Jehovah Witnesses I am Confused! I will not be able to communicate?

Question

I came across Howiej28 question to Jehovah's Witness about a member who left the organization and how he can no longer speak to him. Why not? I am studing and my bible instructor did not tell me that current memebers can not associate with ex-members. So if I had a friend who left the organization I would not be able to communicate with them??? Even if they are still a good person but no longer believes what I believe? I do not know if I want to be apart of an organization that does that. So the love of the organizaiton is conditional??
So I will only be able to communicate with Jehovah Witnesses? That sounds cultish.

Answer 1

Hello again,
You've received some very good answers from my fellow Jehovah's Witnesses, so I don't need to repeat the scriptures they mentioned.

Can you see from these scriptures that the early Christian congregations, some members having been taught directly by Jesus, did actually disfellowship ones from the congregation? (See answer from "JC".) The scriptures tell us that thereafter they were to 'stop associating' with them, treat them 'like a man of the nations,' and as for apostates, they were to 'never say a greeting to or invite them into their homes.' There's no way to understand those scriptures other then how they are stated.

Why don't most churches in Christendom do this? Good question. In most churches you can do anything you want: smoke, get drunk, steal, commit adultery, live together without being married, lie, gamble, etc. etc. Could that be why so many atheists and others view so-called "Christians" as hypocrites (saying one thing and doing another)?

Disfellowshipping was done in the early Christian congregations (and today among JWs) to maintain a spiritually clean and healthy congregation, as well as to move the unrepentant wrongdoer to repentance. Consider the feelings of one who was disfellowshipped and later reinstated: 'I am happy that Jehovah loves his people enough to see that his organization is kept clean. What may seem harsh to outsiders is both necessary and really a loving thing to do. I am grateful that our heavenly Father is a loving and forgiving God.’

Does following the example of Christians like the apostle Paul, Timothy, Peter, and others make JWs a cult? Would those who label JWs as a cult also say that of the early Christians? Acts 28:22 says: "But we think it proper to hear from you what your thoughts are, for truly as regards this sect it is known to us that everywhere it is spoken against.”

Granted, the concept of disfellowshipping is very difficult for some to understand, but if you could just hear the expressions of repentant ones, who appreciate the loving help from the elders and Jehovah's forgiveness, you would have a completely different picture. The comments on this site from unrepentant ones reveal a very unchristian, deep-seated, vengeful spirit. You will recognize it if you just "listen." In contrast, "listen" to the loving, encouraging, and helpful comments from Jehovah's Witnesses.

This might help you. I noticed in another of your questions, you have children. When your children do something that you feel they should be disciplined for, do you sometimes put them in "time out"? Perhaps they have to sit in a chair or in their room by themselves and they can't talk to anyone for a period of time. You're hoping that they will think about what they've done, feel sorry for it, and change their actions and attitude. And usually they do, right? You're happier for it and so are they. Are you mean and unloving? No, of course not. What if you never corrected them? Together they might get away with more and more until they're out of control. So, similarly, God disciplines those he loves. (Heb 12:5-11)

As to your last question, JWs communicate with others who are not JWs all the time, wherever we go. We love people and do not isolate ourselves from others.

At times, a few JWs may for one reason or another stop associating with the congregation, not because of wrongdoing, but from other things going on in their life (anxieties of life, pressure from family, working long hours, depression, etc.) We would never shun such ones, but go out of our way to show love and compassion for them, letting them know that we love and miss them.

My hope for you is that you will continue studying and pray for God's holy spirit to help you understand how to "worship him in spirit and truth, for, indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike ones to worship him." John 4:24.

Answer 2

Instead of asking such a important question on this website,you should be asking your study conductor to explain it to you,from the Bible.
This is a Biblical requirement and has nothing to do with being part of a cult.
Jehovah's organisation is clean and pure and to stay that way,those who do not wish to serve Jehovah for whatever reasons or those who sin badly and are unrepentant must be removed from the organisation to keep the congregation pure.
Have a look at these scriptures and ask your study conductor to go through them with you:
2 Thess.3:14,15;1Cor.5:9-11;2 John10.
Plus there are many watchtower articles that your study conductor could go over with you to help you see that this is not a cold hearted arrangement but a loving arrangment to safeguard those who love Jehovah and wish to do what is right in serving their God.
Lastly take to heart the words found at 1Cor 15:33:"Do not be misled. Bad association spoil useful habits".

Answer 3

Perhaps this is Helpful..
Once a person becomes one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, is he always counted as such?

No, Jehovah’s Witnesses are not like religions who hold, ‘Once a member, always a member.’ A small percentage of individuals choose to disassociate themselves from the Christian congregation or are expelled because they are unrepentant wrongdoers.

On one occasion many disciples turned away from Jesus and “would no longer walk with him.” (John 6:66) The Bible also explains that if a Christian unrepentantly practices gross sin, the congregation is to ‘remove the wicked man from among themselves’ and ‘quit mixing in company with him.’—1 Corinthians 5:9-13.

Thus, today, if a Christian falls into a course of sin, a committee of spiritually qualified elders meets with him. They want to see if he is repentant and can be readjusted. (Galatians 6:1) If not, the elders obey the Bible’s direction to disfellowship the sinner so that the congregation will be “free from ferment.”—1 Corinthians 5:7.

Or, as mentioned in John 6:66, occasionally a Witness on his own initiative will decide to leave the way of truth. He may even make known his decision after the committee begins to look into his wrongdoing. He may inform them in writing, or state before witnesses, that he wants to disassociate himself from the congregation and not be known as a Witness. Then it will no longer be necessary for the elders to continue their investigation. However, the elders would then make a brief announcement of his disassociation so that the congregation will know that he “went out from us.” (1 John 2:19) They then will adhere to the inspired injunction ‘not to receive such a one into their homes or say a greeting to him, so as not to become sharers in his wicked works.’—2 John 10, 11.

Hence, people are not compelled to remain a part of the congregation. But the vast majority of Jehovah’s Witnesses have the attitude of the apostles who voluntarily stuck by Jesus, receiving his spiritual help and enjoying the warm fellowship of God’s congregation.—Luke 22:28.

Enough Said.

Answer 4

It comes directly from the Bible, and if you think thats cultist, then thats your opinion. This is only the case if someone was baptized then became an apostate..

1 Corinthians 5 9-13
“In my letter I wrote you to 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.”

2 Thess 3:6- 14
“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… For your part, brothers, do not give up in doing right. 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 9-11
Everyone that pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God… If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, never receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him. For he that says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works.”

These scriptures state that you must disassociate yourself if your brother (spiritual or literal brother or sister) is practicing serious sin, or those who do not remain in the teachings of the Lord.

So don't let other peoples opinions effect you, turn to the Bible first when knowing whats wrong and whats right.

I hope this helped.

Answer 5

If they were removed from the congregation, it was because they committed a serious offense and were not repentant. This is a last resort only. We try to reason with they first and try to correct their hearts, but if they persist in their sinful course we have no choice but to remove them and discontinue communication. It is a difficult thing to do. These people are as close to us as family. WE hope that they will change there hearts and turn around and come back to there senses. It is especially hard if the one being expelled is an actual family member, we can spend time with them in all other necessary activities, except spiritual activities. We don't want to hurt them, but we cannot tolerate persistent sinners among us. It is done to keep the congregation morally clean. They may return only after they have proven they are truly repentant. We forgive them and accept them back and the healing begins.

Those who leave may come back if they choose, unless they become apostates. (People who actively oppose us who were former brothers or sisters) In these cases, think of Jesus’ parable of the prodigal son.

I hope this clarifies things for you. Journey Well...

Answer 6

First of all, why did that member leave the organization? was it due to a serious sin? Is that person disfellowshipped? Many things are to be considered.

1 Cor 15:33 "Bad associaiton spoil useful habits..." therefore, if one has left the organization willfully or was disfellowshipped, and you continue to associate with that person, eventually, it will spoil your "useful habits."

Once you are baptized, you can communicate with others who are not JWs.... as JWs, we cannot avoid it. We work with non-JWs, we sit with in buses, trains, etc... we talk to them in the ministry. It is when an individual commited sin and unrepentful that the Apostle Paul have warned us about...

Please, talk to the person studying the Bible with you.

Answer 7

It's not a cult. I am sorry that that is a little confusing. The fact of the matter is that that person has sinned against Jehovah. And they are being disciplined for what they ahve done. They have a chance to repent. They chose not to. Therefore, they are disfellowshipped and until they repent and take the inititave to work they way back, they are not talked to by sincere Christians. I hope that's all clear. If you need more info, email me.

Answer 8

You will have such loving association with the ones in good standing that it won't be that much of an issue. The concept is biblical. One bad apple spoils the whole bushel. The person is still allowed to attend meetings and can petition to be reinstated if repentant. The disciple is itself a form of love. Heb 12:6 for whom Jehovah loves he disciplines, in fact, he scourges every one whom he receives as a son.

Talk to your teacher about it.

Answer 9

The goal is to ultimately HELP the erring person, and it actually does so. Please read the following information from our website:

Go to our official website at watchtower dot org and after the org/ in the address bar add this: e/19880415/article_01.htm

It is called "Discipline That Can Yield Peaceable Fruit." You may find this informative, interesting, and enlightening.

For some reason of late Yahoo has prevented me from linking.

Answer 10

I dont know much about the JW religion but I know that the worship Jesus Christ in their own way and that does not make them a cult. A cult it a group the worship a person not a God