Shunning

Elder Fred Loveless

Bro. Truthful– Hi Brother Loveless I know you are in one of the Welsh Congregations so can I please ask you what your congregation’s view of Shunning is and how far you go to implement it?

Elder. Loveless- That’s a great question and I am very pleased to answer it. Anything that lets me explain how we keep the congregation quiet and in the dark where truth is concerned is worth my time to explain. So Jehovah’s Witnesses have a policy of telling the world that we don’t shun ex-members, but at the same time go to great lengths to ensure that the shunning policy is implemented with the strictest of regimes, its the best weapon we have to stop members ever hearing the truth.

Bro. Truthful– OK, so that sounds like you remove members and then shun them just to keep them quiet and not because they have done anything wrong?

Elder. Loveless- Well that’s not exactly true. They have always done something wrong. We just make up our own rules to judge them against. It’s probably best if I give you an example. The Bible doesn’t say it is wrong to find out the truth about a subject in fact it advises us at. Acts 17:10 to “carefully examine the Scriptures daily to see whether these things are so”. Now I am sure you can see this is a problem, if congregation members checked our facts and doctrine against the Bible they would see we are wrong. So we made up this rule to solve the problem. “if you disagree with the Governing Body on any point regardless of what truth or fact you may have, we will disfellowship and then shun you.” its a great rule to have and gets us out of lots of tricky problems. See this PDF document (3.0 Shunning.pdf) for when we introduced it and to see our hypocrisy in condemning the Catholics for the same policy.

Bro. Truthful– That sounds like a very harsh rule don’t the congregation members complain and get upset when you don’t care about the truth.

Elder. Loveless- Yes they do get upset and complain. But that’s the great thing about this rule. Nobody will listen to them. All Family Members and former friends will not be allowed to speak to them ever again. In fact, we have them all so well trained on this point they wouldn’t even give you a hello. They would rather cross a six lane motorway than have to walk past you in the street. So who will they ever be able to tell or complain to? It’s a great policy, completely unscriptural and unkind of course. But then that’s why I am called Elder Loveless.

Bro. Truthful– Are there any Bible verses you can use to show your policy is correct?

Elder. Loveless- No not really, the one we try to get away with is 2 John 9–11(ESV) Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

The problem is we have found that some members actually read their Bible and make us include the previous verse as well 2 John 7 (ESV) For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. They explain to us that we should only apply our teaching to ones that deny Jesus and insist they still do believe in Jesus Christ. We also get lots of complaints that we do not follow the example of Jesus’ or the apostles citing some of the Bible passages below. It’s so tiring having to shut them up I really do wish our members would just stop reading God’s word the Bible it would make life a lot easier for me.

  • John 13:34–35 (ESV) A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
  • Prodigal Son Luke 15:20 (ESV) And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.
  • Paul Said 2 Thessalonians 3:14–15 (ESV) If anyone does not obey what we say in this letter, take note of that person, and have nothing to do with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Do not regard him as an enemy, but warn him as a brother.

Links to external sites showing the facts.

All the Truth and Facts you need https://www.jwfacts.com/
Is this Lawyer being truthful? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4b4gr83d85o
Now the Lawyer speeks the Truth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIDW_1rKxT0
Good website with lots of articles avoidjw.org https://avoidjw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/shunning/
Good website with lots of articles jwfacts.com https://jwfacts.com/watchtower/disfellowship-shunning.php