Originally posted by FMF
Did you ever shun your own child?
Why I'm going to answer you I have no idea as I know a full interrogation and a million strange questions will follow, but here goes.
But the rule here is this is my only responce to you one this.
Actually both of my children were disfellowshipped when they were teenagers because of conduct that the bible clearly condemns. The bible is clear that if one continues to "practice" the act that is condemned in the bible, the are to be removed. Clear and simple as the scripture says in my previous post.
If both of them had stopped with this practice and had shown honest sorrow and realized the seriousness of that sin towards their God and the affect on the congregation, they probably would not have been disfellowshipped but just given reproof and been restricked in what they could do within the congregation for a short period of time. These restrictions could include not being able to partake in giving talks or parts on the stage as well as a couple other privileges.
This type of correction still allows them to be a normal part of the family in our everyday lifes.
But both of them did not see the seriousness of their actions and were not sure if they wanted to stop them.
So following exactly what God has written in the Bible, they were disfellowshipped each for about a year.
So....what is one of he reasons for disfellowshipping? It is to discipline and to wake that person up so to speak and to help them see and understand the wrong the've done and the damage they've done in their relationship with God and their family and with the congregation.
Hebrews 12:4-7
Good News Translation (GNT)
4 For in your struggle against sin you have not yet had to resist to the point of being killed. 5 Have you forgotten the encouraging words which God speaks to you as his children?
“My child, pay attention when the Lord corrects you,
and do not be discouraged when he rebukes you.
6 Because the Lord corrects everyone he loves,
and punishes everyone he accepts as a child.”
7 Endure what you suffer as being a father's punishment; your suffering shows that God is treating you as his children. Was there ever a child who was not punished by his father?
Proverbs 17:10
Good News Translation (GNT)
10 An intelligent person learns more from one rebuke than a fool learns from being beaten a hundred times.
Hebrews 12:11
Good News Translation (GNT)
11 When we are punished, it seems to us at the time something to make us sad, not glad. Later, however, those who have been disciplined by such punishment reap the peaceful reward of a righteous life.
So the hopefull result of discipline that sometimes merits disfellowshipping is the return of them to a much better understanding of God's laws and adeeper love of God and of their family and the congregation.
I am happy to say that both of my children did see this after some time and did take the correction into their hearts and are now very happy and progressing spiritually.
I hope this helps.....