I would like to know something about your beliefs.
I met a woman recently in my apartment complex. She has a small dog who is fascinated by my cats. She would stop and look at my cats every time she took him for a walk. Panda (the dog) would get so excited. I introduced myself one day when she went by. She invited me to come down and visit her at her apartment anytime. I went down to her apartment last week for a visit. It was at this time that I discovered that she is a former Jehovah’s witness. She told me that she was kicked out of the Kingdom hall because of a sin that she committed. She is now trying to return. Because she is trying to return, she told me that we could not be friends. She said that she cannot have any friends who are not witnesses, or she will not be able to return.
My questions are this:
If someone sins, are they really removed from the Kingdom hall? Are they not given a chance to be forgiven?
Are you not able to have friends outside of your religion?
I am asking only to understand the differences between your beliefs and mine. I am a Christian. If someone in my church sins, they are forgiven if they repent. If that sin is a compromising sin such as adultery, then they are asked to step down from any position that they may hold in the church. (I.e. teacher, deacon, elder, etc.) Unless someone is a danger to others, they are not asked to leave the church. Even then, they are told if they get help, they may come back. Also, we are allowed to have friends of ANY belief. Even if they do not believe in God. We do not have to overlook or agree with their beliefs, but that does not mean that we cannot associate with them. We might show them the way, as they are the lost lambs.
In any case, it bothered me that this happened. It all seemed odd to me because of the way I have been taught. If any of the Jehovah’s witness can help me to understand I would be grateful.
2007-08-06
11:57:13
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21 answers
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asked by
starwberry
5
in
Religion & Spirituality