Disfellowshipping

jhine

So last night my Bible study group was discussing the healing of the blind man in John's gospel. Ch 9

The man's parents were reluctant to say much on the subject. " He is of age , he will speak for himself. "

Vs 22 " His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders , who had already had decided that anyone who acknowledged that Jesus was the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue "

Vs 34 " ........ and they threw him ( the healed man ) out. "

My NIV study Bible commented that being thrown out of the synagogue would probably mean being socially as well as spiritually ostracized.

Of course l was struck by the similarity to the WT disfellowshipping someone. So it seems that they are following an old Jewish practice, who knew ?

Jan

I remember studying the Greatest Man book in the 1990s and when we read this passage everyone commented how cruel and heartless it was to cut the man off from his family, with no hint of irony, or to use a word that came up on another thread, introspection.

Longlivetherenegades

Didn't the organization classified excommunication aka disfellowshipment as terrorism and label other religious denominations as terrorist. Now that they equally use the same parameters

We know why some call them terrorist since they know where it root and stems from.

Mum

Barbara Grizutti Harrison compared the JW's to the medieval Catholic Church. As time goes on, they become more and more like Catholics (but a lot more cruel and heartless). I don't know where they came up with the idea of "disfellowshipping." Barbara Grizutti Harrison was an American journalist, ex JW, who wrote a book called "Visions of Glory: A History and a Memory of Jehovah's Witnesses."

LongHairGal

MUM:

As a former Catholic once involved with the JWs for a period of time, I always felt they were jealous of the Church.

Once, a younger sister brought a non-JW friend to the hall (hoping the JWs might impress her). Instead, somebody on the podium made what they thought was a humorous derogatory remark about the Catholic church. This made a bad impression on the visiting friend and they were no longer interested in the JWs.

As far as JWs disfellowshipping members: well, let them keep it up! It might not seem like it at first but many DFd people in time come to appreciate it was a blessing in disguise! Many did research while out and came to know all the bad things that were hidden from them. Now, it’s a joke. The religion that was arrogantly pushing people out and thinking they were going to get them to come crawling back on their bellies - now can’t get people to stay in! ..Just look at the campaigns to track down inactives and faders.

I’m sure this two-year break from in-person meetings because of Covid must have dealt the religion a blow..It remains to be seen just how many people have no intention of returning.

stan livedeath

i couldnt be disfellowshipped ! So said the congregation overseer...because i had resigned from the religion years before...but i did attend meetings sometimes to appease the wife. Instead it was announced that i should be shunned as an apostate. That was announced in my absence..and it drew a firm line under any more involvement with the cult.

Vanderhoven7

What do Jehovah's Witnesses think about ex-Jehovah's Witnesses?

Compilation of WTS quotations I picked up online.

“Persons who deliberately spread (stubbornly hold to and speak about) teachings contrary to Bible truth as taught by Jehovah's Witnesses are apostates.” Pay Attention to Yourselves and to All the Flock p.94

“Apostasy is abandoning or deserting the worship and service of God *( ie: as the JW’s teach )*, actually a rebellion against Jehovah God. Some apostates profess to know and serve God but reject teachings or requirements set out in his Word. Others claim to believe the Bible but reject Jehovah's organization.” Reasoning From the Scriptures p.34

“Do not look for excuses to associate with a disfellowshipped family member, for example, through e-mail.” Watchtower Study Edition 2013 Jan 15 p.16

Apostasy Insight, Volume 1 "Apostates often seek to make others their followers. (Ac 20:30; 2Pe 2:1, 3) Such ones willfully abandoning the Christian congregation ( the watchtower organisation ) thereby become part of the “antichrist.” (1Jo 2:18, 19) As with the apostate Israelites, destruction is likewise foretold for apostates from the Christian congregation."

Watchtower 2013 Apr 15 p.11 "Strong hope enables us to resist apostates and their gangrenous "empty speeches.""

Examining the Scriptures Daily 2011 Aug 18 p.83 "Satan was the first creature to turn apostate. Modern-day apostates display characteristics similar to those of the Devil. Their mind may be poisoned by a critical attitude toward individuals in the congregations, Christian elders, or the Governing Body. Some apostates oppose the use of the divine name, Jehovah. They are not interested in learning about Jehovah or in serving him. Like their father, Satan, apostates target people of integrity. (John 8:44) No wonder servants of Jehovah avoid all contact with them!"

Watchtower 2011 Jul 15 p.11 "Apostates “quietly” bring their ideas into the congregation, like criminals who secretly bring things into a country. Apostates use “counterfeit words.” This means that they say things that make their false ideas sound true, like criminals who make false documents look real. They try to get as many people as possible to believe their “deceptive teachings.” Peter also said that they like twisting the Scriptures. They explain Bible verses in the wrong way to make others believe their ideas. (2 Peter 2:1, 3, 13; 3:16) Apostates do not care about us. If we follow them, we will leave the road to everlasting life. ... The Bible says that apostates are mentally diseased and that they use their teachings to make others think like them. (1 Timothy 6:3, 4

Jehovah is like that good doctor. He clearly tells us to stay away from false teachers. We must always be determined to follow his warning. What must we do to avoid false teachers? We do not speak to them or invite them into our houses. We also do not read their books, watch them on television, read what they write on the Internet, or add our own comments about what they write on the Internet. Why are we so determined to avoid them? First of all, it is because we love “the God of truth.” So we do not want to listen to false teachings that go against the truth in God’s Word."

Watchtower 2004 Feb 15 p.28. "It would be a mistake to think that you need to listen to apostates or to read their writings to refute their arguments. Their twisted, poisonous reasoning can cause spiritual harm and can contaminate your faith like rapidly spreading gangrene. (2 Timothy 2:16, 17) Rather, imitate God's response to apostates. Job said of Jehovah: "Before him no apostate will come in." - Job 13:16."

Watchtower 1993 October 1 p.19. "Apostasy is, in reality, a rebellion against Jehovah."

"Have No Dealings With Apostates, ... For example, what will you do if you receive a letter or some literature, open it, and see right away that it is from an apostate? Will curiosity cause you to read it, just to see what he has to say? You may even reason: `It won't affect me; I'm too strong in the truth. And besides, if we have the truth, we have nothing to fear. The truth will stand the test.' In thinking this way, some have fed their minds upon apostate reasoning and have fallen prey to serious questioning and doubt." (Watchtower, March 15, 1986 p12)

“Avoid them,” says God’s Word. Other translations render that phrase “turn away from them,” “keep away from them,” and “stay away from them!” There is nothing ambiguous about that inspired counsel. Suppose that a doctor told you to avoid contact with someone who is infected with a contagious, deadly disease. You would know what the doctor means, and you would strictly heed his warning. Well, apostates are “mentally diseased,” and they seek to infect others with their disloyal teachings. - The Watchtower 15 July 2011

Attending weddings and funerals of "non-JW friends and family", allowed but STRONGLY discouraged! (Watchtower 12/15/74 p. 766-767 & 3/15/70 p. 191-192)

Association with non-JW family and friends (Watchtower 2/15/60 p. 112)

“Despite our pain of heart, we must avoid normal contact with a disfellowshipped family member by telephone, text messages, letters, e-mails, or social media.” Watchtower 2017 Oct p.16

"Although we want to be kind to everyone, we should not become close friends with those who do not obey God. It would be wrong for one of Jehovah’s Witnesses to date someone who is not a faithful baptized servant of Jehovah. " https://www.jw.org/en/library/magazines/ws20150815/watch-associations-last-days/

“And all members of the congregation need to be determined to avoid the company of disfellowshipped individuals.” Watchtower 2011 Nov 15 p.5

“Today, Jehovah does not immediately execute those who violate his laws. He lovingly gives them an opportunity to repent from their unrighteous works. How would Jehovah feel, though, if the parents of an unrepentant wrongdoer kept putting Him to the test by having unnecessary association with their disfellowshipped son or daughter?” Watchtower 2011 Jul 15 p.32

“Is strict avoidance really necessary? Yes for several reasons. … Although there might be a need for limited contact on some rare occasion to care for a necessary family matter, any such contact should be kept to a minimum.” Keep Yourself in God’s Love (2008) pp.207,208

“And all members of the congregation need to be determined to avoid the company of disfellowshipped individuals.” Watchtower 2011 Nov 15 p.5

“What if we have a relative or a close friend who is disfellowshipped? Now our loyalty is on the line, not to that person, but to God. Jehovah is watching us to see whether we will abide by his command not to have contact with anyone who is disfellowshipped.—Read 1 Corinthians 5:11-13.

Consider just one example of the good that can come when a family loyally upholds Jehovah’s decree not to associate with disfellowshipped relatives. A young man had been disfellowshipped for over ten years, during which time his father, mother, and four brothers “quit mixing in company” with him. At times, he tried to involve himself in their activities, but to their credit, each member of the family was steadfast in not having any contact with him. After he was reinstated, he said that he always missed the association with his family, especially at night when he was alone. But, he admitted, had the family associated with him even a little, that small dose would have satisfied him. However, because he did not receive even the slightest communication from any of his family, the burning desire to be with them became one motivating factor in his restoring his relationship with Jehovah.” Watchtower 2012 Apr 15 p.12