Here is what the watchtower has said in reference to the scriptures you sited in your post, Elsewhere. These are very interesting, and really say allot about how they bend twist and add things that are not written in the bible.
*** w88 4/15 27-8 Discipline That Can Yield Peaceable Fruit ***
Cut
Off
Thoroughly?
7
Christians do not hold themselves aloof from people. We have normal contacts with neighbors, workmates, schoolmates, and others, and witness to them even if some are fornicators, greedy persons, extortioners, or idolaters. Paul wrote that we cannot avoid them completely, otherwise we would have to get out of the world. He directed that it was to be different, though, with a brother who lived like that: Quitmixingincompanywithanyonecalledabrotherthat [hasreturnedtosuchways], noteveneatingwithsuchaman.1 Corinthians 5:9-11; Mark 2:13-17.
8
In the apostle Johns writings, we find similar counsel that emphasizes how thoroughly Christians are to avoid such ones: Everyone that pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God . . . If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, neverreceivehimintoyourhomesorsayagreetingtohim. For he that says a greeting [Greek, khai'ro] to him is a sharer in his wicked works .2 John 9-11.
9
Why is such a firm stand appropriate even today? Well, reflect on the severe cutting off mandated in Gods Law to Israel. In various serious matters, willful violators were executed. (Leviticus 20:10; Numbers 15:30, 31) When that happened, others, even relatives, could no longer speak with the dead lawbreaker. (Leviticus 19:1-4; Deuteronomy 13:1-5; 17:1-7)
<note the references to the old mosaic law there>
Though loyal Israelites back then were normal humans with emotions like ours, they knew that God is just and loving and that his Law protected their moral and spiritual cleanness. So they could accept that his arrangement to cut off wrongdoers was fundamentally a good and right thing.Job 34:10-12.
10
We can be just as sure that Gods arrangement that Christians refuse to fellowship with someone who has been expelled for unrepentant sin is a wise protection for us.
Clear away the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, according as you are free from ferment. (1 Corinthians 5:7) By also avoiding persons who have deliberately disassociated themselves, Christians are protected from possible critical, unappreciative, or even apostate views .Hebrews 12:15, 16.
*** it-1 200 Association ***
The united body of true Christians, though composed of small groups, congregations, or physically isolated individuals, constitutes an association of brothers, or a brotherhood, designated by the Greek expression adelpho'tes. (1Pe 2:17; 5:9) To remain a part of that brotherhood, true Christians avoid all association with any from their midst who become promoters of false, divisive teachings. (Ro 16:17, 18) The Christian apostle John directed fellow believers never to accept such a false teacher into their homes or to greet him, which would give him an opening for presenting his twisted, corrupt doctrine. Greeting such a person would have indicated a measure of approval and made one a sharer in his wicked works. (2Jo 10, 11) Despite the overwhelming evidence regarding the certainty of the resurrection from the dead, the apostle Paul knew that association with those who had rejected this Christian teaching would be destructive to faith. That is why he wrote: Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits.1Co 15:12-22, 33; see APOSTASY.
*** it-1 1151 Hospitality ***
When
Not
to
Be
Extended.
The Bible tells Christians that there are some to whom they should not extend hospitality . Everyone that pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God.
<perhaps even the governing body?>
. . . If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, never receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him. For he that says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works. (2Jo 9-11) To keep such a one in the home or to fraternize with him would be dangerous to ones own spirituality and, in effect, would be condoning his course. It would be misleading to others and a reproach to the congregation. This principle is expressed also at Romans 16:17, 18; Matthew 7:15; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13.
*** w86 3/15 18 Allow No Place for the Devil! ***
11
Let us take another example. Occasionally you may hear someone question whether the Scriptural prohibition against eating blood really applies to transfusions. But what is behind that reasoning? Is it fearfear of possibly losing ones present life or the life of a loved one? Is hope in the resurrection fading? Faithful Christians do not compromise on Gods law or look for ways to water it down.
<but its ok for JWS to do, we know its done and over looked ALL the time!>
Abstaining from blood to nourish the body is just as necessary as abstaining from fornication and idolatry, all condemned in the same spirit-directed decree of the apostles and older men at Jerusalem.Acts 15:19, 20, 28, 29.
12
Some who have a critical attitude claim that Jehovahs organization is too strict about cutting off social contacts with disfellowshipped persons.
(2 John 10, 11) But why do such critics feel that way? Do they have a close family tie or mistaken loyalty to a friend that they are putting ahead of loyalty to Jehovah and his standards and requirements?
<no. but rather ahead of a printing company located in krooklyn ny, usa.>
Consider, too, that continuing to accord social fellowship to an expelled person, even one as close as a relative, may lead the erring one to conclude that his course is not so serious, and this to his further harm. However, withholding such association may create in him a craving for what he has lost and a desire to regain it. Jehovahs way is always best, and it is for our own protection.Proverbs 3:5.
*** w85 7/15 30-1 Questions From Readers ***
Questions
From
Readers
Did
2
John
10,
which
says
not
to
receive
into
ones
home
or
to
greet
certain
ones,
refer
only
to
those
who
had
promoted
false
doctrine?
In context this counsel concerned the many deceivers who had gone forth, persons not confessing Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. (2 John 7) The apostle John offered directions on how Christians back there should treat one who denied that Jesus had existed or that he was the Christ and Ransomer. John directed: If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, never receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him. For he that says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works. (2 John 10, 11) But the Bible elsewhere shows that this had a wider application.
At one time among the Christians in Corinth, a man was practicing immorality, and the apostle Paul wrote them to quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. (1 Corinthians 5:11) Now, did that apply to former brothers who had been expelled only for the gross wrongs there listed?
No. Revelation 21:8 shows also that such individuals as unrepentant murderers, spiritists, and liars are included among those who merit the second death. Surely the counsel in 1 Corinthians 5:11 would also have been applied with equal force to former Christians guilty of these wrongs. Further, John wrote that some went out from us, but they were not of our sort; for if they had been of our sort, they would have remained with us. But they went out that it might be shown up that not all are of our sort. (1 John 2:18, 19) John did not say that they had been expelled for gross sin. Perhaps some of them just quit, deciding that they no longer wanted to be in the congregation because they disagreed over a doctrine. Others may have grown tired and given out.1 Corinthians 15:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; Hebrews 12:3, 5.
Of course, if a brother had begun to stray into sin, mature Christians would have tried to help him. (Galatians 6:1; 1 John 5:16) If he had doubts, they would have attempted to snatch him out of the fire. (Jude 23) Even if he had become inactive, not going to meetings or in the public ministry, spiritually strong ones would have striven to restore him. He might have told them that he did not want to be bothered with being in the congregation, reflecting his weakened faith and low spirituality. They would not have badgered him, but they might occasionally have made a friendly visit on him. Such loving, patient, merciful efforts would have reflected Gods interest that none be lost.Luke 15:4-7.
<as always, they refer to the first century Christians in the same sence, as if they were having 5 meetings a week and going from door to door. When are they gonna get it? The first century Christians did not do things the way the watchtower does now, but they sure do try to make it sound that way.>
i've lots more to add....stay tuned whilist i wind up my cd rom for the assault!
Edited by - zev on 29 July 2002 14:5:19
