by Terry 3 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
I have been researching the origin (etymology) of the unique word DISFELLOWSHIP as used by Jehovah's Witnesses.
The earliest trace I can find of it's use, so far, has come from a Western novel.
THE LIONS OF THE LORD A Tale of the Old West By HARRY LEON WILSON Author of "The Spenders" Illustrated by ROSE CECIL O'NEILL Published June, 1903
Does anybody know of an earlier use? Or, did author Harry Wilson coin the term?
Inquiring minds want to know!
I would search this website using disfellowship in all variants.
People spell it both with one "p" and two. My spell check seems to like "disfellowshiping" but I'm sure it's correct both ways. The word "excommunicate" is probably more correct in that it implies a cutting off. In the ancient church, the apostles held keys of authority that allowed them to both bind and to loose on Heaven and Earth. This authority implied a trust in ordained leadership and kept wolves in sheep's clothing from moving in and seizing control of the church. As apostasy crept into the church, the keys were lost and the corrupt churchmen and secular leaders could not maintain that trust (since it went hand-in-hand with revelation, or communication between Heaven and Earth).
The Governing Body claims to hold these keys. Why? Because if they cut off a person in the faith, that person is automatically cut off from Yahweh. In other words, Yahweh recogizes the Society's decisions in who gets cut off and, subsequently, gets quashed by Jesus upon his return.
If I could ask the GP one question, it would be whether it thinks it has these keys of the kingdom. I predict they wouldn't touch it with the proverbial ten-foot pole! If it said YES, the next question would be, where did you get them, and how were they conveyed to you? And if it said NO, the next question would be, then why should we fear being disfellowshiped? If it's not recognized in Heaven, what can you do to us?
In fact, the only power the GB has is the power the people give it. I'm not even sure whether members of the Governing Body are even ordained when they become part of it. If they were, one might be tempted to ask who the first GB member to be ordained was and who ordained him?
In the ancient church, the apostles held keys of authority that allowed them to both bind and to loose on Heaven and Earth. This authority implied a trust in ordained leadership and kept wolves in sheep's clothing from moving in and seizing control of the church. As apostasy crept into the church, the keys were lost and the corrupt churchmen and secular leaders could not maintain that trust (since it went hand-in-hand with revelation, or communication between Heaven and Earth).
I, personally, do not agree with the idea that apostacy crept into the Church. Why? Because I think the Church was founded
on a false premise in the first place. Nobody had the magical ability to interpret God's will. Nobody. Not ever.
The Apostacy was simply honest skepticism, agenda shopping and power wrangling, imho.
We are, for all practical purposes, apostate because we don't get to dialogue with the Governing Body. Nothing gets settled.
