Another Jehovah Witnesses question?

Question

Is it true that if you are married to a non Jehovah Witness that your first loyalties are elders first before your spouse, i read that somewhere and i can't beileve this can be true, and if it is it sounds just wrong.

Answer 1

Ironically, Jehovah's Witnesses take very seriously the bible's plain instruction regarding the matter of wifely subjection.

The Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses continually reminds its adherents of the plain bible teaching that a Christian woman must be submissive to her husband (whether he is a believer or unbeliever). A Christian wife who hopes to honor God and Christ must resolve to live in harmony with this explicit bible principle.

(1 Peter 3:1,2) You wives, be in subjection to your own husbands, in order that, if any are not obedient to the word, they may be won without a word through the conduct of their wives, 2 because of having been eyewitnesses of your chaste conduct together with deep respect

(Romans 7:2) A married woman is bound by law to her husband while he is alive; but if her husband dies, she is discharged from the law of her husband.

(1 Corinthians 11:3) The head of a woman is the man [that is, her husband]

(Ephesians 5:22) Let wives be in subjection to their husbands as to the Lord


Congregation elders do not and cannot supersede either God or husband. While a Christian wife herself would never submit to a practice she knew to displease God, she would have to accept the husband's right as family head to make specific decisions regarding almost any matter. A godly wife with an unbelieving husband sometimes finds herself frustrated by the need to balance subjection to God and Christ with subjection to her husband.

(Acts 5:29) We must obey God as ruler rather than men.

(Matthew 10:35-37) For [Jesus] came to cause division, with a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a young wife against her mother-in-law. Indeed, a man’s enemies will be persons of his own household. He that has greater affection for father or mother than for me is not worthy of me


Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/19971208/
http://watchtower.org/e/19980715/article_02.htm
http://jw-media.org/beliefs/family.htm

Answer 2

No that is not true.
That's why it sounds wrong - because it is.

Jehovah regards the marriage arrangement as very important.
His/her first loyalties are of course with Jehovah & so that relationship would come first. But that is so in other religions too. God must come first in our lives. He is our Creator.
There are many scriptures stressing the importance of maintaining the valuable marriage arrangement.

Maybe the best thing to do if you have further questions about what Jehovah's Witnesses believe is to get the answers from them. In this way you won't get biased misinformation as there is a lot of propaganda circulating about us.

Thanks for asking the question & giving us the opportunity to answer it

:)

Answer 3

There are two flocks but one shepherd. Both groups follow the one shepherd and become one flock. United in serving Jehovah. I am not sure why you think Eph 4:4 is saying that we all have only one place to go. All it says is that there is one right religion, We all have one hope of eternal life whether it be in heaven or on earth. Other scriptures tell you that some will live on the paradise earth such as Psalm 37:29, Matthew 5:5, Matthew 6:10. God created man to live on earth. Not in heaven. The only reason 144,000 will go to heaven is to be co-rulers with Christ. These 144,000 have lived on earth and suffered the same things we have. Who better to help rule us than those who have walked in our shoes so to speak. If Adam and Eve had not sinned there would be no need for the 144,000 to rule over the earth because it would already be filled with perfect people. But it didn't work out that way.

Answer 4

LOL ... I am not a JW but as much as I know about them ...... the answer would be ..... first loyalty is always to Jehovah. A person is bound to love and respect their spouse ... even if the spouse is an unbeliever. The non JW spouse would take precedent as far as marital duties ...... the elder of course .... would hold greater sway regarding the spiritual duties.

Too many variables regarding the situation to give a cut and dry answer as to what specific things may come up. It happens to many ..... JW and non JWs.

Answer 5

In the Bible it says that we must obey God as ruler rather than men.
As long as a spouse does not do anything to compromise his/her mate's spirituality/relationship with God, they're okay. Many households function relatively smoothly with both spouses cooperating with each other.
If a non-Witness husband demands his wife not to go preaching or attend her meetings, though, she is not under obligation to follow his command.
The loyalty is not to the elders, it is to God. It may be possible for some to seek advice from elders when trying to cope with a difficult spouse, but that's not the same as putting an elder above one's spouse.


Ray2play, what the heck? Where do you get your info from? A union between a Witness and Non-Witness would not go unrecognized. That's farfetched.

Answer 6

You are right, it is wrong and untrue. We believe that marraige is a sacred thing. We do feel as Christians that in all things, ultimate devotion/loyalty goes to God. I have known many wives who, either became Witnesses while married, or married an unbeliever, and they were faithful to their mates, second ONLY to God. Thank you for not believing something about us that doesn't sound true. The only way to know is to ask:D

People who give answers like the one by Ray make Y!A look bad.

Answer 7

No way is that true.

Especially for a woman. Her husband is head of the househod, no matter what religion he is. She is to be respectful to him no matter is he agrees with what she does or not.
And for a man with a non witness wife, he respects her just the same.

True problems may arise in a marriage with different beliefs. But you always have to consider the marital arrangement and how things are to be handled in the privacy of your own home. If adultery occurs, that's a different subject.

Answer 8

Our first loyalty goes to Jehovah exclusively.

You may read a lot of misleading things about us. If you want the facts about us, come to us for the correct answers.

Answer 9

--As an elder for over 25 years , that is just completely ridiculous!

--Elders play a limited role in the congregations and are subject to the same arrangements as follows:

(1 Corinthians 11:3) “3 But I want YOU to know that the head of every man is the Christ; in turn the head of a woman is the man; in turn the head of the Christ is God.”

This is talking about worship and family arrangement combined!

Where are elders even mentioned in the arrangements of God as far as headship?
Even in congregation matters , they never superceed the family authority!

Answer 10

No, this is not true.

Any Christians first responsibility is to God, then our family. If we are a true Christian, then we take care of our family and support them in their endeavors as long as they do not conflict with God's laws.