Ginny wrote:
I remembered from In Search of Christian Freedom, about how
disfellowshipping was meant to be a personal choice, not a decision
forced on the congregation by a small committee. I did not have
the material at hand and did not do a very good job of it.
Ginny, I think the point you are referring to is on page 326 of Ray's book.
He talks about 2 Cor 2:6-8 where it says "rebuke given by the majority" of
the congregation was sufficient and that the man should now be forgiven
by them--"the majority."
"Majority" implying not all withdrew fellowship with the individual, but
that it was a voluntary congregational response on a personal level.
Check page 344:
Same Greek phrase is used at
2 Thess 3:14 "stop associating with" (jw's apply as marking only,
not total shunning)
and
1 Cor 5:11 - "quit mixing in company with" (jw's apply as total shunning)
Page 338 for some good comments on 2 John 9-11 about never
say a greeting.
What is at issue? The teaching of Jesus as the Christ, not the teachings
of a religion.
Page 340 and 341
Two different Greek words translated "greeting"
at 2 John 11 and 13
JW's say they have different meanings.
But Luke 1 :28, 29 uses both Greek words synonymously
indicating they had the same meaning.
"Greeting" is not talking about just saying "hello."
It is talking about showing acceptance or agreement.
I don't think jw's use Mt 18:15-19 for disfellowshipping offenses?
Isn't that for fraud/slander?
Hope this helps.
Am running out of time.
Quester
