Why Disfellowshipping Is a Loving Provision

Continue with THE BENEFITS OF DISFELLOWSHIPPING

Disfellowshipping keeps the Christian Congregation clean.  The apostle Paul warned the Corinthians of the danger of letting an unrepentant stay in  the congregation. He compared the bad influence of these sinners to that of heaven that causes a batch of dough to rise. Paul said:  "A little leaven ferments the whole batch of dough."  Then he counseled them: "Remove the wicked person from among yourselves." -1 Corinthians 5:6, 11-13.

That "wicked person" practiced  sexual immorality without any shame.  Some in  his congregation had even begun to excuse his bad conduct. (1 Corinthians 5:1, 2) This was dangerous because other Christians could have been affected by the immoral lifestyle  that was common  in Corinth.  Similarly today, if the congregation ignores serious sin, some could begin to view Jehovah's standards as unimportant.  ( Ecclesiastes 8:11)  Just as "rocks hidden below water" can cause shipwreck, unrepentant sinners can destroy the faith of others in the congregation. -Jude 4,12. 

Disfellowshipping may help the sinner realize he is wrong.  Jesus used an illustration of a young man who left his father's home and spent all his inheritance living an immoral life.  The young man eventually realized that life away from his father's home had no meaning.  So he repented  and decided to go back to his family.  The father was very happy when he saw that his son had changed his attitude, and he welcomed him home.  (Luke 15:11-24)  This illustration helps us understand how Jehovah feels when someone repents.  he says:  "I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that someone wicked changes his ways and keeps living." -Ezekiel 33:11. 

The Christian congregation is our spiritual family. When someone is disfellowshipped, he is no longer a part of that family. After experiencing  the results of his bad conduct, he may realize his mistake and remember how much happier he was when he had a good relationship with Jehovah and the congregation.  This may encourage him to come back to his spiritual family. 

To help a disfellowshipped person come back to the congregation, we need to show him love by being firm. For example, imagine two hikers waiting to be rescued on a cold winter day.  Because it is so cold, one hiker gets very tired and wants to sleep.  But if he falls asleep in the snow he will die.  To help him stay awake, his friend slaps him in the face.  Even though this hurts, it could save his life. David expressed a similar idea when he said:  "Should the righteous one strike me, it would be an act of loyal love."  (Psalm 141:5)  David recognized that even  though discipline was painful, it would help him. 

Just like that slap, disfellowshipping is often what a person needs to come back to Jehovah.   Julian's son, mentioned at the beginning of this article, changed his life and returned to the congregation ten years after he was disfellowshipped. Now he is an elder.  He admits;  "Being disfellowshipped  brought me face-to-face  with the consequences of my lifestyle. I needed   that sort of discipline." -Hebrews 12:7-11. 

Next time: Why Disfellowshipping Is a Loving Provision -HOW CAN WE SHOW THAT WE LOVE DISFELLOWSHIPPED ONES? 

From the Watchtower magazine, 2015