Witnesses At Disfellowshipped Weddings: Who Can Attend?

Jehovah's Witnesses are removed from the congregation if they are considered unrepentant after engaging in serious sin. A removed person is to be shunned by family and friends. This punishment is for the remainder of their life unless they are reinstated, causing tremendous emotional suffering. The Bible says: Stop keeping company with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. (1 Corinthians 5:11) Jehovah's Witnesses are instructed not to say hello to a disfellowshipped person, and to not invite them into their homes. This strict avoidance is considered a matter of loyalty to God and his Word.

However, if the disfellowshipped person is a minor child, the parents are still responsible for instructing and disciplining them. Loyal family members can no longer have spiritual fellowship with a disfellowshipped relative, but normal day-to-day family activities and dealings may continue.

In the case of a wedding, it is unclear whether a Witness would be allowed to attend the wedding of a disfellowshipped person. On the one hand, Jehovah's Witnesses are instructed to avoid social fellowship with a disfellowshipped person, which could include a wedding. On the other hand, if the disfellowshipped person is a family member, normal family affections and dealings are said to continue, which could suggest that a Witness would be allowed to attend the wedding of a disfellowshipped relative. Ultimately, the decision to attend the wedding of a disfellowshipped person may be left to the individual Witness's personal religious conscience.

Jehovah's Witnesses are expected to shun disfellowshipped people

The extent of the shunning is such that Jehovah's Witnesses are not allowed to say hello to a disfellowshipped person. This is because a simple greeting could be the first step that develops into a conversation and maybe even a friendship.

The shunning of disfellowshipped people also applies to family members. Loyal Christian family members do not look for excuses to have dealings with a disfellowshipped relative not living at home. However, if the disfellowshipped person is a minor child, the parents are still responsible for instructing and disciplining them.

Jehovah's Witnesses who continue to associate with disfellowshipped people can themselves be disfellowshipped.

Disfellowshipped people are shunned by their family and friends

Jehovah's Witnesses are "removed" if they are considered to be unrepentant after engaging in serious sin. A removed person is to be shunned by family and friends. This punishment is for the remainder of their life, unless they are reinstated, causing tremendous emotional suffering.

The Bible says: "Stop keeping company with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man." (1 Corinthians 5:11) Regarding everyone who "does not remain in the teaching of the Christ," we read: "Do not receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him. For the one who says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works." (2 John 9-11)

The Watchtower of September 15, 1981, stated: "A simple 'Hello' to someone can be the first step that develops into a conversation and maybe even a friendship. Would we want to take that first step with a disfellowshipped person?"

In some instances, the disfellowshipped family member may still be living in the same home as part of the immediate household. Normal day-to-day family activities and dealings may continue. Yet, by their course, the individual has chosen to break the spiritual bond between them and their believing family. So loyal family members can no longer have spiritual fellowship with them.

In other cases, the disfellowshipped relative may be living outside the immediate family circle and home. Although there might be a need for limited contact on some rare occasion to care for a necessary family matter, any such contact should be kept to a minimum. Loyal Christian family members do not look for excuses to have dealings with a disfellowshipped relative not living at home.

The word "disfellowship" does not appear in the Bible. It was not until 1952 that Watchtower introduced disfellowshipping as now practiced. The following review shows there is no Biblical justification for the extent to which Watchtower practices this unchristian form of manipulation. Though there is Scriptural precedence to limit association with brothers practicing wrongdoing, Watchtower application of disfellowshipping seriously deviates from Bible guidelines.

The Watchtower justifies that a person is removed if they are unrepentant after committing a serious sin, in order to protect the congregation and hopefully move the sinner to repent and return to the congregation. There are over 30 reasons listed as serious enough to warrant being removed, ranging from disagreeing with Watchtower doctrine to smoking and fornication.

The punishment applies forever, or until the Watchtower Society formally reinstates the person. It is considered irrelevant whether the person no longer practices the wrongdoing they were disfellowshipped for.

Watchtower claims that disfellowshipping only occurs to those that commit serious sins and are unrepentant. Whilst this may appease the conscience of Jehovah's Witnesses shunning loved ones, it is not realistic. Examining the list of offences reveals a number of areas hardly serious enough to merit complete isolation. Further, a substantial percentage of those disfellowshipped in recent times are for conscientiously objecting to Watchtower doctrine.

The process Jehovah's Witnesses follow for disfellowshipping strays from biblical principles in a number of areas. Bible discussion of shunning by Paul and John is limited to just the following areas: Fornication, Greed, idolatry, Revilers, Practicing Drunkenness, Extortion and One who does not remain in the teaching of the Christ. Revelation 21:8 does not relate to shunning but at a stretch could be drawn on, and adds adultery, men kept for unnatural purposes, men who lie with men, thieves, cowards, those without faith, those disgusting in their filth, murderers, spiritism, and liars. This list should be the full extent of reasons for which to be disfellowshipped. The long list of Watchtower offences includes a number of practices never mentioned in regards to shunning, such as the use of blood.

Jehovah's Witnesses baptise minors, which is disturbing considering baptised minors can be disfellowshipped and shunned. There are enough disfellowshipped children to warrant a 2013 "Questions From Readers" article discussing the topic "Would it be appropriate for Christian parents to sit with a disfellowshipped child at congregation meetings?"

Watchtower considers baptism a binding verbal contract. As such, baptising minors should be considered illegal. Laws protect the rights of minors, and provide guidelines to prevent entering contracts. A child's knowledge and ideas change dramatically between their teens and twenties. The brain does not finish development until around 25. For this reason, minors are legally restricted from consuming alcohol, voting, joining the army or marrying.

Child baptism is Scripturally wrong. Never is the baptism of a minor mentioned in the Bible. Jesus was not baptised until he was 30, as this was considered the age Jewish people were considered an adult and there is no Scriptural evidence of any children or teenager being baptised.

Shunning a person that was baptised as a child is illogical. If a person is raised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses and does not get baptised, they can be associated with regardless of their beliefs and actions as an adult. Yet a child baptised at the age of 10, an age too young to make an informed commitment, will be shunned for the very same beliefs and actions if disfellowshipped. This is a double standard that shows the hypocrisy behind shunning.

Disfellowshipped people are shunned for life unless they are reinstated

Jehovah's Witnesses are "removed" if they are considered to be unrepentant after engaging in serious sin. A removed person is to be shunned by family and friends. Unless they are reinstated, this punishment is for the remainder of their life, causing tremendous emotional suffering.

The Bible says: "Stop keeping company with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man." (1 Corinthians 5:11) Regarding everyone who "does not remain in the teaching of the Christ, we read: "Do not receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him. For the one who says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works." (2 John 9-11)

The Watchtower of September 15, 1981, stated: "A simple 'Hello' to someone can be the first step that develops into a conversation and maybe even a friendship. Would we want to take that first step with a disfellowshipped person?"

The Watchtower justifies that a person is removed if they are unrepentant after committing a serious sin, in order to protect the congregation and hopefully move the sinner to repent and return to the congregation. There are over 30 reasons listed as serious enough to warrant being removed, ranging from disagreeing with Watchtower doctrine to smoking and fornication.

The word "disfellowship" does not appear in the Bible. It was not until 1952 that Watchtower introduced disfellowshipping as now practiced. The following review shows there is no Biblical justification for the extent to which Watchtower practices this unchristian form of manipulation. Though there is Scriptural precedence to limit association with brothers practicing wrongdoing, Watchtower application of disfellowshipping seriously deviates from Bible guidelines.

The punishment applies forever, or until the Watchtower Society formally reinstates the person. It is considered irrelevant whether the person no longer practices the wrongdoing they were disfellowshipped for.

Watchtower claims that disfellowshipping only occurs to those that commit serious sins and are unrepentant. Whilst this may appease the conscience of Jehovah's Witnesses shunning loved ones, it is not realistic. Examining the list of offences reveals a number of areas hardly serious enough to merit complete isolation. Further, a substantial percentage of those disfellowshipped in recent times are for conscientiously objecting to Watchtower doctrine.

The process Jehovah's Witnesses follow for disfellowshipping strays from biblical principles in a number of areas. Bible discussion of shunning by Paul and John is limited to just the following areas: Fornication, Greed, idolatry, Revilers, Practicing Drunkenness, Extortion and One who does not remain in the teaching of the Christ. Revelation 21:8 does not relate to shunning but at a stretch could be drawn on, and adds adultery, men kept for unnatural purposes, men who lie with men, thieves, cowards, those without faith, those disgusting in their filth, murderers, spiritism, and liars. This list should be the full extent of reasons for which to be disfellowshipped. The long list of Watchtower offences includes a number of practices never mentioned in regards to shunning, such as the use of blood.

The Watchtower goes even further. Common practices never specified in the Bible as sins have become grounds for being disfellowshipped. These include:

• Gambling - common throughout history, such as the casting of lots over Jesus clothing
• Use of Drugs such as marijuana - in common use in the first century
• Celebrations - Romans 14:1-18 specifically says not to judge anyone over the observance of days

If Jehovah wanted his followers to shun those for engaging in these common practices, the Bible would state so. Should the Society be creating disfellowshipping decrees beyond Bible offences? Of course not! Jesus condemned the Pharisees for creating thousands of laws for every situation, rather than promoting Godly principles and understanding the meaning of mercy.

The process for reinstatement is also formalistic and bureaucratic. The Bible writers gave no such rules.

Disfellowshipped people are shunned by Jehovah's Witnesses to protect the congregation from spiritual and moral contamination

The Bible says: "Stop keeping company with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man." (1 Corinthians 5:11) Regarding everyone who "does not remain in the teaching of Christ," we read: "Do not receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him. For the one who says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works." (2 John 9-11)

The Watchtower of September 15, 1981, stated: "A simple 'Hello' to someone can be the first step that develops into a conversation and maybe even a friendship. Would we want to take that first step with a disfellowshipped person?"

The practice of shunning is justified as a way to protect the congregation from spiritual and moral contamination. It is also believed to benefit the disfellowshipped person by encouraging them to repent and return to the congregation.

However, the practice of shunning has been criticised as inhumane and traumatic, causing serious emotional side effects and even leading to suicidal ideation. It is considered a form of manipulation and control, as it is often used as a punishment and can result in the permanent loss of family and community connections.

Disfellowshipped people are shunned by Jehovah's Witnesses to uphold the congregation's good name

Jehovah's Witnesses are expected to shun those who have been disfellowshipped, or "removed from the congregation", to uphold the congregation's good name. This is considered an act of loyalty to God and His Word.

The practice of shunning is based on the Bible's direction to "stop keeping company with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man". Jehovah's Witnesses interpret this to mean that they should not greet or have any dealings with a disfellowshipped person, as "a simple 'Hello' to someone can be the first step that develops into a conversation and maybe even a friendship".

Shunning is also believed to protect the congregation from spiritual and moral contamination, and it may even benefit the disfellowshipped person, by encouraging them to repent and return to the congregation.

However, this practice has been criticised as inhumane and traumatic, causing tremendous emotional suffering for those who are shunned, as well as their friends and family. It has been described as a form of manipulation and control, and it is not always strictly followed by all Jehovah's Witnesses.

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