Why do Jehovah's Witnesses care more about self righteousness than other people?

Question

My fiance's family is JW and they won't come to her wedding reception because it is at my step fathers house and he is a disfellowshipped JW. Since you works are not what determine your salvation then why would they hurt everyone around them to make themselves appear righteous to others? what will not going do for them? for their salvation? What will not going do to my fiance? What do you think God really cares about - whos name is on the deed to the house or that their daughter's heart is torn out and they judge other people to make themselves appear better? Please help, and if you want to discuss more please give me your email and we can talk, I would appreciate it.

Even though below is a best answer I still think it odd that through following unecessary doctrine they could hurt other people without guilt. Paul said we are held accountable to our own conscience, if this is true why would her parents dig up dirt from 20 years ago to come up with a reason to do this instead of just trusting God for guidance. None is worthy, no not one, only through Jesus Christ can we be saved. This should be the reason to gather, if my step father still believes in this then it shouldn't matter what a human thinks he did wrong, we should gather together in Christ not seperate from other believing people based on earthly sinful judgements.

Answer 1

Although worded in an unnecessarily inflammatory style, this question seems sincere.

Jehovah's Witnesses are absolutely *NOT* self-righteous sanctimonious elitists. In fact, their global preaching work encourages them to interact with all walks of life in an unjudgmental manner. However, Jehovah's Witnesses take quite seriously the bible's direction in their lives, including with regard to the practice of "disfellowshipping".

Jehovah's Witnesses practice the Scriptural practice of disfellowshipping for unrepentance of such serious sins as fornication, drug abuse, stealing, and apostasy. Baptized Witnesses who join the military or publicly engage in worship with another religion are considered to have disassociated themselves from Jehovah's Witnesses.

Contrary to the lies of anti-Witnesses, it is quite possible to become inactive in the JW religion without becoming disfellowshipped. As long as one's lifestyle does not bring reproach upon the congregation, and as long as one does not advocate one's disagreements with the religion, the congregation has no interest in "investigating", exposing, and disfellowshipping an inactive former Jehovah's Witness.

For those who are disfellowshipped or disassociated, a primarly goal is to shock the person into recognizing the serious of their wrong so that they rejoin the congregation in pure worship. Since the primary bonds that are broken involve friendship and spiritual fellowship, it is well understood that family bonds remain intact. Parents, siblings, and grown children of disfellowshipped and disassociated ones sometimes choose to limit what they may feel is discouraging or "bad association" but that is a personal decision and is not required by their religion.

Former Witnesses who are disfellowshipped or disassociated are typically treated in accord with the Scriptural pattern explained in these Scriptures:

(1 Corinthians 5:11-13) Quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. ...Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.

(Titus 3:10) As for a man that promotes a sect, reject him after a first and a second admonition

(Romans 16:17) Now I exhort you, brothers, to keep your eye on those who cause divisions and occasions for stumbling contrary to the teaching that you have learned, and avoid them.

(2 Thessalonians 3:6) Now we are giving you orders, brothers, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, to withdraw from every brother walking disorderly and not according to the tradition you received from us.

(2 Thessalonians 3:14) But if anyone is not obedient to our word through this letter, keep this one marked, stop associating with him, that he may become ashamed.

(2 John 10) If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, never receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him.

(Matthew 18:17) If he does not listen to them, speak to the congregation. If he does not listen even to the congregation, let him be to you just as a man of the nations


Those who have been disfellowshipped typically react in one of two ways:
1. Humble acknowledgement of wrong and consistent steps toward reinstatement into the congregation
2. Bitterness and/or arrogance leading to an interest in embarassing or defaming their former brotherhood of Jehovah's Witnesses.

One might ask why the disfellowshipped step-father cares more about continuing his life of sin rather than taking steps toward getting right with God and assuring a wonderful wedding day for his relative.

Answer 2

First of all, I am a full blown christian, and I have friends that are JW, they don't act that way. One friend in particular is the most unselfish and caring person you would ever meet, sounds like to me that these people just have problems and they need to get some help. They are no better or self righteous than anyone else. And you are right about god, Judge not, Lest ye be judged.

Answer 3

Because their religion based their salvation in those things. So no matter how hard it is to follow this beliefs they still do or else they will not get what they promised to get. Man made religions are like that. But the Bible teaches us that salvation is impossible to be paid by any one, it is already been paid by God's Son on the cross so that all we have to do is to put our trust in His Son Jesus Christ for our salvation. God's love is for every body not just for few and it doesn't excludes people but includes. My email address is [e-mail]

Answer 4

Greetings, i'm so sorry to pay attention you dealing with such problems. I takes me back to the time while i became merely returning to the fact. there became a time while each little thing gave the impression to be going incorrect. i seem back now and that i understand that devil will use such depressing events as a final motel to maintain you (us) from serving Jehovah. i will in user-friendly terms inform you what helped me then and what I see as extremely important in hindsight; in case you nonetheless do issues actual each little thing will prove the wonderful it could. it would desire to not be suitable, even nonetheless this is going to likely be the wonderful plausible! merely open the Psalms and study! each emotion of the human soul is discovered there. I nonetheless have the Bible I used back then (30 years in the past) and once I open it and seem on the highlighting I undergo in concepts all my thoughts and how those words served as a catharsis and saved me going. Do all which you would be able to to help your brother, yet do not forget which you're actually not responsible for his judgements. wish that helps, BAR

Answer 5

Why would you ask a question like this? To get people who hate witnesses to talk and you can have a discussion over someone elses faith. Why does the reception have to be at this man's house if you know that's going to cause all this turmoil, can't there be a compromise? Are you doing her any good by trashing her family online?