What comes first, family or God?

[nobspeople]

The below link is lengthy (about 60 minutes), but speaks, in part, about how one's religious beliefs in a religion can cause families to fracture. We see this happen in families of no religion, Scientologists, Mormons, Catholics, JWs (as in this example) etc.
While this doesn't always happen, at what point does one (or should one) put their belief system before their family?
Does God command such a thing, or is it something the religion dictates only?

[Difflugia]

There is NOTHING in any of the links that contradicts anything I have ever posted on this thread or on this site.

Sure there is. You said:

...the linked articles do include instructions for dealing with a disfellowshipped "marriage partner."

I did not see anything at all on that subject.

Unless you're quibbling about what it means to "see" something (I assume you're not, but it's not outside the realm of possibility based on other hair-splitting discussions we've had) and you meant that there actually wasn't "anything at all on" the subject of "a disfellowshipped 'marriage partner,'" then several paragraphs contradict that statement, implicitly if Jehovah's Witnesses consider a spouse to be in the "immediate family circle," but one of the articles does so explicitly in any case.

From the Our Kingdom Ministry article (this time the bolding is mine):

However, The Watchtower of September 15, 1981, page 28, points out regarding the disfellowshipped or disassociated person: “Former spiritual ties have been completely severed. This is true even with respect to his relatives, including those within his immediate family circle. . . . That will mean changes in the spiritual fellowship that may have existed in the home. For example, if the husband is disfellowshiped, his wife and children will not be comfortable with him conducting a family Bible study or leading in Bible reading and prayer. If he wants to say a prayer, such as at mealtime, he has a right to do so in his own home. But they can silently offer their own prayers to God. (Prov. 28:9; Ps. 119:145, 146) What if a disfellowshiped person in the home wants to be present when the family reads the Bible together or has a Bible study? The others might let him be present to listen if he will not try to teach them or share his religious ideas.”

[JehovahsWitness]

There is NOTHING in any of the links that contradicts anything I have ever posted on this thread or on this site.

Sure there is. You said:

...the linked articles do include instructions for dealing with a disfellowshipped "marriage partner."

I did not see anything at all on that subject.

I did not see anything there; my statement is absolutely true.

If you (or anyone) did , and more relevantly, if you claim you can produce anything from any official JW publication that contradicts what I have posted about our teachings and policies ... be my guest.




JW

[JehovahsWitness]

From the Our Kingdom Ministry article (this time the bolding is mine):

However, The Watchtower of September 15, 1981, page 28, points out regarding the disfellowshipped or disassociated person: “Former spiritual ties have been completely severed. .... . . That will mean changes in the spiritual fellowship that may have existed in the home. For example, if the husband is disfellowshiped, his wife and children will not be comfortable with him conducting a family Bible study or leading in Bible reading and prayer. If he wants to say a prayer, such as at mealtime, he has a right to do so in his own home. But they can silently offer their own prayers to God. (Prov. 28:9; Ps. 119:145, 146) What if a disfellowshiped person in the home wants to be present when the family reads the Bible together or has a Bible study? The others might let him be present to listen if he will not try to teach them or share his religious ideas.”

I take it you are not suggesting any of that has anything with divorce? Are you suggesting anything in the above contradicts anything I have posted on the subject of family? If so, what?





JW

[Difflugia]

I did not see anything there; my statement is absolutely true.

To satisfy my curiosity, what exactly do you mean by that? Is it one of:

• you "did not see" the words husband and wife the first time you read the articles, but do now, or
• you "did not see" the words husband and wife then and still don't, or
• you saw those words, but "did not see" how husband and wife meant that the article was relevant to marriage?

Or do you mean something completely different than any of those that I just haven't thought of? If it's that one, would you please tell me what you mean?

[JehovahsWitness]

You're born with your family, and you can't change that (though you can change whom you associate with). Friends are mutually picked. For many, friends become their preferred family.

While it is true one cannot choose one's family, family is still believed by many to be important. It can be a source of great joy and support.


JW

[2ndRateMind]

...at what point does one (or should one) put their belief system before their family?
Does God command such a thing, or is it something the religion dictates only?

So Jesus' first great commandment was to love God. His second was to love each other. Thus our priorities are organised for us.

Best wishes, 2RM.

[nobspeople]

You're born with your family, and you can't change that (though you can change whom you associate with). Friends are mutually picked. For many, friends become their preferred family.

While it is true one cannot choose one's family, family is still believed by many to be important. It can be a source of great joy and support.

JW

It is believed by some that Noah floated around in a boat with animals and Moses chatted it up with a non-consuming, burning bush.
Some believe the earth is flat.
What's believed doesn't make it any more true or false than it actually is.

[nobspeople]

...at what point does one (or should one) put their belief system before their family?
Does God command such a thing, or is it something the religion dictates only?

So Jesus' first great commandment was to love God. His second was to love each other. Thus our priorities are organised for us.

Best wishes, 2RM.

Should you shun your family if they don't love God? This happens in some organizations, while not in others.

[Difflugia]

Should you shun your family if they don't love God?

No, you should throw stones at them until they're dead.

Deuteronomy 13:6-11

If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, entices you secretly, saying, “Let’s go and serve other gods”—which you have not known, you, nor your fathers; of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near to you, or far off from you, from the one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth—you shall not consent to him nor listen to him; neither shall your eye pity him, neither shall you spare, neither shall you conceal him; but you shall surely kill him. Your hand shall be first on him to put him to death, and afterwards the hands of all the people. You shall stone him to death with stones, because he has sought to draw you away from Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. All Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall not do any more wickedness like this among you.

[nobspeople]

Should you shun your family if they don't love God?

No, you should throw stones at them until they're dead.

Deuteronomy 13:6-11

If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son, or your daughter, or the wife of your bosom, or your friend who is as your own soul, entices you secretly, saying, “Let’s go and serve other gods”—which you have not known, you, nor your fathers; of the gods of the peoples who are around you, near to you, or far off from you, from the one end of the earth even to the other end of the earth—you shall not consent to him nor listen to him; neither shall your eye pity him, neither shall you spare, neither shall you conceal him; but you shall surely kill him. Your hand shall be first on him to put him to death, and afterwards the hands of all the people. You shall stone him to death with stones, because he has sought to draw you away from Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. All Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall not do any more wickedness like this among you.

So maybe the JWs are more correct in this matter than the rest of us?

Kidding aside, why, or even HOW, such a loving supreme being that God's said to be could be jealous (feeling or showing envy of someone or their achievements and advantages) make zero sense to me. Is he really that insecure?

Exodus 20:5
"...or I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me,"

Deuteronomy 6:15
"For the Lord your God in your midst is a jealous God..."

Seems like insecure overkill. But then again, the bible has stories of God killing (I know, entirely justified of course) so I guess I shouldn't be too surprised?
Still