In a recent morning worship broadcast, governing body helper Leonard Myers gave an example that illustrated the need for Christians to avoid showing misplaced compassion. However, I thought it odd that the example he chooses is from the Mosaic Law. This is a common practice of those on the teaching committee of Jehovah’s Witnesses. The question is why is this the case? I invite you to watch this short segment of the video and let’s see if we can answer that question:
While it is true that the Bible does not encourage shielding unrepentant wrongdoers from discipline, one has to wonder why an organization that claims to be Christian would revert back to the Mosaic Law that was abolished by Christ to make a point about misplaced compassion. Are there no teachings of Christ or his Apostles that can be used to make this point?
Just what is the point anyway? What modern day sin would he expect Jehovah’s Witnesses apply this to? The law dealt with someone that would persistently lead a fellow Israelite to abandon God and worship idols. Only an extremely arrogant and narcissistic organization would equate criticism of its teachings with abandoning God and then seek to administer punishment for doing so.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are taught to take an extreme stand against anyone critical of the organizations teachings. Those guilty of committing the sin of apostasy are to be completely avoided, even by a cherished family member. The reason Leonard Myers avoided selecting a text from the New Testament becomes apparent upon examination. Such a situation did exist in Israel in the first century. A sect of Judaism known as the Pharisees, separated themselves from others and took an extreme view of God’s law. The Pharisees were highly regarded as the pious ones among the Jews. But Jesus ministry posed a threat to their control over the people. They threatened with expulsion from the synagogue anyone that would express belief that Jesus was the foretold Messiah. Consider this example from the gospel of John. Jesus has just brought sight to a man that had been blind from birth. But he did so on the Sabbath. This was something forbidden by the Pharisees:
“They led the formerly blind man to the Pharisees. 14 Incidentally, the day that Jesus made the paste and opened his eyes was the Sabbath. 15 So this time the Pharisees also began asking the man how he gained sight. He said to them: “He put a paste on my eyes, and I washed, and I can see.” 16 Some of the Pharisees then began to say: “This is not a man from God, for he does not observe the Sabbath.” Others said: “How can a man who is a sinner perform signs of that sort?” So there was a division among them. 17 And again they said to the blind man: “What do you say about him, since it was your eyes that he opened?” The man said: “He is a prophet.” 18 However, the Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had gained sight, until they called the parents of the man who could now see. 19 And they asked them: “Is this your son who you say was born blind? How, then, does he now see?” 20 His parents answered: “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. 21 But how it is that he now sees, we do not know; or who opened his eyes, we do not know. Ask him. He is of age. He must speak for himself.” 22 His parents said these things because they were in fear of the Jews, for the Jews had already come to an agreement that if anyone acknowledged him as Christ, that person should be expelled from the synagogue. 23 This is why his parents said: “He is of age. Question him.” 24 So a second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him: “Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner.” (John 9:13-24)
Instead of rejoicing with the man for having miraculously gained his sight they say to the man: “Give glory to God, we know that this man is a sinner.” Similar words were said by Joshua to Achan just before he and his entire family was stoned to death. (Joshua 7:19) The Pharisees would agree that it would have been misplaced compassion to spare Achan from that punishment. But was their assessment of Jesus correct? No. It was only their opinion that Jesus was guilty of sin as was Achan. They had no evidence to prove it. In fact, evidence to the contrary was right before their eyes, yet they chose to ignore it.
It was primarily these religious leaders that were behind attempts to stone Jesus. (John 8:59; 10:31) They succeeded in stoning Stephen to death. (Acts 7:58,59) They stoned Paul and left him for dead. (Acts 14:19) In fact, every mention of stoning in the New Testament is placed in a bad light. Why were they so extreme in their hatred of Jesus and his disciples? What was their motive? If you were to ask them, the charge would have been either blasphemy or apostasy. (Matt. 26:65; Acts 21:21) But again, that would have been their opinion. Do you see the danger of making such accusations? Under the law, the person making an accusation leading to a sentence of death, had to be the first one to cast a stone. This was to discourage anyone from making a false accusation. If you are going to accuse someone of a crime for which the penalty was death you had better be right! If it was later found out that you had lied, you would then, according to the law, have to forfeit your own life. (Deut. 19:18,19)
But did the Pharisees really believe Jesus was a blasphemer? Perhaps. But the apostle John in reporting on events surrounding Jesus resurrection of Lazarus in his gospel provides the real answer they wanted him eliminated.
If we let him go on this way, they will all put faith in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” (John 11:48)
So the Pharisees said among themselves: “You see that you are not getting anywhere. Look! The whole world has gone after him.” (John 12:19)
Jesus ministry posed a threat to their prominent positions and their control over the people.
The Greek word translated compassion in the New World Translation is eleos. But eleos is also translated as mercy. In their insistence upon strict adherence to God’s law, the Pharisees were often lacking in mercy or compassion. (Matt. 9:9-13; 23:23)
Jesus, on the other hand never encouraged strict avoidance of those with opposing views. Even though he was criticized for eating with tax collectors and sinners he also dined with and reasoned with Pharisees, even though they had erroneous interpretations of the scriptures. Jesus encouraged his followers to listen to the Pharisees but to carefully scrutinize their teachings. (Matt. 16:11,12) He encouraged them to love their enemies and pray for those that persecute them. He not only taught it, he set the example. (Luke 23:34)
It would have been very difficult for Leonard Myers to make his case from the teachings of Jesus or his apostles. But taking from the Mosaic Law suits the authoritarian structure of the organization perfectly. But is that the way Christians are to deal with sin?
While it is true that under the Christian arrangement those whose aim is to deceive Christians to deny the Christ are not to receive fellowship and encouragement. (2 John 7-11) But this is no justification for treating those that question some doctrinal interpretation of their church as though they were denying the Christ and then shunning them completely.
In fact, at one time the Watchtower society even condemned the practice of excommunication as unscriptural.
If you would like to know what instructions Jesus gave for dealing with sinners in the Christian congregation, I found this article on Dispel the Darkness Ministries to be very enlightening.
You may also enjoy reading the articles: How Should a Disfellowshipped Person Be Treated?