The Study Watchtower, “Article 39”, Week of November 29-December 5, 2021, “When a Loved One Leaves Jehovah”, Answers.

The Study Watchtower, “Article 39,” November 29-December 5, 2021, “When A Loved One Leaves Jehovah,” Answers.

1. When a person is expelled, how can their relatives feel?

Your family members may feel bad and heartbroken. When you leave the congregation and your family, you leave great pain.

ILLUSTRATION:

A father leaves home with a suitcase. The mother hugs her two children, who are crying.

Jehovah understands how painful it is when a loved one stops serving him. (See paragraphs 2 and 3.) *

2, 3. According to Psalm 78:40, 41, How does Jehovah feel when his servants leave him?

You can be sure that it hurts Jehovah when his servants leave him. It also hurts us just like him, when someone we love leaves the congregation. Jehovah has compassion on us and understands how we feel, because he also feels pain.

DO NOT BLAME

4. How do many parents feel when a child leaves Jehovah?

First they ask themselves many questions, because they are wanting to see what else they could do for him, so that he does not depart from Jehovah. Parents feel a lot of pain when we turn away from Jehovah, at first they blame themselves and feel that they did not do enough.

5. If a person leaves Jehovah, who is responsible?

Jehovah has given us complete freedom to make our decisions. Each one makes their decisions whether to serve Jehovah or not. Even if you were not born in a place that serves Jehovah, it does not mean that you cannot serve him.

6. How can a young person feel when one of his parents leaves God?

Not necessarily the child leaves God, some parents do too. This can be devastating for children who see their parents as an example. They care about the welfare of their parents.

7. How does Jehovah feel about young people who have disfellowshiped parents?

Jehovah understands how we feel and how much pain we feel. He loves us and is happy that we continue to serve him loyally. Remember that you are not responsible for the decisions of your parents.

8. What can faithful family members do while waiting for their loved one to return to Jehovah? (See also the box “Jehovah Wants Me To Return”).

Faithful family members cling to the hope that one day they will repent and return to Jehovah. But they must continue to take care of their spiritual health, until their loved one returns.

Jehovah wants me to return

ILLUSTRATION:

A loving shepherd carries a little sheep in his arms.

A mother says: “The words of Isaiah 55: 7 describe what I want my son to do: 'Let him return to Jehovah, who will have mercy on him, return to our God, for he will generously forgive him.' If you have left Jehovah, the sooner you return, the happier you will be. The world situation makes it clear that Armageddon is fast approaching and that it can come at any moment. Furthermore, life in this system is short and uncertain. None of us know if he will be alive tomorrow (James 4:13, 14).

The brochure Jehovah Wants You To Return * says: “Jehovah will guide you on the way back. He will help you cope with worries, heal hurt feelings, and gain the relief of a clear conscience. When you do, you will most likely want to serve Jehovah again with the congregation. ”- 1 Pet. 2:25.

HOW TO STAY STRONG IN THE SPIRITUAL SENSE

9. What will help you maintain a strong faith? (See also the box “Texts to encourage you if a loved one has left Jehovah.”)

One thing that will help you maintain strong faith is to regularly read and ponder God's Word, as well as attending meetings.

Texts to encourage you if a loved one has left Jehovah

Psalm 30:10

Psalm 34: 4, 6, 18, 19

Psalm 39:12

Psalm 61: 1, 2

Psalm 94: 17-19

Ephesians 3:20

Philippians 4: 6, 7

10. According to Psalm 32: 6-8, what can we do if we feel very distressed?

When we are in distress, the best we can do is pray to Jehovah. Pray to our loving God to help you see the situation as he sees it and to make you insightful and show you the way to go.

11. According to Hebrews 12:11, why should we trust the discipline that Jehovah gives out of love? (See also the box “The Expulsion Is A Token Of Jehovah's Love.”)

The discipline that Jehovah gives, which is expulsion, is to protect the congregation, who sins and does not repent. Expulsion can help the sinner to repent. 

Expulsion is a token of Jehovah's love

Let's look at four ways expulsion reflects God's love.

1. Love prompts elders to do whatever they can to help those who have sinned. A Christian is only expelled if these two things happen: he has committed a serious sin and he is unrepentant (Heb. 12: 7, 9-11).

2. Expulsion protects the congregation. Whoever sins and does not repent is like a person who has a very contagious virus and who must be quarantined to protect others (1 Cor. 5: 6, 7, 11-13).

3. Expulsion can help the sinner to repent. Many expelled people regained their senses and eventually returned to Jehovah. --Luke 15: 11-24.

4. When a repentant sinner returns, there is happiness in heaven and the congregation welcomes him with open arms (Luke 15: 7).

12. How have some benefited from supporting Jehovah's discipline?

By expelling, we help the sinner to repent. When the expelled person returns to the congregation, he thanks us for learning many valuable lessons. This is how they appreciate Jehovah's discipline.

13. What can help you cope with pain?

We should spend more time with mature Christian brothers, who can help us to have a positive attitude. They are very understanding and friendly.

14. Why should we continue to support each other and generously forgive each other?

We must be very patient with our brothers, because we are all imperfect, so don't be surprised if some don't know what to say or even accidentally say something hurtful to you. 

THE CONGREGATION CAN HELP

15. How can we help the family members of someone who was recently expelled?

The faithful relatives are afraid to go to the meetings, because they are afraid of those who tell them. But if we help them they will not feel alone and they will have more confidence to go to the meetings, without fear.

16. How can the congregation continue to support faithful family members?

They need our love and encouragement now more than ever. Sometimes some relatives of expelled people feel that certain siblings have stopped talking to them, as if they too were expelled. They especially need us to encourage and congratulate them.

ILLUSTRATION:

The mother and her children welcome two elderly people who have come to visit them.

The congregation can lovingly support the faithful family members of a disfellowshipped person. (See paragraph 17) *

17. What can the elderly do to comfort those who are suffering?

They have to strengthen faithful family members. They have the responsibility to comfort the brothers. Elders have to take the initiative and encourage them before and after the meetings.

DON'T LOSE HOPE AND KEEP TRUSTING IN JEHOVAH

18. According to 2 Peter 3: 9, what does Jehovah want those who have stopped serving him to do?

Jehovah wants everyone to come to repent. When a person makes a mistake, he thinks that he can no longer do anything to remedy it. But his life is still valuable to Jehovah.

19. Why can we continue to trust in Jehovah?

He will never tell us to do something that hurts us. He is a generous and compassionate Father who has deep love for all who love and adore him. 

WHAT DID YOU LEARN FROM THE FOLLOWING TEXTS?

Psalm 78:40, 41

If someone you love leaves Jehovah, you can be sure that our loving heavenly Father is hurt too.

Psalm 32: 6-8

Of course, it may be very painful for you to tell him how you feel. But Jehovah understands this perfectly. He loves him very much and invites him to pour out his heart to him

Hebrews 12:11

Some may say that the elders were wrong to expel you, but remember that these people will surely avoid mentioning negative details about the expelled. The truth is that we do not have all the data.