will disciplinary action be taken against a Jehovah's Witness who attends a church funeral of a loved one?

At this time, the congregational discipline matters are of such a nature, it would only be of any concern if the elders found out about it. The witnesses believe that they are completely "separate" from the world, so the scripture that says; "Let the dead, bury the dead" is a sample of how they view, going to a "dead" church, among "dead" worshipers, for a "spiritually dead" dead person is wrong for any member to do.

If any man or woman in their lives becomes a believer in Jesus Christ as God's Son, even though they sin, they were never dead in Christ.

You have said it here in your question, that this is a funeral for a "LOVED ONE". Let no man rob you of your care, or remembrance of someone you cared about, as you are showing your respects the same way the witnesses have a "memorial" for their dead loved ones...they are not better than you, nor is their tradition of how they memorialize their departed ones.

If there is a "discipline" from them for your demonstrating your loving memory of a person that declared belief in Christ, then let them bring the whip out.

Your right to show respect in any church should be YOUR right, as nowhere in the Bible does it state that you cannot go into a different church. Ask them to show that scripture to you, and then you might believe it.

I understand your courtesy here, but you might someday, very lovingly, tell your sister in law about your feelings, and maybe, just maybe, you will reach her.

Blessings.

Bar Anergies, when was the last "anything" you ever went to, in any church, that you told the elders about?

Most members will never go out of fear od reprisal, and discipline, and a long "talk" directed at them for their lack of loyalty to the org.

Go ahead, Bar, visit a church to do some work, repairing a window, or putting a piece of carpeting in, or repairing some plumbing...you are not allowed to have ANYthing to do with a church of Christendom, of whom you are also a part.

A worldly church wedding is FORBIDDEN by JW's because the vows, the priest, or pastor is not of God, and all of the service is considered as Pagan.

I was a member for 40 years, and each congregation has different "slave master elders", some nice, some cruel..just like the churches of Christendom...Some of them will not say much if a member goes into a church wedding, others will hang the guilty member by the thumbs in front of the congregation, but one thing never changes THE GOSSIP and slander involved with any wrongdoer.I challenge Bar A. to show documented proof that going into a worldly church for a wedding is O.K. Go ahead, show us...dig through your cut and paste material, and show us the words of wisdom to stay out of the worldly churches, then show us where that is in the scriptures...Your religion is a daughter of the Catholic church, and structured almost exactly like it.

Lie your way out of this Bar...

Hi, I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses and have been so for many years. I attended my Mum's funeral at the Catholic Church. The Elders and my brothers and sisters at the Kingdom Hall knew all about it and there was absolutely no problem from them about my doing so. I sat at the front of the Church with my husband and the other members of my family. I did not, however, participate in any of the religious aspects of the service, I was there solely for my Mum and to support my family. My husband supported me in my stance not to participate in unscriptural forms of worship, my husband is not one of Jehovah's Witnesses, I might add. I hope this has in someway helped you to get the correct information in regards to your question.

Edit: I would like to enhance on my answer above as having read it I see that it may give the impression that the Elders in the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses are somehow separate from the rest of us Witnesses. This is not so, the Elders are exactly as we are, they are as us Witnesses of Jehovah and are our brothers. The Elders merely have more responsibilities in the smooth running aspects of the Kingdom Halls, but they also fulfill their dedication to Jehovah in the door to door preaching work. In other words they work very, very hard for Jehovah, for Jesus Christ and for their brothers and sisters, as well as having their own secular work to do.

I was a Witness for 22 years before I came to Christ and I would suspect that this Witness would not enter a church for the service. Witnesses believe Churches to be houses of Satan so the Parallel would be if a Christian were trying do decide whether to attend a service at a Satanic Temple.

Not sure that they would be disfellowshipped but I am absolutely sure that most if not all of the Congregation would look down on such an act.

Bar Enus: "Lungboy and Gal.5 are always spreading lies......."

There are no lies in their comments. they are Absolute truth and the Witnesses do not want you to know is.

EDIT you have 3 former Witnesses agreeing that it would be an issue and one current Witnesses spewing some garbage about "Festival of Lies" and One Wintess actually lying and saying that there would be no problem....gee where does the real credibility lie?

Greetings,

Lungboy, Unsilenced and Gal.5 are always spreading lies and misrepresentations. The "policy" is the same for ALL congregations. Entering a church for a funeral, wedding and other suchlike events NEVER results in any ramifications.

Witnesses just do not enter a church to fellowship in worship.

My family just recently attended my father-in-law's funeral in a Catholic Church. My son's school conducts their testing in a rented church.

However, it is up to each individual as to whether they go into churches for these functions and it depends on the situation. If the audience is expected to participate in some religious custom many Witnesses usually will decide to not attend so as not to cause a scene.

In our case we just sat farther back and did not participate in any religious rites.

Yours,

BAR-ANERGES

I don't know the current policy, but I hope no action would be taken against them. It would be too cruel. Besides, if you think your theology stands up to scrutiny, what's to fear from a funeral service? Are they really going to encounter more opposing doctrine at a funeral service than they encounter door to door?

As many others do, you mistake Bible-based principles with "laws" and "regulations."

We follow the example of the Christ. And the death of a loved one is a saddening event in any religion. We weep as Christ wept for the family of Lazarus, even though he himself knew what he was about to do.

I have attended many funerals in churches. My favorite was for my niece, who was not one of Jehovah's Witnesses... and was easily one of the most loving and beautiful ceremonies I'd ever been to. It was a celebration of her life, not a discussion of false beliefs nor a sermon to the "non-believers" present.

Jehovah is saddened by the death of any of his creation, because this is not what he purposed for us. We too share that thought: death is an abomination.

It is up to the individuals' conscience as to whether or not they would attend a funeral service in a church.

And I FULLY SUPPORT Bar's truthful and accurate statement: There are NEVER any ramifications or spiritual discipline for attending non-worship functions in a church or any of its facilities.

It's one of those issues that is different in each congregation.

Most witnesses are smart enough to not say anything about going, but if it is known that a friend or family member died than the gossip starts. In matters like this, the more pious will "lovingly" remind the grieving witness of the scripture to "get out of her (false religion) my people, do not even touch those things that belong to her" or something to that effect.

Some congregations have more liberal leaders that understand that someone might want to pay their respects and/or be supportive of their family. But other congregations have power hungry people in charge that love to catch others in "sin" and make them grovel and repent before them.

Chances are, it's not severe punishment, they will likely just shame them by announcing them by name in front of the congregation as having sinned, but showed a repentant attitude so after a few weeks of shunning they could start talking to their "friends" again.

I'd say invite your sister in law, she knows what type of congregation she's in and whether she'd be punished or not.

Edit: Incidentally a witness funeral is a 2 minute talk about the deceased vital statistics (name, age, marital status, kin) then they go into a massive sermon hoping to convert those present. While they look down in disgust at other funeral services, their own shows no respect for the dead. It is viewed as the deceased's final witness to get people into their kingdom hall.

Why would we want to go to a festival of lies? And why would "they be admonished by other members for having done so"? Or are you just trying to imply some falsehood??

I have been to 3 funerals in my life. Methodist, Russian Orthodox, and non-denominational. All a bunch of non-biblical customs and "sermons".

.

Jesus didnt bring religion but salvation.

I suspect there would be...But who cares if those jerks don't ever speak to you again?