Should JW's punish, disfellowship, or shun members who disagree with certain teachings?

[Guest J.R. Ewing]

6 minutes ago, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

I upvote ANYBODY when what they say is true, and/or really applicable.

You would think so. This physics automatically “assume” the diameter of the round peg is narrower. Forgetting the color sequence. Then, what if the circumference of the round peg is larger? Can you fit a round peg in a square hole without having to “force” it?

[bruceq]

"They publicly declare that they know God, but they disown him by their works, because they are detestable and disobedient and not approved for good work of ANY sort." Titus 1:16.

All the upvoters of apostates just continue to prove the point. Keep it up. 

[James Thomas Rook Jr.]

2 minutes ago, J.R. Ewing said:

You would think so. This physics automatically “assume” the diameter of the round peg is narrower. Forgetting the color sequence. Then, what if the circumference of the round peg is larger? Can you fit a round peg in a square hole without having to “force” it?

Does a bullfrog bump his tail, every time he hops?

I dunno.

[Guest J.R. Ewing]

15 minutes ago, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

Does a bullfrog bump his tail, every time he hops?

I dunno.

Since you were confused with your picture, haven't you said you were some kind of engineer, once?

I dunno, too!

[JW Insider]

24 minutes ago, bruceq said:

27 minutes ago, James Thomas Rook Jr. said:

I upvote ANYBODY when what they say is true, and/or really applicable.

We know. Satan said some things that were also true. 

But wasn't it Billy Graham or one of those preachers from a bye-gone generation who said:

"We should learn to love and value truth for its own sake. . . . A truth presented by Satan himself is just as true as a truth stated by God."

 

[TrueTomHarley]

in

[TrueTomHarley]

1 hour ago, bruceq said:

Makes one ponder when so-called "brothers" upvote an apostate.

(Gulp!) I have done this on the rare occasions that they behave and say something worthwhile.

Remember, even you-know-you says a good word every now and then. Besides, there is a certain air of comedy about this entire forum. Going for the jugular of your nemesis no matter what he says only lends it a ridiculous flavor.

[bruceq]

I realize that I am not an elder or former elder such as some of you are but I know what Loyalty to Jehovah is. And since a forum such as this one it is impossible to determine who is or is not an apostate, disfellowshipped or pretending to be a brother while dispensing divisions  and we are obviously associating together here it is my decision to now leave as I wish to cherish true Loyalty to my Creator. 

Loyalty is important to me personally probably because my two previous marriages ended with my wife committing adultery although we were married for 7 and 10 years. So I can see how Jehovah must feel when someone who says they love you are disloyal to your face. I am currently married to my wife of 8 years and I believe we both must continue to develop loyalty to GOD FIRST then to each other. "Do ALL things for God's glory" 1 Cor. 10:31. And I no longer feel it is for me "God's glory" to be here. Goodbye.

[Albert Michelson]

2 hours ago, TrueTomHarley said:

Besides, there is a certain air of comedy about this entire forum

Some of my jabs have been intentionally sarcastic and in my opinion humorous. I appreciate that we can poke fun at eachother and still have a mostly civil conversation.

[TrueTomHarley]

29 minutes ago, bruceq said:

I realize that I am not an elder or former elder such as some of you are but I know what Loyalty to Jehovah is.

You do. This is not a great place to be for most Witnesses, and maybe none of them. You've brought a lot to the table. Thank you.

[Albert Michelson]

32 minutes ago, bruceq said:

Loyalty to my Creator

It always upsets me when JWs call the WT their creator or say they must be loyal to jehovah when in truth they are talking about the organization, that being said you do what you need to do. I wish you all the best and I hope your marriage continues to flourish 

[JW Insider]

5 minutes ago, bruceq said:

I realize that I am not an elder or former elder such as some of you are but I know what Loyalty to Jehovah is. And since a forum such as this one it is impossible to determine who is or is not an apostate, disfellowshipped or pretending to be a brother while dispensing divisions  and we are obviously associating together here it is my decision to now leave as I wish to cherish true Loyalty to my Creator. 

Loyalty is important to me personally probably because my two previous marriages ended with my wife committing adultery although we were married for 7 and 10 years. So I can see how Jehovah must feel when someone who says they love you are disloyal to your face. I am currently married to my wife of 8 years and I believe we both must continue to develop loyalty to GOD FIRST then to each other. "Do ALL things for God's glory" 1 Cor. 10:31. And I no longer feel it is for me "God's glory" to be here. Goodbye.

I wish you the best in your endeavors. Thanks for all the input, and of course, if you decide to participate again, I'm sure you will be welcomed. Whether or not I am still here will be based on several factors. It's nice to find a place where one can show complete loyalty to the truth and still not hold back in sharing all aspects of the good news that we have found spiritually profitable. While no one can compare themselves to the Apostle Paul, we should still strive to be imitators of him. 

• (Acts 20:20) 20 while I did not hold back from telling you any of the things that were profitable nor from teaching you publicly and from house to house.

But as some have pointed out, this place, although a useful public forum for ideas to be shared, often becomes a place where opposers of scripture, and opposers of truth and evidence can become ridiculously juvenile and ill-behaved. And while joking and enjoying a laugh, and light-hearted association can be just fine, the propensity for unloving insults, sniping, and sarcasm can easily rub off on any of us. I have recently felt embarrassed at the way in which fellow brothers have claimed to proudly make a conscious decision to disregard Bible truth as long as they are generally confident that the men they choose to follow are backed by Jesus and Jehovah. This is so much like the high-control thinking that certain men have been able to achieve in several of the religious associations of Christendom, and I fear the trend of attracting more and more persons who are happy and proud not to think about scripture and evidence and truth.