Having not had a witness knock on my door since I left over 13 years ago I was surprised a few Sunday mornings ago to find two young sisters who I had not seen before at my door. It was not long before their husbands who were witnessing at my neighbors joined the conversation. The conversation went on for some time so I am keeping the experience as brief as I can.
Mind you with all what has been happening lately with the Australian Royal Commission here in Australia I had been looking forward to having a discussion with any witness who comes within earshot. Anyway my heart was pumping my breathing suffering. I had given public talks and assembly talks but no way had I been this nervous.
My brain was flashing from one topic to the next. I was telling myself I need to stay focused and keep them on the one track. Child abuse first but they were adamant things have changed for the better. One of the couples had just been kicked out of Bethel so I asked what is going on with all the layoffs as my wife has relatives in a European Bethel who are in their late eighties and these two sisters had been told to leave. Again they are programmed not to think negatively so it is a non event to them.
Having found out I used to be an elder in the congregation one of the sisters had her ipad out and wanted to show me a video and said look we have a convention coming up soon. Wow that vision of that loyalty convention hit me. I was now focused and a little excited but breathing normal.
I said what bothers me most about being a witness is the practice of shunning. They said but we have to keep the congregation clean. I said look I have been there I have given talks and I have used illustrations to help understand keeping the congregation clean, for example to enjoy a sport you have rules and penalties etc. But what I am talking about is when young people get disfellowshipped and they are then cut off completely from their friends and their family.
They said no, it does not happen like that.
OK I said here is the situation pointing to one of the young sisters. Imagine she has just left school, started working and then she gets involved with a worldly boy and at eighteen years of age she gets disfellowshipped.
She is then cut off from all her friends and her family.
No they said she still has her family.
No I said because what happens next is her father feels the best thing to do is to kick her out of the family home..
No they said it is not like that.
Me: Well I know for a fact that this did and does happen.
Here is the next scenario some time down the track this girl is upset and she phones her mother..
The mother knows it is her daughter but refuses to answer the phone................
The former Bethel elder says that is so wrong she could be
in trouble or her life could be in danger.
They all agreed.
I then said Let’s move along now fifteen years later this girl now has 2 little kiddies and decides she wants to return to Jehovah. She brings her family to the meetings and sits at the back of the hall with her 2 little kiddies.
Question. How long should she have to wait to be reinstated?
They answered not long at all maybe a few months.
Me: What would you say if I told you this sister, after 15 years cut off from her family had to wait another year?
That is so wrong they said.
Good I said keep that experience in mind..
It has now been 3 weeks and no repercussions as yet