diosangpastol
Dios - ang - Pastol
Did JW hear the voice of JESUS?
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27
Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.
Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!
Did JW hear the voice of JESUS?
My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27
So are Jehovah's Witnesses required to attend Kingdom Hall or can they follow a more solitary form of practice?
sure no problem.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 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?
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.
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.
How about blood transfusions?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.
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,
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
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?
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.
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
Do the Witnesses believe in the equality of women and men?