Still a hard line on DF family members WTApr15 2012

The April 2012 WT study article has some of the most strongly worded statements about contact with disfellowshipped family members.

Page 12, paragraph 17: -

17 Consider just one example of the
good that can come when a family loyally
upholds Jehovah’s decree not to associate
with disfellowshipped relatives. A
young man had been disfellowshipped
for over ten years, during which time his
father, mother, and four brothers “quit
mixing in company” with him. At times,
he tried to involve himself in their activities,
but to their credit, each member
of the family was steadfast in not
having any contact with him. After he
was reinstated, he said that he always
missed the association with his family,
especially at night when he was alone.
But, he admitted, had the family associated
with him even a little, that small
dose would have satisfied him. However,
because he did not receive even
the slightest communication from any
of his family, the burning desire to be
with them became one motivating factor
in his restoring his relationship with
Jehovah. Think of that if you are ever
tempted to violate God’s command not
to associate with your disfellowshipped
relatives.

http://download.jw.org/files/media_magazines/w_E_20120415.pdf

Direct download link for the pdf.

because he did not receive even
the slightest communication from any
of his family, the burning desire to be
with them became one motivating factor
in his restoring his relationship with
Jehovah. Think of that if you are ever
tempted to violate God’s command not
to associate with your disfellowshipped
relatives.

^ Some of the most deplorable language on this planet. The Watchtower is obviously lucidly aware of family shunning's upsides for their organization. They will die with that ace in their cold dead hands.

-Sab

Thanks Gladring... there's a palpable undercurrent of desperation in their stridency; they're losing their grip on the flock and they're rattled!

The WT is aware of what a tool their shunning arrangement is.  

The guy in this example had really no interest in "restoring his relationship with Jehovah", but rather with his family vis-a-vis the organization.

Anyone who questions whether or not this is a cult should read that paragraph a couple of times. Yikes.

I always wondered although Satan had been cast out of his family, that the book of Job shows that Satan still was allowed in heaven and talked to God.  Not a very good example for God to set for parents.

So the person came back not because he loved Jeh, but because he missed Mom's cooking.  Isn't that the wrong motivation?  Dude is gonna die at Arm.. anyway

Agreed Sab.

What's more is they say that it is God's instruction.  They won't put their own name to it because then they could be held accountable.

I always wondered although Satan had been cast out of his family, that the book of Job shows that Satan still was allowed in heaven and talked to God.  Not a very good example for God to set for parents.

That is because God hadn't made a cartoon yet depicting Jesus-Michael the Archangel casting Satan to the earth in 1914, silly! You see, until Jesus was throned King of Heaven there didn't seem to be any acknowledged leadership in heaven. Sure God was there but he seemed to just tear around the hallways steaming pissed and yelling, "You don't like your Mana! That's all we got you insolent whelps! Jesus-Michael, is it 1914 yet?"

-Sab

Jehovah’s decree not to associate
with disfellowshipped relatives.

Jehovah's decree??

Well, now the witnesses can't say it is up to their conscience. (My sister loves to say that it is up to her conscience, that the Org does not make her shun mom.)

But that is not true.

They are not allowed by their religion to speak with family members who leave the religion.

They have no choice.

Never let them tell you they do!

What's more is they say that it is God's instruction.

The hypocrisy is great and my stomach churns when I really think about it. I think Jesus puts it nicely:

-Sab

Also,  note in the preceding paragraph:

"...REMAIN LOYAL TO JEHOVAH

16 There are members of the congregation

who committed serious sins and

who were reproved “with severity, that

they may be healthy in the faith.” (Titus

1:13) For some, their conduct has

required that they be disfellowshipped.

For “those who have been trained by it,”

the discipline has helped them to become

spiritually restored. (Heb. 12:11)

What if we have a relative or a close

friend who is disfellowshipped? Now

our loyalty is on the line, not to that

person, but to God. Jehovah is watching

us to see whether we will abide by

his command not to have contact with

anyone (emphasys NOT mine) who is disfellowshipped.—Read

1 Corinthians 5:11-13."

Tell me, why do they need to point special attention to "anyone"?  And "Jehovah is watching us" WTF, like a prison guard, not like the loving father he is supposed to be...

There are more gems in there.  Poor drones are in for a rough ride.

I would say the JWs are easily the GOATS.

Again propoganda stuff. It seems that they like the way: you can destroy family or you beat some one only if the victim in a later stage will be an JW.

DS

is this word "disfellowshipped" found anywhere in the bible?

I agree with the point about the fear of losing control. With the amount of children not staying in, there's likely alot of communication with wordly ones. With so many out there now, perhaps only the grandparents are in now, they all can't be mentally deseased

so we have gone from necessary family business, to careful about what is classed as necessary family business to no contact whatsoever. They are friving the wedge in further. How much more disgusting can this organisation get,