Non-denominational Christians: How easy is it for a disfellowshipped Jehovah’s Witnesses to join your church?

Hi,

I couldn't let this question pass without making some comments.

I was a christian for 60 years - attended Methodist, Anglican, Presbyterian, Uniting Church, Christian and Missionary Alliance and Baptist and finally became disillusioned by the apathy and pseudo form of worship and lip service of so many christians . l say that to let you know that I am familiar with the christian environment very well, having even been an Elder at 2 of them.

One of the things that made me start challenging the churches stance on so many things was the churches ability to pick and choose what scriptures they could adhere to and what ones they can ignore.

Here you have stated the case of a man who left his wife and shacked up with another woman and the 3 answers you have received all talk about accepting him and loving him and forgiving him and totally ignore the very specific and pointed teaching of Jesus and Paul on Divorce and remarriage.

As I am no longer a christian it doesn't bother me for I believe the Bible was written by men and was not so called "inspired" by a God and yet I am bemused at how christians pick and choose the scriptures to justify their stance on so many issues ... it is simply astounding.

Another thing I will comment on is the way churches in general kow tow to the wealthy and the influence they have in their churches. Spirituality of such people comes second to their financial support - part of this is caused by the facts that churches have edifices and Ministers to support - a side issue I have often wondered about is what sort of churches (people) would the christian church have if their pastors were not paid and there were no large edifies to support financially.

I am continually amazed and offended by the Joel Osteen edifice in Texas that cost 95 million to renovate ... unbelievable.

Sorry if I carried on too long - had to get those points off my chest

regards Mike D

EDIT ***********************************************

I just read your additional information - I suspect you are a Jehovah's witness but am not sure - would you clarify this for us?

Incidentally JW's are not considered a Christian Chrurch by the Main stream Churches - they consider it as SECT with wierd views especially on the "Person of Christ" - who knows who is right for the Nicene Creed was formed in the fourth century and relies heavily of Pauls teachings and I suppose John's gospel as well - personally I think the whole concept of the Trinity is messy.

MGD

070212

7th Feb 2012

Loaded question

An interesting scenario but loaded. God through Jesus calls for a broken and contrite spirit?

Were you the wife or the young lady or one of the kids?

Would not an Elder a true elder ask you why you are gossiping about this on the internet?

You just do not have any one in the congregation to talk to about it or they are done gossipping about it but you still have fun with it? Is it because bringing it up makes you look better and increases your standing with Jehovah?

Wealthy JW give me a break - only JWs that start their own business such as a photography or cleaning service get much money. College and upper education is discouraged so to is taking music classes because it leads to worldly things.

You may not know it but marrage breaks down long before an affair or a tryst. Deep rifts are caused by the conflict created by Watch Tower teaching. A person that may see through the deception of the WT the partner may not so where does that leave you.

Do not be unevenly yoked with an unbeliever? Perhaps she had left him long before he left her. You really do not know the whole story just the gossip.

I think anyone should be welcomed into a church and receive Christian fellowship. However, I do not think a person such as you described should be accepted for baptism or appointed to any position of church leadership.

If a person is a member of a Christian church and abandons his family for unbiblical reasons, he should be removed from any position of leadership or responsibility.

The problem is that non-denominational churches don’t have the resources to conduct extensive background checks prior to baptism. If the person openly admits to having recently abandoned his wife and children, then he should not be a candidate for baptism. However, I see no problem in fellowshipping with him.

Did Jesus make practices of shunning sinners? Did he avoid them?

Actually, your practice probably drives people into the hands of Jesus, which is a good thing. What you meant for evil, Jesus uses for good.

I believe anyone can become a member of a church if they want to...but they really do need to repent and turn their life around in order to be involved in any kind of leadership/ministry position. It doesn't set a good example for God's people to have people living in sin as the head of the church...

But as someone else mentioned, don't allow sin and guilt to keep you from being reconciled with God and the church! It's all up to you!

Edit: Mike, I am sorry for your disillusionment with the church but I understand where you are coming from. I am only in my 30's but I have been a Christian since childhood and it has been a roller coster ride because there are hardly any true Christians or churches of God to lean on, but the One who always remains the same and Who's love never changes in God's...don't allow dissapointments in life and maybe your own guilt and failure to live up to "holiness" keep you from being reconciled with God through Jesus Christ...don't even let it keep you from going to church...when I go to church I try with all my heart to leave out the skepticism and bring in the love...everyone needs love and everyone needs truth, but they don't all embrace or accept it, not even in the church...God bless!

You are very welcome in the non-denominational Christian congregation I attend. Once you have received Jesus into your heart, are born-again, and THEN baptized in the Holy Spirit...you (might) be scratching your head and wondering HOW, you let the FDS talk you into believing that only the 144k, could have this experience, that has now brought you so much joy...

God bless.

The might be allowed to come to church but unless they did some heavy duty repenting and stopped living together they would not be allowed to join.

Jesus welcomes all people. Even though He knows the faults of this woman, He is willing to give her life. She doesn’t need to go home and clean up her act, and then come back to receive life. Instead, she can receive life so that she can then go home and Jesus, through her, will clean things up. So we can come as we are to a Lord who knows our sins, feels our burdens, and gives us life. How cool is that!

"... To the drunks, the addicts, the victims, the porn stars, the prostitutes, the adulterers, thieves, the obese gluttons who think a waste is a terrible thing to mind, the twilight fans, the murderers, the mommy's boys, The Jehovah's Witnesses, the losers, the freaks, the geeks, people who think wrestling is real, red necks, guys who own action figures, chain smokers, everyone who does not use a turn signal while texting and talking on the phone in their car, men who live with their mothers, women who get paid in dollar bills, dudes in dresses, democrats, republicans, the guys at the gym who walk around the locker room naked singing Bon Jovi's Living on a Prayer, mormons and anyone else who wears sacred under breeches, whoever is responsible for the creation and ongoing sale of men's Lycra biking shorts... yoga instructors, witches, pot heads, meat heads, cramethseads, dead heads and meth heads... people who don't recycle, the rainbow-loving tree-hugging ... lefters, and religious people who do not know what I am talking about because these subjects were not on The Little House on the Prairie or covered in their Home School co-op,

-- I have good news for you: You are welcome in the Christian family Jesus loves you. You'll fit right in. And because He died for your sins, you get to repent.

EDIT***What would you say to my Nephew who just committed suicide due to your form of discipline? Your "True Christian Love" Killed my nephew kiddo

Edit: HITT..... If you have not personally been in a committee meeting such as I have then you have absolutely NO grounds to say what goes on in one. You know only what they want you to know. If you are a daughter of an Elder or the grandson of an Elder what goes on for us is diametrically different than the rank and file. I KNOW this for fact you do not so don't hand me that watchtower blather.

I completely blame " The christian congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses" for his suicide. They are the ones who drove him to it.

Matthew 2:16-17: When the scribes of the Pharisees saw that He was eating with the sinners and tax collectors, they said to His disciples, "Why is He eating and drinking with tax collectors and sinners?" And hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not those who are healthy who need a physician, but those who are sick; I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners."

Can you see that by Watchtower standards, if Jesus were to eat a meal with these hypothetical people in order to share his gospel with them that they might understand the true gospel and come to repentance, your organization would summon him to a judicial committee meeting and disfellowship him for eating with someone who was disfellowshiped?

Of course my congregation would welcome this couple into our Christian fellowship. Those who are sick are in need of a doctor; those who are unrighteous are in need of hearing the true gospel that will set them free from slavery to sin in Christ Jesus and lead them to true repentance.

However, newcomers are not readily accepted into positions of leadership or authority within the church. They would be welcomed at all our services and our Bible studies, but unfortunately, the circumstances of the man's divorce would preclude him from becoming an elder or deacon according to Titus 1:5-11 and 1 Timothy 3:1-13. 1 Timothy 3:6 specifically states that new converts do not qualify for such a position of leadership.

This may seem harsh, but churches are under an obligation to protect their members from false teaching. In addition, if the young lady wanted to volunteer to assist the teachers in our children's ministry (helping with snacks or games or taking children to the restroom when they need to go), she would be required to submit to a criminal background check, as must all volunteers who work in our church in any capacity with children (from nursery through youth).

As regards tithing, they would be taught that under the Old Covenant, per Malachi 3:10, the one area where the Bible says it is okay to test God ("prove me now") is when it comes to our giving. However, tithing was part of Old Covenant law, and it is not binding on Christians today who operate under the New Covenant. An example of New Covenant giving is found in 2 Cor. 9:7: "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver."

Edit: A TRUE story that happened in my church--when the recession we're in now first hit full swing (a couple of years ago), it affected many members of our church. While they were laid off, or not getting work in, giving dropped, and after the first two weeks of the month, our church was facing not being able to meet its monthly budget for the first time. The pastor (and board) decided to put their own faith into action. One Sunday, they returned every bit of the money that was given the week before, putting various amounts in envelopes. Everyone in service 18 or over received an envelope and instructions to pray and follow God's leading in giving it to another ministry or to someone in need. Our family received $250.00, which we gave to a family in need. The man worked with my husband and had just had his legs crushed earlier that week while helping his father with some heavy machinery (not work-related, so he was not covered by worker's comp). The testimonies of people who were touched and blessed by this outpouring of love during this tough time were phenomenal! And despite having returned the money, our church exceeded its budget that month.

Sadly the religious leaders of Christendom are more concerned with money than with upholding God's standards. Those professing to be Christian are also violating Jesus own words at Matthew 18:15-18.

This very thing was prophesied at 2 Timothy 4:3 (NIV)

2Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Other translations render "itching ears" as ears tickled. In other words tell folks what they want to hear as opposed to conforming their lives so that they are in harmony with God's righteous standards.

To the below comment: At Matthew 18:15-18 reads:

“If your brother or sister[a] sins,[b] go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. 16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’[c] 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector."

Since the Bible doesn't contradict itself it is evident that Jesus was not partial in whom he taught, he desired all to come to an accurate knowledge about the truth, however, those that followed Jesus and became his disciples had to make changes in their life that were in harmony with God's standards.

John 15:14 (NIV)

" You are my friends if you do what I command."

Did Mary Magdalene continue being a prostitute after she became one of Jesus's disciples? of course not!

What does it mean to be a true Christian: http://bit.ly/99ApVb

" Will you assure them that they were treated in an unbiblical manner and they were not shown true Christian love? "

If the decision were up to me ? No I would not assure them they were untreated unbiblically and were not shown true Love. I would assure them that the Jehovah's witness's are a cult, and that excommunication is biblical, but that doesn't validate the position of Jehovah's witness's unbiblical position on rejecting the deity of Christ and the trinity.