unappreciative, or even apostate views.​—Hebrews 12:15, 16.

What About Relatives?

11, 12. (a) What was the effect on Israelite relatives when a wrongdoer was cut off? (b) Illustrate the benefits of obedience.

¹¹ God certainly realizes that carrying out his righteous laws about cutting off wrongdoers often involves and affects relatives. As mentioned above, when an Israelite wrongdoer was executed, no more family association was possible. In fact, if a son was a drunkard and a glutton, his parents were to bring him before the judges, and if he was unrepentant, the parents were to share in the just executing of him, ‘to clear away what is bad from the midst of Israel.’ (Deuteronomy 21:18-21) You can appreciate that this would not have been easy for them. Imagine, too, how the wrongdoer’s brothers, sisters, or grandparents felt. Yet, their putting loyalty to their righteous God before family affection could be lifesaving for them.

¹² Recall the case of Korah, a leader in rebellion against God’s leadership through Moses. In his perfect justice, Jehovah saw that Korah had to die. But all loyal ones were advised: “Turn aside, please, from before the tents of these wicked men and do not touch anything that belongs to them, that you may not be swept away in all their sin.” Relatives who would not accept God’s warning died with the rebels. But some of Korah’s relatives wisely chose to be loyal to Jehovah, which saved their lives and led to future blessings.​—Numbers 16:16-33; 26:9-11; 2 Chronicles 20:19.

13. How will loyal Christians respond if an immediate family member is disfellowshipped or he disassociates himself?

¹³ Cutting off from the Christian congregation does not involve immediate death, so family ties continue. Thus, a man who is disfellowshipped or who disassociates himself may still live at home with his Christian wife and faithful children. Respect for God’s judgments and the congregation’s action will move the wife and children to recognize that by his course, he altered the spiritual bond that existed between them. Yet, since his being disfellowshipped does not end their blood ties or marriage relationship, normal family affections and dealings can continue.

14. What divine advice should influence our contact with a disfellowshipped or disassociated relative outside our immediate family circle?

¹⁴ The situation is different if the disfellowshipped or disassociated one is a relative living outside the immediate family circle and home. It might be possible to have almost no contact at all with the relative. Even if there were some family matters requiring contact, this certainly would be kept to a minimum, in line with the divine principle: “Quit mixing in company with anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person [or guilty of another gross sin], . . . not even eating with such a man.”​—1 Corinthians 5:11.

15. How can relatives control the influence of emotions in such instances? (Psalm 15:1-5; Mark 10:29, 30)

¹⁵ Understandably, this may be difficult because of emotions and family ties, such as grandparents’ love for their grandchildren. Yet, this is a test of loyalty to God, as stated by the sister quoted on page 26. Anyone who is feeling the sadness and pain that the disfellowshipped relative has thus caused may find comfort and be encouraged by the example set by some of Korah’s relatives.​—Psalm 84:10-12.b

The Court Decision

16-18. What decision was reached in the court case mentioned earlier, and what added opinion did the court offer?

¹⁶ You may want to know the outcome of the court case involving a woman who was upset because former acquaintances would not converse with her after she chose to reject the faith, disassociating herself from the congregation.

¹⁷ Before the case went to trial, a federal district court summarily granted judgment against her. That judgment was based on the concept that courts do not get involved in church disciplinary matters. She then appealed. The unanimous judgment of the federal court of appealsc was based on broader grounds of First Amendment (of the U.S. Constitution) rights: “Because the practice of shunning is a part of the faith of the Jehovah’s Witness, we find that the ‘free exercise’ provision of the United States Constitution . . . precludes [her] from prevailing. The defendants have a constitutionally protected privilege to engage in the practice of shunning. Accordingly, we affirm” the earlier judgment of the district court.

¹⁸ The court opinion continued: “Shunning is a practice engaged in by Jehovah’s Witnesses pursuant to their interpretation of canonical text, and we are not free to reinterpret that text . . . The defendants are entitled to the free exercise of their religious beliefs . . . Courts generally do not scrutinize closely the relationship among members (or former members) of a church. Churches are afforded great latitude when they impose discipline on members or former members. We agree with [former U.S. Supreme Court] Justice Jackson’s view that ‘[r]eligious activities which concern only members of the faith are and ought to be free​—as nearly absolutely free as anything can be.’ . . . The members of the Church [she] decided to abandon have concluded that they no longer want to associate with her. We hold that they are free to make that choice.”

19, 20. Why is a person who is cut off from the congregation not in position to recover monetary damages in court?

¹⁹ The court of appeals acknowledged that even if the woman felt distress because former acquaintances chose not to converse with her, “permitting her to recover for intangible or emotional injuries would unconstitutionally restrict the Jehovah’s Witnesses free exercise of religion . . . The constitutional guarantee of the free exercise of religion requires that society tolerate the type of harms suffered by [her] as a price well worth paying to safeguard the right of religious difference that all citizens enjoy.” This decision has, in a sense, received even more weight since it was handed down. How so? The woman later petitioned the highest court in the land to hear the case and possibly overturn the decision against her. But in November 1987, the United States Supreme Court refused to do so.

²⁰ Hence, this important case determined that a disfellowshipped or disassociated person cannot recover damages from Jehovah’s Witnesses in a court of law for being shunned.d Since the congregation was responding to the perfect directions that all of us can read in God’s Word and applying it, the person is feeling a loss brought on by his or her own actions.

Discipline​—Many Benefit

21. Why is balance needed in viewing disfellowshipping?

²¹ Some outsiders, upon hearing about disfellowshipping, are inclined to sympathize with a wrongdoer who can no longer converse with members of the Christian congregation. But is not such sympathy misplaced? Consider the potential benefit that the wrongdoer and others may receive.

22, 23. Illustrate the importance and value of obeying God in our view of disfellowshipped persons.

²² For example, on page 26 we noted Lynette’s comment about her choice ‘to cut herself off completely from all association’ with her disfellowshipped sister Margaret. She and her Christian relatives ‘believed that Jehovah’s way is best.’ And it is!

²³ Lynette’s sister later told her: ‘If you had viewed the disfellowshipping lightly, I know that I would not have taken steps toward reinstatement as soon as I did. Being totally cut off from loved ones and from close contact with the congregation created a strong desire to repent. I realized just how wrong my course was and how serious it was to turn my back on Jehovah.’

24. How did one sister’s response to disfellowshipping affect her and others?

²⁴ In another case, Laurie’s parents were disfellowshipped. Yet she says: ‘My association with them never stopped but increased. As time went on, I became more and more inactive. I got to the point of not even attending meetings.’ Then she read material in The Watchtower of September 1 and 15, 1981, that stressed the counsel of 1 Corinthians 5:11-13 and 2 John 9-11. “It was as if a light bulb were turned on in me,” she writes. ‘I knew I would have to make some changes. I now better understand the meaning of Matthew 10:34-36. My decision was not an easy one for my family to swallow, for my son, five, is the only boy, and they love him dearly.’ It is hoped that losing such association will touch the parents’ hearts, as it did Margaret’s. Still, the discipline involved helped Laurie: ‘I am back out in the field ministry. My marriage and family are stronger because of my change, and so am I.’

25. What view did a reinstated person have of God’s discipline?

²⁵ Or consider the feelings of one who was disfellowshipped and later reinstated. Sandi wrote: ‘I would like to thank you for the very helpful and instructive articles [mentioned above] on reproof and disfellowshipping. I am happy that Jehovah loves his people enough to see that his organization is kept clean. What may seem harsh to outsiders is both necessary and really a loving thing to do. I am grateful that our heavenly Father is a loving and forgiving God.’

26. What righteous fruit can result from accepting discipline? (Psalm 94:10, 12)

²⁶ So our God who requires that an unrepentant wrongdoer be expelled from the congregation also lovingly shows that a sinner can be reinstated in the congregation if he repents and turns around. (A disassociated person can similarly request to become part of the congregation again.) Thereafter he can be comforted by Christians who will confirm their love for him. (2 Corinthians 2:5-11; 7:8-13) Truly, it is just as Paul wrote: “No discipline seems for the present to be joyous, but grievous; yet afterward to those who have been trained by it it yields peaceable fruit, namely, righteousness.”​—Hebrews 12:11.

Do You Remember?

Have you enjoyed reading the recent issues of The Watchtower? Well, see if you can answer the following questions:

◻ What is the theme of modern-day Biblical evangelism?

The core of the true evangelizer’s message today is the good news of God’s Kingdom in the hands of his appointed Ruler, Jesus Christ. It includes all the truths Jesus spoke and that his disciples recorded. (Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20)​—1/1, page 4.

◻ Why is it necessary to continue preaching the good news in territories where there is little or no result?

Jehovah, through Christ Jesus, has commanded that ‘the good news be preached in all the inhabited earth.’ (Matthew 24:14) When people refuse to listen, this gives us an opportunity to show the depth of our love and devotion to Jehovah by persistently doing what is right. Also, our love moves us to warn our neighbors as to what the future holds for mankind. (1 John 5:3; 2 Timothy 4:2)​—1/1, page 26.

◻ What benefits does the full-time ministry bring to many Kingdom publishers?

It helps them to cultivate more fully the fruitage of the spirit, to express more love for people, to become more efficient in the ministry, and to trust Jehovah to a greater extent. Hence, they enjoy a closer relationship with Jehovah.​—1/15, page 26.

◻ To what direction and purpose of God did all Bible writers point in spite of their differences in presentation?

They all showed what Jehovah God will do to make mankind happy and also what humans individually must do in order to receive God’s approval.​—2/1, page 7.

◻ What are some of the rewards and benefits from being honest?

A climate of trust and confidence is developed, leading to healthy attitudes and relationships. Honesty also contributes to a clean conscience, and it gives peace of mind, so that one can face others without fear of embarrassment. (Hebrews 9:14; 1 Timothy 1:19)​—2/15, page 7.

◻ Whose prayers does the almighty God hear and answer?

Jehovah hears prayers offered to him through the right channel, Jesus Christ; in the right manner; and with the right attitude of mind and heart. God answers such prayers according to his divine will and at his chosen time.​—3/15, page 7.

◻ What important event occurred in the 20th year of King Artaxerxes’ rulership (455 B.C.E.)?

Permission was granted Nehemiah to go back and rebuild Jerusalem and its walls. This command was the start of the “seventy weeks” of years of Daniel’s prophecy, pointing forward to Jesus’ appearance as “Messiah the Leader” on time in the year 29 C.E. (Daniel 9:24, 25; Nehemiah 1:1; 2:1-9)​—3/15, pages 28, 29.

◻ How are family problems best handled?

In love, for the Bible counsels, “Let all your affairs take place with love.” Also, “Love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Corinthians 16:14; 1 Peter 4:8) This should be a deep-seated love that is willing to overlook the imperfections of other members of the family that might otherwise irritate and grate on one’s nerves.​—4/1, pages 6, 7.