Forfeiting Scriptural Grounds

by little t 19 Replies latest jw experiences

  • Honesty
    Honesty

    The WTBTS/JW's is a false religion so who cares what rules they have in their 3 million + publications directing 'honest-hearted ones' in the proper way to service Joe Hoba.

  • AK - Jeff
    AK - Jeff
    The WTBTS/JW's is a false religion so who cares what rules they have in their 3 million + publications directing 'honest-hearted ones' in the proper way to service Joe Hoba.

    On a personal level I agree. But of course the one who started this thread must care. Jeff

  • Mulan
    Mulan

    All right, let us all open our Bibles and find the verses that support this nonsense.

  • zaphod
    zaphod

    when you are at your lowest ebb. when you need love and affection. when the person that you still probably love, deep down, is offering a familiar, warm pair of arms to hold you.

    when you secumb to a natural urge in a moment of emotional weakness.

    then you have to stay with the cheating, beating bastard for the rest of your life and only have yourself to blame.

    excellent way to ruin another life governing dudes

    zaphod

  • LittleToe
    LittleToe

    LittleToe, here

    Basically forgiveness is deemed to be given if sex is resumed (I wouldn't have gone with the "clothed rubbing" thing that IP_SEC suggests, but some BOE are more explicit and make local rulings on such thing). Most Elders are embarrassed to ask, and so the way the conversation goes leaves a lot of blushing, nodding, and interpretation.

    If sex is not resumed then after a period of time (usually a year, if I recall correctly) the guilty party may pursue a divorce, however it's unlikely they would be given "privileges" for some time, if ever. It would impact how "repentant" they seemed, so if they'd been DF'd then it'd probably be at least a couple of years before they could be reinstated.

    As with all things judgemental, however, there's lots of local variation which is compoounded if a nosey CO get's involved.

  • AK - Jeff
    AK - Jeff

    Of course the elders and GB would reply "these are the Bible's rules, not ours, we cannot change them"

    Standard operating crock of sh proceedure.

    Jeff

  • BluesBrother
    BluesBrother

    Zaphod, you brought tears to my eyes

  • professor
    professor

    If grounds are established, do BOTH get to remarry, or just the one who was cheated on?

    How about if both parties are guilty?

    Hmmm.....

  • zaphod
    zaphod

    hi prof

    that was the one that always confused me.

    surely (in the controlling world of witnesses) the adulterous mate should forfeit the right to marry again.

    but no. within one or two years they're back at the meeting with their new spouse (often the co-respondant) and it's all tickety-boo.

    never could understand that one.

    zaphod

  • tijkmo
    tijkmo

    i would hold off on the sex until he wants to kiss you....for a guy sex is easier than kissing

    while we on subject of how long an innocent mate can hold off reconciliation:-

    Questions From Readers

    To what extent need a faithful Christian wife resist a divorce action brought by her mate?

    When human marriage began, God said that a husband and wife should "stick" together. (Genesis 2:18-24) Humans became imperfect, with resulting problems in many marriages, but God?s desire is that mates should still stick together. The apostle Paul wrote: "To the married people I give instructions, yet not I but the Lord, that a wife should not depart from her husband; but if she should actually depart, let her remain unmarried or else make up again with her husband; and a husband should not leave his wife."?1 Corinthians 7:10, 11.

    Those words acknowledge that among imperfect humans a mate sometimes decides to leave. For example, Paul said that if a mate departed, both parties were to "remain unmarried." Why? Well, the mate departed, but the two continued bound to each other in God?s eyes. Paul could say this because Jesus had set out the standard for Christian marriage: "Whoever divorces his wife, except on the ground of fornication [Greek, por·nei´a], and marries another commits adultery." (Matthew 19:9) Yes, the only basis for divorce that Scripturally ends a marriage is "fornication," that is, sexual immorality. Evidently, in the case Paul referred to, neither mate had been immoral, so when the husband or wife departed, the marriage did not end in God?s sight.

    Paul then spoke of the situation in which a true Christian has a mate who is an unbeliever. Consider Paul?s directions: "If the unbelieving one proceeds to depart, let him depart; a brother or a sister is not in servitude under such circumstances, but God has called you to peace." (1 Corinthians 7:12-16) What could a faithful wife do if her unbelieving husband left her, even seeking a legal divorce from her?

    She may prefer that he remain with her. She may still love him, sense their mutual emotional and sexual needs, and know that she and any minor children need material support. She might also hope that, in time, her husband would become a believer and be saved. Yet, if he took steps to end the marriage (on some unscriptural ground), the wife could "let him depart," as Paul wrote. The same would apply if a believing husband disregarded God?s view of marriage and insisted on departing.

    In such a situation, though, she might need to protect herself and the children. How so? She would want to retain custody of her beloved children so that she could continue to show them motherly love, give them moral training, and instill in them faith based on fine Bible teachings. (2 Timothy 3:15) The divorce could endanger her rights. Hence, she might take steps to be represented properly before the authorities in order to protect her right to have access to her children and to be sure that her husband was obliged to support the family that he was abandoning. In some places, a woman contesting a divorce can sign legal documents that set out provisions for child custody and financial support, without agreeing to the divorce her husband is seeking. Elsewhere, the wording of the documents indicates that she agrees with the divorce; thus, if her husband was guilty of adultery, the wife?s signing these would mean that she rejects him.

    Most in the community and in the congregation would not know the details, such as whether the divorce was obtained on Scriptural grounds. So before things advanced that far, it would be advisable for the wife to inform the presiding overseer and another elder in the congregation (preferably in writing) of the facts. In that way those facts would be available in case any question arose?then or later.

    Let us return to Jesus? comment: "Whoever divorces his wife, except on the ground of fornication, and marries another commits adultery." If a husband was actually guilty of sexual immorality but wanted to remain married to his wife, she (the innocent one in Jesus? example) must choose whether to forgive him and continue sharing the marital bed or to reject him. If she is willing to forgive and continue with her legal husband, she is not morally stained in doing so.?Hosea 1:1-3; 3:1-3.

    .In a case where an immoral husband seeks a divorce, the wife still may be willing to forgive, hoping to have him back. It is up to her to determine, based on her conscience and situation, whether to contest his divorce action. In some places a woman contesting a divorce might be able to sign documents that stipulate custody of the children and financial support without indicating that she agrees with the divorce; her signing such papers would not in itself indicate that she was rejecting him. However, elsewhere a wife contesting a divorce might be asked to sign documents that indicate that she agrees with the divorce; signing such would expressly show that she rejects her guilty husband

    To avoid the possibility of misunderstanding, it would be advisable in this case as well for the wife to give representatives of the congregation a letter outlining what steps are being taken and the attitudes underlying them. She could state that she told her husband that she was willing to forgive him and to be his wife. That would mean that the divorce was being obtained against her wishes; rather than rejecting her husband, she was still ready to forgive. After thus making it clear that she was willing to forgive and remain married, her signing papers that merely indicate how financial and/or custody matters are to be settled would not indicate that she was rejecting her husband.

    Having established her willingness to forgive even after a divorce, neither she nor her husband would be free to marry another. If she, the innocent mate whose offer of forgiveness was refused, later decides to reject him because of his immorality, both would then be free. Jesus showed that the innocent mate has a right to make such a decision.?Matthew 5:32; 19:9; Luke 16:18.

    [Footnote]Legal procedures and papers vary from place to place. The terms of the divorce set out in legal documents should be examined closely before signing. If an innocent mate signs papers that indicate that she (or he) does not object to a divorce that the mate is getting, that amounts to rejecting the mate.?Matthew 5:37.

    wt 15 dec 2000 qfr

    i was prepared to go back and fix my marriage because that was my wifes desire..but she wouldnt allow me to try and reconcile while i was still df ..and the jc refused to reinstate me..i can remember sobbing on our hard wood floor beating my fists in frustration begging her to do one thing or the other..let me back or let me go...on the basis of this wt she told me that she had the god given right not to rush that decision..(this was a year later)...so i left ..her and jah. the irony etc

    can u see your days blighted by darkness

    is it true you beat your fists on the floor

    stuck in a world of isolation

    while the ivy grows over the door

    so i open my doors to my enemies

    and i ask could we wipe the slate clean

    but they tell me to please go f*** myself

    you know you just cant win...................................pink floyd...lost for words

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