Why Disfellowshipping Is a Loving Provision

WHY A PERSON MAY BE DISFELLOWSHIPPED

If one of Jehovah's Witnesses who is baptized commits a  serious in and does not repent, he will be disfellowshipped.

Jehovah does not expect us to be perfect, but he does expect his servants to obey his laws and to remain holy.  For example, Jehovah commands his servants to avoid serious sins such as sexual immorality, idolatry,stealing, extortion, murder, and spiritism. -1 Corinthians  6:9, 10; Revelation 21:8. 

What Jehovah expects of us is reasonable and is a protection for us.  For example, we all want to live among peaceful, decent, and honest people, and that is what we experience among our spiritual brothers and sisters.  Why are they this way?  Because they dedicated themselves to Jehovah and promised  to live by what he says in the Bible. 

But what if a baptized Christian commits a serious sin because of human weakness?  This happened to one of Jehovah's  servants in the past, but Jehovah did not reject them completely. For example, even though King David committed adultery and murder,the prophet Nathan told David that  Jehovah had forgiven his sin.  -2 Samuel 12:13.  

Why did Jehovah forgive David? Because Jehovah could see that David was truly repentant.  (Psalm 32:1-5) Today, too, someone who sinned will be forgiven if he is truly repentant and stops doing what is bad.  (Acts 3:19; 26:20) If the elders on a judicial committee do not discern that the  person is truly repentant, then he must be disfellowshipped.

If someone in your family or a close friend has been disfellowshipped, you may find it hard to accept that decision and may feel that it is too harsh. However, Jehovah's Word clearly shows us that disfellowshipping is an act of love.

Next time: Why Disfellowhipping Is a Loving Provision - THE BENEFITS OF DISFELLOWSHIPPING 

From the Watchtower magazine, 2015