Ray Franz, Governing Body member, nephew of the President of the Jehovahs Witnesses Fred Franz was disfellowshiped, do members of the congregations know why if so could you please tell me.
2007-02-27 23:40:21 · 8 answers · asked by claret 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
This account may or may not be accurate. But, would airing your dirty laundry in public be of interest to anyone else?
He was a man, not a God, and has been forgiven.
2007-02-28 00:08:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
The only people that ever know why a person is disfellowshipped are the person being disfellowshipped and the three elders that were in the room when it happened. If others are to find out the reason, it's because the disfellowshipped person felt like telling others about it. Like Papa Bear mentioned, some tell the truth about why they were and some don't. The only person that could tell you would be Mr. Franz himself and you'd have to know him well enough personally yourself to know if he was lying or not. No JW on this board could possibly know the answer to your question.
2007-02-28 07:45:47 · answer #2 · answered by krobin 2 · 3⤊ 2⤋
What does it matter? Witnesses don't report on the reason why a disfellowshipping takes place. Which has come legal precedence, in that people make try to sue them for releasing the info, even when it is true. Employers have learned that lesson the hard way.
There is a draw back to that in that than those disfellowshipped can than claim anything as the reason they were difellowshipped, and people like you will believe it, without question. I was disfellowshipped, for cause, by the Corning, CA congregation in 1982. Since than I have been approached by people who ask me to join their anti-witness movement. They say that all I have to do is claim that I found the teaching to be false and I would believed. We can be gullible that way.
2007-02-28 04:27:56 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
When a disfellowshipping is announced in one's local congregation, the reasons for it are not part of that announcement. While some have questioned the practice of disfellowshipping by Jehovah's Witnesses, they might benefit from some related information...
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.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/19880415/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/19970101/article_01.htm
2007-02-28 05:57:18 · answer #4 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 3⤊ 3⤋
Read all about it in his book Crisis of Conscience.
A lot of the things he questioned are doctrines that they later stopped believing themselves.
2007-02-28 06:08:45 · answer #5 · answered by Tanya Pants 3 · 2⤊ 2⤋
i think he started trying to break away and push his own beliefs but don't quote me on that
2007-02-28 00:09:06 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
What possible difference could it make to you? This event occurred decades ago. Exactly how many bones do you have to pick with JW's?
Hannah J Paul
2007-02-27 23:45:07 · answer #7 · answered by Hannah J Paul 7 · 7⤊ 3⤋
they won't know, and they will refuse to find out
2007-02-28 00:14:08 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋