Shunning for inactive ones?

frogonmytoe

I visited my sister in a small town in the midst of the country, the town has a population of 3,000 and there's about 70 in the Cong.

Anyway, there was a local needs talk a few months ago about associating with family members who didn't live under your roof and no longer went to meetings. One family of an Elder Dad and three sons (one an elder too, the others have stopped going) and a daughter (still going but married a 'worldly') are quite prominent and one half of a typical congregational feud. Following the talk, t he father was taken off being an elder and the wife was taken off pioneering because they still associate with the two non-disfellowshipped-but-not-attending-meetings sons. One of these sons is living with his girlfriend, but the other one is married and living a 'moral' life. Both of them are still contacted by the elder brother to help with secular work when needed...(double standards shock!)

My sister couldn't remember the scriptural basis for this talk, and didn't seem bothered by it. But who thinks I should phone UK bethel and tell them I think this goes above and beyond 'official' bullshit teachings?

Will they soon be extending this shunning to 'worldlies'? How will they do the shopping?! Change internet suppliers?! Pay for their porn websites?!?!

Narcissistic Supply

New Yaughts!!! We Love This Idea!!!!

FadeToBlack

Hey NS: is this your way of saying 'No Comment'? -> New Yaughts!!! We Love This Idea!!!! Just curious? The OP was a serious attempt at discussion.

blondie

People can be marked bad association (see marking on this board), one big thing is marrying a non-jw. Not a df'ing offense but not following the WTS policy.

As to the one living with his girlfriend but not baptized....again considered bad association. Removing an elder over it....only if the son were living at home with his girlfriend.

1009

An elder could be removed if the congregation helds him responsable for not educating his family well; 'if indeed any man does not know how to preside over his own household, how will he take care of God’s congregation?' (1 Tim. 3:5). But that does not account for removing his wife from pioneering. So I have the same idea as Blondie:

As to the one living with his girlfriend but not baptized....again considered bad association. Removing an elder over it....only if the son were living at home with his girlfriend.

Does one of the sons still at his parents home while living an 'inmoral' life?

Separation of Powers

That may well be on the drawing board. Truth is, however, that most inactive ones that I know don't mind being shunned to some degree. In fact, next time you are at the hall, pay attention to the amount of people that arrive right when it starts and leave at the closing "amen." I would venture to say, they simply don't want to be included in the mix. They have, to some degree, distanced themselves from the group and are simply going through the motions.

Additionally, if that does happen, it will simply help to fulfill the "love of the greater number" cooling off prophecy. Why? Because to shun someone who is weak and demonstrates that weakness by becoming inactive is in direct conflict to Jesus' words that the shepherd will leave his 99 and look for "that one lost sheep."

Just a thought,

SOP

FirstLastName

This might explain to me why my MS brother, wife and new niece keep breaking dinner engagements with me. They always act so interested in hanging out and then flake 30 minutes before they are due to arrive at my house. I even thought about asking him if I was disfellowshipped and I did not know it.

Or perhaps I am a huge bore over dinner ? :)

Designer Stubble

A BoE Letter of September 3, 2012 shows that to be recommended as convention speakers, the following is required:

A brother who has grown children not living at home may also be recommended if his children continue to serve Jehovah and have a good reputation.

So perhaps this is now being extended, if grown children leave the CULT, then dad may no longer be Elder and Mom not pioneer. They can now get a life!

whathappened

They can do whatever they want to do. They think they are God's earthly visible organization. It's extreme thinking at its best.

Lynnie

Once again it depends on who you are in the JW's if you get in trouble associating with "inactive" JW's. My uber elder cousin in Lynnwood WA does all sorts of things with his inactive sister (inactive for 35+ years) and her husband who is a deacon in his Anglican church!!! I really don't know how elder cousin justifies it but he does. Perhaps he doesn't give all the details to the other elders when he goes on these excursions with his sister. But he's so self righteous I don't understand how he can justify it but he does.

Shunning for inactive ones?

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