Between 2008 and 2017 the organisation progressively specified the outside-household rule: 'Loyal Christian family members do not look for excuses to have dealings with a disfellowshipped relative not living at home' (2008 book), 'Do not look for excuses to associate with a disfellowshipped family member, for example, through e-mail' (January 2013), and 'we must avoid normal contact with a disfellowshipped family member by telephone, text messages, letters, e-mails, or social media' (October 2017).
Claim ID claim-shunning-2008-2017-no-excuses-email-phoneConcerns 1 October 2017Explicit statement
Between 2008 and 2017 the organisation progressively specified the outside-household rule: 'Loyal Christian family members do not look for excuses to have dealings with a disfellowshipped relative not living at home' (2008 book), 'Do not look for excuses to associate with a disfellowshipped family member, for example, through e-mail' (January 2013), and 'we must avoid normal contact with a disfellowshipped family member by telephone, text messages, letters, e-mails, or social media' (October 2017). Source: “Keep Yourselves in God’s Love” (lv), 2008Source: The Watchtower (Study Edition), 15 January 2013Source: The Watchtower (Study Edition), October 2017
The organisation’s position or later explanation: The organisation frames this as loyalty that 'has the best interests of the wrongdoer at heart'.
2008 · pp.207-209 · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
“Although there might be a need for limited contact on some rare occasion to care for a necessary family matter, any such contact should be kept to a minimum. Loyal Christian family members do not look for excuses to have dealings with a disfellowshipped relative not living at home.”
Household: 'normal day-to-day family activities and dealings may continue'; parents may study with a disfellowshipped minor at home. Quotes the 1981 'simple Hello' passage. Footnote a: principles 'apply equally to those who disassociate themselves'. WOL copy is the 2014 printing.
15 January 2013 · pp.12-16 · par. 16-20 (quote at par. 19, p. 16) · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
“Really, what your beloved family member needs to see is your resolute stance to put Jehovah above everything else—including the family bond. ... Do not look for excuses to associate with a disfellowshipped family member, for example, through e-mail. (1 Cor. 5:11)”
Addressed to parents grieving a disfellowshipped child; the 'e-mail' sentence confirms the outside-household rule extends to electronic contact.
October 2017 · pp.12-16 · par. 17-20 (quote at par. 19) · Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
“Despite our pain of heart, we must avoid normal contact with a disfellowshipped family member by telephone, text messages, letters, e-mails, or social media.”
Section 'If a Family Member Leaves Jehovah'; the most explicit published list of communication channels to avoid with a disfellowshipped or disassociated relative.
Provenance and verification note for The Watchtower (Study Edition), The Truth Brings, “Not Peace, But a Sword”
Confidence note. Raw WOL HTML fetched; wording and page markers 12-16 confirmed. The phrase suggested in the brief ('loyally supporting the disfellowshipping decision ... even a family member') does not occur in this article.
Accessed. 19 September 2026 · Source ID.src-w-2017-1000-not-peace-but-a-sword
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