Letter from JW Elder

This letter was posted on AOL by an anonymous JW elder. It was address to the Watchtower Society. (Printed without permission)

Dear Brothers:

Please let us share with you a matter close to our hearts. Over the years we have seen matters unfold that break our hearts. I have been a Witness and an elder for twenty years. Over that time period, I have seen many people disfellowshipped, even though they were repentant.

This happens when the judicial committee does not believe the person's claim to repentance. If a person sins and comes forward to confess but does not appear sufficiently sad, or was warned but got caught up in sin anyway, or had been talked to by the elders for another matter, or had been before a judicial committee on a previous occasion, or was felt to be stubborn or any of a myriad of other reasons, the committee can decide to disfellowship. This often happens even for "first-time offenders."

The scriptures teach us that forgiveness is an essential quality for Christians. Without it we cannot please God. Teachers "shall receive heavier judgment." (James 3:1) Let no one think that because they are acting in an official capacity on behalf of God's organization, that they cannot lose their opportunity for everlasting life. If they refuse to forgive a repentant one, they can lose everything.

It has been suggested that as a wife may divorce her repentant husband, yet personally forgive him, a congregation may decide to disfellowship a repentant sinner and yet forgive. This line of reasoning is unscriptural.

Those who are to be disfellowshipped are the wicked. 1 Corinthians 5:13 says "Remove the wicked man from among yourselves." Those who repent have been cleansed (Romans 10:10) and have a righteous, not a wicked, standing with God and Christ. They should not be kicked out of the Christian congregation. Jehovah does forgive in a "large way."

The scriptures promise that one who goes to the elders seeking help with a spiritual problem WILL BE FORGIVEN. James 5:15 says: "And if he has committed sins, it will be forgiven him." Elders who disfellowship such ones make God out to be a liar. Even thought they believe they are rendering God a sacred service, they put their own relationship with God at risk and must repent in order to be saved.

The governing body has a responsibility before God in this matter. Let no one think that they will avoid God's judgment. If one repents, but is removed from the congregation anyway, this is like the stoning to death of an innocent one in ancient Israel. The authority who stands by and approves is blood-guilty as well.

Therefore, please, brothers, cleanse yourselves before Jehovah. Make it clear to those serving on judicial committees that they are to extend forgiveness to whoever comes forward to confess, regardless of other factors. Unless there is absolute proof that the repentance is fake, the elders are scripturally obligated to extend forgiveness and allow the person to remain in the congregation. As things now stand, the organization is in an unclean spiritual condition. Refusal to extend forgiveness to repentant ones is a serious sin that does incur death. If the organization does not repent, its lampstand can be taken away!

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