Psalm 34:4
Shunning
Shunning is a very real thing with Jehovah’s Witnesses and it’s a very harmful practice. Not familiar with this term? The definition of Shun is: “persistently avoid, ignore, or reject (someone or something) through antipathy or caution.” From Wikipedia: “Shunning can be the act of social rejection, or emotional distance. In a religious context, shunning is a formal decision by a denomination or a congregation to cease interaction with an individual or a group, and follows a particular set of rules.” In regards to Jehovah’s Witnesses, they are required to shun anyone who has been a baptized member of the religion and then is either “disfellowshipped” or leaves the religion. The organization/religion has even begun to push towards shunning of ones who were never baptized, but were involved at any time and no longer are, anyone who opposes the religion, as well as inactive members of the religion. Disfellowshipping is for members who have committed sins, then either confessed or were caught, and are either unrepentant or the sin was considered to be habitual, or severe enough. Well at least that’s what they would like you to believe. It’s partly the truth, however, they also have disfellowshipped ones who question the authority of the Governing Body or the organization’s doctrines, ones who have tried to warn others in the congregation about a severe matter such as a pedophile, members who did not refuse a blood transfusion or for their child, and for a time even ones who accepted organ transplants during the time period when they banned that. There are several other pretty pathetic reasons why they have wrongly disfellowshipped people that I am not aware of. When one is disfellowshipped, they lose any congregation privileges, cannot attend any social functions of the congregations or it’s members, cannot talk to anyone, others cannot talk to that person whether at the kingdom hall or outside, and must sit in the back of the kingdom halls during the services. Even family members, even if they live with you or you with them, are to shun you. In some cases, family members who live in the same household are only allowed to converse with you in regards to important matters but never anything social or spiritual. For a disfellowshipped member to regain their privileges, they must repent, no longer be living in sin, and work their way back which includes attending all meetings and preparing for them. This usually lasts anywhere from 6 months – 2 years on average until a person can be “reinstated” (gain their privileges back). Minors are not excluded from this practice, with some teens even being kicked out of their home to live with others or become homeless. I’m sure you’re thinking that this is not biblical, darn right ridiculous and terrible, right? Well you’re right. This is just one of the many reasons they are not guided by Jehovah or God. This destroys people and families. For one, God is a merciful and gracious loving Father who wants mercy and not sacrifice. Second, salvation is not works based and once you repent, God forgives and forgets. We are not to live in shame and condemnation. The well-known story of the “prodigal son” is the best example of how God reacts when we repent. He doesn’t make us work our way back to his love. He runs to us, throws his arms around us, is overjoyed to have us back and loves us so much, that he throws a celebration in our honor. Why? Because it’s who he is. He is the greatest, most loving God and Father there ever could be, and we are worthy. We are his children. We had enough “punishment” while we were suffering for in wrong doing, the consequences for our actions, living in our own guilt, shame and condemnation, before we humbled ourselves to face him again and admit we were wrong and that we need him. So who is any man to act any different? Especially men who were created in the image of God and are to be holy as he is holy, love as he loves and follow Christ? We would not be doing any of that if we chose to be like the Governing Body or elders in the congregations with their judgment, condemnation and works. Anyways, I wanted to write about all of this, because I now have 3 family members who shun me, because I chose to speak truth and stand for Jesus. It is definitely disappointing, but I hurt more for them, not myself. I am not angry with them. I am sad that they are so blinded and have to harden their hearts and destroy family. I pray and pray for them and all other Jehovah’s Witnesses and their family members who are affected. If you’d like to know more about shunning and disfellowshipping, such as the scriptures that Jehovah’s Witnesses use to support these practices, click here. This month I am beginning the ramping up my stand for Jesus, justice and truth. I will be speaking out more publicly throughout the year and completely uncovering myself to my family. I have been slowly doing so, but God’s been putting it on my heart more and more that I need to do this. No more hiding, no more fear of man. I need to fear God more and do what he’s called me to do. I will no longer be passive and let people stay captive. I will no longer see people hurt and children and victims of abuse go unheard. I will be a voice for the voiceless. There has been a great exposure of sexual abuse throughout society whether it’s Politicians, Hollywood, Gymnastics, Media faces, other churches, etc.. It’s time this is heard by the world. Many of us ex-JW Apostates are trying to get big media to expose this issue to the world so that hopefully the Governing Body/Watchtower will change their policies. It’s also a time for action to be taken for all victims of sexual abuse throughout the whole world. I told someone recently that it doesn’t matter if I believed Jehovah’s Witnesses were true followers of Christ. Nor would it make a difference if this was happening in another church or religion, I would still be speaking up about this. I don’t have a personal vendetta against Jehovah’s Witnesses because I speak out about any false teachers or unbiblical teachings. It’s truth and justice that I stand for. It’s human rights, dignity and respect that I stand for. So please join me in this prayer for ALL sexual abuse victims throughout all the world and the abusers, the supporters of abuse and policies that let this happen… Father God, and Lord Jesus Christ, I pray for your will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, for your name to be glorified ! I pray for all the victims of sexual abuse, that you would bring redemption, healing and freedom for them. That you would give justice to the innocent, and raise up voices and action to help bring this justice about. Instill in the hearts of every believer, to be an advocate for justice. To not just stand by the way side and be passive and leave it to the “leaders.” It is every brother and sister’s responsibility to support one another in sharing each other’s burdens, protect, upbuild and encourage. I pray for policies that enable these things to happen, and for things to be hidden and covered up, that they would be destroyed completely. I pray for our American society to be influenced to change from a sexualized one, to one of modesty, self-respect and dignity. Not because we need to be conformed but because it’s about protection and love. I pray for brokenness to be healed, identities to be redeemed and that we would not be a culture of fear and hatred but one of peace, love and respect. I pray for voices to be raised and heard. I pray for women in the church to be raised up as powerful leaders as well. Thank you Father for being so good and merciful! All praise and honor belong to you Father and our Lord, Jesus Christ! In your holy name I pray, Amen! Thank you for supporting me by following my blog. This month I am taking the time to focus on this ministry, family, and digging deep into God’s word. I am preparing and planning for the next season of this ministry. I will be working on activism and I am hoping to launch my plans for classes/workshops for local Christians to come and learn about differences in the beliefs of Jehovah’s Witnesses, giving life and identity to the church, educating and equipping them, and whatever else it brings. I am starting with Jehovah’s Witness beliefs because it’s what I am most familiar with right now but I am also going to add in other false teachings eventually but mostly I think as long as we believers know what we believe, why we believe, who we are as God’s Children in Christ, and how to share truth with others, we can withstand any false teaching out there. So that is first and foremost my goal. I hope to launch in Spring or Fall. Please watch for more posts this month! I will be sharing about my activism and other exciting things. Always done in truth and love. If you'd like to be involved, please email me! :D
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June 2020
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