When DF'd ones are reinstated are they treated as if they never were DF'd? (page 2)

Darth Yhwh

Although I have never been disfellowshipped I can remember as a kid listening to reinstatement announcements and still thinking to my self that this person was still a bad association.

I was never treated the same when I was reinstated. I actually had a friend tell me that we couldn't be friends anymore because she couldn't trust me. WTF? It really messed with my head and I never felt the same in the org.

Now that I am inactive, I have no intention of going back, so I can't compare it. I would gather that inactive individuals are treated like the prodigal son? Guess I won't be finding out though. LOL

Purza

stillajwexelder

When DF'd ones are reinstated are they treated as if they never were DF'd?

The direct answer is NO - there is always a stigma attached to having once been disfellowshipped

jgnat

From my observation, NOBODY is treated equally in the hall. Take for instance, new studies, recently baptized studies, single parents, JW's who are "unevenly yoked", children of Elders, third-generation Elders daddy's the PO, male Publishers, male Pioneers, female Publishers, female Pioneers, "unbelievers", walk-ins, Circuit Overseers, Circuit Overseers with connections, convert-as-adult Elders, Ministerial Servants, those priveleged TM to serve on the Building Committee, unbaptized children of JW parents in good standing, unbaptized children of JW parents who are considered "spiritually weak", "spiritually weak", "bad association", and DF returns sitting on the back row.

Three gold stars if you can correctly put these in heirarchal order.

mrsjones5

unbaptized children of JW parents who are considered "spiritually weak",

That's me!! Could be why I was treated like crap?

jgnat

AND you are a woman, Mrs. Jones.

You think you've got it bad? I am an "unbelieving" wife of a "spiritually weak" brother. I've got and "liar" written across my forehead and "bad association" pinned to my back. Also, my cookies are laced with Satan's Minions.

talesin

It's like having a person who served time in prison being in your congregation, you may have served your time, but doesn't it stay on your record™ forever? Even if you move to a different congregation and they request your file they'll see that even if you are in good standing...well...you got disfellowshipped that one time.

This comment made me think of something.

The reinstated person is kinda like the politician who got caught with his hand in the cookie jar. Everybody does it, but he is the one that got caught, and his reputation is forever tarnished.

tal

Finally-Free

I think it all depends on who you are and who you're related to. I've seen children of elders get df'd, and come back several years later with "worldly" hubby and kids in tow, get reinstated, and have the congregation welcome them back as if they were celebrities. To the other extreme I've seen people who have never been df'd, been "faithful" for decades and still be treated like shit every day. I've seen some women marry "worldly" men and get df'd and others who never even got reproved. One was even used on a circuit assembly demonstration a month after she married a "worldly" man.

JW rules do not apply equally to all members.

W

acadian

my cookies are laced with Satan's Minions

.Pass the cookies please! LOL

I think every Hall is different, ours had a lot of DFed ones, when they were reinstated we'd clap, then we got a new P.O. and we were told it wasent proper to clap after reinstatement announcements.

Then we were told, but not in so many words, that it would be best not to associate with newly reinstated one's until they proved themselves ( What ? I thought the fact that they were comming to meetings while being DFed was proof of their loyalty)

So in the hall I went to, DFed ones still had to prove themselves after reinstatement.

Now I clap when some one gets out and stays out !!

Acadian

anewme

You know, I think it all comes down to ...... Jehovah may forgive, but people sometimes do not. And that fact is something those of us who wish to be reinstated have to face.

But hey, who do you serve anyway??

Take for example the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15: 11-32)
The father forgave his son, but the brother may never have. The story finishes, but we can assume the older brother may have resented his younger brother forever after that.
And in reality, since he had spent his fortune and had nothing left over, the younger brother may have to rely on this older brother for help later on in life. How fun was that going to be?

People are imperfect. People will always let you down.
Jehovah will not.

People who seek reinstatement should focus on Jehovah and not on the brothers and sisters.
The so called "privileges" of service that are withheld should be viewed as added burdens to the one returning. I think it is a kindness and consideration in a way that no one can instantly start burdening someone with congregational stuff right after they are reinstated.

It should be viewed as a special time for reading, meditating and healing.
One should enjoy it!!!!

How quickly one can get all embroiled in the congregation again! For what????? You dont get paid for it!
It may be that is what caused alot of the problems before! I know it did for me!!!
Take time to be with family and friends. Take vacations, walks, boat rides, go fishing.
Take a completely different approach to being a witness this time.
Just my thoughts.

When DF'd ones are reinstated are they treated as if they never were DF'd?

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