Hello everyone,
Something difficult to understand and that I personally actually do not accept, is the fact
that the WTS declares ANYONE that does not accept eveything they publish can be disfellowshipped
for " apostasy " if he/she does not change attitude . Infact the w 1.4.1986 p. 30-31 QfR asks:
"Why have Jehovah’s Witnesses disfellowshipped (excommunicated) for apostasy some who still profess belief in God, the Bible, and Jesus Christ?"
And then also :
"Teaching dissident or divergent views is not compatible with true Christianity, as Paul makes clear at 1 Corinthians 1:10: “I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.” (New International Version) At Ephesians 4:3-6 he further stated that Christians should be “earnestly endeavoring to observe the oneness of the spirit in the uniting bond of peace. One body there is, and one spirit, even as you were called in the one hope to which you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all persons.”
And finally the catching phrase:
"Approved association with Jehovah’s Witnesses requires accepting the entire range of the true teachings of the Bible, including those Scriptural beliefs that are unique to Jehovah’s Witnesses. What do such beliefs include?"
Than a list :
"That the great issue before humankind is the rightfulness of Jehovah’s sovereignty, which is why he has allowed wickedness so long. (Ezekiel 25:17)
That Jesus Christ had a prehuman existence and is subordinate to his heavenly Father. (John 14:28)
That there is a “faithful and discreet slave” upon earth today ‘entrusted with all of Jesus’ earthly interests,’ which slave is associated with the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses. (Matthew 24:45-47)
That 1914 marked the end of the Gentile Times and the establishment of the Kingdom of God in the heavens, as well as the time for Christ’s foretold presence. (Luke 21:7-24; Revelation 11:15–12:10)
That only 144,000 Christians will receive the heavenly reward. (Revelation 14:1, 3)
That Armageddon, referring to the battle of the great day of God the Almighty, is near. (Revelation 16:14, 16; 19:11-21)
That it will be followed by Christ’s Millennial Reign, which will restore an earth-wide paradise.
That the first to enjoy it will be the present “great crowd” of Jesus’ “other sheep.”—John 10:16; Revelation 7:9-17; 21:3, 4."
Check also this kind of reasoning:
"Do we have Scriptural precedent for taking such a strict position? Indeed we do! Paul wrote about some in his day: “Their word will spread like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of that number. These very men have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already occurred; and they are subverting the faith of some.” (2 Timothy 2:17, 18; see also Matthew 18:6.)"
(Btw , according to these WTS words thousands of Bible Students who believed, taught and proclaimed that the resurrection of the anointed , already happened - including C.T. Russell - should be called "a p o s t a t e s , subvertors of the faith " etc.)
The reasoning continues:
"There is nothing to indicate that these men did not believe in God, in the Bible, in Jesus’ sacrifice. Yet, on this one basic point, what they were teaching as to the time of the resurrection, Paul rightly branded them as apostates, with whom faithful Christians would not fellowship.
Similarly, the apostle John termed as antichrists those who did not believe that Jesus had come in the flesh. They may well have believed in God, in the Hebrew Scriptures, in Jesus as God’s Son, and so on. But on this point, that Jesus had actually come in the flesh, they disagreed and thus were termed “antichrist.” John goes on to say regarding those holding such variant views: “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.”—2 John 7, 10, 11."
Following such Scriptural patterns, if a Christian (who claims belief in God, the Bible, and Jesus) unrepentantly promotes false teachings, it may be necessary for him to be expelled from the congregation. (See Titus 3:10, 11.) "
Notice how the WTS quotes Paul's words concerning the -TEACHING of the time of the resurrection - and also :" Paul rightly branded them as apostates, with whom faithful Christians would not fellowship."
Furthermore it is explained John's view concernin those with -variant views -
and the way one should act towards them.
Finally, it is given the conclusion for all congregations to follow:
Following such Scriptural patterns, if a Christian (who claims belief in God, the Bible, and Jesus) unrepentantly promotes false teachings, it may be necessary for him to be expelled from the congregation. (See Titus 3:10, 11.) "
In conclusion my question is : why disfellowshipping/expel/excomunicate
someone who does not agree with one or more of " those Scriptural beliefs that are unique to Jehovah’s Witnesses…" which experience and past dealings show us to be changing and/or to be completely modified and/or partially or completely nullified???
Why call such ones "apostate, evildoers, Satan agents, and subjected to everlasting destruction - unless they repent - i.e. accept
ALL "those Scriptural beliefs that are unique to Jehovah’s Witnesses " ???
To end I'll mention one ex. - not the obvious one i.e. "the generation " but the "BET-SARIM " saga , that started in 1918 with the first talk " Millions now living will never die" and finished in 1950 with the publication of the
w. November 1, 1950 pages 414-417.
Agape, J;C;MacHislopp