What does it take for someone to get kicked out of the Jehovah Witness church?

Question

My husband and I are from different religious backgrounds. He was brought up as a Jehovahs Witness and I was brought up in a Christian Disciples of Christ church. He wont talk about anything regarding his religion, ever. But I found out he was kicked out. Why do people get kicked out??? Thanks

Answer 1

Some Jehovah's Witnesses become inactive because they feel unable to continue preaching or certain other Christian obligations for a few months or even years. These are not counted in any JW statistics, but they are considered "brothers" and "sisters" by active Witnesses. Their standing is entirely different from those who are disfellowshipped or disassociated.


Jehovah's Witnesses practice the Scriptural practice of disfellowshipping for unrepentance of such serious sins as fornication, drug abuse, stealing (including tax evasion), and apostasy. Non-Witnesses are sometimes surprised to learn that a tobacco habit is a serious sin, as is a criminal conviction. Baptized Witnesses who join the military or publicly engage in worship with another religion are considered to have disassociated themselves from Jehovah's Witnesses.

For decades, Witness publications have noted that the majority (not a plurality, but a clear majority) of disfellowshippings concern fornication, which includes vaginal, oral, anal, and manual sex (that is, one partner manipulates the other's genitals for sexual gratification of either or both persons) outside of marriage.

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

Everyone from Eldeeder (#2 Answer) down to John (#12 Answer) know absolutely nothing about what they are talking about.

I'm disfellowshipped, what you called "kicked out" from the Corning, CA Congregation in August of 1982. You can confirm that with Papa Bear’s Baby Bear, on here. She’s my youngest daughter. Or you can call the congregation. You will notice that people on here who claim to be disfellowshipped because they disagreed with the teaching, never seem to know what congregation did it or when.

Two elders traveled 200 miles to inform me of the decision, as well as how to go about appealing it. I didn't as I had done what they said, with two at the same time. I was a lot younger and healthier at the time, and I did end up marrying one of them later. We're no longer married, but still good friends. I'm trying to think of what to give her as a gift of 25 years of friendship in August. By the way, she's now studying to be a witness, herself.

The most common reason for someone to be disfellowshipped is immoral behavior. You don't automatically get put out, it takes time, and like I said, you can appeal it. The decision is not an easy on to come by for the elders. In the JWs, elders are not paid and they do not hold life time positions. They have not attended theology school.

Everyone is taught the same so anyone can become an elder. And since 5 new congregations are started each week, that is 50-100 new elders a week. The congregations stay small so that the individual does not get lost in the crowd, and no one gets rich as a pastor.

Disfellowshipping is a last choice affair, when the person refuses to repent and continues with their immoral behavior. People do not get disfellowshipped for disagreeing with the beliefs, as there is no purpose to that, since they disassociate themselves first.

I’ve been offered money a few times over the year for my name to be attached to a story, written by a ghost writer, that would be believable and could be sold to the gullible. There is good money in bashing the witnesses. Unfortunately, I’ve never been one for phony stories, or charcging got my work. Ask about 15,000 divorced and single fathers have benefitted from.

This will be one of my last postings to this forum. At least your question appears to be fresh about the JWs, but most are just CUT & Paste questions with the intent to collect comments bashing JWs, and I have better things to do, one of which you may be using on your child in a few months. It’s an electronic time out device that doesn’t require you to sit and watch them the whole time.

Answer 3

For various reasons. Instead of being "kicked out" he could have opted to stop associating with them and 'disassociated' himself with the congregation at the 'Kingdom Hall' (not church, just FYI).

Some of the things are: having an affair while married, stalking, smoking, excessive drinking, public intoxication and not stopping it, drugs, lying, stealing, gay sex, trading spouses, basically anything that could be considered to bring reproach on Jehovah God's name, i.e., "look at what HE'S doing and he's a Jehovah's Witness!!!" See? That's NOT what you want to be doing.

The point here is this, they (the Elders) don't usually just 'kick you out' or disfellowship you cold, they talk to you and find out what the circumstances were. Where you to blame, was it on purpose, accidental? Will it happen again? Are you truly sorry or will you continue to do it? If your NOT sorry, or the offense was too serious, then you have to be disfellowshipped where you are STILL INVITED to please come to the Kindgom Hall, however no one but the Elders will be able to speak to you until your re-instated! : ( This is to protect the congregation from being contaminated by those wishing to do bad, while most are truly sorry for their actions. After a few months of this, the elders decides whether you are spiritually strong enough to be reinstated.

Answer 4

in case your little one weren't baptized or historical adequate to make clinical choices for themselves or have been subconscious and also you made the choice for blood then you definitely might be disfellowshipped now not your little one. everybody talks approximately cold surgical procedures but that's now not consistently the case whilst you want a blood transfusion. children get hit by means of automobiles, fall off jungle gyms and crack their heads open, get in vehicle injuries (regardless of how well a driving force you're, a few men and women at the avenue don't seem to be) and even get shot at tuition. repeatedly an emergency occurs and they're wasting blood speedily. there are not any possible choices to that. and sure it can be a egocentric choice to desire to maintain them right here alternatively than pass to heaven or some thing you consider, however this is a choice that even a JW might battle with whilst watching at their death little one. if they did not battle in that second it might be a testamony to the form of dad or mum they're, would it? additionally, they do have playing cards of their wallets and a few even put on bracelets or necklaces that say "No Blood" so most probably within the ER (clinical team of workers) will recognise. i wore one such bracelet from the age of three till i used to be approximately 12. and "No Blood" wasn't eliminated from my clinical dossier till four years in the past after i gave start to my daughter. the concept that i would have left my daughter motherless had a lot more long past mistaken for the period of my hard work modified my pondering. i'm nonetheless studying this and i'm unsure. till i make a decision my husband is my emergency touch and he might authorize a blood transfusion. and sonny, no ought to express regret in any case i've determined myself in a few terrible circumstances and i do know i might danger my soul to preclude my children from any damage.

Answer 5

people do not get kicked out, the person has to do something contrary to the Bible or God's rules, if they do not have a repentant attitude they are disfellowshipped or removed from the congregation. Below are mainly the reasons for being disfellowshipped.


Some of the offenses that could merit disfellowshipping from the Christian congregation are fornication, adultery, homosexuality, greed, extortion, thievery, lying, drunkenness, reviling, spiritism, murder, idolatry, apostasy, and the causing of divisions in the congregation.

Answer 6

You know I was never at the other side of the door, but I always tried to play as though I was so that I can try to reason with people at their level.

Now your husband was a Jehovah's Witness and he was "kicked out" now I wouldn't say kicked out more along the lines of discipline..

Now for the record its nobody's call but Gods'

In the first century did you know that the apostles did have some members disassociated, especially when they went against God's commandments and principles on purpose and were unrepentent?

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

THINK back to your childhood. Can you recall your parents disciplining you? The apostle Paul used that as an illustration when commenting on discipline from God, and that scripture is found at Hebrews 12:9-11

It says: "Furthermore, we used to have fathers who were of our flesh to discipline us, and we used to give them respect. Shall we not much more subject ourselves to the Father of our spiritual life and live? For they for a few days used to discipline us according to what seemed good to them, but he does so for our profit that we may partake of his holiness. True, 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."

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.

Now you may ask, Isn't that a little harsh?

At the time when someone is disfellowshipped for an unrepentant sin or sins, elders who represent the congregation explain to him that it is possible for him to repent and receive God’s forgiveness. He may attend meetings at the Kingdom Hall, where he can hear Bible instruction that may help him to repent. ( You should read 1 Corinthians 14:23-25.) In time he may seek reinstatement in the clean congregation. When elders then meet with him, they will try to determine whether he has repented and left his sinful course. (Matthew 18:18) If that is the case, he may be reinstated, which is basically explained in 2 Corinthians 2:5-8. In the event that he had been disfellowshipped for many years, he will need to make a concerted effort to progress. He may also need considerable help thereafter to build up his Bible knowledge and appreciation so that he becomes a spiritually strong Christian.

The discipline that is done is loving on both parts. First its loving because God disciplines whom he loves and wants to correct (Remember the ancient Israelites). And second, it keeps the other servants of God from being spiritually defiled.

I'm not saying that the person is a "bad" person but remember its out of love and concern. And also the spiritual welfare of Jehovah's servants.

So if you truly want to know more I advise that you contact a Witness and let them explain to you through the use of the Bible, don't matter the translation, what you have concerns about in order for you to have a thorough understanding of the matter.

You may e-mail me if you need more answers...

Peace and Love

Answer 7

If a JW commits a serious sin, he won't necessarily get disfellowshipped. He may be privately reproved. This gives him a chance to show that he was sorry and repent. But if he continues to do the wrong thing even after being warned then he will get disfellowshipped because he was unrepentant.

Answer 8

.
Their can be a variety of reasons ranging from the persons attitude towards the alleged wrong doing Thur and to, “…compassionate behaviour on the part of those in power…”

To be honest, It just depends on how the person fits in. Look at the USA entertainment industry. If a person is relevant to the industry would those in power be more tolerant towards their short comings than a person who made little contribution. Think about it.
And, then there are those that prefer not to live a lie. They are the ones that have left the institution of their own, ‘…because no lie originates with the truth…’
.

Answer 9

I know of one JW couple - the man converted away from Jehovah's Witnesses. The wife was told on no uncertain terms that she had 3 choices:
1) Get the man converted back to JW's
2) Divorce her husband
3) Get kicked out of the JW's.
Well, the man was not a strong character, so he returned to the fold. I wonder how much bitterness he holds inside though!

Answer 10

Most of the time the rules and laws they have set up for their community are very strict. If you break these laws, they will talk with you. If you continue to do it - they will ask you out. Just ask Michael Jackson. When he recorded "Thriller", the elders came to him and asked him not to put the album out because to them, it glorified the dead and satanic worship. He did put a disclaimer on the album, but did not stop the album from being pressed - and it was stated that they 'asked him out' of the membership. Sometimes if you marry outside of the faith, that is a huge error - and the elders can dismiss you. I am so glad that God is not like that. He loves us all and would never dismiss his children. I am surprised that your husband would not talk to you about why he was dismissed. Open and honest communication are necessary in a marriage. Perhaps he is still hurt from it - and I pray that if he is - he will forgive and let it pass. He should tell you. I keep nothing from my mate. Absolutely nothing. But - that' s us...