The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society and Jehovah's Witnesses use the below stated scriptures as a basis to completely shun a person who has left their organization. No greetings can be exchanged. In many cases, but not all, this includes close family members who do not live in the same household. If they do live in the same household they can speak, yet social activities are discouraged and spiritual discussions are not allowed.
"Actually fornication is reported among you, and such fornication as is not even among the nations, that a wife a certain man has of his father ... In my letter I wrote you to quit mixing in company with fornicators, not meaning entirely with the fornicator's of this world or the greedy persons and extortion's or idolaters. Otherwise, you would actually have to get out of the world. But now I an 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 reveler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Do you not judge those inside, while God judges those outside? Remove the wicked man from among yourselves." (1 Cor 5:1, 9-13)
In First Corinthians chapter 5 a man was having sexual relations with his fathers wife on a continual basis. It was not a one time event. This man was continually having sexual relations with his father's wife. For this he was to be removed from the congregation. Paul's counsel was for anyone called a brother who was continually practicing fornication, revelry, greediness, drunkenness and extortion was to be removed from the congregation, not even to eat a meal with them. This was not a person who did an occasional wrong and was willing to make corrections. This had absolutely nothing to do with a person who does not go along with all the teachings of a particular religious organization's policies and rulings. Nor does it have anything to do with persons being required to follow doctrinal and theological interpretations of scripture. It does include all those who go against the meaning of the Christ, by a continual practice of selfish and hurtful actions against their fellow man. Only a continual and thoughtless practice of hurtful and harmful acts towards others would merit such a removal. Misapplying this scripture, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Jehovah's Witnesses, use this scripture to excommunicate or disfellowship any member who disagrees and questions any of their doctrinal teachings and theological interpretations, this being a highly effective controlling tool in manipulating their followers.
Some examples of inconsistency and misapplication of scripture, are cases where Jehovah's Witnesses have been disfellowshipped for disagreement of unclear doctrinal interpretations. Other strange examples are working for the military in a non combat work, employment or contract work of other religious organizations, smoking tobacco, and the list of offenses can be actually exhaustive.
One grandmother, who could not go along with the Kingdom Hall Elders counsel to leave the room when her disfellowshipped granddaughter eats with her non witness husband, but instead continued to eat with her and speak to her, was disfellowshipped and as a result, lost association with her entire family.
Another 91 year old man, spoke in a private conversation to a friend, expressing disagreement with one of the Watchtower Society's teachings, such as the year 1914 being Christ's invisible presence, was also disfellowshipped, resulting in being completely cut off and shunned by the entire congregation, organization and many family members, after 70 years of loyal and faithful association. This man received no help, no love, understanding, empathy and support shown to him for the rest of his remaining elderly years of life. And being elderly, living alone with no family and long time friends can be a serious hardship on any person. After his death, no one from the congregation even attended his funeral. He died a lonely, broken man. His many years of loyal, faithful service of showing love and kindness to the people in his congregation were completely ignored. These are only a couple cases out of thousands. Search the internet and you will find many, many more, stories of abusive shunning towards Christ's brothers, such as an 85 year old elderly man named Herman Zweigart, who has also been rejected and cut off by the abusive Watchtower policy of shunning.
"For many deceivers have gone forth into the world, persons not confessing Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist. Look out for yourselves, that you do not lose the things we have worked to produce, but that you may obtain a full reward. Everyone that pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God. He that does remain in this teaching is the one that has both the Father and the Son. 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 (khairo) to him is a sharer in his wicked works." vs 5-11 (New World Translation)
"The man who is so advanced that he is not content with what Christ taught has in fact no God. The man who bases his life on Christ's teaching (Not a slave class or governing body of men), however, has both the Father and the Son as his God. If any teacher comes to you who is disloyal to what Christ taught (Not the Watchtower Society), don't have him inside your house. Don't even wish him 'Godspeed', unless you want to share in the evil that he is doing. (Phillips Modern Translation)
In the Second letter of John, counsel is given about the Antichrist. This is said to be all persons not confessing Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. It is then said that Everyone that pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God. And these persons are not to be greeted by Christians or they will be a sharer in his or her wicked works. Notice that this applies to all Antichrists who do not remain in the teaching of the Christ, not the teachings of a "slave class" or particular religious organization. It would be a serious misapplication of John's letter, to label a person an "Antichrist", because of their leaving the Watchtower or any other church and manmade organization, but continue to live a life with compassion and forgiveness of others, imitating God and Christ. The misapplication of this scripture, and manipulation tactic helps the Watchtower Society and other organizations to effectively control and prevent any of their members from communicating with those who have left the religion and could expose them to answers that differ from the organization's interpretive rulings and teachings.
In addition, to the term "Antichrist" not applying
to those who have left man made organizations, this term also needs to be
defined correctly. The true meaning of those who are Antichrists, are not
people who have left a man made religious organization. Nor are they those
who do not acknowledge the theological and doctrinal knowledge of the Christ.
All person who reject the doctrine of the Christ are forgiven. Rather the
Antichrist pertain to all people who reject the true meaning of the Christ,
practicing mercy and loving kindness to their fellow man. It is only this
rejection that sins against the Holy spirit. Only by putting selfishness,
unforgiveness and sacrifices above performing mercy towards our fellowman
can put us in the category of the Antichrist. No rejection of a "slave class"
can separate us from the love of Christ.
Another point is the greeting itself. In contrast to the above scripture
in 2 John 2:10,11, there are other scriptures that tell Christians to speak
to any persons who leave the Christ, including apostates. Notice in James
5:19,20, Christians are told to "turn a sinner back" "who has been mislead
from the truth" and "save his soul for death". In 2 Timothy 2:24-26 Christians
are told to help ones to "come back to their proper senses out from the snare
of the Devil". And in Titus 1:10-13, It states "It is necessary to shut the
mouths of these, as these very men keep on subverting entire households by
teaching things they ought not ..." So it is very clear that Christians are
instructed to speak to all, including those who turn away from the teachings
of Christ.
The evidence shows that the greeting then,
in 2 John 2:10,11 , applies not to a simple "Hello" or "How do you do" ,
but to an address that implies acceptance and agreement with his cause or
teachings , wishing him favor and success. As
Phillips Modern Translation shows, it is "wishing this person Godspeed" or
for God's approval on his or her actions that go against the teaching of
the Christ (Not a slave class or governing body of men). To welcome him in
this manner would indeed make one "a sharer in his wicked works." As an example,
there are many persons, groups, organizations and governments who are willing
to both exchange greetings and sit at the table for peace talk negotiations,
even though they are at very great odds against each other. By acknowledging
each other for communication, they are not breaking their integrity or compromising
their views, but are using their knowledge and beliefs to further benefit
their cause in a positive direction. It is evident that any religious organization
can misapply this scripture to manipulate, control and prevent their members
from obtaining information that might expose their organizational policies
as false. To prevent this from happening they wield the controlling, tactical
weapon of "disfellowshipping" or "excommunicating."
All Christians are to follow the example of their leader, Jesus Christ and
to "follow his steps closely" as a "model". (1 Pet 2:21). And Jesus Christ
was willing to exchange a greeting with and speak to the father of apostates,
Satan the Devil. (Math 4, Luke 4) He was willing to speak to him, refute
him and prove him wrong. Jesus also exchanged greetings with and spoke to
the apostate Jewish Pharisees, trying to bring them back to God. After Jesus
death in the flesh, being made alive in the spirit, he preached and communicated
with the apostate demons. (1 Pet 3:19) Jehovah, as well, not only held a
conversation with the apostate Satan in heaven over the man Job but also
accepted his challenges. (Job 1 & 2) Jehovah also had spoken over and
over again with the "apostate nation" of Israel. (Isaiah 10:16) Unlike the
Watchtower policy of shunning them, refusing a "Hello", Jehovah repeatedly
sent forth prophets. He was "willing to set matters straight." (Isaiah 1:18)
The Greek Words "Khaire" and "Aspasmos" Are Interchangeable
Apparently when speaking of 1 John 9 & 10 in the Watchtower issues 7/15/85 page 31 and 4/15/88, the Watchtower argues that khaire means to rejoice, a simple greeting, while aspazomai means a more affectionate embrace, enfolding in the arms, kiss, greeting or welcome, and that Apostle John used khaire to go a step further than aspazomai and prevent even a common "good day" to be said. Apparently, the Watchtower overlooks or ignores these two Greek words khaire and aspazomai in the account in Luke 1:28-29. Here the two Greek words are obviously used interchangeably.
"And he came to her and said, "Greetings (khaire), favored one! The Lord is with you." But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting (aspasmos) this might be." - Luke 1:28-29
Mary applies the term aspasmos to the word khaire pronounced by the angel. She did not do this because the angel had, in the Watchtower definition, "enfolded" her in his arms or kissed her, nor had he at this point engaged in a "long conversation" with her. She refers, not to an embrace or a kiss, but to his "words."
The Watchtower also fails to recognize that the Greek verb khairein used by John does not relate to some simple greeting such as "Hello." It is not the least bit less "warm" than the other Greek term discussed. To the contrary, the term khairein literally means "to be rejoicing" and corresponds to the Hebrew term shalom, meaning "peace be with you." It was used to express not a mere commonplace greeting, but to express personal or social favor and acceptance, even to express recognition of authority. Recognizing this, some translations, rather than rendering it as simple "greeting", render it as to "welcome."
Clearly then, what a Christian denies to an Antichrist
is not some simple salutation such as
"Hello" or "How do you do," but denies this person the address and actions
which imply acceptance, approval and agreement with for them or their cause,
wishing them favor, success and even support. To "welcome" a person in this
manner would indeed make one "a sharer in his wicked works." To the contrary
simply talking to a person and exchanging a greeting does not of itself imply
acceptance, agreement, support, favor and success. True common sense should
reveal that people do not become partners in the evil things if they exchange
greetings and communicate, especially when attempting to refute someone out
of wrong views, convincing them of the error of their ways. Quite the opposite,
the Scriptures show this can be a Christian obligation and duty.
(1) To
put a blanket, restrictive interpretation on this scripture of John and apply
it as a controlling tactic, is to abuse what is written, slanting it for
man made organizational purposes, which goes against the very meaning of
Christianity.
"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. 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. 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."
Here Jesus instructs his deciples to talk personally one on one to a person who commits a serious sin. If the sinner does not listen then further instruction to bring along two or three witnesses is given. Again, if the sinner does not listen, then the instruction is given to involve the entire congregation, not limiting this only to the elders. And if the sinner still does not listen, then the sinner, is to be treated as a gentile and tax collector. The point especially noted here is the fact that this person is both a continual sinner of hurtful acts towards others and when confronted, is brought up before everyone. Never are there any secret elder meetings held to determine the outcome of the person. But rather a public confrontation is before all and an honest attempt to fairly decide what shall be done are the instructions.
The end result of a person who refuses to stop hurting others, is to receive the treatment given to the gentile and tax collector. How was a gentile and a tax collector treated by Jesus and the first century Christians ? Jesus himself both exchanged greetings, ate meals and spoke to them. It was the false religious leaders, the Pharisees who questioned this action. (Matthew 11:19) (Mark 2:15-16) For the parable Jesus gave, he stated that it was only the tax collector's prayer God heard, not the religious Pharisee, showing that being humble and repentant was more important then following the sacrifices of the "letter of the law. (Luke 18:10-14) Unlike the Jewish leaders, the Pharisees, who put sacrifice over mercy and shunned the people of the nations and tax collectors, the common Jews spoke and had dealings with them. And in imitation of Christ, who ate meals and spoke to them, the first century Christians did not shun these persons as well. So to treat a person today as a tax collector and a gentile (person of the nations), would be not to let their hurtful ways against others, influence us to do the same. Nor would we approve of the selfish acts towards our fellow man. But it would not restrict us from showing mercy to them, along with the exchange of greetings, words and conversations. How unlike Jehovah's Witnesses who completely shun anyone who leaves the Watchtower organization, including close relatives and family members.
"Now we are giving your 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 you yourselves know the way you ought to imitate us, because we did not behave disorderly among you nor did we eat food from anyone free. To the contrary, by labor and toil night and day we were working so as not to impose an expensive burden upon you."
"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. And yet do not be considering him as an enemy, but continue admonishing him as a brother."
The Watchtower Society treats this scripture as a lesser offense, a "marking." But is it? The sin is for "anyone not obedient to our word". This word is the teaching of the Christ. Certainly this is no less an offense then 1 Corinthians Chapter 5 and 2 John. In addition, the same Greek phrase (synanamignysthai) for "stop associating" is used in both 2 Thessalonians 3:14 and 1 Corinthians 5:11. There is no difference in the force of the term in both texts. In both cases, Christians are urged to "keep this one marked", to avoid intimate fellowship on a personal level supporting their hurtful and selfish acts and unfair judgement of others. That is the extent of the counsel, nothing more. This did not include a shunning and refusal to exchange greetings, words and conversations, rather, the Christians were only to "stop associating with him" by supporting a lifestyle that fails to love one's fellow man. They were to absolutely "continue admonishing him as a brother." They were never to stop following the true meaning of the Christ, to love your fellow man as yourself. And this "marking" of non support of hurtful actions were only applied to those who left the teaching of the Christ by putting either selfishness or religious laws ahead of mercy and forgiveness. This has absolutely nothing to do with the teachings of a religious organization with blanket theological restrictive rulings and polices, such as the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Jehovah's Witnesses, enforce.
In this context of 2 Thessalonians, to be "walking disorderly" would solely mean the practice of selfish and hurtful acts towards one's fellow man, as there were those who were imposing unnecessary "expensive burdens" on the brothers for food and material provisions, while refusing to work for it, for "if anyone does not want to work , neither let him eat." They were also "meddling " in other people's affairs that "does not concern them." It had absolutely nothing to do with theological interpretations on the many doctrinal issues outside the true meaning of the Christ, love, forgiveness and mercy. (2 Thessalonians 2:13-17)
"But shun foolish questionings and genealogies
and strife and fights over the Law, for they are unprofitable and futile.
As for a man that promotes a sect, reject him after a first and a second
admonition; knowing that such a man has been turned out of the way and is
sinning, he being self-condemned."
Here, in one of the pastoral letters, Titus is instructed to "turn down
foolish questionings" and "fights over the law" that exist within the congregation.
He is then told to reject those in the congregation who are promoting a sect,
but only after admonishing them two times. Nowhere is this rejection
implied to mean a total shunning of the person. These instructions are about
"fights over the law. " This is because most religious groups put legalism,
laws, rules and organizational polices above mercy and love of our fellow
man. Titus is instructed to put mercy over sacrifice, to "turn down" questioning
over doctrines and theology. When people put theological articles, such as
the Watchtower's "questions from readers" and quotes from various publications
and elders manuals above the flexibility and rule bending of mercy and agape
love towards their fellow man, they go against the very teaching of the Christ.
What is promoting a sect? It is putting theology
and doctrinal interpretations above love, forgiveness and mercy. True Christian
"freedom" contains the allowance of personal beliefs on all doctrinal interpretations
that do not hurt one's fellow man. Promoting a sect would be those Christians
who were not to "remain in the teaching of the Christ", of love of
neighbor. By following and enforcing the theology of a particular religious
counsel, slave class or governing body would instead be promoting a sect
and should be avoided at all costs. Christians would
"maintain their hold on the traditions that were taught" from the inspired
writers of the bible and Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, "whether it was through
a verbal message or through a letter of ours (theirs)." And those traditions
were to treat all others tenderly compassionate, freely forgiving and treating
one's fellow brothers as a family household. (Thessalonians 2: 15; 3:6; Galatians
5:1; 2 Cor 3:17; 2 John 9)
Footnotes: (1) In Search of Christian Freedom - pages 340-341 - Raymond Franz
After a person is disfellowshipped they must wait a certain amount
of time to be "reinstated" or accepted back into the organization of Jehovah's
Witnesses. Many will attend the meetings for an entire year or even two years.
In this time, no one is allowed to speak or say a greeting to them. In time,
the elders will approach this disfellowshipped person and require
them to obey thier instructions. In other cases the disfellowshipped person
will write a letter to the elders and a judicial, legal hearing will be held
exclusively by the elders. How unlike the prodigal son of Jesus' illustration,
where forgiveness took place with no legal requirements. Instead, the Watchtower
requires the approval of a "slave class:" and thier appointed elders for
a person to be considered acceptable by God.
Many have felt that "the friends", fellow believers that are Jehovah's Witnesses, are different then the friends in "the world". Many are, and some of the most loving people I have ever known. Others are not, such as a brother and sister who underhandedly solicited all my clients in business. I will always have deep feelings of affection for many of the brothers and sisters. Yet, the fact that they will not even greet or speak to me because I left, not Christ, but the Watchower organization, has made me truly aware of how fair weather and conditional their friendships really were. There are many fond memories of being out in field service, stopping for coffee and donuts, and many fine conversations in various car groups. Also going to Laundromats and door to door, having different people with totally different reactions to the preaching. There were many caring persons but also serious clicks in the congregation and many I personally found to be persons who were more concerned about meeting the legal organizational requirements and sacrifice, then showing mercy and loving kindness to each other.
The value of a good and loyal friend is beyond measure. Yet, in all honesty, most of the friendships in the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses are a conditional friendship. The Watchtower April 1, 1986 - States - "Approved association with Jehovah's Witnesses requires accepting the entire range of the true teachings of the Bible, including those Scriptural beliefs that are unique to Jehovah's Witnesses. So, in addition to the bible, and the teaching of the Christ, all the creeds of Jehovah's Witnesses are to be accepted in order to be approved for association. Yet these unique teachings change from year to year. They are known as "present truths" resembling a light that zig zags brighter and dimmer like a dimmer switch going up and down. Also, one can observe, many of the "friends" befriend others because of their status or title in the congregation. I have personally seen this on a large scale.
In Steven Hassan's, book entitled "Combating Cult Mind Control", on page 122, he speaks of destructive groups, noting on the type of friendships that exist, saying, "A family's love is a much stronger force than the conditional love given by cult members and leaders. A family's love supports one's right to grow into an autonomous adult and make one's own life decisions. A cult's love attempts to keep a person forever as a dependent adolescent -- threatening to be withdrawn if the person makes his own life decisions that differ from the leader's orders."
One of the greatest part of having true friends, is being able to open up to them. To tell them in private conversation your true feelings, even if it is not accepted by all or what should be according to others. Yet in most cases this does not always hold true in "Jehovah's organization." For no one is allowed to speak openly in a critical way of the group. Even private speech that is critical of the organization, can be considered to be "complaining", "murmuring" and "apostasy." The organization then erroneously interprets Leviticus 5:1 to tattle tale on any who speak negatively of the organization. This of course goes even further, for no one is allowed to even speak to a former member of the group and ask him or her why they made their decision to leave the organization. If caught speaking to former members, they too, run the risk of being withdrawn and disfellowshipped, loosing all of their so called friends and family members who are in the religion.
I can appreciate the example brought out by brother Ray Franz of the account of Jonathan and King David. Here David was in a sense disfellowshipped. He was placed in a position of complete disfavor with "Jehovah's organization", the nation of Israel. The theocratic appointed King Saul had viewed him as an enemy, "an evil slave". David was forced to live like a disfellowshipped person, even associating and living with Pagans ! Now, how did David's good friend Jonathan treat him ? Did he not remain loving all the time and stick to him during David's time of distress ? If Jonathan had lived according to the Watch Tower concept of an overriding duty to uphold and support all organizational action and policy, he would have stopped associating with him, speaking with him, eating a meal with him, (2 Cor 5:11) and even refusing to exchange a greeting with him, or he would have been a sharer in David's so called wicked works. (David's works were pronounced wicked by King Saul and the Nation of Israel) (2 John 2:10). Instead, Jonathan stuck loyal to David because he believed that David was blessed of Jehovah, despite the organizational rejection he was experiencing. Jonathan's loyalty was not predicated upon, nor controlled by, organizational acceptance and approval. It had a far higher basis.
A personal experience of mine, was quite a few years ago, I had confided in a close friend, telling him my changing views of the organization of Jehovah's Witnesses. Suddenly he became frightened and nervous. I called him on the phone about two weeks later and he told me that he spoke to one of the elders and looked up articles in the Watchtower, such as "what to do if a fellow witness expresses disbelief in the organization". He then proceeded to let me know over the phone that he could not associate with me anymore. To quote him "I hope you understand, but the Watchtower says . . . " I really wasn't surprised, however my wife at that time was in tears. Unlike the legalism of Jehovah's Witnesses, who put sacrifice above mercy, "a true companion is loving all the time, and is a brother that is born for when there is distress" - Proverbs 17:17
