In a January 8, 1947 Awake article entitled “Are You Excommunicated?” The Watchtower writes, “If you are one of the 138,000,000 people in the world that were born and raised as “Protestants”, then you are already excommunicated by the Roman Catholic Hierarchy. This means that you are looked upon with the blackest contempt by the Vatican, being cursed and damned with the devil and his angles. Says the Catholic Encyclopedia: … all who have been baptized are liable to excommunication, even the protestants who have never belonged to the true church, since by their baptism they are really her subjects, though of course rebellious ones.”

The Watchtower continues, “The authority for excommunication, they claim, is based on the teachings of Christ and the apostles as found in the following scriptures: Matthew 18:15-19; 1 Corinthians 5:3-5; 16:22 ; Galatians 1:8:9 ;1 Timothy 1:20 and Titus 3:10.” Then Watchtower continues, “But the Hierarchy’s excommunication, as punishment … finds no support in these scriptures. ( Say What?) In fact It is altogether foreign to Bible teachings… ( Say What again?) The weapons of excommunication became the instrument by which the clergy attained a combination of ecclesiastical power and secular tyranny that finds no parallel in history.”

No parallel in history?  Not until the 1950’s when the Watchtower totally flip flops on excommunication and begins to use it as a tool to control it’s flock.  Most of us today associated with the Watchtower know of the pain and heart ache this practice brings. For most of the years from the 50’s through the 80’s the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses spent most of it’s time deciding what is and what isn’t a disfellowshipping offence according to a very reliable source, Ray Franz who himself was a member of the governing body.

It is true there is support found in the Bible for marking and shunning unrepentant wrongdoers. However the Watchtower goes beyond scripture and uses the practice of excommunication to punish whoever they please.

All one has to do is disagree with the Watchtower on any point and a person can be excommunicated from family and friends.  For instance, there are some who did not agree with the 1914 generation understanding as it was taught up until the 90’s. If they made this known they were excommunicated. Now it turns out they were right, do they reinstate such ones, no, they are still excommunicated.

The following was taken from http:www.jwfacts.com

  • “2 John 10 says not to ‘greet’ the Antichrist. The Watchtower uses this single scripture to support not saying “hello” to a disfellowshipped person
  • At Scriptures such as 1 Corinthians 5, Paul outlined limiting association with Christians that practice wrongdoing, but never disfellowshipping and strict shunning
  • The Watchtower disfellowships for practices never even discussed in the Bible such as smoking, gambling and having a blood transfusion
  • Disfellowshipping is extended to prevent immediate family members associating with their disfellowshipped relatives
  • 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
  • Clearly the Watchtower is guilty of flip flopping on this issue. Over the years they have flip flopped on many aspects of this issue. Mostly how to view family members who are disfellowshipped.” — End quote

We are warned at Psalms 146: 3-4, ” Do not put YOUR trust in nobles, Nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs. His spirit goes out, he goes back to his ground; In that day his thoughts do perish.”

Is it wise to trust such men that flip flop on such Bible teachings? Does it appear they are being led by Gods Holy Spirit? Most of the men that are behind the current disfellowshipping understanding are dead like Psalms 146 warns.  To change the practice takes a two third vote from the governing body.  There could be members of the governing body that disagree with the practice but are unable to over turn it.  Everything is changing with this organization however the END still has not came as they said it would.  Many have lost family and friends because of following man and not scripture. Christ is the head of the congregation and no man. If we would have followed Christ and not man we wouldn’t be in this sad situation.  Jesus said to let him that is without sin cast the first stone. Under the guidance of the “slave” many elders have cast stones and turned their ears away from Jesus words. Many elders were outvoted who voted on the side of mercy. It is a sad situation this organization is in. Christ himself might be the only hope for it to ever change. For more on disfellowshipping go here

May the love of our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus always be with you,
Greybeard

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4 Comments on Disfellowshipping Right or Wrong?

  1. Dennis says:

    Wow! I was never aware of that January 8, 1947 [Awake] article. Shocking what time has done to this organization.

    D

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  2. abe says:

    The Jehovah’s Witness Disfellowshipping procedure is prophetic!

    http://thebiblereport.blogspot.....hetic.html

    abe

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  3. badmash says:

    I just signed up to your blogs rss feed. Will you post more on this subject?

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  4. mackdaniel says:

    this was a really nice post, thanks

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