question for Jehovah witnesses,do you believe that if your family?

Question

or relatives do not believe as you and attend your church,you are not to associate with them any longer?

Answer 1

If they were witnesses and are not witnesses any more, the witnesses are required to shun them. If they are not witnesses and never were, they are to be treated as possable future witnesses


Shreaded is not giving the accurate story...I haven't had a single member of my family have anything to do with me for over 25 years! Not 1! do not tell ME that yo do not shun family....This is a dirty little secret thet Witnesses do not want you to know about.


Shreaded....Will you point out how unchristian it is to the Witnesses who disagree with you in this forum?

Answer 2

The bible says to honor your mother and your father.
It also shows the importance of the family unit time and time again.
Jehovah's Witnesses are not required to shun family members, and the Watchtower Publications DO NOT tell them to shun family, particularly close family.
Some Witnesses in misguided enthusiasm have unfortunately gone too far in shunning family, (I find this horrifying myself), but this is not a worldwide practice.

In regard to Unsilenced Lambs comments I again refer up to the horrifying practice that some people identifying with Wintesses use in shunning family members to that extreme.
IT IS NOT A CHRISTIAN PRACTICE. So if they are claiming to be Witnesses and doing that then they are not following the bible, and that is something they have to live with. One thing I have learned, is that if their heart is that hard to start with then God's truth obviously hasn't penetrated them, and they areprobably not nice people anyway. (That sounds harsh, but in my experience thats all i can suggest).

"...Cutting off from the Christian congregation does not involve immediate death, so family ties continue. Thus, a man who is disfellowshipped or who disassociates himself may still live at home with his Christian wife and faithful children. Respect for God’s judgments and the congregation’s action will move the wife and children to recognize that by his course, he altered the spiritual bond that existed between them. Yet, since his being disfellowshipped does not end their blood ties or marriage relationship, normal family affections and dealings can continue...." Watchtower, 4/15 (1988 )
It goes on to state that dealings with disfellowshiped family members outside the immediate family would not be excessive, which would protect us from negative influences.
I am concerned when brothers and sisters believe it is ok to set harsh and loveless boundaries. Yes, we should not set ourselves up to be influenced by disfellowshiped relations, but they are family and as such we have obligations and ties. I am just thankful that Jehovah does not judge us in the way "we" have judged others - he is a forgiving and loving god and we are merely humans, even if we call ourselves christian.

Answer 3

Nope, not in the least. I do believe in the adage, bad associates spoil usefull habits though.

Example, one of my brothers tends to be a real jerk, and often tries to get me to do things against my conciense. I choose to limit my time around him.

His wife, soon to be ex, is much nicer. I often enjoy talking with her.

I am a Christian, one of Jehovah's Witnesses, neither of them are.

Answer 4

If they have previously been associated with us and do not want anything to do with the witnesses anymore, or they have committed a serious sin and are unrepentant, than no I will not. But if they are not witnesses and have never been then I will associate with them.

Answer 5

It seems unlikely that a mere difference in belief would move a Christian to limit his association with a family member.

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

Answer 6

No,

What makes it difficult is that most non witness family members only want to get together on pagan or national holidays.

We love all our family, including those disfellowshipped from the truth. (those we will not associate with, but that doesn't mean we stop loving them.)
.

Answer 7

Up until June of this year, I had no family who were Jehovah's Witnesses.
Some shunned me, others although they disagreed with, still love me and talk to me.

Answer 8

None of my immediate family are JW and we get along JUST FINE!