16. Apostasy: Apostasy is a standing away from
true worship, a falling away, defection, rebellion,
abandonment. lt incJudes the following:
• Celebrating fa/se religious bolidays: (Ex. 32:
4-6; Jer. 7: 16-19) Not all holidays directly involve
false religion and require judidal actiol1.
• Particil,ation in interfaitb activities: (2 Coro
6:14,15,17,18) Apostate acts include bowing before
altars and images and sharing in false religious
songs and prayers.-Rev. 18:2, 4.
• Deliberately spreading teacbings contrary
to Bible trutb as taugbt by Jebovab's Witnesses:
(Acts 21 :21, ftn.; 2 John 7, 9, 10) Any
with sincere doubts should be helped. Firm,
loving counsel should be given. (2 Tim. 2:16-19,
23-26; Jude 22, 23) lf one obstinately is speaking
about or delibera te/y spreading fa/se teachings,
this may be or may lead to apostasy. If there is
no response after a first and a second admonition,
a judicial committee should be formed.
-Titus 3:10,11; w891O/1 p. 19; w86 4/1 pp. 30-
31; w86 3/15 p. 15.
• Causing divisions and promoting sects: This
would be deliberate action disrupting the unity
of the congregation or undermining the confidence
of the brothers in Jehovah's arrangement.
Tt may involve or lead to apostasy.-Rom. 16:17,
18; Titus 3:10, 11; it-2 p. 886.
• Continuing in employment that makes one
an accomplice to or a promoter of false
worship would subject one to disfellowshipping
after being allowed a reasonable amount of
time, perhaps up to six months, to make the
needed adjustments.-w99 4/15 pp. 28-30; km
9/76 pp. 3-6.
• The practice ofspiritism.-Deut. 18:9-13; 1 Coro
10:21, 22; Gal. 5:20.
• Idolatry: (1 Coro 6:9, 10; 10:14) Tdolatry ineludes
the use of images, including pictures, in false religious worship.