jws are told not to pursue court cases with other jws. Of course, it should only be monetary or financial but jws see it as applying further.
*** w97 3/15 pp. 21-22 pars. 17-18 Let Discernment Safeguard You *** Yet, what if a professing Christian actually defrauded us? Discernment can safeguard us from taking action that may put the congregation in a bad light. Paul advised fellow Christians to let themselves be wronged and even defrauded instead of taking a brother to court.—1 Corinthians 6:7.
18 Our genuine brothers and sisters are not ‘full of fraud and villainy,’ like the sorcerer Bar-Jesus. (Acts 13:6-12) So let us use discernment when money is lost in business ventures involving fellow believers. If we are thinking about taking legal action, we should consider the possible effects on us personally, on the other person or persons, on the congregation, and on outsiders. Pursuing compensation could consume much of our time, energy, and other resources. It might result only in enriching attorneys and other professionals. Sadly, some Christians have sacrificed theocratic privileges because of becoming overly absorbed in these things. Our being sidetracked in this manner must make Satan happy, but we want to make Jehovah’s heart rejoice. (Proverbs 27:11) On the other hand, accepting a loss may spare us heartaches and save much time for us and for the elders. It will help to preserve the congregation’s peace and will enable us to keep on seeking first the Kingdom .
*** lv pp. 222-223 Resolving Disputes in Business Matters ***
As recorded at 1 Corinthians 6:1-8, the apostle Paul discussed lawsuits between fellow believers. He expressed dismay that some Christians in Corinth would “dare to go to court before unrighteous men.” (Verse 1) Paul gave strong reasons why Christians should not sue one another in secular courts but rather settle disputes within the congregation setting. Let us consider some of the reasons for this inspired counsel and then touch on a few situations not necessarily covered by this directive.
If we have a business dispute with a fellow believer, we would first of all seek to handle matters Jehovah’s way, not our own. (Proverbs 14:12) As Jesus showed, it is best to settle a disagreement quickly before it escalates into a major issue. (Matthew 5:23-26) Sadly, though, some Christians become overly contentious, even taking disputes into secular courts. Paul said: “It means altogether a defeat for you that you are having lawsuits with one another.” Why? A key reason is that such proceedings may well reflect poorly on the good name of the congregation and the God we worship. We therefore take to heart Paul’s question: “Why do you not rather let yourselves be wronged?”—Verse 7.
Paul also reasoned that God has given the congregation a fine arrangement for settling many disputes. The elders are Christian men made wise by their knowledge of Scriptural truths, and Paul says that they are “able to judge between . . . brothers” when it comes to “matters of this life.” (Verses 3-5) Jesus showed that disputes involving serious wrongs, such as slander and fraud, should be settled according to a three-step process: first, endeavoring to settle the matter privately between those involved; second, if the initial step fails, bringing along a witness or two; and third, if the preceding step fails, taking the matter to the congregation as represented by the elders.—Matthew 18:15-17.
Of course, Christian elders are not necessarily lawyers or businessmen and do not need to act as such. They do not set the terms for settling business disputes between brothers. Rather, they seek to help all parties involved to apply the Scriptures and agree on an amicable resolution. In complex cases, they may wish to consult with the circuit overseer or the branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses. However, there are situations that lie outside the realm covered by Paul’s counsel. What are some of these?
In some cases, a lawsuit may be a simple formality or a legal necessity in pursuing unselfish and peaceful ends. For instance, a lawsuit may be the only mechanism available in getting a divorce decree, acquiring custody of a child, determining alimony payments, obtaining insurance compensation, being listed among creditors in a bankruptcy proceeding, and probating wills. There are also cases in which a brother might feel compelled to countersue in order to protect himself in a lawsuit.
If such lawsuits are pursued without a spirit of contention, they may not violate the spirit of Paul’s inspired counsel. Nonetheless, a Christian’s priority should be the sanctification of Jehovah’s name and the peace and unity of the congregation. Christ’s followers are marked first and foremost by their love, and “love . . . does not look for its own interests.”—1 Corinthians 13:4, 5; John 13:34, 35.
*** lv p. 223 Resolving Disputes in Business Matters ***
In rare instances, one Christian might commit a serious crime against another—such as rape, assault, murder, or major theft. In such cases, it would not be unchristian to report the matter to the authorities, even though doing so might result in a court case or a criminal trial.
For further information, please see The Watchtower, March 15, 1997, pages 17-22, and October 15, 1991, pages 25-8.
(so does rape or assault mean child sexual abuse in the minds of many people? The real issue is protecting the organization's reputation at the sacrifice of the jw, even a child. Elders use this many years of conditioning that jws should not go to the secular authorities but to the elders. jws are conditioned to think that law enforcement are the enemies of the WTS and individual jws, looking for a reason to interfere with the "preaching." I have seen an elder now saying, Brother and Sister Spiritually Weak, Brother Pedophile said he never touched your son and it is his word, the word of a young child against the word of a good christian man. Your son is confused, lying because this brother had him stop running in the KH... I know that Brother Weak wants to be used more in the congregation, he wouldn't want to do anything to bring reproach on Jehovah... So the parents don't go to the police. Many non-jws would not go, afraid of the publicity and shame, uneducated to the issues of child abuse and add the pressure of not being supported by the elders to report as parents.....This happened in my family, as an adult and the oldest working in law enforcement, I found that was little they could do without my siblings testimony and her mother's testimony, and they were too afraid of the pedophile and the elders. But using my contacts I pressured the elders, the CO, the DO and a Service Desk representative to get involved with the pedophile being privately reproved. Still out there to molest others until 7 years ago...died, painfully, natural though.
So why don't the parents go to the secular authorities....I think your experience as or with jws is superficial if at all. I have dealt with non-jw parents, Catholic, who were afraid to go to the authorities. I have seen cases with Amish and Protestant religious groups where members are afraid to do something that gets them kicked out of the only group that they have known...the only way to God.
Child abuse/child sexual abuse is not a sin, it is a crime. So if you knew someone had been murdered by a jw, would there be some question as to whether report it to the elders or law enforcement? Would you report it to the elders or the police?
