This is a disfellowshipping offense not found in the book for elders, Shepherd the Flock of God
The website jw.org has an article on vaccination against Covid-19, and we read:
Jehovah’s Witnesses are not opposed to vaccination. We view vaccination as a personal decision for each Christian to make. Many of Jehovah’s Witnesses choose to get vaccinated.[1]
This is a balanced view that accords with biblical principles. No one, including elders or members of the Governing Body, has the right to make rules for the Witnesses regarding issues that are not mentioned in the Bible. However, a recent letter from the Governing Body makes such rules.
ANNOUNCEMENT
September 27, 2021
FOR ELDERS
- COVID-19 Vaccinations and Respect for Superior Authorities:Out of concern and love, we are sharing the following important information. (1 Cor. 12:25) As a result of the ongoing pandemic, secular authorities in an increasing number of lands are mandating or strongly encouraging that their citizens be vaccinated for COVID-19. The recent Governing Body updates have helped Jehovah’s people understand the thinking of the faithful slave on this matter.
- Branch offices have reported that some elders have voiced strong personal opinions against COVID-19 vaccination. Why is this of concern? Romans 13:1 says that “the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God.” Also, the study note on Romans 13:5 says: “A Christian submits to human governments when a command does not contradict God’s laws.” Romans 13:2 states: “Whoever opposes the [secular] authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God.” Thus, elders should be careful not to voice personal opinions that contradict direction from the superior authorities. If an elder has been doing so, now is the time to stop. (Matt. 22:21; Rom. 13:4-7) Otherwise, he could become guilty of causing divisions in the congregation.
- At Romans 16:17, elders are admonished: “Keep your eye on those who create divisions and causes for stumbling contrary to the teaching that you have learned, and avoid them.” Thus, elders have a Scriptural responsibility to counsel any, including fellow elders, who cause divisions in the congregation. (Gal. 6:1) Circuit overseers will closely monitor the situation. We commend you brothers for “holding firmly” to God’s Word, promoting unity in the congregation, and taking the lead in showing “honor” to the secular authorities. (Titus 1:9; 1 Pet. 2:13-17) We thank you for your cooperation in this matter, and we take this opportunity to send our warm Christian love.
FOR COORDINATORS OF THE BODIES OF ELDERS
- Announcement for Elders: Please arrange for the body of elders to meet this week to discuss the announcement for elders along with the cited scriptures.
There are several important points in this letter. The most important one is that the members of the Governing Body believe they have the right to make rules for the Witnesses regarding mundane issues such as vaccination. “The thinking of the faithful slave on this matter [vaccination for Covid-19]” (at the end of paragraph 1 above) is paralleled with “the teaching that you have learned [the Christian doctrines that Paul taught]” (at the beginning of paragraph 3). This means that “the thinking of the faithful slave” is identical with “the [inspired] teaching that you have learned.”
The thinking of the members of the Governing Body, as reflected in their writings on vaccines, is that all Witnesses should receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Some elders have voiced strong opinions against the COVID-19 vaccination. If they do not stop voicing their opinions on this secular matter, they are promoting a teaching “contrary to the teaching that you have learned,” and they “create divisions and causes for stumbling” in the congregation. This is a disfellowshipping offense, according to the Elders’ book. And this means that to voice disagreement with the thinking of the members of the Governing Body, even on secular, mundane issues, can be easily twisted into a disfellowshipping offense.
That the members of the Governing Body use the secular authorities as an alibi for their own thinking is strange. According to Romans 13:1-6, Christians must obey all the laws given by the secular authorities when they do not contradict God’s laws. It is true that the governments in many Western countries, such as the USA, have strongly recommended that everyone be vaccinated. But such recommendations are not laws that Christians must obey. Romans 13:2 says: “Whoever opposes the [secular] authority has taken a stand against the arrangement of God.” The letter quotes this passage and says: “Thus, elders should be careful not to voice personal opinions that contradict direction from the superior authorities.” This is a misleading statement because there is no biblical reason why Christians must obey any recommendation that comes from the secular authorities. Nor is there any scripture prohibiting a Christian from expressing his opinion for or against such a “recommendation”.
But should the elders be allowed to voice their personal opinions regarding vaccination in the congregation? Both the elders and the members of the Governing Body should be careful not to voice their personal opinions in any case in which the members of the congregation must make decisions. However, one weakness of the letter is that its views are biased and one-sided — it focuses solely on opposing COVID-19 vaccinations. Apparently, spreading one’s opinion in favor of vaccinations, even though doing so will cause the same divisions in the congregation in connection with those who oppose it, is sanctioned by the members of the Governing Body and a fine thing to do, because it is in keeping with “the thinking of the faithful slave on this matter.”
There were different vaccines with different properties. For example, one vaccine has caused several deaths in Norway, and the authorities stopped using this vaccine. In other countries, this vaccine is used and recommended by the authorities. Another vaccine contained some impurities, and a number of doses were trashed. Then we have the Chinese and Russian vaccines that have some problems. But they are recommended by the authorities in several countries.
There are many conspiracy theories in connection with COVID-19 vaccinations, and elders should not spread these theories in the congregation. And the elders should not generally speak against COVID-19 vaccines, because they would, in such a case, be making the same error as the members of the Governing Body, who generally speak in favor of COVID-19 vaccines.
If an elder, for example, knows that the authorities in Norway stopped using a vaccine because of many deaths associated with it, he should be allowed to share this information with congregation members if they are offered that vaccine. And he should also be allowed to point to problematic aspects or side effects of other vaccines.
The conclusion is that this letter reveals the true nature of the members of the Governing Body. They demand that the elders and others accept their decisions, even in cases not mentioned in the Bible, with an implied threat of discipline and even disfellowshipping for those who are not obedient.
[1]. https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/jw-vaccines-immunization/.
