JW's: Do the elders ever....?

Question

make mistakes when they are on a judicial commitee? Is it possible for someone to appear to be repentant and walk away with a slap on the wrist, only to be an apostate in disguise? If that happens, doesn't that mean that god isn't a part of that judicial commitee? If he was, there would be no mistakes....ever.

dsf s: What I meant was, if a person lied to the elders and the result was, instead of being disfellowshipped like they deserved, they only got a slap on the wrist, does that mean that god is not behind the judging that the elders do?

Trk: That's the funniest thing I ever heard. Does that mean I am going to get struck by lightening?

Answer 1

How do you think child mole steers get protected by the Elders...and then go and re abuse....It works both ways..They disfellowship the wrong people sometimes, and they protect those who should be turned over to the cops sometimes.

My Dad is an active Elder and a child molester..He has molested me and several children in the congregation, and because of the 2 witness rule, is still an active beloved elder...

Answer 2

This experience shows Jehovah does take care of his people:

In Poland, where the work is done underground, 3 elders were working on a country road. The sky was cloudy. Suddenly a bolt of lightning killed the middle brother. The other 2 hurriedly hid his body in the bushes, to go and remove literature, etc. from his home before the officials came. They take over any possessions they find and give them to whomever they feel can use them. Among his possessions were found a complete list of all the Witnesses from miles around. He was not a brother, but an impostor, planning to turn this list over to the police. As Br. Lauriz says, if these hadn't come from Bethel, we'd never believe them.

Elders do not give polygraph test, so they have to take each persons word on the matter. It may take time, but a person's true colors will eventually come out. Whether someone gets away with something or not, the important thing is Jehovah knows and can read their heart. So in the long run, it will be taken care of.

edit: Why? Do you think you deserve to be struck by lightening? You missed the whole point!

edit: Unsilenced Lamb: If you know your father is molesting children, then you are in the wrong for not turning him into the police. Why have you never pressed charges yourself? Wouldn't that help you have some closure, so you can get on with your life?

Pedi C: This is not an urban legend. This was actual events that took place, told at the Assembly. Of course, it's your choice to believe it or not.

Answer 3

No it doesn't mean God is not behind it, it just means that the elders can't read hearts, and so must base their cases on witnesses or what the person says, and read what God wants in the bible. Eventually, any apostate, or wolf dressed as a sheep will be removed.

Answer 4

Sadly, yes.

The elders on a judicial committee do sometimes make mistakes. That does not mean that Jehovah was uninvolved, for at least two reasons.

1. The elders might ignore the direction of the holy spirit, depending on their human thinking and emotions (consciously or unconsciously).

2. Jehovah may permit some situation to continue for some reason known only to heaven


Interestingly, however, even those Christians who enjoyed direct communication from heaven at times came to wrong conclusions; these wrong conclusions were even communicated "out among the brothers"!

For example, the apostle Peter enjoyed remarkable privileges in the early congregation, but it seems that he was the source of an incorrect teaching about the apostle John that was not formally corrected until several DECADES had passed, and John himself finally wrote his gospel about 98 C.E.

(John 21:21-23) Peter said to Jesus: “Lord, what will this man do [that is, the apostle John]?” Jesus said to him: “If it is my will for him to remain until I come, of what concern is that to you? You continue following me.” In consequence, this saying went out among the brothers, that [the apostle John] would not die. However, Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but: “If it is my will for him to remain until I come, of what concern is that to you?”


Despite their human failings and occasional mistakes, what group is working harder than Jehovah's Witnesses to preach God's message globally (as Noah did before the Deluge)?

(2 Peter 2:5) Noah, a preacher of righteousness...

(Matthew 24:14) And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20000622/
http://watchtower.org/e/19990715/article_02.htm

Answer 5

I agree with dsf s. The elders are human and are imperfect, if they make a mistake such as that, it will be corrected in time. Jehovah won't allow any of his congregations to continue being unclean. There are instances in the Bible where Jehovah used bad people to accomplish his goals, the same thing might be taking place today.

Answer 6

Can mistakes happen?? Of course, humans are imperfect. Also the Bible only mentions one man who could read hearts, Jesus the son of God.

Your postion, while somewhat interesting, does have one hole I see. The Bible is full of servants of God, who clearly had his blessing and were being led by God who made mistakes. Sad but true. Look at the apostles, they worked with God's son, and still messed up.

Answer 7

trk's JW urban legend reminds me of the smurf stories of old.