Disfellowshipped vs. Disassociated vs. Inactive Relatives

carefully faded

Hi everyone.

I'm hoping someone can clarify a couple of points for me regarding how JW's are instructed to treat relatives who have left the organization. I understand that people who disassociate themselves are treated primarily the same way as disfellowshipped ones. However, what is the latest instruction for how to treat inactive relatives - not the same as ones who have purposely disassociated themselves, right?

Also, can an inactive person be disfellowshipped for doing things considered "wrong" ? I became inactive over 3 years ago. If I was turned in for celebrating birthdays, xmas, etc., would I be disfellowshipped? I'm pretty sure the elders would contact me and request to meet with me. . . but if I didn't return their calls and didn't meet with them, would they still disfellowship me?

Thanks in advance.

- CF

oh, and Merry Christmas to everyone!

candidlynuts

if the congregation you last attended goes on a witch hunt yes you could still be df'd or " by your actions you have disassociated yourself)

an elder in my hall gave a talk and said all disassasociated ones are to be considered apostates. but i dont think thats society wide teaching.

googlemagoogle

when you get inactive, you are not treated any different than you were before. but if you no longer attend meetings, and "let grass grow" over the whole thing, you have a good chance that they forget about DFing you, even if you celebrate such satanic feasts like birthday.

PinTail

Well basicly how I see it is the disassociated ones enjoy being away by and large, and the disfellowshiped ones feel like Joan of Ark and are willing and want to crawl back on their knees till they are bloodied. ( Been there done that, but not again.)

Crawling in my skin
these wounds they will not heal,
fear is how I fall
confusing what is real.

Shane

Mary

I became inactive over 3 years ago. If I was turned in for celebrating birthdays, xmas, etc., would I be disfellowshipped? I'm pretty sure the elders would contact me and request to meet with me. . . but if I didn't return their calls and didn't meet with them, would they still disfellowship me?

Depends. Were you ever baptized? If not, they'll probably just let you fade.........it depends alot on your congregation. Some elders are real zealots about hunting you down. Their methods remind me of how slave owners in the Old South would go to the ends of the earth to track down, capture and possibly kill one runaway slave. It certainly wasn't because of monetary loss, but because they were furious about losing control over someone they thought unworthy in the first place. To let them escape would be embarassing to the slave owner and might encourage others to do the same..........gee, do we see a trend here?

eyeslice

Hi CF,

It is a tricky one. I assume that you are baptized.

I know from serving as an elder that this sort of situation can leave the body of elders in a quandary. There are a number of angles they can look at. Do they see you as still part of the congregation but spiritually weak? Do outsiders consider you to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses? If the answer is no, then if the body of elders is easy going, you may get away with it.

There is no guarantee however that they won't poke there noses in. The Pay Attention book chapter unit 5A (the first one of those dealing with judicial matters) states;

All elders are responsible to shepherd the flock, to teach, reprove, reprimand, and exhort as necessary. (Titus 1:9-14)

So are you part of the flock? Listing the things that a judicial committee will look into, and hence disfellowship you for, it reads;

Apostasy.
Apostasy is a standing away from, a falling away, defection, rebellion, abandonment; it involves teaching false doctrines, supporting or promoting false religion and its holidays or interfaith activities. (Deut. 13:13, 15; Josh.22:22, ftn.; Acts 21:21, ftn.; 2 Cor. 6:14, 15, 17, 18; 2. John 7, 9, 10; Rev. 18:4)
Those with sincere doubts should be helped, dealt with mercifully. (Jude 22, 23; w82 9/1 pp. 20-1;w80 8/1 pp. 21-2)
Apostasy includes action taken against true worship of Jehovah or his established order among his dedicated people. (Jer. 17:13; 23:15; 28:15, 16; 2 Thess. 2:9, 10)
Persons who deliberately spread (stubbornly hold to and speak about) teachings contrary to Bible truth as taught by Jehovah's Witnesses are apostates.
If it is learned that a person has taken up association with another religious organization, the matter should be investigated, and if verified, a committee should be formed.
If it is clearly established that the person has joined another religion and intends to remain with it, the elders would make a brief announcement to the congregation that such one has disassociated himself. (w86 10/15 p. 31 )
Working secularly for a false religious organization could put one in a position similar to that of one preaching false doctrine. (2 Cor. 6:14-16)
Celebrating a false religious holiday would be similar to performing any other act of false worship. (Jer. 7:16-19)

I make it a point to attend no meeting and have little or no assocation with the congregation (not that they ever invite us anywhere now). My advice is stay low for a long time eventually they will forget you.

Eyeslice

Doubtfully Yours

2 witness to your non-JW actions, and you're done. It doesn't matter if you don't talk to the elders, they can take you out just as well.

DY

PinTail

Yes brothers and sisters I seek to call you all to your senses "Stop Touching the unclean thing," return to the sorse of pure water and truth that you find here at the meetings, there you will find refreshment for your souls. So long as you are ready to obey and be asorbed into the body everything will be hunkie dorey, Landru see's all, Landru has spoken.

justhuman

Do what your heart tells you, talk to them, forget the WT

Disfellowshipped vs. Disassociated vs. Inactive Relatives

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