Most high control religions insist on shunning former members (eg Jehovah's Witnesses http://www.jwfacts.com/index_files/disfellowship.htm, Mormons, Amish and Scientologists).
I was under the impression that SDAs do as well, but have heard that they no longer disfellowship. Can anyone confirm?
2006-11-28 11:41:49 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The bible does not use the words shun, excommunicate, disfellowship or disassociate. These are the loaded language of high control relgions.
Jesus simply said to treat as one of the nations. Paul said not to eat with, not 'avoid like the plague', meaning not to have social interaction. And John was referring to the Antichrist. Cults misapply this to mean that anyone disagreeing with their own doctrine, not simply people denying the Christ.
2006-11-29 12:44:57 · update #1
Absolutely not. While the SDA church may disfellowship those who are not living up to the standards of the church,and this only after much council and prayer with and for the individual, this disfellowship just means they are no longer on the church records as being Adventist. The Adventist church views every human being as a child of God and would never shun former members, but would rejoice if and when they ever came back into full fellowship within the church. It is the former members who shun the Adventist church and cease to interact with the members of the church.
2006-11-28 12:49:15 · answer #1 · answered by 19jay63 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
They have a more balanced approach in this type of matter. The Seventh day Adventists of the 1950's and 1960's is not the same SDA Church of today. They have more of a protestant view of when it comes to ecclesiastical matters. The shunning process is not doctrinal within the SDA Church. It's usually the person who leaves that shuns them.
2014-05-04 03:21:45 · answer #2 · answered by Alison M 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Wait wait. the reason has no longer something to do with them attempting to sqwelch the reality. we don't have a topic with them believing what they desire. Jesus never compelled every person to have faith something. there's a topic whilst they attempt to apply the 7th Day adventist call of their new church if it differs with the church's concept. The church does not desire to be linked with that church so that's retaining this is call and what it stands for. they do no longer proceed with prompt criminal action the two. it occurs purely after very own pleas are refused via the former individuals. that's never the desire of the adventist church to alienate individuals or say that they are in a roundabout way barred from salvation. although that's merely a count of them no longer desirous to be linked with the offshoot. AKA branch davidians. in the event that they have been noted as branch Davidian 7th Day adventists they could have had a much extra damaging result then they already did because of their affiliation.i'm under no circumstances a spokesman for the seventhday adventist church and the stable perspectives won't be totally represnted. i'm merely saying what I definitely have study from their statements.
2016-12-29 15:29:25 · answer #3 · answered by valaria 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If shunning is wrong, then why did Jesus, Paul, and John tell christians to do so?
Since Jesus, Paul and John commanded this practice, why don't "all" Christian faiths do this?
If you insist this practice is wrong, then you are disagreeing not with Jehovah's Witnesses, but with Christ.
As to SDA, I'm sorry I don't know what they teach in matter.
2006-11-29 05:51:25 · answer #4 · answered by TeeM 7 · 2⤊ 3⤋
I am LDS and we shun no one. We invite all to become members and come unto Christ. If a person has been excommunicated or disfellowshipped it is because of serious sin usually...but they are always welcomed back with open arms if they will repent.
2006-11-29 05:40:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 4⤋
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 misinformation 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
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
2006-11-28 13:35:15 · answer #6 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 1⤊ 6⤋
I know some individuals who do that... shunning even close family... but I do not know if it is SDA doctrin or not...
2006-11-28 11:46:53 · answer #7 · answered by IdahoMike 5 · 0⤊ 7⤋
I don't know about that one.....I only know about the others that you've mentioned.
2006-11-28 11:43:46 · answer #8 · answered by lookn2cjc 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
No they don't - as a church. Individuals don't always uphold church standards.
2006-11-28 11:47:52 · answer #9 · answered by jewel_flower 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
As long as you have money they will take you back.
2006-11-28 11:43:46 · answer #10 · answered by Bobby! 3 · 1⤊ 3⤋