Wichita, Kansas area. Any other people who are Former JW's and are now disfellowshipped? I would like to connect with others like me, to share stories?
2007-06-23 19:47:16 · 3 answers · asked by tjmrtin66 1 in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Skin Conditions
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 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
2007-06-25 06:48:29 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Catholics are supposed to practice a form of disfellowshipping called "Excommunication". Amish practice the same way, shunning wrong doers who do not live by Bible standards. JW's are sincere about keeping the congregation clean and people who practice bad things are not disfellowshipped without the elders trying to help the person see the seriousness of the sin, only willful practicers of things the Bible describes as things God hates are put out of the organization. JW's have a strong love for people and the earth and all of the beauty of creation. JW's also hate what God hates. Sharing anti-JW stories just reienforces the scripture that Jesus said that his "true" followers would be hated just as he was hated. DL
2007-06-27 17:46:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm not JW, but have some pretty strong feelings about this. Who do they think they are - in any church - to say this person is a sinner and not good enough for us. They're not God.
Jesus went around trying to help people who were lost and needed help.
Churches that are Bible-based are trying to save souls and bring people to the Lord, not kicking out the ones they think aren't pure.
JW has a lousy outlook, anyway. This life isn't to be just tolerated so you can have a perfect hereafter- Look around and see the beauty God put on this earth for us to enjoy! Google Joel Osteen and read some of the stuff he has to say. Your friends at the JW could use some enlightenment if they'd listen. He's on TV around the world by now, probably. His message is bible based and teaches love, forgiving, positive thinking, and so much more.
Consider:
If you ain't good enough or them, then they ain't good enough for you! No matter what you did.
Doesn't the Bible say, "Judge not, that ye be judged"?
2007-06-24 05:42:09 · answer #3 · answered by jelmar106 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋