Reach out and touch someone today

by jgnat 9 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  jgnat

  The "untouchable" woman touched the robe of Jesus' garment (Matthew 9:21, Mark 5:28). Did Jesus rebuke her? Many more who were sick sought Him out, including "unclean" lepers, to touch his robe (Matthew 14:36, Mark 3:10, Mack 6:56, Mark 8:22, Luke 6:19). Little children were brought to Him that he might touch them and bless them (Mark 10:13, Luke 18:15) . The disciples tried to turn the children away. Did Jesus approve of the disciple's behavior? Did Jesus first determine people's spiritual state before allowing them to approach?

  People need touch. Babies die without it. Another article on touch.
  http://www.miami.edu/touch-research/home.html

  From the WT website on Shunning

  2. How to Treat Expelled Ones: God's Word commands Christians not to keep company or fellowship with a person who has been expelled from the congregation... Jesus was thus instructing his followers not to associate with expelled ones. --See The Watchtower of September 15, 1981, pages 18-20.

  3.This means that loyal Christians do not have spiritual fellowship with anyone who has been expelled from the congregation. But more is involved. God's Word states that we should 'not even eat with such a man.' (1 Cor. 5:11) Hence, we also avoid social fellowship with an expelled person. This would rule out joining him in a picnic, party, or trip to the shops or theatre or sitting down to a meal with him either in the home or at a restaurant.

  4. What about speaking with a disfellowshipped person? ...The Watchtower of September 15, 1981, page 25, says "A simple 'Hello' to someone can be the first step that develops into a conversation and maybe even a friendship. Would we want to take that first step with a disfellowhipped person?"

  5. Indeed, it is just as page 31 of the same issue of The Watchtower states: "The fact is that when a Christian gives himself over to sin and has to be disfellowshipped, he forfeits much: his approved standing with God;....sweet fellowship with the brothers, including much of the association he had with Christian relatives."

  Again, did Jesus ever avoid touching the "expelled ones" the Unclean? Was there anybody he refused to touch? After Peter denied him three times, did Jesus refuse fellowship with him? After Jesus' ultimate sacrifice, weren't the old laws of clean and unclean, sin and sacrifice, done away with?
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  Maverick

  Good point Jgnat! I have often used the Prodigal Son example to prove the same point. If the father was a witness and the two sons were witnesses, the younger one would have beed disfellowshipped for what he did. And if the father ran out and greeted and then ate with him after he came back, the father was subject to disfellowshipping. The older son would be the only righteous one in this example if they were witnesses today! Very different from what Jesus taught. But the J-duds don't have much to do with Jesus anyway. Maverick
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  jgnat

  Thanks, Maverick. Yes, the prodigal son example is quite clear. I like the way you laid it out. If Jesus obediently followed WTBTS guidelines, the good son would have been portrayed in a more flattering light. But as my honey says, the light keeps getting brighter and brighter.

  Why does a really dim candle come to mind?

  I brought this topic up, because as tenuous as my relationship with the WTBTS is, I suffer from not being able to speak freely. It got me to thinking. How does shunning affect children in WT families? Do you suffer from the lack of human touch from parents, siblings, loved ones?
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  LeslieV

  I think that was an excellent example Jgnat. As far as children are concerned I can speak to that one.

  When I was DF'd my chidren were very young. 5, 7, 9. All there immediate family are JW's. Both my side and my ex-husbands side. What you find out when you are DF'd is that they also DF your children. In the last 7 years that I have been gone not one...NOT ONE...JW has stopped to see my children..including their grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins etc. Now would you not think that if they really were concerned for their everlasting welfare they would do ANYTHING to SAVE THEM from their apostate mother.

  The only thing that they have taught my children is that they are a cult!!! So I am grateful for their lack of love and concern for them. People in the "world" are who has been there for them not this unloving religion. They have hurt my children, but in doing so they have taught them what they do not want to become. My girls are loving and kind, non-judgmental and compassionate. I am very proud onf them.

  Leslie
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  jgnat

  Getting through adversity can do that to some people. My daughter set aside her teenage angst when her brother started having problems. She saw I could handle only one disaster at a time. She is selfless and giving to this day, almost to a fault.

  Recently, when she heard her brother was hungry, she had him over, fed him up, and send him home with extras.
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  Lady Lee

  What is so odd in all of this is that here on this site strangers - people we have never met can reach out and touch us with the love that Christ spoke of. Meanwhile our families ignore and shun us in our pain.

  Even those who do not believe in God have true empathy for others and it shows all over this site.

  I have felt more love and compassion from strangers than I have ever felt from my JW mother

  Heck I have a cat who knows when I am upset and comes to sit beside me. The WTS reduces people's ability to offer comfort and unconditional love to less than what an animal can show - no "true christian love" in that!
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  micheal

  The crazy thing about shunning a disfellowship jw is that many many more people than just the df'ed person is being punished. Mother, father, daughter, son, brother, sister, etc... are also being punished because if it were up to them they would never shun a loved one. But since they are told to they do, or else they too would be df'ed. So though these ones never commited any serious sin they are being punished as well, how fair is that?
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  jgnat

  Lady Lee –

  Even those who do not believe in God have true empathy for others and it shows all over this site…The WTS reduces people's ability to offer comfort and unconditional love to less than what an animal can show..

  I agree. The way I see it these days, God owns love. Every loving act comes from him (whether we acknowledge Him or not), and every cruel act done in His name will be brought to light. I have been thinking about you dearie, I hope you are feeling better today.

  Michael -

  Mother, father, daughter, son, brother, sister, etc... are also being punished because if it were up to them they would never shun a loved one. But since they are told to they do, or else they too would be df'ed.

  I have given up on the world being fair. But I would say the DF’ing policy that the WT espouses is both Unchristian and Unjust.
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  mizpah

  I would like to believe that many JWs are suffering just as much as those who have been disfellowshipped. What the Society has demanded of them is unnatrual and unchristian. But in their minds, it is a choice between "obeying God" or giving in to human emotions. The Watchtower has conditioned their minds over the years. This "brain washing" makes them do what they wouldn't do under normal circumstances.

  So, I really think Jehovah's Witnesses should have our compassion and pity. I'm convinced that they will be held accountable one day. The plea that they were "only obeying orders" will not hold. Each will become responsible for their "own deeds." But I'm sure that a merciful God will take into account their circumstances even as he will our own. And I'm positive that the sacrifice of Christ will cover their sins as it does ours.
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  Zoewrex

  Lady Lee - "people we have never met can reach out and touch us with the love that Christ spoke of. Meanwhile our families ignore and shun us in our pain. Even those who do not believe in God have true empathy for others and it shows all over this site. I have felt more love and compassion from strangers than I have ever felt from my JW mother" (((((((for all feeling hurt))))))

  I think you are SO right on this! Whenever I hear my stepmom say something mean I always have a comeback and say simply 'that's not very Christian of you'. Of course the source (me) is equal to the Devil but oh well................

  It's very hard to feel rejected by your parents and so please keep in mind it's their sickness, or religion or whatever your case may be - but it's not yours and you always have a choice.