Jehovah's Witnesses and Associations: Myths Debunked
There is a common misconception that Jehovah's Witnesses are prohibited or strongly discouraged from speaking to non-believing family members. This belief is not only false but also far from the truth as captured in the Bible's guidance on associations.
Guidance from the Bible
Jehovah's Witnesses follow the Bible's advice on who they should and should not have association with, understanding that there are both good and bad associations. Proverbs 13:20 and 1 Corinthians 15:33 emphasize the importance of avoiding bad associations as they can corrupt good morals. The Bible states, "Do not be misled. Bad associations corrupt good morals," highlighting the need to stay away from those who have become apostate.
Reality of Jehovah's Witness Associations
It is not true that Jehovah's Witnesses are totally prohibited from speaking to non-believing family members. However, if family members have drifted away from the faith and are seen as apostate, Jehovah's Witnesses may limit their contact with them.
According to Jehovah's Witnesses, the restriction on socializing or communing with apostate members is not due to any hatred but for protection. If someone chooses to maintain an association with apostates, they bear the responsibility for their own actions and their relationship with God. In some cases, former members may return and be welcomed back to meetings. Greetings and encouragement are possible if our conscience permits.
Reasons for Limited Contact
When interacting with non-believing family members, Jehovah's Witnesses may feel uncomfortable due to adherence to Biblical standards, such as honesty, moderation, morality, and avoiding overdrinking, smoking, and malicious gossip. These behaviors, which are often common in some families, may cause discomfort and lead to limited contact.
Jehovah's Witnesses do not consider themselves better than these family members and friends. The primary reason for limited contact is to avoid unnecessary exposure to negative influences. The Bible verse 2 Corinthians 6:17 further reinforces the idea of separating from unclean things: "Therefore get out from among them and separate yourselves' says Jehovah 'and quit touching the unclean thing’” “‘and I will take you in.’”
Common Misunderstandings
Another common misunderstanding is that Jehovah's Witnesses discourage associating with people who have never chosen to learn about or accept their religion. While they have the choice to associate or not, often these individuals choose to distance themselves due to different values and beliefs, such as the observance of holidays that have pagan origins, which are considered "unclean" by the Bible.
Some family members may feel uncomfortable and even judge Jehovah's Witnesses for their beliefs and behaviors. However, it is important to differentiate between judging as a person and being uncomfortable with certain behaviors that conflict with one's personal values and beliefs.