Is JW's practice of shunning mean-spirited and evil?

Question

My nephew is a disfellowshipped JW, as are his two sons, but his wife, and the boys' mother, certainly does not shun them. Her reasoning that "they are family" doesn't convince me she is following the rules laid down by the Watchtower writers.

Thanks to the JW's...didn't realize there were so many exceptions to the rule...I sort of live by the rule: "To err is human. Forgiveness is devine." Also, if the guys (only men) who write for the WT don't make the rules, who wrote the "New Translation" of the bible?

The translators want to remain anonymous ? Of course they do.

Answer 1

He should be gratefull this Cult shunned him. In fact he should be throwing a party!

Answer 2

King David committed murder, yet he has a repentant heart and was forgiven. HOWEVER, punishment was NOT withheld and Jehovah dearly loved David. It was not mean spirited. There are consequences for our actions, adults and children should know this. When a sin is committed and someone is punished, it's not the end of the world. Most are reinstated at some point. I've known several folks this happened too.

When it's a spouse, it's still your husband. You are not suppose to carry on spiritual conversations with them, but you don't cut off from them. No different than having an unbelieving mate.

2 John 9 Everyone that pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God. He that does remain in this teaching is the one that has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to YOU and does not bring this teaching, never receive him into YOUR homes or say a greeting to him. 11 For he that says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works.

2 Corr. 2:5 Now if anyone has caused sadness, he has saddened, not me, but all of YOU to an extent—not to be too harsh in what I say. 6 This rebuke given by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 7 so that, on the contrary now, YOU should kindly forgive and comfort [him], that somehow such a man may not be swallowed up by his being overly sad. 8 Therefore I exhort YOU to confirm YOUR love for him. 9 For to this end also I write to ascertain the proof of YOU, whether YOU are obedient in all things. 10 Anything YOU kindly forgive anyone, I do too. In fact, as for me, whatever I have kindly forgiven, if I have kindly forgiven anything, it has been for YOUR sakes in Christ’s sight.

white collar kip is a troll. :P

Answer 3

I would recommend you visit the congregation your niece attends.

It is called disfellowshipping not shunning.

As to rules, the WT doesn't 'make rules'. They provide guidelines from God's Word.

one such guide line is that marriage is only ended by death of a mate or if one mate commits adultery.

If a mate commits adultery and the Innocent mate forgives the marriage remains.

The marriage remains even if one member is disfellowshipped.

Just as the disfellowshipped parent remains a parent.

In the family arrangement the faithful members would have no spiritual fellowship.

On the other hand if I (a non relative) was invited to their house, I would not even say hello to such a person.

My question to you (and I noticed your other question) Why are you striving to be so judgmental?

I'm sure my 'sister' is doing the best she can under some difficult family circumstances.

She is trying to be faithful to Jehovah, his Word, his Son, and your nephew.

My heart goes out to her and her family, it is not Jehovah's will that their lives are so difficult.

edit ---

NWT of the Holy Scriptures

Translators have requested to remain anonymous. and the Society has honored that request.

As to the accuracy of the NWT please read.

New Testament:

While critical of some of its translation choices, BeDuhn called the New World Translation a “remarkably good” translation, “better by far” and “consistently better” than some of the others considered. Overall, concluded BeDuhn, the New World Translation “is one of the most accurate English translations of the New Testament currently available” and “the most accurate of the translations compared.”—Truth in Translation: Accuracy and Bias in English Translations of the New Testament.

“Here at last is a comprehensive comparison of nine major translations of the Bible:

King James Version, New American Standard Bible, New International Version, New Revised Standard Version, New American Bible, Amplified Bible, Today's English Version (Good News Bible), Living Bible, and the New World Translation.

The book provides a general introduction to the history and methods of Bible translation, and gives background on each of these versions. Then it compares them on key passages of the New Testament to determine their accuracy and identify their bias. Passages looked at include:

John 1:1; John 8:58; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:15-20; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8; 2 Peter 1:1

Jason BeDuhn
Associate Professor of Religious Studies, and Chair
Department of Humanities, Arts, and Religion
Northern Arizona University

Edit (2) -----

These anonymous translators have provided one of the most accurate bibles available today.

These anonymous translators gave this translation away for free to be printed.

Writes Alan S. Duthie: “If we know who the translators or the publishers of a particular Bible translation are, does it help us to decide whether that translation is good or bad? Not directly. There is no substitute for examining the characteristics of each translation itself.”

Interestingly, the jacket of the 1971 Reference Edition of the New American Standard Bible similarly stated: “We have not used any scholar’s name for reference or recommendations because it is our belief God’s Word should stand on its merits.”


Even though we know who the translators are of the NIV,
Notice what they said about their bible:

a spokesman for the “New International Version” wrote: “You are right that Jehovah is a distinctive name for God and ideally we should have used it. But we put 21/4 million dollars into this translation and a sure way of throwing that down the drain is to translate, for example, Psalm 23 as, ‘Yaweh is my shepherd.’ Immediately, we would have translated for nothing.”

Answer 4

I do entirely not think so.

JW's practice adherence to doctrine and a person's thinking and actions must follow this.

The doctrine is biblical.

Among other denominations this is also practiced even to a much greater degree. JW's spend many hours and prayer trying to reach a loving decision.

If a person is not repentant then they are considered reprobate of mind or in state of apostasy.

Vows before God to be a wife are part of God's plan not man's. The relationship is between God, Jesus, husband, and wife.

There is also the injunction by God to honor one's (earthly) father and mother.

Feel free to talk specifically about this with a JW.

The Watchtower literature is based entirely on the bible go to the site below. read an article or two - I will wager you will find no biblical error.

Answer 5

When you can tell me how a man for 30 years WITH the holy spirit (John the Baptist for example) can sin, then I will tell you how a man who is perfect did not sin - as you say, without the holy spirit. First, no one said he did not have ANY holy spirit during that 30 years. He was not ANOINTED to be the King of God's Kingdom for 30 years. But each of us can pray for the holy spirit and be imperfect. I'm sure, when Jesus went to the temple and "held his own" against the learned rabbis of his day, he had a measure of holy spirit. Jews were taught to pray, and to pray for God's guidance, protection and the help of the holy spirit. So what makes you think that Jesus did not do the same? Even earlier than at the age of 30? He was a faithful Jew and had a God-fearing mother and foster father. They would have taught him to do so. His anointing at the age of 30 was a special bestowal of the holy spirit, just as ancient servants of old received to carry out the miracles, the resurrections, the cures, and the counsels and prophecies they received. An example - Moses had God's spirit and backing long before he faced Pharaoh. But when he faced Pharaoh and led the Israelites out of Egypt, he had an additional amount of God's holy spirit. And remember the account in Numbers chapter 11 where Jehovah God TOOK or REMOVED some of the holy spirit from Moses and gave it to 70 other older men to serve in a special capacity? That did not leave Moses with NO holy spirit. No, he continued to have the measure of holy spirit needed to get the Israelites to the promised land. So as you said in your own words ------- "John was filled with the Holy Spirit from before birth and yet was a sinner," Wouldn't the holy spirit KEEP him from sinning? And if it didn't - then the holy spirit would not have anything to do with Jesus being perfect or sinless. Logic seems to have been forgotten when this question was asked.

Answer 6

Our convention for 2007 Follow the Christ addresses how we should treat disfellowshipped individuals. Apostle wrote about not socializing with those who abandon Bible truths this is a protection for those who chose to continue on the way to life. And hopefully it will bring the one who left the truth back to their senses. Now, if they are family and live in your home such as you children, husband and/or wife you would still socialize with them and try to help them. Now, if they are not in your home when they are disfellowshipped then no you would not socialize with them family or not. And you certainly would not move them back in your house.

Answer 7

No.

Almighty God is neither mean-spirited nor evil, and He is the Divine Author of the bible which establishes the Scriptural practice of disfellowshipping.

True Christians (such as 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

Answer 8

--FAMILIES can have a family life with their disfellowshipped members who are in their direct household , living at home!

-- BUT IF THE FELLOWSHIPPING as a "family" is supporting the wrong acts of the persons and this is planely visible to members of the congregations and elders, there indeed can be direct counsel given by the elders to the family members who are not disfellowshipped!

w81 9/15/26-31
***IN THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY CIRCLE
--9 A person might become a Christian without others in that one’s family circle accepting the faith. For instance, a wife might be serving Jehovah, but her husband not. Despite that, she is still “one flesh” with her husband and is obliged to love and respect him. (Gen. 2:24; 1 Pet. 3:1-6) Or she might be married to a man who was a dedicated Christian but was later expelled from the congregation. Yet that would not end their marital ties; only death or a Scriptural divorce would do that.—1 Cor. 7:39; Matt. 19:9.
--10 Similarly, if a relative, such as a parent, son or daughter, is disfellowshiped or has disassociated himself, blood and family ties remain. Does that mean, then, that in the family circle everything remains the same when one member is disfellowshiped? Definitely not.
--11 A disfellowshiped person has been spiritually cut off from the congregation; the former spiritual ties have been completely severed. This is true even with respect to his relatives, including those within his immediate family circle. Thus, family members—while acknowledging family ties—will no longer have any spiritual fellowship with him.—1 Sam. 28:6; Prov. 15:8, 9.
--12 That will mean changes in the spiritual fellowship that may have existed in the home. For example, if the husband is disfellowshiped, his wife and children will not be comfortable with him conducting a family Bible study or leading in Bible reading and prayer. If he wants to say a prayer, such as at mealtime, he has a right to do so in his own home. But they can silently offer their own prayers to God. (Prov. 28:9; Ps. 119:145, 146) What if a disfellowshiped person in the home wants to be present when the family reads the Bible together or has a Bible study? The others might let him be present to listen if he will not try to teach them or share his religious ideas.
--13 If a minor child is disfellowshiped, the parents will still care for his physical needs and provide moral training and discipline. They would not conduct a Bible study directly with the child, with him participating. Yet this does not mean that he would not be required to sit in on the family study. And they might direct attention to parts of the Bible or Christian publications that contain counsel he needs. (Prov. 1:8-19; 6:20-22; 29:17; Eph. 6:4) They can have him accompany them to and sit with them at Christian meetings, hoping that he will take to heart Biblical counsel.
--14 But what if a close relative, such as a son or a parent who does not live in the home, is disfellowshiped and subsequently wants to move back there? The family could decide what to do depending on the situation.
--15 For example, a disfellowshiped parent may be sick or no longer able to care for himself financially or physically. The Christian children have a Scriptural and moral obligation to assist. (1 Tim. 5:8) Perhaps it seems necessary to bring the parent into the home, temporarily or permanently. Or it may appear advisable to arrange for care where there is medical personnel but where the parent would have to be visited. What is done may depend on factors such as the parent’s true needs, his attitude and the regard the head of the household has for the spiritual welfare of the household.
--16 This could be true also with regard to a child who had left home but is now disfellowshiped or disassociated.
Sometimes Christian parents have accepted back into the home for a time a disfellowshiped child who has become physically or emotionally ill. But in each case the parents can weigh the individual circumstances. Has a disfellowshiped son lived on his own, and is he now unable to do so? Or does he want to move back primarily because it would be an easier life? What about his morals and attitude? Will he bring “leaven” into the home?—Gal. 5:9.
--17 In Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son, the father ran to meet and then accepted his returning son. The father, seeing the lad’s pitiful condition, responded with natural parental concern. We can note, though, that the son did not bring home harlots or come with a disposition to continue his sinful life in his father’s home. No, he expressed heartfelt repentance and evidently was determined to return to living a clean life.—Luke 15:11-32.

***DISFELLOWSHIPED RELATIVES NOT LIVING AT HOME
--18 The second situation that we need to consider is that involving a disfellowshiped or disassociated relative who is not in the immediate family circle or living at one’s home. Such a person is still related by blood or marriage, and so there may be some limited need to care for necessary family matters. Nonetheless, it is not as if he were living in the same home where contact and conversation could not be avoided. We should keep clearly in mind the Bible’s inspired direction: “Quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person . . . , not even eating with such a man.”—1 Cor. 5:11.
--19 Consequently, Christians related to such a disfellowshiped person living outside the home should strive to avoid needless association, even keeping business dealings to a minimum. The reasonableness of this course becomes apparent from reports of what has occurred where relatives have taken the mistaken view, ‘Though he is disfellowshiped, we are related and so can treat him the same as before.’ From one area comes this:
--“One person who was disfellowshiped was related to about one third of the congregation. All of his relations continued to associate with him.”
***And a highly respected Christian elder writes:
--“In our area some disfellowshiped ones with large families have been met, as they enter the lobby of the Kingdom Hall, with a fanfare of backslapping and handshaking (even though the disfellowshiped one was known by them to be still living immorally). I feel a deep concern that those who have been disfellowshiped need to see that their course is hated by Jehovah and by his people and that they should feel a real need to become genuinely repentant. What will help these disfellowshiped ones to change when they are continually greeted by all in their large families who know of their practices?”
--20 There must have been congregations in the first century where many were related. But when someone was disfellowshiped, were all the relatives to carry on as normal as long as they did not discuss Scriptural matters with the disfellowshiped person? No. Otherwise the congregation would not really be applying the command: “Remove the wicked man from among yourselves.”—1 Cor. 5:13.
--21 Great care needs to be exercised that a person’s situation as a disfellowshiped sinner is neither overlooked nor minimized. As the sons of Korah well demonstrated, our chief loyalty must be to Jehovah and his theocratic arrangement. We can be sure that when we uphold his standards and prefer association with his organized people, rather than with wrongdoers, we will have his protection and blessing.—Ps. 84:10-12.