I am a disfellowshipped JW. Is there really a scriptual baisis for my two brothers shunning me if I have?

Question

stopped the disfellowshipping offence? I just dont want to be a JW anymore. I am not prepared to pretend just to have shunning lifted.

nowpower - interesting answer. I will take your advice and ask them myself. One has limited contact, the owner not spokento or seen for twenty years. I still wonder if a JW can quote a scriptural basis where wrong practice(s) have ceased and person has declared it so. Also I believe that it is personal decision whether to shun spouse sibling parent. Still have questions on this subject.

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses practice the Scriptural practice of disfellowshipping for unrepentance of such serious sins as fornication, drug abuse, stealing, and apostasy. It is the unrepentance rather some isolated sin that proves a sinner to be 'bad association'.

A person who wishes reinstatement and renewed fellowship must request it, and demonstrate repentance.


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

Answer 2

I hope these Scriptures clarify the situation
Hebrews 12:5,6
1 Corinthians 5:11-13
2 Thessalonians 3:6-15
Matthew 18:15-17
1 Timothy 5:20
Hebrews 10:26,27
Matthew 10:34-37

Answer 3

This is directed to the people answering:

Jehovah's Witnesses do not disfellowship you because you no longer want to be one..... it is because the person did something against God himself.....

If you don't want to be a JW, that is your choice, we will still treat you kindly.... But if you decide to dedicate your life to doing god's will and obeying his laws, and then break them.... yes there are consequences to our actions!

If you stop going to the kingdom hall and no longer want to be a witness, this is not a disfellowshipping matter.... You are disfellowshipped if you have committed a serious sin.

I was disfellowshipped, and one thing I appreciate most about this is, that bad conduct will not be permitted.... A bad apple will spoil the bunch.... I thank Jehovah for my being corrected, it has made me a better and stronger person today. And at the time others were protected from my bad attitude.

Answer 4

Perhaps it would be best to put the question to them? Be prepared for cruelty, and for a true view of their love for you. People are all doing the best they can with what they are currently able to see. I personally think it's a denial of Jesus' message to shun people who see differently than you, and it also shows a terrible lack of understanding of the nature of what's taking place in people's hearts. Remind them of the story of the shepherd who left his whole flock to find the lost one. The more of this type of behavior they exhibit the more convinced you must be of the correctness of your decision to explore other avenues of divine expression. That can't be the result they were hoping for, can it?

Answer 5

Ed: Mesha's reply to your situation, sums it up best. It illustrates the lengths to, which a cult will go, to exercise over its adherents to further, manipulate in its objective to achieve conformity (not transformity i.e. : "renewing of the mind" - as the book of Romans, chapter12, verse 2, advises one to do). Legalism is a sure sign of religious abuse, common to such cults. The long term effects of this abuse will lead to a total disbelief and ultimate rejection of God, in a cult member. More Jesus - Less religion !!!

Answer 6

There is NOTHING in the Bible that tells you to quit being friends with someone just because they no longer want to be a JW. If this is the way that your so called friends treat you, I would go and get some friends that are true friends.

Answer 7

Is it biblical to shun your brother or sister when they no longer practice the faith? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. You will find this in Paul's epistles. Paul talks about not associating non believers.

Answer 8

Im also puzzled about this myself,My wife has been disfellowshipped for something that happend about 5 or 6 years ago and it would seem her present staus would have been lifted but she doesn't understand either.

Answer 9

Everyone who puts their faith and trust in the bible and or Jesus above the guidance of the of the Holy Spirit will experience confusion and unresolved conflicts. This is not the way.

Answer 10

I think you are better off with the shunning. It is sad because I am sure some folks are people you care deeply for, but you have escaped a cult, and your freedom should be furthered