Disfellowshipping - What It's Supposed To Be

by pale.emperor 8 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • pale.emperor
    pale.emperor

    First of all, the WT tell this lie to the rank and file:

    Two factors—which must coincide—result in the disfellowshipping of one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. First, a baptized Witness commits a serious sin. Second, he does not repent of his sin. http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2015287#h=5

    Now, of course WE know that's not true. My wife for example when she was DF'd a few years ago was genuinely repentant. She confessed immediately after doing what she did. She was distraught, downtrodden and ashamed. She was DF anyway. But of course the rank and file think a person is disfellowshipped because they obviously wernt repentant for what they did.

    Disfellowshipping may bring the wrongdoer to his senses. Jesus once spoke of a young man who left his father’s home and squandered his inheritance on a life of debauchery. The prodigal son learned the hard way that life outside his father’s home was empty and heartless. The son finally came to his senses, repented, and took the initiative to return to his family. (Luke 15:11-24) Jesus’ description of the loving father who rejoiced at his son’s change of heart helps us understand Jehovah’s feelings. “I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that someone wicked changes his way and keeps living,” he assures us.—Ezek. 33:11. http://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2015287#h=19

    Tell me. When the prodigal son returned. How long did he have to wait before his father embraced him back? A year? Two years? No, he welcomed him back immediately. Those who stop their sinful course and repent should be welcomed back right away.

    I understand the need to keep the congregation clean. Remember, Paul said "let him be like a man of the nations". Tell me, how to witnesses treat their non witness relatives or neighbors? Sure, they dont have much to do with them, but do they shun them??? No. They just have limited contact. THATS how a DF person should be treated.

    They shouldn't be emotionally blackmailed to come back so they can get their parents back, or the children back, or their siblings back.

    1 Corinthians 5:11 - But now I am writing you to stop keeping company*+ with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral* or a greedy person+ or an idolater or a reviler* or a drunkard+ or an extortioner,+ not even eating with such a man.

    The key phrase here is "anyone called a brother". If someone leaves, they're not calling themselves a brother. And if someone was "an idolater or a reviler* or a drunkard+ or an extortioner" then surely we wouldnt NEED to be told not to hang around with them. We wouldn't want to anyway.

    There are other reproofs that would be beneficial for someone who has strayed but genuinely wants to serve God. Shunning them is so the opposite of Christianity its unreal.

  • OneEyedJoe
    OneEyedJoe

    Well said. Clear and concise explanation of why the JW practice is not biblical. I would also say that, near as I can tell, Paul's instructions were meant to go to the congregation as a whole, not to the "elders" or those leading the congregation. Each one was meant to make their own judgement about who they mixed in company with, and someone else's association was never listed as something to take into account when deciding if they were to continue on as a brother in the congregation. Therefore the practice of having elders decide who is disfellowshipped is clearly going beyond the scriptures, as is the practice of disfellowshipping someone for their failure to shun.

  • ToesUp
    ToesUp

    "They shouldn't be emotionally blackmailed to come back so they can get their parents back, or the children back, or their siblings back."

    This is the reason most come back in, to get their family back. WT holds the family hostage until they come back in. What a sick cult! How many of you know of someone that was DF'd, they were reinstated, only to later fade. So much for Jehovah reading the heart. They came back in for only one reason....family. Like I said in a previous post. Family is the most important thing to people. Once you start messing with that institution, there will be hell to pay eventually.

  • Onager
    Onager

    Tell me. When the prodigal son returned. How long did he have to wait before his father embraced him back? A year? Two years? No, he welcomed him back immediately. Those who stop their sinful course and repent should be welcomed back right away.

    Actually the father starts doing backflips of joy from the moment the prodigal appears on the horizon. He might have been coming back to give his dad a quick update on how he loves lying with pigs for all the father knows.

  • Vidiot
    Vidiot

    pale.emperor - "Disfellowshipping - what it's supposed to be?"

    To prevent loyal JWs from learning the real reasons XJWs leave.

  • Spiral
    Spiral

    @Vidiot, I totally agree: To prevent loyal JWs from learning the real reasons XJWs leave.

    I think they are trying to delay the sharing of information across both sides as long as possible. Of course, that can't last forever.

  • Bonsai
    Bonsai

    Very well written thread. Maybe I'll use that material if they ever get around to inviting me to a Judicial committee meeting.

  • minimus
    minimus

    The reason why people who believe they are repentant may not be viewed by the elders in the same way for you is because the elders know better and they can judge a person correctly more correctly than a spouse a child or a friend.... Yeah right,👎🏾

  • Luo bou to
    Luo bou to
    it's about controll of the rank and file by the GB using their sycophants the Elders to enforce it following secret ins tructions issued by the service department as for what Jesus said its irrelevant since he has been replaced by the GB

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