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Ask about Jehovah's Witnesses

Pegg

Jehovah our God is One
Did JW hear the voice of JESUS?


My sheep listen to my voice;
I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

no, we dont physically hear jesus voice...not even our founder, Charles Russell, claimed to receive any special revelation or vision or prophecy or anything of that nature

we hear Jesus voice through the pages of the bible, by applying what is written. It is actually by applying the written word that we receive holy spirit, understanding and grow in accurate knowledge.
 

Rainbow Mage

Lib Democrat/Agnostic/Epicurean-ish/Buddhist-ish
So are Jehovah's Witnesses required to attend Kingdom Hall or can they follow a more solitary form of practice?
 

Pegg

Jehovah our God is One
So are Jehovah's Witnesses required to attend Kingdom Hall or can they follow a more solitary form of practice?

we are all encouraged to attend our meetings because they are how we worship Jehovah. The early christians held meetings where they learnt from each other and studied and prayed and all were encouraged to attend
Hebrews 10:24 And let us consider one another to incite to love and fine works, 25 not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as YOU behold the day drawing near

it would be very difficult to be a JW without being involved with a congregation...For those who are ill and cannot attend meetings, we have a conference phone hook up so that they can still be a part of the congregation. Basically, when one stops going to meetings they tend to fall away from being a JW...we have very high participation rates... its important to participate.
 

Rainbow Mage

Lib Democrat/Agnostic/Epicurean-ish/Buddhist-ish
Ah I see, thanks for all the answers Pegg. One question deserves another.

Why do people get disfellowshipped from the witnesses and what is the process involved? Like what are some of the reasons one might get disfellowshipped, and can they return if they are?
 

Pegg

Jehovah our God is One
Ah I see, thanks for all the answers Pegg. One question deserves another.

Why do people get disfellowshipped from the witnesses and what is the process involved? Like what are some of the reasons one might get disfellowshipped, and can they return if they are?
sure no problem.

disfellowshipping occurs when a person unrepentantly continues to practice a particular sin...its almost always immorality. Any sort of fornication/adultery. Once the elders are aware of a situation they will endeavor to speak with the offender and find out exactly what the situation is. If the offender admits to the wrongdoing and shows a repentant attitude and ceases from the sin, then the elders will provide spiritual guidance to help them put things right with God.

if the person refuses to discontinue with the particular sin, then the elders will have no choice but to either disfellowship them, or accept the persons official written resignation which is known as 'disassociating'

Once disfellowshipped, the person is permitted to continue to attend meetings at their kingdom hall, but they are not permitted to associate with the congregation. The congregation is informed by a public announcement that the person has been disfellowshipped or has dissassociated themselves and this indicates to the congregation that they are not to associate with them.

They are encouraged to return to the congregation any time they are ready. To return they simply contact the elders and ask to meet with them. The elders will seek to establish the persons repentance and if they have ceased from committing the wrongdoing. If the elders are satisfied that the person is sincere, they will reinstate that person and inform the congregation so that they know they can associate with them again.

The thing to know here is that a person isnt immediately disfellowshipped for serious wrongdoing UNLESS they have a bad attitude and a willful desire to continue in the sin. So lets say a young person gets into an immoral relationship, the elders will seek to help the young person end the relationship before they disfellowship them. They may encourage them to think about their actions, highlight the bible principles and offer kind councelling to the individual... they will likely have several meetings with the wrongdoer to establish the motives and intent of the person first.
 

Rainbow Mage

Lib Democrat/Agnostic/Epicurean-ish/Buddhist-ish
Pegg what do you mean when you say the congregation is informed the person is disfellowshipped, so as not to associate with them? To what level does not associating with this person extend? Also on what Biblical principles do you think one can base this idea?
 

Pegg

Jehovah our God is One
Pegg what do you mean when you say the congregation is informed the person is disfellowshipped, so as not to associate with them? To what level does not associating with this person extend? Also on what Biblical principles do you think one can base this idea?

the announcement is made during the service meeting, it is a simple statement to the effect of: "this announcement is to inform the congregation that 'so & so' has been disfellowshipped from the christian congregation" We all know that we are not to associate with a disfellowshipped one so nothing more needs to be said.

There is scriptural precedent to expelling individuals found in both the Hebrew scriptures and in the NT. Jews in the first century could be expelled from their synagogues for wrongdoing and the christians had some expelled from among themselves for wrongdoing too.
There is an example of a man in the Corinthian congregation who was practicing immorality unrepentantly. Paul wrote that this man ‘should be taken away from their midst,’ for he was like a little leaven that could ferment, or corrupt, a whole mass.

1Cor5:10- 11 But now I am writing 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.

So this is why we do not speak to disfellowshipped ones. If they happen to be from our family, we can speak to them and have the usual family contact with them, but we wouldnt have spiritual discussions, prayers or family studies with them.
 

averageJOE

zombie
Speaking of disfellowship: I knew one teenage JW who was dissfellowshiped for joining his highschool soccer team, and a mother for allowing her 8 (I think) year old son participate in a 4th of July performance with the school band.

Are these extreme cases of disfellowshiping or common reasons?
 

Jensen

Active Member
Is it true the elders of the kingdom hall the individual belongs to can castigate and frown upon the individual for doing things like that though? I've read stories of ex-jw being put down for mourning friends and family. I take such stories with a grain of salt. I'd like to hear the other side.


I was compelled to ask this question because I have JW relatives, and it is easier to ask personal questions such as this here,then ask them. In over 30 years not once have they attended a wedding, service or funeral among the family and friends, but will come to the reception afterwards if held at ones home, so I thought that maybe they weren't suppose to.

Jensen
 

Jensen

Active Member
no that is not true. The WT organization do not impose any of these sorts of rules, its a bit of a misconception and its usually based on what individuals themselves choose to do.
The WT teaches us to live by our own conscience... so if I feel comfortable attending a wedding of a friend/relative who is not a JW, then by all means i can attend. Another JW may feel that going into another church is too uncomfortable for them so they choose not to... these choices have nothing to do with the WT organization and its policies or rules. Basically, the WT rules are restricted to what we find set out in scripture only. They do not go beyond that by imposing additional rules in all areas of our lives.

I have attended my grandmothers 'church of england' funeral service, i have also attended a friends wedding in a catholic church. We would individually have to decide where we would draw the line regarding our personal participation at such events.

Pegg,

Thanks for the answer. In the middle 90s I had a bible study for several months, and when attending the Kingdom Hall came up in conversation, I mentioned that I never wear dresses or skirts as they are uncomfortable, and would it be okay to wear dress slacks. Her answer was.... wouldn't you want to be dressed as the rest of us? At the time I took that (maybe wrongly) to mean that she was gently saying that women must wear dresses and skirts. Do all the women wear dresses and skirts,or do some wear slacks?

Jensen
:)
 
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9-10ths_Penguin

1/10 Subway Stalinist
Premium Member
disfellowshipping occurs when a person unrepentantly continues to practice a particular sin...its almost always immorality. Any sort of fornication/adultery. Once the elders are aware of a situation they will endeavor to speak with the offender and find out exactly what the situation is. If the offender admits to the wrongdoing and shows a repentant attitude and ceases from the sin, then the elders will provide spiritual guidance to help them put things right with God.

if the person refuses to discontinue with the particular sin, then the elders will have no choice but to either disfellowship them, or accept the persons official written resignation which is known as 'disassociating'

Once disfellowshipped, the person is permitted to continue to attend meetings at their kingdom hall, but they are not permitted to associate with the congregation. The congregation is informed by a public announcement that the person has been disfellowshipped or has dissassociated themselves and this indicates to the congregation that they are not to associate with them.

They are encouraged to return to the congregation any time they are ready. To return they simply contact the elders and ask to meet with them. The elders will seek to establish the persons repentance and if they have ceased from committing the wrongdoing. If the elders are satisfied that the person is sincere, they will reinstate that person and inform the congregation so that they know they can associate with them again.

The thing to know here is that a person isnt immediately disfellowshipped for serious wrongdoing UNLESS they have a bad attitude and a willful desire to continue in the sin. So lets say a young person gets into an immoral relationship, the elders will seek to help the young person end the relationship before they disfellowship them. They may encourage them to think about their actions, highlight the bible principles and offer kind councelling to the individual... they will likely have several meetings with the wrongdoer to establish the motives and intent of the person first.
How about blood transfusions?

Is disfellowship a normal response to a JW getting a blood transfusion for himself/herself or a family member?

I know this may be a sensitive issue, but the JW stance on blood transfusions is probably my biggest objection to JW beliefs.
 

Jensen

Active Member
sure no problem.

disfellowshipping occurs when a person unrepentantly continues to practice a particular sin...its almost always immorality. Any sort of fornication/adultery. Once the elders are aware of a situation they will endeavor to speak with the offender and find out exactly what the situation is. If the offender admits to the wrongdoing and shows a repentant attitude and ceases from the sin, then the elders will provide spiritual guidance to help them put things right with God.

if the person refuses to discontinue with the particular sin, then the elders will have no choice but to either disfellowship them, or accept the persons official written resignation which is known as 'disassociating'

Once disfellowshipped, the person is permitted to continue to attend meetings at their kingdom hall, but they are not permitted to associate with the congregation. The congregation is informed by a public announcement that the person has been disfellowshipped or has dissassociated themselves and this indicates to the congregation that they are not to associate with them.

They are encouraged to return to the congregation any time they are ready. To return they simply contact the elders and ask to meet with them. The elders will seek to establish the persons repentance and if they have ceased from committing the wrongdoing. If the elders are satisfied that the person is sincere, they will reinstate that person and inform the congregation so that they know they can associate with them again.

The thing to know here is that a person isnt immediately disfellowshipped for serious wrongdoing UNLESS they have a bad attitude and a willful desire to continue in the sin. So lets say a young person gets into an immoral relationship, the elders will seek to help the young person end the relationship before they disfellowship them. They may encourage them to think about their actions, highlight the bible principles and offer kind councelling to the individual... they will likely have several meetings with the wrongdoer to establish the motives and intent of the person first.

Pegg,

What if someone, who is in the process of being dis-fellowship, was wrongly accused? Do they have to prove to the elders that they are wrongly accused? Or do the elders have to show the proof. And has this ever happened?

Jensen
 

Pegg

Jehovah our God is One
Pegg,

Thanks for the answer. In the middle 90s I had a bible study for several months, and when attending the Kingdom Hall came up in conversation, I mentioned that I never wear dresses or skirts as they are uncomfortable, and would it be okay to wear dress slacks. Her answer was.... wouldn't you want to be dressed as the rest of us? At the time I took that (maybe wrongly) to mean that she was gently saying that women must wear dresses and skirts. Do all the women wear dresses and skirts,or do some wear slacks?

Jensen
:)

HI Jensen,
there are no rules that women must wear dresses or skirts, we are only told to wear modest clean neat clothing 1Timothy 2:9-10 Likewise I desire the women to adorn themselves in well-arranged dress, with modesty and soundness of mind, not with styles of hair braiding and gold or pearls or very expensive garb, 10 but in the way that befits women professing to reverence God. If your view is that slacks are modest clean and neat, then by all means you can wear them to the meeting.

Clothing is a conscience matter. We know the principles and we individually apply the prinicples according to our own consciences. My guess is that the particular sister who was studying with you felt that wearing dresses or skirts was the right thing for her to wear. It is fairly common for sisters to wear more feminine clothing...perhaps we JW women see our femininity as something to be proud of so we tend to wear clothing that looks feminine. Slacks are not generally considered to be 'girly' in the west, but more 'boyish' because thats what men wear in our culture. But go to a culture where it is the norm for women to wear pants or men to wear dresses and you'll find the JW's there will likely wear what is normal to them.

But is really up to individuals what they wear. There are no fashion police..although if a baptized brother or sister is wearing obviously immodest clothing, then im pretty sure that the elders may be moved to speak to them privately about their clothing and try and help to readjust their view.
 

Pegg

Jehovah our God is One
Speaking of disfellowship: I knew one teenage JW who was dissfellowshiped for joining his highschool soccer team, and a mother for allowing her 8 (I think) year old son participate in a 4th of July performance with the school band.

Are these extreme cases of disfellowshiping or common reasons?

no, im actually surprised to hear that.

A school soccer team would in no way warrant disfellowshipping. There are professional sports stars who are JW's and have not been disfellowshipped for making a career of sport.... even some well known musicians are JW's and they are still putting out albums.

Im not sure about the 4th of July celebrations...being in australia i dont know much about it.
 

Pegg

Jehovah our God is One
How about blood transfusions?

Is disfellowship a normal response to a JW getting a blood transfusion for himself/herself or a family member?

I know this may be a sensitive issue, but the JW stance on blood transfusions is probably my biggest objection to JW beliefs.

as with any disfellowshipping offense, it is the persons attitude that determines if their wrongdoing was a matter of willful disobedience OR a moment of weakness. If i was to go into hospital for an operation and decide that i will have a transfusion before i get in there, then that is 'willful' because my intention is to have a transfusion... i am deliberately going to break Gods law.

However, if i go into hospital and tell them that i dont want a transfusion if it becomes necessary, and they go ahead and give me a transfusion against my wishes, then I had no 'intent' so I would not be disfellowshipped. There was a case where a sister had a baby and had massive blood loss, while she was awake she continued to refuse a transfusion but her husband who was not a JW demanded the hospital give her a transfusion. She was not disfellowshipped because it was not her intent on having the transfusion.

As with any sin we commit, it is our motives and intentions and heart attitude that determines if we should be disfellowshipped or not.

*added, i just found this from a 1994 Question from Readers article:
If the taking of a blood transfusion is the first offense of a dedicated, baptized Christian due to his immaturity or lack of Christian stability and he sees the error of his action and grieves and repents over it and begs divine forgiveness and forgiveness of God’s congregation on earth, then mercy should be extended to him and he need not be disfellowshiped. He needs to be put under surveillance and to be instructed thoroughly according to the Scriptures upon this subject, and thereby be helped to acquire strength to make decisions according to the Christian standard in any future cases.
 
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Pegg

Jehovah our God is One
Pegg,

What if someone, who is in the process of being dis-fellowship, was wrongly accused? Do they have to prove to the elders that they are wrongly accused? Or do the elders have to show the proof. And has this ever happened?

Jensen

yes they do have a process of appeal and the WT society is very firm that if the person truly believes they are innocent then the elders can have their decision overturned. Here is a snipet from a 1956 article about disfellowshipping...the counsel to elders is very firm:

Disfellowshipings are subject to appeal by the ones disfellowshiped who persist in believing that the committee exceeded itself. Appeals have been made to the Society at Brooklyn and some disfellowshipings have been reversed. This fact proves that some committees have been too eager to excommunicate. Either they have not had the needed witnesses with substantial testimony or have magnified the wrongdoing out of all proportions and have disfellowshiped oppressively and on unscriptural grounds. Disfellowshiping is primarily to prevent the mass of the congregation from becoming leavened with sin by a little lump. (1 Cor. 5:6-8, 13) But remember, it has to do with the eternal life of the disfellowshiped person.

27 Yes, souls, precious lives, are being dealt with. This makes the matter something very solemn and serious. Do not stumble an innocent brother with an undeserved disfellowshiping. Examine your hearts and your motives, plus God’s Word. Do not be disfellowshiping-happy, exercising a dreadful power just to show you can use it and trying to intimidate by threatening to use it unless—! Slave masters were instructed to be ‘letting up on threatening’ their Christian slaves. Love is described as a quality that “does not keep account of the injury.” (Eph. 6:9; 1 Cor. 13:4, 5) So we must keep “putting up with one another in love, earnestly endeavoring to observe the oneness of the spirit in the uniting bond of peace.” (Eph. 4:2, 3) So let committees walk with balance in this matter.
 

Pegg

Jehovah our God is One
Do the Witnesses believe in the equality of women and men?

yes we do

but we also believe that the roles of men and women are different before God. God has given the man a heavier load of responsibility when it comes to worship....he is to take the lead and care for the flock of God. This is why it is men who lead the congregation and do all the hard work.
 

Rainbow Mage

Lib Democrat/Agnostic/Epicurean-ish/Buddhist-ish
Thank you for all the answers Pegg. I think Jehovah's Witnesses are probably some of the most understood Christians there are. I truly appreciate your effort.
 
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