Jehovah's Witnesses:?

Question

I found out from a friend that if I wanted to "join" you because I've had sex before I was married I would have to talk with the "elders" and get their "forgiveness" before I could be part of your congregation (which can take a long time). Also if I did come to your meeting I could not talk to anyone but the "elders" and if someone tried to speak with me I would have to tell them that I was not allowed to speak with them. Isn't my forgiveness between me and God.

I THINK YOU'RE CRAZY (right now)-- please help me to understand your point of view. I'm pretty open minded so please explain.

Here are some scriptures:

Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has [freely] forgiven you, so must you also [forgive]. Colossians 3: 13

I acknowledged my sin to You, and my iniquity I did not hide. I said, I will confess my transgressions to the Lord [continually unfolding the past till all is told]--then You [instantly] forgave me the guilt and iniquity of my sin. Psalm 32: 5

In Him we have redemption (deliverance and salvation) through His blood, the remission (forgiveness) of our offenses (shortcomings and trespasses), in accordance with the riches and the generosity of His gracious favor. Ephesians 1: 7

If we [freely] admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, He is faithful and just (true to His own nature and promises) and will forgive our sins [dismiss our lawlessness] and [continuously] cleanse us from all unrighteousness [everything not in conformity to His will in purpose, thought, and action].
1 John 1: 9

Q cumber: Y the He LL would I wanna "sign-up" to a religion that does believes a MAN must forgive you NOT GOD?? AND U didn't answer the question!

Answer 1

As many have said before the people that do get expelled have already been baptized and know what Jehovah expects of them. its like when you have bad apple , you dont leave it in with the rest right? no cuz itll rotten the rest. Just like that the person that has sinned is expelled. [1 Cor 5:9-11 ]But dont worry if they sincerely repent they are re-instablished.

And this is not something the JW's came up with. There are examples in the bible of people that were expelled

-1 Cor 5:5,11,13
-1 Timothy 1:19,20


Yes youre right your forgiveness is between you and God, the elders just do what they think is best for the whole congregation before they make any decision they pray to God for his spirit. But someone may always be able to fool the elders because only Jehovah knows whats in you heart.
-1 samuels 16:6,7

Answer 2

all men and women have like passions. that means on their own they are capable of anything. Sin is sin yet we do not recognize that we all have sinned and still do. God gets the credit for a renewed mind and heart. If we are to do or be anything for Gods kingdom to advance on earth it is from him.
God has this treasure in earthen vassals and that is us.(Earthen Vassals) this is a will to do as God leads us. Jeremiah 29:11 God has a plan. We can make all the plans in the world but only a relationship with the Father can make it come forth. Sure you have a desire! But did it come from God's spirit are just what you would like? God has the power to change everything around you,and what he does astounds us. Prayer. God makes things happen when we pray. Isaiah 58. You collide between two opinions.

Answer 3

This so-called "question" seems to be based on several false premises.

Jehovah's Witnesses do not seek "joiners".

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that a potential Christian must repent of his serious sin in prayer to God, completely without the involvement of "elders" or any other human.

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that an "elder" (or any other human) can only forgive sins committed against himself (such as gossip). No human can pretend to forgive sins against God's Laws. God seems to forgive sin based on one's prayerful repentance, and the merit of Christ's sacrifice.

Jehovah's Witnesses speak politely with any interested persons or students who attend their congregation meetings. The typical Witness would be unsurprised to learn that a non-Witness at his meeting had actually fornicated.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20000622/

Answer 4

Ahh, Whoever your 'friend' is he doesn't have a clue. That's one of the more ridiculous lies I've heard lately. We have folks come into the Kingdom Hall all of the time who've maybe been in prison, killed people in war, were or are drug addicts, prostitutes, whatever, they are all welcomed, as long as they are looking to make changes in their life. We do not look at a persons past but at the person. "All have sinned and fallen short." We know this.
What your friend has told you is just not so. So many people only parrot what they hear from someone else about Jehovah's Witnesses without any real knowledge. You would not have to speak to the elders concerning your past life. You would be welcomed and spoken too by more people than you maybe want. We're always happy to see new ones at the Kingdom Hall.

When I first began studying with the Witnesses I was told all sort of fantastical lies. I would have to leave my husband, I couldn't be with my family anymore, and on and on. I knew these things weren't true, because I'd been around Witnesses long enough to know the truth about them. However, before that, I use to chase them away from my door. LOL, lots of Witnesses used to do that!

Anyway, if you want the truth about us, I suggest you go to the Kingdom Hall and find out for yourself. Don't trust what anyone else tells you. FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF.

Answer 5

That is not true. The censoring of people not being allowed to talk to those in the congregation is for those who have known the truth and violated it.
As for someone who is learnig the truth, and has committed sins in the past?
You can pretty much talk to anyone in the congregation.
The only thing that the elders will ask you at a certain point, (like before you are allowed to go into the field ministry) is if you are secretly practicing any sins.
Of course, you can lie, but that is not a good idea, because God will know that you are lying.

Answer 6

that seems strange to me that those who put down the witnesses used the worst language they could come up with.
When the witnesses were being attacted they responded by being nice and explaining their stand.
Don't you feel that as a representative for your religion you should be a good person? You are saying that they are unforgiveing and hateful. When you are calling them the F word. Who is the bad guy here? I believe the other religions are showing themselves to be slanders and back biters and just plain hateful. I went once and was living with my girl friend and they were nice to me. So your little story most people knows is not true because I read somewhere that for their Easter celebration they had about 20 million people.
Lots of people go who are not witnesses.

Answer 7

I used to be a part of jehova's witness and I never heard anything about not being able to speak to anyone there! I agree when you say that your sin or problem and forgiveness is just between you and god. I think that when you commit something bad upon god's eyes then you have to go upon him and nobody else to ask for forgiveness but you have to speak from heart and you can be sure he will forgive you because he forgives anybody that sincerely talks to him . I have never believed that you need to go up to some pastor or church to be able to speak to god, as long as he is in your heart and mind every single day, it does not matter what religion you are from.

Answer 8

Well I am one, and as far as I know, the only time when you can't talk to people is if you have been a Jehovah's Witness, have done something wrong (for example sex before marraige), weren't repentant, and left, then come back to the meetings. If you have never been to the meetings before, it doesn't matter if you had sex before marraige.

I'm sorry that you were misled with what you were told. I hope that you can get past that, and at least accept the religion. Have a great day! :)

Answer 9

None of what you were told was true. I have been a witness for 43 years and over that time have studied the bible with many people who did everything from living with someone they were not married to. To one who said he had killed people in the war and it bothered him.
No one not talked to them they were welcomed with open arms in the congregation. No one asked about their previous life. Because it is not important.
what you did before studying the bible doesn't count.
The only thing you talk to the elders about is when you make a stand and say yes I agree to do what the bible says.
You have been dedicated and Babtised into that religon.
You know the rules and you have agreed to them.
Then this person brought a women into his house to live with without marrying her. then he was disfellowshipped and the only ones he could talk to was the elders.
this is the only way we have to date to shock people to their senses and say "hay that is bad conduct and that is just unacceptable" Today most churches turn a blind eye to wrong doing and you can murder and rape and pilliage and be a member in good standing.
This is for our protection, if someone is a witness we know they are honest and reliable and trust worthy. One man told me he wanted a women who was a witness because he knew she knew the rules and was being an obedient christian or she would be disfellowshipped.
someone close to me married a man she met in Babtist Church and he beat her and went out on her and was very abusive. I asked why didn't the pastor tell her about him?
He didn't want to talk about members in his church.
To me that was wrong. I want to know that they care about the conduct of the members of our religion.

Answer 10

Um, there must be a serious miscommunication. You aren't a Wintess, why would we expect you to have been perfect, which we ourselves haven't been. When people come, I enjoy meeting them, I have no idea what their personal lives are like, and certainly wouldn't treat them as he described. Sorry for the miscommunication.