Shunning or disfellowshipng
"Even treating the brother for a time as a heathen
man and a publican would not mean to do him
injury, to castigate him, to pillory him, to expose
him to shame or contempt before the world. In the
meantime the brother may merely be treated in the
kindly, courteous way in which it would be proper
for us to treat any publican or Gentile."
The Watchtower Reprints, March 1, 1919, p. 6397
But then the Society received new light and the policy toward a disfellowshipped or disassociated one changed
Was this light from Jehovah? It says that "the brother"
is to be treated in a kindly, courteous way!
Is cutting off contact all with with one who has been disfellowshipped or who no longer believes in "the Lord's channel"
showing Christian love?
Is it proper for a Christian witness of Jehovah to
have business relationships with one who has been
disfellowshiped?.. Generally speaking, it would be
desirable for us to have no contact with
disfellowshiped persons, either in business or in
social and spiritual ways.
The Watchtower, December 1, 1952, p. 735
Even relatives are subject to disfellowshipping.
In the case of the disfellowshiped relative who
does not live in the same home, contact with him is
also kept to what is absolutely necessary. As with
secular employment, this contact is limited and
even curtailed completely if at all possible.
The Watchtower, July 15, 1963, p. 443
Disfellowshipping usually brings with it the practice of "shunning" This practice is justified with the use of scripture
Again, the disfellowshiping does not dissolve the
flesh-and-blood ties, but, in this situation, contact,
if it were necessary at all, would be much more rare
than between persons living in the same home.
Yet, there might be some absolutely necessary
family matters requiring communication, such as
legalities over a will or property.
The Watchtower, June 1, 1970, p. 351-352
Would this be showing Christian love or creating fear in the minds of those in the Kingdom Halls? Maybe this is their form of a
"Witness protection" program.
Would upholding Gods righteousness and his
disfellowshiping arrangement mean that a Christian
should not speak at all with an expelled person, not
even saying Hello? And we all know from our
experience over the years that a simple Hello to
someone can be the first step that develops into a
conversation and maybe even a friendship. Would
we want to take that first step with a
disfellowshiped person?
The Watchtower, September 15, 1981, p. 24-25
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