Witnesses! Are the Disfellowshipped Enemies?

by metatron 8 Replies latest jw friends

  • metatron
    metatron

    There are countless Witnesses who fully support the Watchtower's policy on shunning the disfellowshipped - and eagerly extend it to the inactive, in accord with the Governing Body's orders. They see nothing wrong with this unloving behavior.

    If you are among these eager shunners, I have a question for you that might open up your heart and mind as to why the Watchtower is wrong:

    Are the disfellowshipped enemies? Are inactive family members enemies?

    Call to mind what Jesus said (Luke 10:36) to establish what a "neighbor" was: "Who...seems to you to have made himself neighbor to the man that fell among the robbers?". He cleared away the debate by simply asking what behavior made the Good Samaritan a neighbor.

    Well, if you never say hello or a single word to these ones, WHO is making them your enemy or the enemy of the Watchtower, Inc.?

    This subtle point illustrates why the Watchtower is wrong - because they go too far in treating the disfellowshipped as 'the living dead'. When does the Watchtower ever quote 2 Thess. 3: 15, " And yet do not be considering him as an enemy but admonish him as a brother." ?

    If you think these above words do not apply to you, does that mean you are free to treat them as "enemies"? What would you do to 'consider him an enemy'? More than you are doing already?

    All people should be free to associate - or not - with whoever they wish, according to their own conscience. However, I offer the above as evidence that Jehovah's Witnesses have gone too far. Indeed, in their eagerness to shun, all sorts of problems are created in congregations around the world as they shun each other over any sort of minor offense or fault. They are far too eager to do this, regardless of what they claim about love.

    If you are lurking here - and still loyal to the Watchtower - you need to think about this. Why should the organization suffer endless attacks by 'enemies' it itself created - and maintains?

    metatron

  • isaacaustin
    isaacaustin

    Metatron, when a text contradicts Wt teaching what do they do? Give it a different meaning. Thus they say 1 Thes refers to lesser sins, and is speaking of marking- a term the Wt created. This being done despite the fact that the Greek term rendered 'quit mixing in company with' at 1 Cor 5:11 is the IDENTICAL Greek term rendered 'stop associating with' at Thes. Same term is used in both texts so obviously the same treatment should be accorded both. The org also translated 1 Cor and Thes with different wording to hope readers won't see the connection between the 2 texts.

  • mamalove
    mamalove

    This is a very good point. I just am not sure it will register with anyone who has not yet given themselves permission to dig deeper into origins and key words. It is scary for most of them.

  • isaacaustin
    isaacaustin

    True mamalove. JWs are taught that questioning the organization is questioning God himself.

  • cantleave
    cantleave

    The argument is they have ignored the admonishment of the elders, so have put themselves in the position of being enemies.

  • metatron
    metatron

    Ah, well then, we get to the point: they are enemies and the organization treats them as recognized enemies.

    But of course, this will never be openly admitted. If anyone says, "Thessalonians refers to marked people, not the disfellowshipped", then I reply, "OK, so YOU CAN 'treat him as an enemy and NOT admonish him as a brother, right?"

    metatron

  • OUTLAW
    OUTLAW

    Anyone who breaks WBT$ Rules or speaks Negatively about the WBT$..

    Is an Enemy of the WBT$..

    An Enemy of the WBT$..Is an Enemy to all Jehovah`s Witness`s..

    .......................... ...OUTLAW

  • Charlie Cheddar
    Charlie Cheddar

    i think the shunning policy is supposed to be based on a scripture in Matthew in which Jesus says something like 'let him be a man of the nations or even a tax collector'.

    However, how did the jews really treat people of the other nations or tax collectors in those days? Did they openly shun them like the JWs do to disfellowshipped or inactive people today?

  • Darth plaugeis
    Darth plaugeis

    A true believer will act like they are the Enemy.

    They had the Truth and CHOSE............TO turn their backs on God and his ways.

    And God stated how they should be treated...........

Share this

Google+
Pinterest
Reddit