Put in time or be disassociated!

by VM44 23 Replies latest jw friends

VM44

In a recent thread, metatron wrote:
(recent change: the inactive need to put in time or be disassociated)
What!!! When was this policy introduced! Seems rather harsh!
--VM44
dustyb

its not a policy, just an opinion =)
FlyingHighNow

They have always said that if one stops going in service and attending the meetings that they have disassociated themselves. Of course it's not official, ironclad and black and white but a lot of JWs view an inactive one this way.
Heather
alias

"Of course it's not official, ironclad and black and white but a lot of JWs view an inactive one this way."

It sure seems that way. I had one sister whom I considered a good "liberal" friend remark to me (when I expressed that people just acted like I fell off the face of the earth): "You left us"
alias
onacruse

*** w82 1/15 p. 31 Questions from Readers ***
Questions from Readers
· My son, who was baptized as a teenager, is now married and has a family. Because of the pressure of earning a living he has cooled off spiritually and does not associate with the congregation. Should he be viewed as a "disassociated" person?
There is nothing in your description that would require such a viewpoint. The question may have arisen because of misunderstanding what it means to be viewed as "disassociated."
The
Watchtower of September 15, 1981, page 23, showed that there is a difference between (a) a Christian who becomes spiritually weak and inactive, and (b) a person who clearly renounces his being one of Jehovah?s Witnesses, leading the congregation elders to announce that he has "disassociated" himself. It seems that your son fits the first description.
The
Watchtower mentioned that some Christians become weak in faith and spirituality. This occurred also in the first century. (Romans 14:1, 2; 1 Corinthians 11:30) It does not mean that they have ceased to be Christians. Even if they become so weak that they no longer share the "good news" with others and stop attending meetings, and they are not bringing reproach on the Christian congregation, they are still to be regarded as our spiritual brothers and sisters. We should want to help them lovingly, following the apostle Paul?s counsel: "We exhort you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, speak consolingly to the depressed souls, support the weak, be long-suffering toward all." While the elders often take the lead in this, it is to be noted that this counsel was directed to all "the congregation of the Thessalonians." (1 Thessalonians 1:1; 5:14) So the elders and others might offer loving help and encouragement, having in mind the advice: "Straighten up the hands that hang down and the enfeebled knees, and keep making straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather that it may be healed."?Hebrews 12:12, 13; Revelation 3:1-3.
It is quite a different matter with a former Christian who is "disassociated." This designation is applied basically in two situations:
First, though it is uncommon, a person might decide that he absolutely no longer wants to be a Witness. We do not mean a person such as is described above, a spiritually weak or discouraged Christian who may express some doubts. Rather, we mean someone who resolutely declares that he absolutely is no longer one of Jehovah?s Witnesses. Since in the past he voluntarily became a baptized member of the congregation, it would now be proper for him to inform the congregation that he is ending this relationship. It would be best if he did this in a brief letter to the elders, but even if he unequivocally states orally that he is renouncing his standing as a Witness, the elders can deal with the matter.?1 John 2:19.
The second situation involves a person who renounces his standing in the congregation by joining a secular organization whose purpose is contrary to counsel such as that found at Isaiah 2:4, where we read concerning God?s servants: "They will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war anymore." Also, as stated at John 17:16, "they are no part of the world, just as I [Jesus] am no part of the world."?Compare Revelation 19:17-21.
In either of these two situations, the person by word and/or actions has clearly terminated his status as one of Jehovah?s Witnesses, disassociating himself. Hence, the elders will announce briefly to the congregation that this individual has disassociated himself. Those in the congregation will accept the person?s decision and thereafter will view him as a former brother with whom they would not fellowship, in harmony with what we read at 1 Corinthians 5:11 and 2 John 9-11.
As can be appreciated, the spiritually weak and inactive son about whom the question was asked has not become a "disassociated" person in either of these two senses and no such announcement has been made in the congregation. So it still may be possible to aid him in the spirit of Romans 15:1: "We, though, who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those not strong."?See also Isaiah 35:3.

*** w85 7/15 p. 30 Questions From Readers ***
Questions From Readers
Did 2 John 10, which says not to receive into one?s home or to greet certain ones, refer only to those who had promoted false doctrine?
...
Of course, if a brother had begun to stray into sin, mature Christians would have tried to help him. (Galatians 6:1; 1 John 5:16) If he had doubts, they would have attempted to ?snatch him out of the fire.? (Jude 23) Even if he had become inactive, not going to meetings or in the public ministry, spiritually strong ones would have striven to restore him. He might have told them that he did not want to be bothered with being in the congregation, reflecting his weakened faith and low spirituality. They would not have badgered him, but they might occasionally have made a friendly visit on him. Such loving, patient, merciful efforts would have reflected God?s interest that none be lost.?Luke 15:4-7.

The Organized book (1989 edition, pp 150-151) says essentially the same thing.
Of course, there is always the possibility (and increasingly, the probability) that such an inactive one would be ~~shepherded~~ grilled by the elders for whatever "apostate" thinking has led them into this inactive condition. Then the picture changes quite a bit (I think the un-official term now is an 'investigative committee." )
Craig
FlyingHighNow

We should want to help them lovingly, following the apostle Paul?s counsel: "We exhort you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, speak consolingly to the depressed souls, support the weak, be long-suffering toward all." While the elders often take the lead in this, it is to be noted that this counsel was directed to all "the congregation of the Thessalonians." (1 Thessalonians 1:1; 5:14) So the elders and others might offer loving help and encouragement, having in mind the advice: "Straighten up the hands that hang down and the enfeebled knees, and keep making straight paths for your feet, that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather that it may be healed."?Hebrews 12:12, 13; Revelation 3:1-3.

Okay, some congos practice this way but a lot of them don't. Like I said, they might not treat you as officially dissassociated; but they can sure pussyfoot around you just like you are. They will talk to you if they see you at Wal-mart but basically you are as useless in their eyes and they will write you off as if you are dissassociated. Been there. Done that. Never will again.
Heather
onacruse

Flying:
Okay, some congos practice this way but a lot of them don't.
Point well taken! In practice, it only takes one berserker elder to "do point" on a 'suspicious' (read 'inactive') JW, and the rest usually dance to his tune, even if against their own conscience(s). After all, are they (as elders, and thus likely to have invested a great part of their lives into the Borg) likely to risk their careers by 'standing contrary to the way of righteousness'?
And then, of course, there's always the option of "marking" people, as if there is (and there almost always is) a "scriptural" reason for castigating an 'inactive' JW.
Where the elders fail to succeed, the r&f do.
Craig
FlyingHighNow

And then, of course, there's always the option of "marking" people, as if there is (and there almost always is) a "scriptural" reason for castigating an 'inactive' JW.
Where the elders fail to succeed, the r&f do.
Craig

And you know, in my case, the elders and others knew our family was very faithful when unfortunately, we were barraged by problems, not as bad as Job's but darn near close. I look at it this way: in the sicker congos, people with illness and other severe problems cease to be an asset. Then they are viewed as a liability to the congo. And if you ignore this liability, eventually it will go away.
Heather
PS Edit: What does this mean?
it only takes one berserker elder to "do point" on a 'suspicious' (read 'inactive') JW,
onacruse

((Heather))
Honestly, I must say I don't know what you've been through, but it sounds like hell. About the time you started posting on JWD, I was rather pre-occupied.
"Doing point" is a military term for "taking the lead spot" on a patrol...like an elder who "goes after" a 'questionable' (aka inactive) JW.
You have a p/m.
Craig
Amazing

In the Summer convention of 1992 ... just after I resigned, the Society stated that is a person missed meetings, they should be viewed as "Worldly" ... and this is likely the issue that has led to the above viewpoint.
Even though the Elders had voted unanimously to keep me on and not accept my resignation, some started to view me as worldly because I did not attend meetings as often. It is not a far lead to then treat those who do not share in the door-to-door work as "worldly" ... and then from being "Worldly" to being "Disassociated."
Though I have been out nearly 12 years now ... and even if the Society has not published such a standard as what introduced this post ... I can see many Elders, under the influence of Circuit Overseers, applying such a standard in practice ...
This is the other side of the story among JWs ... and one that Ray Franz noted ... "the Watchtower has a great capacity to teach dual opposing doctrines at the same time ... to live by two standards ... and what is said in print is not what is necessarily done in practice."
Having lived a JW for a quarter century, I can attest to what he said as being the case. - Jim Whitney

Put in time or be disassociated!

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