For JW's: I admire much about your religion, but I don't understand the reasons why you shun people when you

Question

have determined they have committed a sin. Are the ones shunning claiming to be "without sin"?

Answer 1

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.

Answer 2

TO SHUN PEOPLE IS BIBLE

All through the bible, people have almost been impossible for God to deal with. Those that did it right in 4150 years at Heb.11:1-10; 12:1,2; can be on one sheet of paper.
After the flood Gen.8:21 God said,"The imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth."
We are born in sin, under the death penalty, with a short life full of trouble and we are all relatives, just look at our history, can any one imagine that we could not do any better. We are living in the end time days. Every one every where is careful who they welcome into their house. No one is ever without sin.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE MAN TO GET IT RIGHT AND KEEP IT RIGHT

2Tim.3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. 6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Matt.10:34-38; If you become a bible student, you are subject to be shunned by family.
You do not have to be in any organization. Every religion has beliefs and bible knowledge will cause people to give up beliefs for a fact that the bible supports where the religion has it wrong.

Answer 3

e-mail me for a complete answer which I don't have time for at the moment. I was "shunned" for a period of time in my life and it's not what some would have you believe. I am no longer "shunned" but an active Witness and I understand completely the reasons why they do it and I often tell people it's the best thing that ever happened to me.

Anyway, all the reasons for it are bible based and I'd like to give you the scriptural explanation.

Answer 4

Great question Christine.

I have a friend that was brought up in the JW church. She was shunned and her father was an Elder. Needless to say her family shunned her as well.

She has been terribly hurt by the whole thing and is convinced she is going to hell. In essence she believes that she has nothing to live for and has fallen into a deep depression.

Real nice.