Any JW ever been reproved? Meaning? Can you get out of JW?

Question

Have 16 yr old granddaughter who no longer wants to be JW and her family has ostracized her. Can she get out of this family? If so, HOW? There are other family members who are not JW who would willingly take her in.

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses practice the Scriptural practice of disfellowshipping for unrepentance of such serious sins as fornication, drug abuse, stealing, and apostasy. A disfellowshipped person's seeming unrepentance disqualifies him from spiritual and social fellowship with the congregation; family ties are understood to be more than "fellowship" and so family members decide for themselves what level of socializing they will continue with a disfellowshipped relative (see below).

Repentant sinners are typically NOT disfellowshipped, but would likely be privately or publicly "reproved". Only a baptized Jehovah's Witness can be disfellowshipped or reproved. A "public reproof" is simply an announcement at a normally-scheduled congregation meeting similar to this:
"[Name] has been reproved."

That allows any in the congregation who happened to know of the person's sins to feel assured that the person is working with congregation elders, and there is no reason to withhold fellowship from the person, or to consider the person as outright 'bad association'. A person who has been "reproved" will not normally be called upon to represent the congregation in prayer or other meeting participation until he has demonstrated several weeks or months of consistent progress.

Any baptized Jehovah's Witness can formally disassociate himself from the religion at any time. Baptized Witnesses who join the military or publicly engage in worship with another religion are considered to have disassociated themselves from Jehovah's Witnesses.

In most cases, it makes little sense for a confused or overwhelmed person to formally disassociate himself when his actual objection is simple desire to avoid the perceived obligation of five congregation meetings each week, regular bible study, and weekly or monthly preaching.

Contrary to the misinformation of anti-Witnesses, it is quite possible to become inactive in the JW religion without becoming disfellowshipped or disassociated. 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 primary goal is to shock the person into recognizing the seriousness of his wrong so that he rejoins 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

Becoming baptized as a Jehovah's Witnesses is not a trivial step. At a minimum, a student must demonstrate months of regular meeting attendance and public ministry, then must himself express the desire to be baptized. The candidate then spends hours answering hundreds of bible questions wherein he expresses both a clear understanding and personal conviction regarding Jehovah's Witness teachings in at least three separate interviews with three different elders. The candidate must vocally agree to be baptized in front of hundreds or thousands of eyewitnesses, and must be publicly immersed in water. This is not a momentary emotional decision by an unreasoning child. Dedication as a Witness required hard work and determination at the time.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/19880415/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/19970101/article_01.htm

Answer 2

Reproving Definition

Answer 3

They are taught that they are the truth and they are not in an organization but in the truth. They are taught that Apostate Christianity or babylon the great is liars. So because they believe they are the only true Christians and are in the truth everyone else is automatically wrong! Most Jw have no concept or clue about their history, leaders or even for that matter all their teachings. They only know what they are told and some things are kept from them or twisted around as to make themselves look good. When they feel as though their cult is being attacked or they don't know what the answer is they go into defense mode. Defense mode is usually a 3 step process! 1. Deni everything or down play what is known. 2. Call people liars, ignorant or babylon the great. 3. Refer them to the mother ship the Watchtower. God Bless!

Answer 4

I was raised a JW and till to this day 33 yo. and forever. I am happy being a witness. To be reproved -means you did something you were not suppose to do and was given Biblical comfort to change. She is baptized or not? It is a sad time for the parents. They only want what is best for her. Sure you can leave a anytime. We do not FORCE any to stay if they are not happy . But the world has NOTHING to offer.

Answer 5

I personally highly doubt that her parents are going to let her leave to stay w/ relatives that are not JW's. She will have to talk to everyone about this situation. Maybe if you are there with her when she does it will be support for her. However she needs to understand that once she disassociates herself they will treat her like she is disfellowshipped. Make sure this is what she really wants to do.

Answer 6

Honestly from what I have seen, only kids who want to get into trouble are looking to get out. Jehovah's Witnesses raise their kids well.

Answer 7

dissassociate yourself...