Ginny: Sadly in the many years that I was one of Jehovah's Witnesses, I have seen too too many cases of brothers and sisters being disfellowshiped when they were contrite and repentent. Even after having been disfellowshiped and they wanted to return to the fold many elders refused to allow their reinstatement due to some "personal" view and prejudice. Why? Because the elders weren't satisfied that they were repentant. It's a real and true shame upon the elders. What I am reminded of constantly are the words of the Master himself (not the elders) who said: "PAY ATTENTION TO YOURSELVES. (Emphasis added.) If your brother commits a sin give him a rebuke, and if he repents forgive him. Even if he sins seven times against you and he comes back to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' YOU MUST FORGIVE HIM."--Luke 17:3, 4. (Emphasis again.) HOW'S THAT FOR THE TEACHINGS OF CHRIST?
If Christ can forgive, what the hell is wrong with the elders? And why do they NOT FOLLOW the instructions of the Master? Why indeed? Because they (with exceptions, of course) are like the scribes and the Pharisees as recorded in Matthew 23:3, 4, and with again the words of the Master, Jesus Christ, who said: "The scribes and the Pharisees have seated themselves in the seat of Moses. Therefore everything they tell you, do and observe, but do not do according to their deeds, for they say but do not perform." If they cannot be faithful to the instructions of the Master, faithful in what is least (a small thing, but really a BIG thing), how will they be faithful in great things? Yes, the elders will TELL YOU about forgiveness (just like the scribes and Pharisees), but it comes to actually forgiving, comforting, consoling, those who have sinned and ask forgiveness: "they say but do not perform." Tis sad indeed.
May God have mercy. May Christ have mercy. Amen.
Haggelos