Necessary Family Business (NFB) is now acceptable according to the weekly WT Study

[Jack Ryan]

15 Despite a Christian upbringing,
however, some children later leave the
truth or are disfellowshipped, causing
the family heartache. “When my brother
was disfellowshipped,” said a Christian
sister in South Africa, “it was as
if he had died. It was heartbreaking!”
How did she and her parents respond?
14. What must parents do if they want to be
truly effective in molding their children?
15, 16. How should parents demonstrate their
trust in God if their child is disfellowshipped?
They followed the direction found in
God’s Word. (Read 1 Corinthians 5:11,
13.) “We resolved to apply the Bible,”
said the parents, “recognizing that doing
things God’sway would result in the best
outcome. We viewed disfellowshipping
as divine discipline and were convinced
that Jehovah disciplines out of love and
to the proper degree. So we kept our
contact with our son to absolutely necessary
family business.”
16 How did the son feel? “I knew that
my family did not hateme,” he later said,
“but they were obeying Jehovah and his
organization.” He also stated: “When
you are forced to beg Jehovah for help
and forgiveness, you realize how much
you need him.” Imagine the family’s joy
when this young man was reinstated!
Yes, when we give attention to God in all
our ways, we can have the best outcome.
—Prov. 3:5, 6; 28:26.

https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/

June 2016 week of 8/7/16

[Jack Ryan]

Who decides what is "necessary" family business?

NFB =

taking care of elderly family who thought they would be in the new system by now and are not finically prepared.

We certainly will not. So start being nice [ i.e. NFB] to your DF'd kids. You're going to need them.

[Evacuated]

Nothing new here. Watchtower of April 15, 1988, pages 26-31; September 15, 1981, pages 26-31
 

[JAMMY]

https://www.jw.org/en/publications/books/gods-love/disfellowshipped-person/#?insight[search_id]=2b9e8c60-3477-4d48-ba85-facd68b6da37&insight[search_result_index]=4

“Keep Yourselves in God’s Love”

 APPENDIX

How to Treat a Disfellowshipped Person

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“Keep Yourselves in God’s Love”

 APPENDIX

How to Treat a Disfellowshipped Person

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05:07

Few things can hurt us more deeply than the pain we suffer when a relative or a close friend is expelled from the congregation for unrepentant sin. How we respond to the Bible’s direction on this matter can reveal the depth of our love for God and of our loyalty to his arrangement. * Consider some questions that arise on this subject.

How should we treat a disfellowshipped person? The Bible says: “Stop keeping company with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man.” (1 Corinthians 5:11) Regarding everyone who “does not remain in the teaching of the Christ,” we read: “Do not receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him. For the one who says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works.” (2 John 9-11) We do not have spiritual or social fellowship with disfellowshipped ones. The Watchtower of September 15, 1981, page 25, stated: “A simple ‘Hello’ to someone can be the first step that develops into a conversation and maybe even a friendship. Would we want to take that first step with a disfellowshiped person?”

Is strict avoidance really necessary? Yes, for several reasons. First, it is a matter of loyalty to God and his Word. We obey Jehovah not only when it is convenient but also when doing so presents real challenges. Love for God moves us to obey all his commandments, recognizing that he is just and loving and that his laws promote the greatest good. (Isaiah 48:17; 1 John 5:3) Second, withdrawing from an unrepentant wrongdoer protects us and the rest of the congregation from spiritual and moral contamination and upholds the congregation’s good name. (1 Corinthians 5:6, 7) Third, our  firm stand for Bible principles may even benefit the disfellowshipped one. By supporting the decision of the judicial committee, we may touch the heart of a wrongdoer who thus far has failed to respond to the efforts of the elders to assist him. Losing precious fellowship with loved ones may help him to come “to his senses,” see the seriousness of his wrong, and take steps to return to Jehovah.—Luke 15:17.

What if a relative is disfellowshipped? In such a case, the close bond between family members can pose a real test of loyalty. How should we treat a disfellowshipped relative? We cannot here cover every situation that may arise, but let us focus on two basic ones.

In some instances, the disfellowshipped family member may still be living in the same home as part of the immediate household. Since his being disfellowshipped does not sever the family ties, normal day-to-day family activities and dealings may continue. Yet, by his course, the individual has chosen to break the spiritual bond between him and his believing family. So loyal family members can no longer have spiritual fellowship with him. For example, if the disfellowshipped one is present, he would not participate when the family gets together for family worship. However, if the disfellowshipped one is a minor child, the parents are still responsible to instruct and discipline him. Hence, loving parents may arrange to conduct a Bible study with the child. *—Proverbs 6:20-22; 29:17.

In other cases, the disfellowshipped relative may be living outside the immediate family circle and home. Although there might be a need for limited contact on some rare occasion to care for a necessary family matter, any such contact should be kept to a minimum. Loyal Christian family members do not look for excuses to have dealings with a  disfellowshipped relative not living at home. Rather, loyalty to Jehovah and his organization moves them to uphold the Scriptural arrangement of disfellowshipping. Their loyal course has the best interests of the wrongdoer at heart and may help him to benefit from the discipline received. *—Hebrews 12:11.

 

 

From Keep yourself in God's Love  :  Print date April, 2016