In many countries, ethnic minorities who have their rights protected by law often find themselves the object of intolerance. Guaranteeing freedom by law clearly does not get to the roots of intolerance. The fact that intolerance is hidden below the surface does not mean that it does not exist. If at some future time circumstances […]
In an effort to reach out to inactive ones and encourage them to return to the organization, the Watchtower society has produced a brochure entitled: “Return to Jehovah”. In the introduction it says: “Dear fellow believer:… As you know, the Bible is largely a book about people. Many were faithful men and women who faced […]
…“Remove the wicked person from among yourselves.” (1 Corinthians 5:13) Perhaps second only to the refusal of blood transfusions, the most controversial practice of the organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses is that of disfellowshipping with its associated shunning of wrongdoers. Presently, all in the disfellowshipped state, whether repentant or not, as well as those voluntarily disassociating […]
In the following music video featured as part of the October 2020 JW Broadcast, Jehovah’s Witnesses are encouraged to not hold a grudge but forgive one another freely. It is based on what is written in Colossians 3:13. (Colossians 3:13) Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely even if anyone has […]
“Before you shut the door on a Jehovah’s Witness,” says an article in the newspaper USA Today, “pause to consider the shameful persecution they suffered not too long ago, as well as the rich contribution they have made to the First Amendment freedoms we all enjoy.” Jehovah’s Witnesses were persecuted in the United States throughout […]
“Everyone who pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God. The one who does remain in this teaching is the one who has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your homes […]
At the conclusion of part 3 the question was raised: “Was Jesus encouraging his disciples to adopt toward the sinner the attitude the Scribes and Pharisees had toward tax collectors? The Watchtower continues: “‘But,’ someone might ask, ‘did not Jesus associate with tax collectors?’ Well, let us examine the facts. As “the Lamb of God […]
Spiritual Fellowship Part 2 of this series concluded with an important question, just what is to be considered spiritual fellowship? The expression appears in the book of Philippians: “If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any spiritual fellowship, if any tender affection and compassion, make my joy full […]
Was there truly a difference in the way the fornicator in Corinth and the lazy meddlers in Thessalonica were to be treated? But if anyone is not obedient to our word through this letter, keep this one marked and stop associating with him, so that he may become ashamed. And yet do not consider him […]
A Difference Between Marking and Disfellowshipping? The scripture most often referred to as support for disfellowshipping is 1 Corinthians 5:9-13. However, the Watchtower society views the situation in Corinth as being much worse than what needed to be dealt with in Thessalonica, a situation which called for a lesser form of discipline they call marking. […]