Is JW's allowed to talk to any disfellowshipped/apostate JW's?

Question

Is this true?
The reason why I ask any of Jehovah's Witnesses to respond this one because I don’t want myself to looks fool for believing that JW's is bad because of apostate site. I really want an honest answer from you. Thank you very much.

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses are interested in pleasing God and Christ, disinterested in ingratiating themselves to humans, and entirely uninterested in tolerating and tacitly encouraging sin.

Active Jehovah's Witnesses are "allowed" to talk to a disfellowshipped former Witness, but they would not choose to socialize with him. He is bad association. Despite any protestations, those who are disfellowshipped have plainly made this decision for themselves.

Jehovah's Witnesses make every conceivable effort to assure and ascertain that their students know what Jehovah's Witnesses teach from the bible and what Jehovah's Witnesses expect from baptized members. The process that must be followed before one can become baptized as a Jehovah's Witness requires many many hours and lots of hard work, and a typical minimum of six months.

A person is *NOT* expelled from Jehovah's Witnesses for personal misgivings or confusion regarding some teaching. In the matter of doctrine, it is only those who ADVOCATE unscriptural teachings who disqualify themselves from continuous spiritual fellowship with the congregation.

Jehovah's Witnesses actually encourage a student to resign from any false religious organization rather than to begin a campaign targeting one particular former religion. Jehovah's Witnesses encourage those who learn bible truth to join in preaching Kingdom "good news" and not to indulge in the human work of vindictive retribution.

Jehovah's Witnesses do 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 primary 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.

Answer 2

It is incredibly sad that people have been given a mistaken idea about scripture. I think the problem comes from reading Leviticus 17 or a similar reference. It has to do with God's command to the Jewish people and strangers amongst them that they should not eat the blood of a sacrifice (or any blood). This is different from a life-giving transfusion, I believe. But if an adult makes that decision about their own life because someone has taught them this mistaken view it then becomes a difficult matter of conscience. It is a tragedy for those left behind. Jesus saved lives and healed people, notably the woman with a haemorrhage.

Answer 3

Disfellowshipped JW
1982 Corning, CA Congregation
For cause, but not the ones some ex-JWs who want to put themselves on a pedestal, want you to believe, and know you will without question

Well, I talk to my mother and stepfather, as well as a JW who is a fellow cab driver. Actually, as it turns out, they know each other, even though she lives 1800 miles away. They met at a district convention. A benefit of not having just the church elite attend conferences in the $5000 suit like other churches.

I probably shouldn't say that, but I've seen far too many in my years of driving the taxi in Kansas City. That and there was the theft report on the news from a vendor at the Baptist Conference. Ten suits missing, worth $50,000.

They don't talk to me about Bible issues, as that's for a elder to do, and as anyone knows, I don't talk down on the witnesses.

Answer 4

It is a very painful subject. One of my brother's is disfellowshipped. He chose to dedicate his life to Jehovah. He then decided he would much rather Smoke, Lie and have sex with most every woman that moved. He has since gotten married. He still smokes. He is not repentent in the least. The principle for disfellowshipping is the same as Time Out. The point of giving a time out is 2 fold. 1 It is to let the offender think about his/her actions. 2 It is to let the rest of the family, school, etc. enjoy themselves peacefully with out having the rule breaker reaking havoc. Disfellowshipping works basicly the same way. It is a Bible principle, that means we should not be associating with this person. It is hoped that the person will take time to decide if what they, may feel, they have gained is worth what they lost. They can, of course still come to the Hall if they wish, they just do not take part in the meeting. Though they choose to not be Spiritual Brothers anymore there are occasions where one may need to deal with them. I am around my DF'D brother quite abit. Our father is dying of Cancer. There are allot of things that have to be handled. If I saw someone by the side of the road who needed help I would give it, we should always help those in need. I know one friend of mine back home who came back and was reinstated, in other words no longer disfellowshipped. He said leaving was the worst thing he did. He missed the brothers and sisters and the meetings. It is not an easy process to come back as often when one leaves they leave allot of hurt feelings. There is nothing quite like knowing someone is returning. All that is needed is a repentant attitude and proof on some level that they are not, or at least fighting to not, continue doing the sinful thing they were DF'D for.

Apostates are a different matter. Many appostates I have seen said/wrote that they were kicked out cause they asked questions. I am always so annoyed. We are all about learning. How do you learn with out asking questions. Apostates are ones who have learned the Bible well, taken it to heart, or said they did, then turned it around to hurt others. No one is Disfellowshipped for asking a question. My brother, after being DF'D told me it was because EVERYONE hated him. I talked with him about that. True he had a disagreement with a couple people. Fact is he was young and did not really fit in with some of the other young people. I too have this problem. If you have a hard time being Best Friends with someone then you need to accept that. No one gets along with EVERYONE perfectly. It has taken years for him to be honest enough to admit that he was DF'D because he broke a promise. He promised Jehovah he would serve him and follow the Bible. HE decided SEX was more important.

Sorry for the LOOOOONG answer. If you have any other queries you may ask me or better yet ask a Witness next time they knock on your door. Or you can try http://www.watchtower.org

Please understand you should never assume what you read on the net is true. A while back I saw a TV, "NEWS" special about Michael Jackson that showed one of our recent publications and said that it was what his mother read to him and that it taught.....a number of things that it certainly does not. The book was not even around back then.

As to commenters such as Wester or Lukky Fokker, who seems to be back on Y!A for now, they seem very disgruntled. It is remeniscent of asking an Guy to describe his Ex-Girlfriend. He might be totally honest or he might lie, ya never know. More and more I am seeing people complain when there answer is not picked. One person whose answer was not chosen commented Y!A is biased. "Only" Christians answer. He himself had said he was not Christian. He got his feelings hurt he was not picked. To try and act like it is not fair to get picked is rather childish. Sure it is nice to be picked but when you are not you should just move on.

Answer 5

YES that's true. the only time to talk to one that is disfellowshipped is when they live in the immediate family. the words disfellowshipped and apostate are two distinct terms.
my father is disfellowshipped for fornication.
my brother is disfellowshipped for homosexuality.
both condemned by the bible and neither of them are to this day repentant for there actions.this doesn't mean i don't still love them very much and by us not having relations with them could move them to repentance.they both wont attend any other church because of once knowing the truth about the bible and god.
Apostates on the other hand will mislead others for their own benefit usually with propaganda or outright lies.
if you want to know about us ask one of us personally not on the Internet.hope this helps. if you want scriptures just edit your question.

Answer 6

Jehovah's Witnesses are told by their leaders in New York that they should not talk to any disfellowshipped person, even a family member, unless it is 'necessary' either for business reasons or family business. If a disfellowshipped person lives in the same home, you may talk to him but not usually about anything spirtual. (Never mind the fact that a disfellowshipped person is in need of spiritual help.) Elders in the congregation may speak to disfellowshipped persons if necessary.


If a person is an apostate they are regarded as much lower than a person who was disfellowshipped for fornication, murder or some other serious breach of morality. To doubt that the 'faithful and discreet slave' of the Watchtower Society is the exclusive channel of communication (prophet) of God in the earth today is regarded as just about as bad as you can get. (Where did they get this idea? From the men who call themselves the "faithful and discreet slave.")


I am an apostate. . I was not disfellowshipped for lying or fornication or any other kind of sin other than for speaking the truth as I see it about the "Society.", the "organization". If I make a statement on Yahoo Answers that is incorrect, I will correct it at once if someone brings it to my attention. I freely admit to being apostate, but I make every effort not to lie about the Society. I try to tell the truth always, but my answers are very unpopular sometimes even though they are 100% truth and in many, if not most cases, 100% verifiable.

Answer 7

Well, speaking with a disfellowshiped one is a way to draw them back....They will realize the love being gone, and want to experience it again....as with the apostate.....what if someone where telling absolute LIES about you to the world.... doing everything he/she can to make you loose friends, even turning family against you.....what would you do?......that is what is happening here.....believe it or not.

Answer 8

Jehovah's Witnesses reject traditional Christian doctrines such as the Trinity, eternal torment in hell and the immortality of the soul.

In the early 1870s, Russell organized a Bible study group of Second Adventists in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. An interest in Bible prophecy was sparked, in part, by Jonas Wendell. In 1876, Russell met Nelson H. Barbour and subsequently adopted Barbour's eschatology. Barbour had predicted a visible return of Christ for 1873, and when that failed to occur, he revised the prediction to 1874. Soon after the second disappointment, Barbour's group decided Christ had returned invisibly to Earth in 1874. They differed from most Second Adventists by teaching that all humankind descending from Adam would be given a chance to live in a paradise on Earth. The year 1914 was seen as the final end, marking a forty-year period from 1874.

A number of doctrines of Jehovah's Witnesses differ from that of mainstream Christianity. Possibly the most controversial doctrinal differences relate to the nature of God and of Jesus, particularly the Jehovah's Witnesses' rejection of the Trinity doctrine. Other differences involve their beliefs concerning death and judgment. Many of these doctrines are considered heresy by mainstream Christian denominations and, as a result, many label Jehovah's Witnesses as a cult.

Answer 9

(1Corinthians5:11)tells ud that we are not to associate with apostates not even eating with such a person who slanders our God or goes against him.
"No discipline seems for the present to be joyous, but grievous; yet afterward to those who have been trained by it it yields peaceable fruit, namely, righteousness."
—HEBREWS 12:11.

THINK back to your childhood days. Can you recall your parents disciplining you? Most of us can. The apostle Paul used that as an illustration when commenting on discipline from God, as we read at Hebrews 12:9-11.

God's fatherly discipline, which can affect our spiritual lives, can take many forms. One is his arrangement to exclude from the Christian congregation a person who no longer wants to live by God's standards, or who refuses to do so. A person who is thus strongly chastised or disciplined may repent and turn around. In the process, the congregation of loyal ones are also disciplined in that they learn the importance of conforming to God's high standards.
—1 Timothy 1:20.

'But,' someone may ask, 'is it not harsh to expel and then refuse to talk with the expelled person?' Such a view surfaced in a recent court case involving a woman who was raised by parents who were Jehovah's Witnesses. Her parents had been disfellowshipped. She was not, but she voluntarily disassociated herself by writing a letter withdrawing from the congregation. Accordingly, the congregation was simply informed that she was no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses. She moved away, but years later she returned and found that local Witnesses would not converse with her. So she took the matter to court. What was the outcome, and how might this affect you? In order to understand the matter properly, let us see what the Bible says about the related subject of disfellowshipping.

Why This Firm Stand?

"Cutting ourselves off completely from all association with [my disfellowshipped sister] Margaret tested our loyalty to Jehovah's arrangement. It gave our family opportunity to show that we really believe that Jehovah's way is best."—Lynette.

Most true Christians loyally support God and his righteous laws. (1 Thessalonians 1:2-7; Hebrews 6:10) Occasionally, though, a person deviates from the path of truth. For example, despite help from Christian elders, he may unrepentantly violate God's laws. Or he may reject the faith by teaching false doctrine or by disassociating himself from the congregation. Then what should be done? Such things occurred even while the apostles were alive; hence, let us see what they wrote about this.

When a man in Corinth was unrepentantly immoral, Paul told the congregation: "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." (1 Corinthians 5:11-13) The same was to occur with apostates, such as Hymenaeus: "As for a man that promotes a sect, reject him after a first and a second admonition; knowing that such a man has been turned out of the way and is sinning." (Titus 3:10, 11; 1 Timothy 1:19, 20) Such shunning would be appropriate, too, for anyone who rejects the congregation: "They went out from us, but they were not of our sort; for if they had been of our sort, they would have remained with us. But they went out that it might be shown up that not all are of our sort."—1 John 2:18, 19.

Hopefully, such a one will repent so that he can be accepted back. (Acts 3:19) But meanwhile, may Christians have limited fellowship with him, or is strict avoidance necessary? If so, why?

Cut Off Thoroughly?

Christians do not hold themselves aloof from people. We have normal contacts with neighbors, workmates, schoolmates, and others, and witness to them even if some are 'fornicators, greedy persons, extortioners, or idolaters.' Paul wrote that we cannot avoid them completely, 'otherwise we would have to get out of the world.' He directed that it was to be different, though, with "a brother" who lived like that: "Quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that [has returned to such ways], not even eating with such a man."—1 Corinthians 5:9-11; Mark 2:13-17.

In the apostle John's writings, we find similar counsel that emphasizes how thoroughly Christians are to avoid such ones: "Everyone that pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God . . . If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, never receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him. For he that says a greeting [Greek, khai'ro] to him is a sharer in his wicked works." * —2 John 9-11.

Why is such a firm stand appropriate even today? Well, reflect on the severe cutting off mandated in God's Law to Israel. In various serious matters, willful violators were executed. (Leviticus 20:10; Numbers 15:30, 31) When that happened, others, even relatives, could no longer speak with the dead lawbreaker. (Leviticus 19:1-4; Deuteronomy 13:1-5; 17:1-7) Though loyal Israelites back then were normal humans with emotions like ours, they knew that God is just and loving and that his Law protected their moral and spiritual cleanness. So they could accept that his arrangement to cut off wrongdoers was fundamentally a good and right thing.—Job 34:10-12.

We can be just as sure that God's arrangement that Christians refuse to fellowship with someone who has been expelled for unrepentant sin is a wise protection for us. "Clear away the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, according as you are free from ferment." (1 Corinthians 5:7) By also avoiding persons who have deliberately disassociated themselves, Christians are protected from possible critical, unappreciative, or even apostate views.
— Hebrews 12:15, 16.

What About Relatives?

God certainly realizes that carrying out his righteous laws about cutting off wrongdoers often involves and affects relatives. As mentioned above, when an Israelite wrongdoer was executed, no more family association was possible. In fact, if a son was a drunkard and a glutton, his parents were to bring him before the judges, and if he was unrepentant, the parents were to share in the just executing of him, 'to clear away what is bad from the midst of Israel.' (Deuteronomy 21:18-21) You can appreciate that this would not have been easy for them. Imagine, too, how the wrongdoer's brothers, sisters, or grandparents felt. Yet, their putting loyalty to their righteous God before family affection could be lifesaving for them.

Recall the case of Korah, a leader in rebellion against God's leadership through Moses. In his perfect justice, Jehovah saw that Korah had to die. But all loyal ones were advised: "Turn aside, please, from before the tents of these wicked men and do not touch anything that belongs to them, that you may not be swept away in all their sin." Relatives who would not accept God's warning died with the rebels. But some of Korah's relatives wisely chose to be loyal to Jehovah, which saved their lives and led to future blessings.
—Numbers 16:16-33; 26:9-11; 2 Chronicles 20:19.

Cutting off from the Christian congregation does not involve immediate death, so family ties continue. Thus, a man who is disfellowshipped or who disassociates himself may still live at home with his Christian wife and faithful children. Respect for God's judgments and the congregation's action will move the wife and children to recognize that by his course, he altered the spiritual bond that existed between them. Yet, since his being disfellowshipped does not end their blood ties or marriage relationship, normal family affections and dealings can continue.

The situation is different if the disfellowshipped or disassociated one is a relative living outside the immediate family circle and home. It might be possible to have almost no contact at all with the relative. Even if there were some family matters requiring contact, this certainly would be kept to a minimum, in line with the divine principle: "Quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person [or guilty of another gross sin], . . . not even eating with such a man."
—1 Corinthians 5:11.

Understandably, this may be difficult because of emotions and family ties, such as grandparents' love for their grandchildren. Yet, this is a test of loyalty to God. Anyone who is feeling the sadness and pain that the disfellowshipped relative has thus caused, may find comfort and be encouraged by the example set by some of Korah's relatives.
—Psalm 84:10-12.
Do you really feel that if say for instance in your family had one of your brothers or sisters turned against your mother or father saying all sorts of lies against them would you not feel then, that you should treat them as before they did so? Or would you not want try to clear your parents name that you knew that these were wicked lies that this person was saying against them, would your loyalties stay with the liar? Or would you truly feel that you were bad for exposing your siblings lies about your parent? Since you parent was slandered to be bad would you side with your sibling who was lying through their teeth against the parent that you know is loving and innocent of the charges against them, or would you not rather try to clear your parent's name by staying loyat through the lies?Maybe this would depend on your relationship betwen your family, but I know that I would want to be fair to all, and I think you might want this same too. Apostates are not only liars, but dangerous to the spiritual health of honest hearted believers, and their relationship with God, would it really be wise to keep in their company?