..rather than being shunned. Shunning is an evil tradition and has not keep any church righteous and pure as they claim it will. Shunning is pressure to force people back to spread the word of selling books and magazines.
2007-10-19 10:00:08 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
There already is a "middle ground"; it is being inactive.
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, 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
2007-10-19 16:56:08 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
First as for the comment about "shunning is an evil tradition". I find this kind of funny as a few on here have complained, claiming, that Michael Jackson is still a Witness, he isn't, and about how wrong it is. Kind of a darned if you do, darned if you don't thing.
There are people who simply become inactive.
As for forcing people back, clearly you are mistaken. For one thing, we don't sell our literature, we give it freely, giving it isn't a requirement, not by a long shot.
I am kind of reminded of my brother. Baptism is allot like getting married, not something to be done litely. My brother got married, but has decided on a life of not being faithful to his wife.
Should she not be able to divorce him??
2007-10-21 02:22:19 · answer #2 · answered by Ish Var Lan Salinger 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Does God have a middle ground, no.
2 Corinthians 6:14,-16, Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers. For what fellowship do righteousness and lawlessness have? Or what sharing does light have with darkness? 15 Further what harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what portion does a faithful person have with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement does God's temple have with idols?
2007-10-19 10:10:20 · answer #3 · answered by Just So 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I attended our District convention the 1st of ultimate month, congratulations and welcome on your non secular relatives! one million Peter 3:21 is one in each and every of my in demand scriptures while it comprises baptism, there are a number of yet I carry expensive the remark that we request from Jehovah a solid experience of right and incorrect) That which corresponds to that's additionally now saving YOU, extremely, baptism, (no longer the putting away of the dirt of the flesh, however the request made to God for a solid experience of right and incorrect,) in the process the resurrection of Jesus Christ. on your combat against devil(Eph 6:12) a solid experience of right and incorrect is an extremely sturdy weapon! Agape fixerken
2016-10-04 04:30:32 · answer #4 · answered by marrone 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just walk away.
Baptism is just a silly ritual, it means nothing.
2007-10-19 10:06:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Just walk away.
2007-10-19 10:04:15 · answer #6 · answered by carmel 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋