Is there a creator?

Why Disfellowship?

1 Corinthians chapter 5 verse 13:-   13 while God judges those outside? “Remove the wicked person from among yourselves.

Almost everyone who comes into the truth and learns to serve Jehovah, will bring problems and memories of their darker past with them! But if a person has left his or her past dealings where they belong, in the past, and they sincerely change their ways in order to do what is right and serve Jehovah with their whole heart and spirit and practise what is right, then their former deeds will be forgiven and forgotten!

A person is judged by God by what he or she is, not what he or she was! And we must act in the same way, or we will be guilty of judging that person whom Jehovah has forgiven! Through prayer and a right heart condition sins can be blotted out by Jehovah, and a good relationship with our God can begin, but we then have to protect that relationship by always doing what is right in Jehovah's eyes.

Is Disfellowshipping Right?

1 Corinthians chapter 5 verses 11 and 12:-   11 But now I am writing you to stop keeping company with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. 12 For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Do you not judge those inside,

There is not one single person who has not sinned (with the exception of Jesus Christ!), anyone who thinks he or she is faultless is fooling themselves, and only Jehovah knows what a person is really like inside. Sadly some individuals hide what they are really like and practise things that are wrong in God's eyes, and even after their wrong course is exposed, they continue to follow their bad ways, so the Apostle Paul's admonition in the above scripture can be the only alternative!

The congregation has to be kept clean, or just like a rotten apple in a barrel of apples, if it is not removed, then before much time has passed, the whole Barrel will become rotten! Just as the practise of good actions by people can help those around them to follow that good example, so to the bad practises of some, can affect others especially if the bad persons seem to be prospering. For this reason, Jehovah requires true Christians to remove the bad apples from the congregation before they can cause real harm!

Mercy is Also Needed!

Galatians chapter 6 verse 1:-   1 Brothers, even if a man takes a false step before he is aware of it, you who have spiritual qualifications try to readjust such a man in a spirit of mildness. But keep an eye on yourself, for fear you too may be tempted.

Disfellowshipping is always a last resort, it should never be carried out without first trying to correct the individuals thinking through the pages of the Bible and continued discussion of correct scriptural advice delivered with love, prayer and understanding. There could be many reasons why a person has gone astray, so every avenue of help to change their wrong course and thinking must be explored before any decision can be made!

However, the spiritual health of the congregation must be the first priority, and doing what is right in Jehovah's eyes must take president in any action taken! Please understand that a disfellowshipping of anyone is a terrible responsibility that can mean a persons relationship with Jehovah and their future life prospects can be ended, so any decision is never to be taken lightly.

A Way Back?

There is always a way back to Jehovah's forgiveness, even after being disfellowshipped, a change of heart to again do what is right in God's eyes and genuine repentance for the wrong committed, can lead the person back to the congregation and start a new relationship with Jehovah and his people, and in time they can be reinstated as one of the true God's worshippers!

Conclusion: Jehovah's house and his people must be kept clean, there is no room in it for wickedness or wrong doing of any sort! If a person is practising badness and is not repentant, then they must be removed from the congregation, there is no alternative! However, if they at a later time change their ways and return to Jehovah's worship, then they can be welcomed back with love, and join again with his faithful people in true worship!

Isaiah chapter 55 verse 7:-   7 Let the wicked man leave his way And the evil man his thoughts; Let him return to Jehovah, who will have mercy on him, To our God, for he will forgive in a large way.

Jehovah is Love!