A question for Jehovah's Witnesses?

Question

Is it true that if a family member leaves the Jehovah's Witnesses, and becomes a Methodist for example, you can no longer speak to them?

Answer 1

JWs are not consistent. Some will shun their unbaptized children. Others don't shun their baptized disfellowshipped children.

Even more than misconduct and immorality, it is dissent that will not be tolerated! They are strongly encouraged to shun those that have been disfellowshipped, especially for APOSTASY.

What is apostasy?

Vocally expressing disagreement with the official doctrine as dispensed by sinful, errant humans.

Should a follower of the Watchtower Society find a discrepency in the teachings, he is encouraged to "ask the elders" at which point, they will try to persuade the questioner into agreement. However, in the event that he is not convinced, there is unconditional expectation that the individual must QUIETLY disagree, keeping his findings to himself and patiently wait for "new light" (official change in doctrine). Failure to do will result in accusations of apostasy, being "marked" and often leads to disfellowshipping and shunning.

Sometimes, even the nature of the questions can lead to stern warnings, being "marked," accusations of apostasy, etc. This is because the Watchtower Society has effectively sheltered the average JW from a great deal of negative information about their society. They've been repetitively warned through their publications and in public discourses that they are expected to steer clear of any information that shines a negative light on their Organization. So, when a JW asks questions that are regarding information that is not common knowledge to the average member of the congregation, suspicion quickly arises.

Anyone who believes that they may be teaching truth would be wise to pray, research and challenge away, before the stakes get higher! (accusations of apostacy, loss of family and friends, scarred children, the list goes on) And all in the name of "Unity!" For this reason and many others, the Jehovah's Witnesses are widely recognized as a psychologically and spiritually abusive cult.

Answer 2

ah, Jehovah's Witnesses?

Just for you to know the truth

There have to be a purpose for life otherwise we will miss the peaceful path of happiness so we want to be just better everyday

So, spiritually, what is God? , What’s makes God as god? , What is God’s Power? , For all sort of these questions, I have very limited understanding so Let me give you the point. Well, just try to know, what’s makes God as god, the Power, isn’t it? So what the power can do? Ah? Well, it can give the ability to organise all things & it can give the ability to separate everything and most importantly, the Ability to control everything, isn’t it? Isn’t it good? Ah? So, what I try to say here is, from my hard study and research effort with the help from god, I realized that the ability to control everything, the Power of God is gradually increased in the full amount to use so; The Power of God is always the omnipotent and existed among everything. & The God now is always the same omnipotent for us, who is organised us and we are growing towards perfection. The perfection is the final stage, not the end. & The Power of God, the Ability is the reward for us to control everything in a proper manner, like the true God of goodness. & Everlasting Happiness is the final stage. & it cannot come alone without the final stage perfection of God. & if god always perfect in perfection then there have to be beginning with God for the organizing progress of all things. So, there is No end and also No beginning for all things, including this on going organizing progress. So we cannot get anything from nothing. & how could that be possible to be perfect in perfection always, ah…? No way has the perfection of god come first or the growth towards perfection. There is No End and there is No beginning and so the Ability is for the Love of Joy & ~ LOVE IS THE ABILITY ~

If you don’t still agree, then note this important point: - you can use any thing for Good or Bad so, whenever possible If you ask the god for the good reason to give you the ability perfection, because of your obedience, then the God will give you, if the god is good and Almighty. Simple logical prove (the evidence) for this concept. So Jehovah's Witnesses, BUT

If you are humble, please... Pray to know the truth from true God by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit with great faith and. Good in Bad & Bad in Good so the values are most important. God gave us the rights to do what is right for you & sometimes, things can be right in your point of view but wrong in Public point of view so Basically, just pray about it for the Good Answer and try to do the God's will first always & If you think, why so much trouble and pain in this world…? Then there is only one reason, without pain, No pleasure and without pleasure, no pain. So without them, we cannot enjoy this life so always we need them in our development towards the perfection of God. So-so you use pain and pleasure instead of pain and pleasure use you. I mean the vision of your future should be clear & it have to pull you rather than you have to push so you must link a lot of pleasure in order to succeed in the Best job. When you feel strong enough links a lot of pleasure in your subconscious mind and your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure. & It is wonderful nature for us by the true God. And we all make mistakes so it is hard to look for star in daylight. So just in faith… it is possible. Like that the faith in true God. &  If you think, even expert can be wrong then you have to make the fine research in all most everything so It is hard and some time, it is impossible to achieve so Why we need inappropriate action to find the owner of higher power? So, because of Lack of faith in true God, we do not have the great gift of understanding of things. & All things are spiritually first, to govern by God with glory so closely, Have a look at this world of wonders of yours and then you know the truth, when you listen to your real voice and then Having a strong desire to do the best every day then stick with the best to do your best. And most importantly, try to be grateful for what you have now & try to know where you come from to have the great gift of understanding and then, have the faith to become the best winner in your life. & The Law of mercy cannot rob the Law of justice so Justice demands the punishment of our sin but The Law of mercy requires the forgiveness to give to us and God is perfect in perfection so cannot violate his laws so The God provided the way to our salvation to overcome our sin so Jesus Christ sacrifice is much needed to return to live with God, so Jesus Christ is our savior.

Well, It is the time to make the great decision.

Good luck.

The power is focus with the great mindset

If you are interested, Please visit to the web side http://www.mormon.org  & if you find this useful, please help others. Thanks.

Answer 3

I am a mother and if one of my Baptized children decided to leave the true faith and go be of another faith that would be a slap in God's face. They had vowed to worship Jehovah and were being protected by Him.

Once they actually walk away from Him, they walk away from me also. I am one of Jehovah's people and if they choose not to be they have broken their vow to Him. This is the most serious thing you can do. The bible warns it is better not to vow a vow to Jehovah and break it.

“In case you vow a vow to Jehovah your God, you must not be slow about paying it, because Jehovah your God will without fail require it of you, and it would indeed become a sin on your part. But in case you omit making a vow, it will not become a sin on your part.” (Deut. 23:21, 22) Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 also warns: “Whenever you vow a vow to God, do not hesitate to pay it, for there is no delight in the stupid ones. What you vow, pay. Better is it that you vow not than that you vow and do not pay. Do not allow your mouth to cause your flesh to sin.” (Compare Proverbs 20:25.) Jehovah God being unchanging in his standards, the principles expressed would apply in the present time.

When God promises us we will receive a reward of everlasting life if we remain faithful, he is making a vow to us. When Jesus says he has all authority to judge the living and the dead and will raise the dead to life in paradise he is making a vow to us.

When Jehovah says he will make it rain on all of us he is making a vow. When he says the sun will rise, that he is the hearer of prayer, etc he is vowing.

What would happen if he took back his vows?

We would all die.

But God keeps his vows and we have to keep ours.

If we walk away from God and towards false worship we are saying like the ancients did when they worshipped Baal...that we don't believe Jehovah is real and he is not worthy of our worship.... It's just what Satan wants.

So anyone foolish enough to turn their back on Jehovah does it without the blessing of family members.

Ask yourself...what side would I want to be on when Moses came down the mountain with the 10 commandments? Would you have stayed with Jehovah or gone and worshipped the golden calf?

Those that went to idol worship died. And those in sympathy died along with them.

Yes I would not associate with them. Jehovah will give me everlasting life...my unfaithful relatives will only get me death.

How will they know they have sinned if everyone treats them as though they did nothing wrong?

Answer 4

No.  That is not true.

A person is free to do whatever they want.  It is difficult to understand why, as recorded in John 6:66-70 when many claiming to be disciples left him, Jesus asked, "Therefore Jesus said to the twelve: “YOU do not want to go also, do YOU?” 68 Simon Peter answered him: “Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life; ".

It is a "head-scratcher" but we will still talk to them, no problem.

You are thinking of "disfellowshipping".  It is a process of keeping the congregation clean of wrong conduct.  Completely different from just leaving.

We are warned against disruptors causing divisions.  "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. 18 For men of that sort are slaves, not of our Lord Christ, but of their own bellies; and by smooth talk and complimentary speech they seduce the hearts of guileless ones. "  (Romans 16:17-18)

The 1st century Christians handled things this way:

"In my letter I wrote YOU to quit mixing in company with fornicators, 10 not [meaning] entirely with the fornicators of this world or the greedy persons and extortioners or idolaters. Otherwise, YOU would actually have to get out of the world. 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. 12 For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Do YOU not judge those inside, 13 while God judges those outside? “Remove the wicked [man] from among yourselves.”  (1Cor. 5:6-12)

Did that mean all of them back them never did a wrong thing in their lives?  Not at all.  Notice in the next chapter.  "What! Do YOU not know that unrighteous persons will not inherit God’s kingdom? Do not be misled. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men kept for unnatural purposes, nor men who lie with men, 10 nor thieves, nor greedy persons, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit God’s kingdom. 11 And yet that is what some of YOU were. But YOU have been washed clean, but YOU have been sanctified, but YOU have been declared righteous in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the spirit of our God."  (1Cor. 6:6-11)

This is not done lightly at all.  In handling all disputes, the Bible records a definite process to be followed.     "15 “Moreover, if your brother commits a sin, go lay bare his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two more, in order that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. 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 and as a tax collector."  (Matt. 18:15-17)

Is this not the most sensible thing?   But if, after repeated efforts to correct such serious wrongdoing, disfellowshipping must take place.  then we would not talk to them.  In the case of family, they would not speak of spiritual matters.

They can come back with sincere repentance.  So it is far from heartless.  But in all things, we follow the Bible's counsel.  

Answer 5

A JW can either be 'disfellowshipped' and go to a new faith or they can see the organization for what it is, 'disassociate' themselves and choose another faith.  No matter HOW they choose to leave if they are baptised and leave they will be subject to shunning by their JW family and friends.  They consider their "spiritual family" more acceptable as associates than their own exJW family member (s).  It's a means of control that they use to keep their members from leaving or questioning their organization.  

From experience, I can tell you that it is cruel punishment.  It tears apart families and causes emotional and psychological damage to former members who simply left the organization (but not God).  I have experienced downright NASTY treatment from JW neighbors, family and coworkers...the WBTS gives them a free ticket to HATE exJWs!  

JWs do not own God nor should they take HIS place when it comes to judging and punishing!

As you can see by JW answers they feel they are justified by doing this....they are arrogant and very judgemental...I used to be the same way as them until I woke up and can clearly see that they are just plain wrong.  Aside from the twisting of scriptures...they are just a controled group of people by an organization run by a group of men!

Edit...BTW  I was raised a JW AND pressured to get baptised at 16!  A life altering decision indeed!

Answer 6

Yes it is true. If you are officially a JW and go to another church, you will be disfellowshipped

happened to me..no family contact for 27 years

Answer 7

No. You are only not supposed to talk to someone who leaves the truth if they are difeloshipped. And then only family members and elders may talk to that person. But if someone is disfelloshipped you may not eat with them. Trust me I know I've had 2 disfeloshipped brothers and 2 dis -feloshipped sisters.  

Answer 8

Thats correct. If you are a mother or father and have kids then its ok to communicate because of the children.

Answer 9

I don't know about changing churches, but I know a girl who told her family that she was g*y and they still talk to her - maybe they were less radicle. She's obviously not a JW anymore.

Answer 10

semantics. . . semantics.

They will not wish to talk to you. They will be scared of you. They will feel the need tobe accompanied by an elder if possible when talking to you (which they will not enjoy.) If u dont "repent" they will disfellowship u and not talk to u.

Answer 11

No, not exactly.

It depends on a few factors.

and if the person is your own relative,

then you may be seeing him / her anyways.

At family functions / get togethers

And still speak to him / her.

It (again) depends on the circumstances.

It depends on the family. Some do, some don't.

It depends on the person that left, was he / she Baptized?

Was he / she Dis'f'shiped?

It is a matter for their own conscience.

My children are raised now,

and they decide for themselves to serve Jehovah or not.

They all, already know where I am on this issue.

And, I will not swerve. This they know.

Answer 12

Depends, was the person baptized? Was the person disfellowshipped?

If so, then communication would probably be minimal, sticking mainly to family emergencies, weddings, funerals and the like.

Answer 13

I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses.  The only time we cannot speak to another Witness is if they have been disfellowshipped.  This means the person was a baptized Witness and they have done some wrongdoing and are not repentant for what they have done or have done the wrongdoing repeatedly (obviously not repentant).  However, family members may speak to disfellowshipped family members in special circumstances like weddings, funerals, family emergencies, etc...it's really a conscience matter.  Hope that helps :)

Answer 14

I was just a bible student 4 years.  But I saw the torture they put a woman through to the point she could not hold her head up.  I don't know what happened to her.  But that was disturbing to me at that time I was 25 years old.  Sad.

I don't think Jehovah's Witnesses children vow to be a Witness.  I am pretty sure it is the mommies and daddies that do the vowing for them.  The kids got no thinking thing.  

Answer 15

Yep !

EDIT: It's odd how JWs will continue to explain how they are misunderstood and lied about !

I wont repeat the question but, If you as a JW leave to another church and they know about it, you will be Df'd or kicked to the curb !

Then oddly enough, they wont be talking to you !

JW's have extreme clicks anyway.

Only certain JW's hang out with certain JW's !

That's a whole other issue !

Ok, guess I'lll go ahead and ask it >>>>>

Answer 16

A baptised JW who leaves to join another religion has disassociated himself, and is to be viewed the same as someone who is disfellowshipped (put out).

They are not to be associated with by JW non-relatives, and relatives keep association to a necessary minimum (weddings, funerals, family emergencies etc) They will not have any spiritual relationship however.

Answer 17

It is not that you can no longer speak to them, but more that you would not want to associate with them. The person who chose to leave the Witness religion has disassociated themselves from the organization and by doing so they are saying (THEMSELVES) that they want nothing to do with the Witnesses. If you saw an ex-unbaptized-witness at the store, it would be fine to say hello, however, you would not want to engage in a lunch with them or even hang-out at there home. They could easily be living an immoral life that is BAD ASSOCIATION in Jehovah's eyes. It becomes a little different when they are a baptized Witness because a baptized Witness has made the choice to dedicate their life to Jehovah. They are breaking a vow they made to him at the baptism to serve him. In this case, it would be a matter of conscious but for the most part conversation would cease.