.Announcing Jehovah?s Kingdom .  {-*Whe} 
- - HaV?ChiI-dren -

4.

 

DisciplineThat
Can Yield
PeaceableFruit
"No discipline seems for the present to be
joyous, but grievous; yet afterward to those
who have been trained by it it yields peaceable
fruit, namely, righteousness."-HEBREWS12:11.
HINK back to your childhood days. Can you recall
your parents disciplining you? Most of us can. The
T
apostle Paul used that as an illustration when commenting on discipline from God, as we read at Hebrews
12:9-11.
2 God's fatherly discipline, which can affect our spiritual lives, can take many forms. One is his arrangement to exclude from the Christian congregation a
person who no longer wants to live by God's standards,
or who refuses to do so. A person who is thus strongly
chastised or disciplined may repent and turn around. In
the process, the congregation of loyal ones are also
disciplined in that they learn the importance of conforming to God's high standards.-1 Timothy 1:20.
3 'But,' someone may ask, 'is it not harsh to expel and
then refuse to talk with the expelled person?' Such a
view surfaced in a recent court case involving a woman
who was raised by parents who were Jehovah's Witnesses. Her parents had been disfellowshipped. She was
not, but she voluntarily disassociated herself by writing
a letter withdrawing from the congregation. Accordingly, the congregation was simply informed that she was
no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses. She moved away,
but years later she returned and found that local Witnesses would not converse with her. So she took the
matter to court. What was the outcome, and how might
this affect you? In order to understand the matter
1, 2. (a) According to Hebrews 12:9-11, what does God lovingly provide? (b) What is one example of discipline, and what
can result from this?
3. How do some react to the idea of disfellowshipping?
26 THE WATCHTOWER- APRIL 15, 1988

properly, let us see what the
Bible says about the related
subject of disfellowshipping.

Why This Firm Stand?
Most true Christians loyally
support God and his righteous
laws. (1 Thessalonians 1:2-7;
Hebrews 6:10) Occasionally,
though, a person deviates from
the path of truth. For example,
despite help from Christian elders, he may unrepentantly violate God's laws. Or he may reject the faith by teaching false
doctrine or by disassociating
himself from the congregation.
Then what should be done?
Such things occurred even
while the apostles were alive;
hence, let us see what they
wrote about this.
.5 When a man in Corinth was
unrepentantly immoral, Paul
told the congregation: "Quit
mixing in company with anyone
called a brother that is a forni4

4. What occasionally occurs with
some in the congregation? (Galatians 6:1; Jude 23)
5, 6. (a) We have what wise counsel as to dealing with those who
commit serious sins and are unrepentant? (Matthew 18:17) (b) What
questions do we face?

"Cutting ourselves off
completely from all
association with [ my
disfellowshipped sister]
Margaret tested our loyalty
to Jehovah's arrangement.
It gave our family
opportunity to show that
we really believe that
Jehovah's way is best."
-Lynette.

 cator or a greedy person or an idolater or a
reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not
even eating with such a man. " ( 1 Corinthians 5:11-13) The same was to occur with
apostates, such as Hymenaeus: "As for a
man that promotes a sect, reject him after
a first and a second admonition; knowing
that such a man has been turned out of the
way and is sinning. " (Titus 3:10, 11; 1 Timothy 1:19, 20) Such shunning would be appropriate, too, for anyone who rejects the
congregation: "They went out from us, but
they were not of our sort; for if they had
been of our sort, they would have remained
with us. But they went out that it might be
shown up that not all are of our sort."
-1 John 2: 18, 19.
s Hopefully, such a one will repent so that
he can be accepted back. (Acts 3:19) But
meanwhile, may Christians have limited
fellowship with him, or is strict avoidance
necessary? If so, why?

Cut Off Thoroughly?
Christians do not hold themselves aloof
from people. We have normal contacts with
neighbors, workmates, schoolmates, and
others , and witness to them even if some
are 'fornicators, greedy persons, extortioners, or idolaters .' Paul wrote that we cannot
avoid them completely, 'otherwise we would
have to get out of the world.' He directed
it was to be different, though, with "a
- ho lived like that: "Quit mixing in
_.11:i>.::!l_l
· uit h anyone called a brother that
rned to such ways], not even eating
a man."-1 Corinthians 5:9-11;
3-17.
apostle John's writings, we find
nsel that emphasizes how thor. tians are to avoid such ones:
hat pushes ahead and does not
7

our conduct differ as to two class?

=--~--"-·ce

did the apostle John provide on

remain in the teaching of the Christ does
not have God ... If anyone comes to you and
does not bring this teaching, never receive
him into your homes or say a greeting to him.
For he that says a greeting [Greek, khai' ro]
to him is a sharer in his wicked works."*
-2 John 9-11.
9 Why is such a firm stand appropriate
even today? Well, reflect on the severe cutting off mandated in God's Law to Israel. In
various serious matters , willful violators
were executed. (Leviticus 20:10; Numbers
15:30, 31) When that happened , others,
even relatives, could no longer speak with
the dead lawbreaker. (Leviticus 19:1-4;
Deuteronomy 13:1-5; 17:1-7) Though loyal
Israelites back then were normal humans
with emotions like ours, they knew that God
is just and loving and that his Law protected their moral and spiritual cleanness. So
they could accept that his arrangement to
cut off wrongdoers was fundamentally a
good and right thing.-Job 34:10-12.
10
We can be just as sure that God's arrangement that Christians refuse to fellowship with someone who has been expelled
for unrepentant sin is a wise protection for
us. "Clear away the old leaven, that you
may be a new lump, according as you are
free from ferment.'' (1 Corinthians 5:7)
By also avoiding persons who have deliberately disassociated themselves, Christians are protected from possible critical,
• John here used khai 'ro, which was a greeting like
"good day" or "hello." (Acts 15:23; Matthew 28:9) He
did not use a,spa'Z<>mai(as in verse 13), which means
"to enfold in the arms, thus to greet, to welcome" and
may have implied a very warm greeting, even with an
embrace. (Luke 10:4; 11:43;Acts 20:1, 37; 1 Thessalonians 5:26) So the direction at 2 John 11 could well
mean not to say even "hello" to such ones.-See The
Watchtower of July 15, 1985, page 31.
9, 10. (a) What happened to unrepentant lawbreakers in Israel , and why? (b) How should we
feel about the arrangement today for dealing
with persons expelled for unrepentant
sin?
(2 Peter 2:20-22)
THE WATCHTOWER-APRIL 15, 1988

27

 unappreciative, or even apostate views.
-Hebrews 12:15, 16.

What About Relatives?
God certainly realizes that carrying out
his righteous laws about cutting off wrongdoers often involves and affects relatives.
As mentioned above, when an Israelite
wrongdoer was executed, no more family
association was possible. In fact, if a son
was a drunkard and a glutton, his parents
were to bring him before the judges, and if
he was unrepentant, the parents were to
share in the just executing of him, 'to clear
away what is bad from the midst of Israel.'
(Deuteronomy 21:18-21) You can appreciate that this would not have been easy for
them. Imagine, too, how the wrongdoer's
brothers, sisters, or grandparents felt. Yet,
their putting loyalty to their righteous God
before family affection could be lifesaving
for them.
12 Recall the case of Korah, a leader in
rebellion against God's leadership through
Moses. In his perfect justice, Jehovah saw
that Korah had to die. But all loyal ones
were advised: "Turn aside, please, from before the tents of these wicked men and do
not touch anything that belongs to them,
that you may not be swept away in all their
sin." Relatives who would not accept God's
warning died with the rebels. But some of
Korah' s relatives wisely chose to be loyal to
Jehovah, which saved their lives and led to
future blessings.-Numbers 16:16-33; 26:
9-11; 2 Chronicles 20:19.
13 Cutting off from the Christian congregation does not involve immediate death, so
family ties continue. Thus, a man who is
disfellowshipped or who disassociates himself may still live at home with his Christian
11

11, 12. (a) What was the effect on Israelite relatives when a wrongdoer was cut off? (b) Illustrate the benefits of obedience.
13. How will loyal Christians respond if an immediate family member is disfellowshipped or he
disassociates himself?
28

THE WATCHTOWER-APRIL 15, 1988

wife and faithful children. Respect for
God's judgments and the congregation's action will move the wife and children to
recognize that by his course, he altered the
spiritual bond that existed between them.
Yet, since his being disfellowshipped does
not end their blood ties or marriage relationship, normal family affections and dealings can continue.
14 The situation is different if the disf ellowshipped or disassociated one is a relative
living outside the immediate family circle
and home. It might be possible to have
almost no contact at all with the relative.
Even if there were some family matters
requiring contact, this certainly would be
kept to a minimum, in line with the divine
principle: "Quit mixing in company with
anyone called a brother that is a fornicator
or a greedy person [or guilty of another
gross sin], ... not even eating with such a
man."-1 Corinthians 5:11.
1s Understandably, this may be difficult
because of emotions and family ties, such as
grandparents' love for their grandchildren.
Yet, this is a test of loyalty to God, as stated
by the sister quoted on page 26. Anyone who
is feeling the sadness and pain that the
disfellowshipped relative has thus caused
may find comfort and be encouraged by the
example set by some of Korah's relatives.
-Psalm 84:10-12.*

The Court Decision
s You may want to know the outcome of

1

* For a discussion of a relative's being disfellowshipped, see The Watchtower of September 15, 1981,
pages 26-31.

14. What divine advice should influence our contact with a disfellowshipped or disassociated relative outside our immediate family circle?
15. How can relatives control the influence of
emotions in such instances? (Psalm 15:1-5; Mark
10:29, 30)
16-18. What decision was reached in the court
case mentioned earlier , and what added opinion
did the court offer?

 the court case involving a woman who was
upset because former acquaintances would
not converse with her after she chose to
reject the faith, disassociating herself from
the congregation.
17 Before the case went to trial, a federal
district court summarily granted judgment
against her. That judgment was based on
the concept that courts do not get involved
in church disciplinary matters. She then
appealed. The unanimous judgment of the
federal court of appeals* was based on
broader grounds of First Amendment (of
the U.S. Constitution) rights: "Because the
practice of shunning is a part of the faith of
the Jehovah's Witness, we find that the
'free exercise' provision of the United
States Constitution . . . precludes [her]
from prevailing. The defendants have a constitutionally protected privilege to engage
in the practice of shunning. Accordingly,
we affirm" the earlier judgment of the district court.
18 The court opinion continued: "Shunning is a practice engaged in by Jehovah's
Witnesses pursuant to their interpretation
of canonical text, and we are not free to
reinterpret that text ... The defendants are
entitled to the free exercise of their religious beliefs . . . Courts generally do not
scrutinize closely the relationship among
members (or former members) of a church.
Churches are afforded great latitude when
· impose discipline on members or for.embers. We agree with [former U.S.
•:re-•me Court] Justice Jackson's view that
_ ·ous activities which concern only
•!::!>er
of the faith are and ought to be
~ nearly absolutely free as anything
. · . . . The members of the Church
ecided to abandon have concluded
ey no longer want to associate with
· _ hold that they are free to make that

The court of appeals acknowledged that
even if the woman felt distress because
former acquaintances chose not to converse
with her, "permitting her to recover for
intangible or emotional injuries would unconstitutionally restrict the Jehovah's Witnesses free exercise of religion . . . The
constitutional guarantee of the free exercise of religion requires that society tolerate
the type of harms suffered by [her] as a
price well worth paying to safeguard the
right of religious difference that all citizens
enjoy." This decision has, in a sense, received even more weight since it was handed down. How so? The woman later petitioned the highest court in the land to hear
the case and possibly overturn the decision
against her. But in November 1987, the
United States Supreme Court refused to
do so.
20 Hence, this important case determined
that a disf ellowshipped or disassociated
person cannot recover damages from Jehovah's Witnesses in a court of law for being
shunned.* Since the congregation was responding to the perfect directions that all of
us can read in God's Word and applying it,
the person is feeling a loss brought on by his
or her own actions.
19

Discipline-Many
Benefit
Some outsiders, upon hearing about
disfellowshipping, are inclined to sympathize with a wrongdoer who can no longer
converse with members of the Christian
congregation. But is not such sympathy
misplaced? Consider the potential benefit
that the wrongdoer and others may receive.
21

* Though various individuals have brought suit, no
court has rendered a judgment against Jehovah's
Witnesses over their Bible.based practice of shunning.

19, 20. Why is a person who is cut off from the
congregation not in position to recover monetary
damages in court?
21. Why is balance needed in viewing disfellowshipping?
THE WATCHTOWER-APRIL 15, 1988

29

 22 For example, on page 26 we noted Lynette's comment about her choice 'to cut
herself off completely from all association'
with her disfellowshipped sister Margaret.
She and her Christian relatives 'believed
that Jehovah's way is best.' And it is!
23 Lynette's sister later told her: 'If you
had viewed the disfellowshipping lightly, I
know that I would not have taken steps
toward reinstatement as soon as I did. Being totally cut off from loved ones and from
close contact with the congregation created
a strong desire to repent. I realized just how
wrong my course was and how serious it
was to turn my back on Jehovah.'
24
In another case, Laurie's parents were
disfellowshipped. Yet she says: 'My association with them never stopped but increased.
As time went on, I became more and more
inactive. I got to the point of not even
attending meetings.' Then she read material in The Watchtower of September 1 and
15, 1981, that stressed the counsel of 1 Corinthians 5:11-13 and 2 John 9-11. "It was
as if a light bulb were turned on in me," she
writes. 'I knew I would have to make some
changes. I now better understand the
meaning of Matthew 10:34-36. My decision
was not an easy one for my family to swallow, for my son, five, is the only boy, and
they love him dearly.' It is hoped that los-

22, 23. Illustrate the importance and value of
obeying God in our view of disfellowshipped persons.
24. How did one sister's response to disfellowshipping affect her and others?

Points to Remember

o In what ways can
disfellowshipping be a form of
discipline?
o Why does a Christian's conduct
toward disfellowshipped persons
differ from his conduct toward
sinners in the world?
o What Scriptural direction should
be borne in mind even if a relative
is disfellowshipped?
o An appeals court reached what
conclusion in a case brought by a
disassociated person?
o What can we learn from some
personal expressions about
disfellowshipping?

ing such association will touch the parents'
hearts, as it did Margaret's. Still, the discipline involved helped Laurie: 'I am back out
in the field ministry. My marriage and family are stronger because of my change, and
so am I.'
25
Or consider the feelings of one who was
disfellowshipped and later reinstated. Sandi wrote: 'I would like to thank you for the
very helpful and instructive articles [mentioned above] on reproof and disfellowshipping. I am happy that Jehovah loves his
people enough to see that his organization
25. What view did a reinstated person have of
God's discipline?

Excommunication-What
English historian Edward Gibbon wrote about
the propriety and effect of disfellowshipping
nearer the time of the apostles:
"It is the undoubted right of every society to
exclude from its communion and benefits such
among its members as reject or violate those
regulations which have been established by

30

THE WATCHTOWER-APRIL 15, 1988

Effect?

general consent. . .. The consequences of
excommunication were of a temporal [earthly]
as well as a spiritual nature . The Christian
against whom it was pronounced was deprived
of any part in the oblations of the faithful. The
ties both of religious and of private friendship
were dissolved."

 is kept clean. What may seem harsh to
outsiders is both necessary and really a
loving thing to do. I am grateful that our
heavenly Father is a loving and forgiving
God.'
26 So our God who requires that an unrepentant wrongdoer be expelled from the
congregation also lovingly shows that a sinner can be reinstated in the congregation if
26. What righteous fruit can result from accepting discipline? (Psalm 94:10, 12)

he repents and turns around. (A disassociated person can similarly request to become
part of the congregation again.) Thereafter
he can be comforted by Christians who will
confirm their love for him. (2 Corinthians 2:
5-11; 7:8-13) Truly, it is just as Paul wrote:
"No discipline seems for the present to be
joyous, but grievous; yet afterward to those
who have been trained by it it yields peaceable fruit, namely, righteousness."-Hebrews 12:11.

Do You Remember?
Have you enjoyed reading the recent issues of The Watchtower?
Well, see if you can answer the
following questions:
o What is the theme of modernday Biblical evangelism?
The core of the true evangelizer's
message today is the good news
of God's Kingdom in the hands of
his appointed Ruler, Jesus Christ .
It includes all the truths Jesus
spoke and that his disciples recorded. (Matthew 24 :14 ; 28 :
19, 20)-1 /1 , page 4.
o Why is it necessary to continue preaching the good news in
territories where there is little or
no result?
Jehovah , through Christ Jesus ,
has commanded that 'the good
news be preached in all the inhabited earth .' (Matthew 24 :14)
When people refuse to listen , this
gives us an opportunity to show
the depth of our love and devotion to Jehovah by persistently
doing what is right. Also , our love
moves us to warn our neighbors
as to what the future holds for
mankind . (1 John 5 :3 ; 2 Timothy
4 .2)-1 / 1, page 26.
o What benefits does the fulltime ministry bring to many
Kingdom publishers?
It helps them to cultivate more

fully the fruitage of the spirit , to
express more love for people, to
become more efficient in the ministry , and to trust Jehovah to a
greater extent. Hence, they enjoy
a closer relationship with Jehovah. -1 /15, page 26.
o To what direction and purpose of God did all Bible writers
point in spite of their differences
in presentation?
They all showed what Jehovah
God will do to make mankind
happy and also what humans individually must do in order to receive God's approva l - 2/ 1,
page 7.
o What are some of the rewards
and benefits from being honest?
A climate of trust and confidence
is developed, leading to healthy
attitudes and relationships . Honesty also contributes to a clean
conscience, and it gives peace of
mind, so that one can face others
without fear of embarrassment.
(Hebrews 9 :14 ; 1 Timothy 1.19)
-2 / 15, page 7.
o Whose prayers does the almighty God hear and answer?
Jehovah hears prayers offered to
him through the right channel ,

Jesus Christ ; in the right manner; and with the right attitude of
mind and heart. God answers
such prayers according to his divine will and at his chosen time.
-3/15 , page 7.
o What important event occurred
in the 20th year of King Artaxerxes' rulership (455 B.C.E.)?
Permission was granted Nehemiah to go back and rebuild
Jerusalem and its walls. This
command was the start of the
"seventy weeks" of years of Daniel's prophecy, pointing forward
to Jesus' appearance as "Messiah the Leader'' on time in the
year 29 C.E. (Daniel 9 :24 , 25 ;
Nehemiah 1 :1 ; 2 :1-9)-3/15 ,
pages 28, 29.
o How are family problems best
handled?
In love, for the Bible counsels,
"Let all your affairs take place
with love." Also, "Love covers a
multitude of sins." ( 1 Corinthians
16:14 ; 1 Peter 4 :8) This should
be a deep-seated love that is willing to overlook the 1mperfect1ons
of other members of the family
that might otherwise irritate and
grate on one's nerves .-4/1,
pages 6, 7.

THE WATCHTOWER-APRIL 15, 1988 31