Why Disfellowshipping Is a Loving Provision

THE BENEFITS OF DISFELLOWSHIPPING

Jesus said that "wisdom is proved righteous by its results."  (Matthew 11:19) Let us consider three reasons why it is a  wise decision to disfellowship a person if he does not repent.

Disfellowshipping protects Jehovah's name from dishonor.  What we do will bring honor or dishonor  to Jehovah because, as his Witnesses, we bear his name.  (Isaiah 43:10)  Just as a son's conduct can honor or dishonor  his parents, the conduct of Jehovah's servants can honor or dishonor Jehovah.  In Ezekiel's time, people of the nations linked the Jews  with Jehovah's name.  (Ezekiel 36:19-23)  Similarly today, people link Jehovah's Witnesses with Jehovah's name. So if we obey Jehovah's laws, we will bring honor to him.

The apostle Peter counseled Christians: "As obedient children, stop being molded by the desires you formerly  had in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called  you, become holy yourselves in all your conduct, for it is written:  'You must be holy, because I an holy.' " (1 Peter 1:14-16) For example, if we practiced sexual immorality, we would dishonor God's name. But when we keep our conduct clean, we honor Jehovah.

If one of Jehovah's Witnesses practices what is bad, people who know him will probably become aware of what he is doing.  So when they learn that he is no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses, they will realize that Jehovah's people obey what the Bible says and keep the congregation  clean. For example, a man came to a meeting in Switzerland and said that he wanted to become a member of the congregation.  His sister had been disfellowshipped for immorality and now he wanted to join an organization  that "does not tolerate  bad conduct" 

Next time: Why Disfellowshipping Is a Loving Provision - Continue with THE BENEFITS OF DISFELLOWSHIPPING

From the Watchtower magazine, 2015