1 Corinthians 5:13) Those who formally say they do not want to be part of the organization any more are also avoided. What of a man who is disfellowshipped but whose wife and children are still Jehovah's Witnesses? The spiritual ties he had with his family change, but blood ties remain. The marriage relationship and normal family affections and dealings can continue. As for disfellowshipped relatives not living in the same household, Jehovah's Witnesses apply the Bible's counsel: "Quit mixing with them." (1 Corinthians 5:11) Disfellowshipped individuals may continue to attend religious services and, if they wish, they may receive spiritual counsel from the elders with a view to their being restored. They are always welcome to return to the faith if they reject the improper course of conduct for which they were disfellowshipped.
Past:
Those who simply leave the faith are not shunned. If, however, someone unrepentantly practices serious sins, such as drunkenness, stealing, or adultery, he will be disfellowshipped and such an individual is avoided by former fellow-worshipers. Every effort is made to help wrongdoers. But if they are unrepentant, the congregation needs to be protected from their influence. The Bible clearly directs: "Remove the wicked man from among yourselves." (1 Corinthians 5:13) What of a man who is disfellowshipped but whose wife and children are still Jehovah's Witnesses? The spiritual ties he had with his family change, but blood ties remain. The marriage relationship and normal family affections and dealings can continue. As for disfellowshipped relatives not living in the same household, Jehovah's Witnesses apply the Bible's counsel: "Quit mixing with them." (1 Corinthians 5:11) Disfellowshipped individuals may continue to attend religious services and, if they wish, they may receive spiritual counsel from the elders with a view to their being restored. They are always welcome to return to the faith if they reject the improper course of conduct for which they were disfellowshipped.
I don't know, would the society post such information on their shunning policy so anyone can read it?
Will
They say that 'those who formally say they no longer want to be part of the organization are also avoided' and yet they include no biblical support. The non-jws who read that must wonder why and how they can justify that.
The key point is :
Those who simply leave the faith are not shunned. If, however, someone unrepentantly practices serious sins, such as drunkenness, stealing, or adultery, he will be disfellowshipped and such an individual is avoided by former fellow-worshipers
Those who "Simply" leave and don't try to talk to other about what they have learnt are not shunned. But if they open their mouths and try to enlighten others they are difellowshipped and made to feel like evil ones!
You have to read between the lines when reading WT material.
Qwerty
A couple of links:
http://www.jw-media.org/beliefs/beliefsfaq.htm (from the horse's mouth)
http://www.freeminds.org/doctrine/newdfpolicy2.htm (wording from the past)
