When I think of the issue of disfellowshipping, I am often reminded of the Nazi death camps. Often in the early days of Nazi recruitment, the Nazi's would encourage the new young members to report what was going on at home. Those with the best information, were rewarded with the most responsibility and authority. The thing is, when they mentioned that dad was at home saying things against Hitler they did not realize that would lead to dad being pulled into the street and beaten, inprisoned and perhaps killed. As time went on, the rewards for information got larger and the information's still flowed.
In the congregation I served as a elder and in doing so I was involved in "Sheparding Calls." Most know what these were and no doubt had a few in their time in the congregation. Does anyone recall the final thought to almost 100% of all sheparding calls? Well it often became a question along the lines of, "Is there anything else you would like to talk about, anything you think the elders should be aware of?" To which, I witnessed many people gossiping and telling on family members. Often it was saying things about their friends, children, siblings and even their parents. All in all, they reported knowing full well that they would be getting these people into trouble. How much trouble?
Well they did not kill them with a gun in the street, but isn't the act of disfellowshipping basically saying they are losing the ability to survive Armageddon. Thus they are killing their future, as defined by their beliefs. So here we have all these Witnesses Nazi's running around reporting on all of their friends and all of their family. Those who have done the most and brought the most to congregation justice, become well known to the elders. Soon they are Ministerial Servants and Elders. Rewards for Justice, or is it paying off the witnesses.
You decide, but are you glad not to be seeing those Witness arm bands. Well maybe they did not wear them literally, but you knew that everyone was willing to report you for anything. Over the years I was reported for ...
- Seeing a R rated movie (Which I attended with others who no one noticed)
- Smoking, when I was not even in town at the time the thing happened (Must have been another tall blond guy)
- Drinking to much (I had two glasses of wine with dinner at a get together)
- Addictions (I had a Mocha every morning and a older sister thought I was having a caffeine addiction)
- Renting X rated movies (I ran the store, so I guess I was renting them)
All of these were reported on me by people I trusted. In 100% of the cases I was innocent, but I had to take the hours needed to prove it to them. Then I had to see these people later and act like nothing was wrong. How could anything be wrong, you only tried to kill me.
Nice to be out
Dragon
Edited by - kenpodragon on 18 July 2002 23:20:30