Monday, November 23, 2009

What is expelling (disfellowshiping) and why is/was it used in the Christian congregation?

Expelling (disfellowshiping) is the judicial excommunication of delinquents from membership and association in a community or organization.

"With religious societies, it is a principle and a right inherent in them and is analogous to the powers of capital punishment, banishment, and exclusion from membership that are exercised by political and municipal bodies. In the congregation of God it is exercised to maintain the purity of the organization doctrinally and morally. The exercise of this power is necessary to the continued existence of the organization and particularly so the Christian congregation. The congregation must remain clean and maintain God's favor in order to be used by him and to represent him. Otherwise, God would expel or cut off the entire congregation. (Rev. 2:5; 1 Cor. 5:5, 6)" -Insight Book, Vol. 1, "Expelling"
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

            BACK TO HOME PAGE           INDEX