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Always Accept Jehovah’s Discipline “The discipline of Jehovah . do not reject.”—PROVERBS 3:11. Why should we accept divine discipline? KING SOLOMON of ancient Israel gives each one of us a good reason to accept discipline from God. “The discipline of Jehovah, O my son, do not reject,” says Solomon, “and do not abhor his reproof, because the one whom Jehovah loves he reproves, even as a father does a son in whom he finds pleasure.” (Proverbs 3:11, 12) Yes, your heavenly Father disciplines you because he loves you. How is “discipline” defined, and how may a person be disciplined? 2 “Discipline” refers to chastisement, correction, instruction, and education. “No discipline seems for the present to be joyous, but grievous,” wrote the apostle Paul, “yet afterward to those who have been trained by it it yields peaceable fruit, namely, righteousness.” (Hebrews 12:11) Accepting and applying divine discipline can help you to pursue a righteous course and thus bring you closer to the holy God, Jehovah. (Psalm 99:5) Correction may come by way of fellow believers, through things learned at Christian meetings, and from your study of God’s Word and the publications of “the faithful steward.” (Luke 12:42-44) How thankful you can be when something needing adjustment is thus brought to your attention! But what discipline may be required if serious sin is committed? Why Some Are Disfellowshipped When does disfellowshipping take place? 3 God’s servants study the Bible and Christian publications. Jehovah’s standards are discussed at their meetings, assemblies, and conventions. So Christians are in a position to know what Jehovah requires of them. Disfellowshipping takes place only if a member of the congregation unrepentantly engages in gross sin. What Scriptural example of disfellowshipping is presented here, and why was the congregation urged to reinstate the man? 4 Consider a Scriptural example of disfellowshipping. The congregation in Corinth tolerated “such fornication as [was] not even among the nations, that a wife a certain man [had] of his father.” Paul urged the Corinthians to “hand such a man over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, in order that the spirit may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 5:1-5) When disfellowshipped and thus handed over to Satan, the sinner was again part of the Devil’s world. (1 John 5:19) His expulsion removed an evil fleshly element from the congregation and preserved its godly “spirit,” or dominant attitude.—2 Timothy 4:22; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13. 5 Before a very long time had passed, Paul urged the Christians in Corinth to reinstate the wrongdoer. Why? It was so that they might not be “overreached by Satan,” said the apostle. The sinner had evidently repented and cleaned up his life. (2 Corinthians 2:8-11) If the Corinthians refused to reinstate the repentant man, Satan would overreach them in that they would be as hard and unforgiving as the Devil wanted them to be. Very likely, they soon did “forgive and comfort” the penitent man.—2 Corinthians 2:5-7. Disfellowshipping can accomplish what? 6 What is accomplished by disfellowshipping? It keeps Jehovah’s holy name clear of reproach and protects the fine reputation of his people. (1 Peter 1:14-16) Removing an unrepentant wrongdoer from the congregation upholds God’s standards and preserves the congregation’s spiritual cleanness. It may also bring the unrepentant one to his senses. Repentance Makes a Difference What effect did failure to confess his transgressions have on David? 7 Most who sin seriously are truly repentant and are not disfellowshipped from the congregation. Of course, genuine repentance does not necessarily come easily. Consider Israel’s King David, who composed Psalm 32. That song reveals that for a time David did not confess his serious sins, likely involving Bath-sheba. The result was that anguish over his sins depleted his vigor, just as summer’s dry heat saps moisture from a tree. David suffered physically and mentally, but when he ‘confessed his transgressions, Jehovah pardoned him.’ (Psalm 32:3-5) Then David sang: “Happy is the man to whose account Jehovah does not put error.” (Psalm 32:1, 2) How wonderful it was to experience God’s mercy! How is repentance manifested, and how important is it in connection with the reinstatement of a disfellowshipped person? 8 Clearly, then, a sinner must be repentant if he is to receive mercy. However, neither shame nor fear of exposure is repentance. “To repent” means “to change one’s mind” with regard to bad conduct, because of regret. A repentant person has “a heart broken and crushed” and wants to ‘right the wrong’ if possible.—Psalm 51:17; 2 Corinthians 7:11. 9 Repentance is a very important factor in connection with reinstatement into the Christian congregation. A disfellowshipped person is not automatically accepted back into the congregation after a certain amount of time has passed. Before he can be reinstated, his heart condition must undergo a great change. He must come to realize the gravity of his sin and the reproach he brought upon Jehovah and the congregation. The sinner must repent, pray earnestly for forgiveness, and conform to God’s righteous requirements. When requesting reinstatement, he should be able to give evidence that he has repented and is producing “works that befit repentance.”—Acts 26:20. Why Confess Wrongdoing? Why should we not just try to hide sin? 10 Some who have sinned might reason: ‘If I tell anyone about my sin, I may have to answer embarrassing questions and may be disfellowshipped. But if I keep quiet, that can be avoided and nobody in the congregation will ever know.’ Such thinking fails to take some important factors into account. What are these? 11 Jehovah is “a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving-kindness and truth, preserving loving-kindness for thousands, pardoning error and transgression and sin.” Yet, he does correct his people “to the proper degree.” (Exodus 34:6, 7; Jeremiah 30:11) If you were to sin seriously, how could you receive God’s mercy if you tried to hide your sin? Jehovah is aware of it, and he does not merely ignore wrongdoing.—Proverbs 15:3; Habakkuk 1:13. What can result from trying to hide wrongdoing? 12 If you have committed a serious sin, confession can help you to regain a good conscience. (1 Timothy 1:18-20) But failure to confess could result in a defiled conscience that could lead you into more sin. Remember that your sin is not just against another human or the congregation. It is against God. The psalmist sang: “Jehovah—in the heavens is his throne. His own eyes behold, his own beaming eyes examine the sons of men. Jehovah himself examines the righteous one as well as the wicked one.”—Psalm 11:4, 5. 13 Jehovah will not bless anyone who hides gross sin and tries to stay in the clean Christian congregation. (James 4:6) So if you have fallen into sin and want to do what is right, do not hesitate to make an honest confession. Otherwise, you will have a guilty conscience, especially when you read or hear counsel regarding such serious matters. What if Jehovah were to withdraw his spirit from you, as he did in the case of King Saul? (1 Samuel 16:14) With God’s spirit removed, you could fall into even more serious sin. Trust Your Faithful Brothers Why should a wrongdoer follow the counsel of James 5:14, 15? 14 So, then, what should a repentant wrongdoer do? “Let him call the older men of the congregation to him, and let them pray over him, greasing him with oil in the name of Jehovah. And the prayer of faith will make the indisposed one well, and Jehovah will raise him up.” (James 5:14, 15) Approaching the elders is one way for a person to “produce fruit that befits repentance.” (Matthew 3:8) These faithful and warmhearted men will ‘pray over him and grease him with oil in Jehovah’s name.’ Like soothing oil, their Bible counsel will prove to be comforting to anyone who is truly repentant.—Jeremiah 8:22. How do Christian elders follow the example set by God, as recorded at Ezekiel 34:15, 16? 15 What a loving example was set by our Shepherd, Jehovah, when he freed the Jews from Babylonian captivity in 537 B.C.E. and when he liberated spiritual Israel from “Babylon the Great” in 1919 C.E.! (Revelation 17:3-5; Galatians 6:16) He thus fulfilled his promise: “I myself shall feed my sheep, and I myself shall make them lie down . The lost one I shall search for, and the dispersed one I shall bring back, and the broken one I shall bandage and the ailing one I shall strengthen.”—Ezekiel 34:15, 16. 16 Jehovah fed his figurative sheep, made them lie down in security, and searched for the lost ones. Similarly, Christian shepherds see to it that God’s flock is spiritually well-fed and secure. The elders search for sheep who wander away from the congregation. Just as God ‘bandaged the broken one,’ overseers “bandage” sheep wounded by someone’s words or by their own actions. And as God ‘strengthened the ailing one,’ the elders help those who have become spiritually sick, possibly because of personal wrongdoing. How Shepherds Provide Help Why should we not hesitate to seek the spiritual help of the elders? 17 The elders gladly comply with this counsel: “Continue showing mercy . , doing so with fear.” (Jude 23) By falling into sexual immorality, some Christians have sinned seriously. But if they are truly repentant, they can expect merciful, loving treatment by elders eager to help them spiritually. Including himself, Paul said regarding such men: “Not that we are the masters over your faith, but we are fellow workers for your joy.” (2 Corinthians 1:24) Therefore, never hesitate to seek their spiritual assistance. How do elders deal with erring fellow believers? 18 If you have sinned seriously, why can you have confidence in the elders? Because they are primarily shepherds of God’s flock. (1 Peter 5:1-4) No loving shepherd beats a docile, bleating lamb for hurting itself. When elders deal with erring fellow believers, therefore, it is a matter, not of crime and punishment, but of sin and spiritual restoration where possible. (James 5:13-20) Elders must judge with righteousness and “treat the flock with tenderness.” (Acts 20:29, 30; Isaiah 32:1, 2) Like all other Christians, elders are to ‘exercise justice, love kindness, and be modest in walking with God.’ (Micah 6:8) Such qualities are vital when making decisions involving the life and sacred service of “the sheep of [Jehovah’s] pasturage.”—Psalm 100:3. Like ancient shepherds, Christian elders “bandage” God’s wounded sheep With what attitude do Christian elders try to readjust someone? 19 Christian shepherds are appointed by holy spirit and seek to be led by it. If “a man takes some false step before he is aware of it”—as though caught off guard—spiritually qualified men try to “readjust such a man in a spirit of mildness.” (Galatians 6:1; Acts 20:28) With mildness yet firmness for divine standards, the elders try to readjust his thinking, just as a considerate doctor sets a broken limb carefully, to avoid causing needless pain and yet care for the problem. (Colossians 3:12) Since any extending of mercy would be based on prayer and the Scriptures, the elders’ decision would reflect God’s view of matters.—Matthew 18:18. When may it be necessary to announce to the congregation that a certain person has been reproved? 20 If a sin is widely known or will undoubtedly become known, an announcement to the congregation would likely be appropriate in order to protect its reputation. An announcement will also be made if the congregation needs to be informed. During the time that an individual who has been judicially reproved is healing spiritually, he might be likened to a person recovering from an injury, which temporarily limits his activity. For a time, very likely it would be beneficial for the repentant one to listen rather than comment at meetings. The elders may arrange for someone to have a Bible study with him to strengthen him where he is weak so that he may again become “healthy in faith.” (Titus 2:2) All of this is done in love and is not intended to punish the wrongdoer. How may some cases of wrongdoing be handled? 21 Elders can provide spiritual help in various ways. For instance, suppose a brother who in the past had a drinking problem drank too much once or twice when home alone. Or perhaps one who long ago abandoned the use of tobacco smoked privately a time or two in a moment of weakness. Although he has prayed and believes that God has forgiven him, he should seek the help of an elder so that such a sin does not become habitual. An elder or two might handle the situation. However, the elder(s) would inform the presiding overseer, as there may be other factors involved. Keep On Accepting Divine Discipline Why should you continue to accept divine discipline? 22 To enjoy God’s approval, each Christian must pay attention to Jehovah’s discipline. (1 Timothy 5:20) So take to heart any correction received when you study the Scriptures and Christian publications or when you hear counsel presented at meetings, assemblies, and conventions of Jehovah’s people. Remain vigilant with regard to the doing of Jehovah’s will. Then divine discipline will help you to maintain a spiritual bulwark—a strong wall-like defense against sin. 23 Accepting divine discipline will enable you to remain in God’s love. True, some have been expelled from the Christian congregation, but this need not happen to you if you “safeguard your heart” and ‘walk as a wise person.’ (Proverbs 4:23; Ephesians 5:15) If you are now disfellowshipped, however, why not take steps toward reinstatement? God wants all who have made a dedication to him to worship him faithfully and with “joy of heart.” (Deuteronomy 28:47) You can do so forever if you always accept Jehovah’s discipline.—Psalm 100:2.
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Uvijek prihvaćaj Jehovin ukor i opomene “Ne odbacuj opomene Jehovine” (MUDRE IZREKE 3:11). Zašto trebamo prihvaćati ukor i opomene koje dolaze od Boga? IZRAELSKI kralj Salamun navodi dobar razlog zašto svi trebamo prihvaćati ukor i opomene koje dolaze od Boga. “Sine moj, ne odbacuj opomene Jehovine”, kaže Salamun, “i neka ti ne bude mrzak ukor njegov, jer koga Jehova ljubi, njega ukorava, kao otac sina kojeg voli” (Mudre izreke 3:11, 12). Da, tvoj te nebeski Otac ukorava i opominje zato što te voli. Koja još značenja obuhvaćaju riječi prevedene pojmovima “ukor” i “opomene” i kako možemo dobiti potrebne savjete? 2 Izvorne riječi prevedene pojmovima “ukor” i “opomene” mogu se prevesti i izrazima “pouka, uputa, ispravljanje, kazna, stega, odgoj”. “Nikakvo ukoravanje isprva ne pričinjava radost, nego žalost”, napisao je Pavao, “ali onima koji su njime poučeni poslije donosi plod pun mira — pravednost” (Hebrejima 12:11). Kad prihvaćaš i primjenjuješ ukor i opomene koje dolaze od Boga, to ti može pomoći da postupaš ispravno i da se još više približiš svom svetom Bogu, Jehovi (Psalam 99:5). Savjete ili opomene možda ćeš dobiti od suvjernika, putem pouka na kršćanskim sastancima ili tijekom proučavanja Božje Riječi i publikacija ‘vjernog upravitelja’ (Luka 12:42-44). Budi zahvalan kad ti se na te načine skrene pažnja na nešto što trebaš promijeniti kod sebe! No kakve su stegovne mjere potrebne kad netko učini neki težak grijeh? Zašto se neke isključuje iz skupštine Kada se osoba isključuje iz skupštine? 3 Božji sluge proučavaju Bibliju i kršćanske publikacije. Isto tako, o Jehovinim mjerilima uče na skupštinskim i pokrajinskim sastancima te na kongresima. Prema tome, kršćani znaju što Jehova traži od njih. Iz skupštine se isključuje samo onoga tko čini neki težak grijeh, a ne kaje se. Koji je biblijski primjer o isključenju naveden u ovim odlomcima i zašto je Pavao potaknuo skupštinu da ponovno primi isključenoga? 4 Razmotrimo jedan biblijski primjer isključenja. Skupština u Korintu podnosila je ‘blud kakvog nije bilo ni među neznabošcima: jedan od njih imao je ženu očevu’. Pavao je tražio od Korinćana da ‘takvoga predaju Sotoni da se odstrani tjelesni utjecaj, kako bi duh skupštine bio spašen u Gospodinov dan’ (1. Korinćanima 5:1-5). Kad se tog grešnika isključilo, ‘predalo’ ga se Sotoni Đavlu tako da je ponovno bio dio njegovog svijeta (1. Ivanova 5:19). Isključivanjem takve osobe odstranio se zli, tjelesni utjecaj iz skupštine, a sačuvao se bogobojazni “duh” koji je u njoj vladao (2. Timoteju 4:22; 1. Korinćanima 5:11-13). 5 Nedugo nakon toga, Pavao je potaknuo kršćane u Korintu da tog prijestupnika ponovno prime u skupštinu. Zašto? Zato da ih “Sotona ne bi prevario”, kako je to rekao apostol Pavao. Taj se prijestupnik očito pokajao i ponovno je vodio čestit život (2. Korinćanima 2:8-11). Da ga Korinćani nisu primili u skupštinu, Sotona Đavo bi ih prevario u tom smislu što bi bili upravo onakvi kakvima on želi da postanu — bešćutni i neskloni opraštanju. No oni su tom pokajniku najvjerojatnije ubrzo ‘oprostili i utješili ga’ (2. Korinćanima 2:5-7). Što se postiže isključenjem? 6 Što se postiže isključenjem? Štiti se Jehovino sveto ime kako mu se ne bi nanijela sramota, a njegov narod ostaje na dobrom glasu (1. Kad se grešnika koji se ne kaje isključi iz skupštine, time se podržavaju Božja mjerila i čuva se duhovna čistoća skupštine. Isto tako, to ga možda potakne da se urazumi. Pokajanje je presudno Kako se David osjećao kad nije želio priznati svoje prijestupe? 7 Većina osoba koje učine kakav težak grijeh istinski se pokaje i ne bude isključena iz skupštine. Istina, nekima nije lako iskreno se pokajati. Prisjeti se izraelskog kralja Davida, koji je skladao 32. psalam. Ta pjesma otkriva da on neko vrijeme nije želio priznati svoje teške grijehe, vjerojatno one povezane s Bat-Šebom. Bol koju je osjećao zbog skrivenih grijeha oduzimala mu je snagu, kao što ljetna žega crpi sok iz drveta. David je patio u fizičkom i psihičkom pogledu, no kad je ‘priznao svoje prijestupe, Jehova mu je oprostio’ (Psalam 32:3-5). Tada je u pjesmi rekao: “Sretan je čovjek kojemu Jehova ne uračunava krivnju” (Psalam 32:1, 2). Kako li mu je laknulo kad je osjetio Božje milosrđe! Kako osoba pokazuje da se kaje i koliko je pokajanje važno prilikom ponovnog primanja isključene osobe? 8 Dakle, grešnik se mora pokajati da bi mu bilo ukazano milosrđe. Međutim, pokajati se ne znači naprosto osjećati sram ili strah da će grijeh biti otkriven. Izraz “pokajanje” doslovno znači “promjena uma”, a ukazuje na to da osoba mijenja svoj način razmišljanja jer osjeća žalost zbog učinjenih pogrešaka. Osoba koja se kaje ima “srce slomljeno i satrveno” i želi ‘ispraviti ono što je krivo’, ukoliko je to moguće (Psalam 51:17; 2. Korinćanima 7:11). 9 Pokajanje igra vrlo važnu ulogu kad se donosi odluka može li se osoba ponovno primiti u kršćansku skupštinu. Isključena osoba ne prima se u skupštinu automatski nakon što prođe određeni period. Prije nego što bude primljena njeno srce mora doživjeti veliku promjenu. Ona mora postati svjesna težine svog grijeha i sramote koju je nanijela Jehovi i skupštini. Grešnik se mora pokajati, usrdno se moliti Bogu za oproštenje i udovoljiti njegovim pravednim zahtjevima. Kad zatraži da ga se ponovno primi u skupštinu, mora pružiti dokaz svog pokajanja i činiti “djela koja dolikuju pokajanju” (Djela apostolska 26:20). Zašto priznati grijeh? Zašto ne smijemo skrivati svoj grijeh? Neki koji su zgriješili možda razmišljaju: ‘Ako ikome kažem za svoj grijeh, morat ću odgovarati na neugodna pitanja i možda me isključe. Ali ako to prešutim, izbjeći ću te neugodnosti i nitko u skupštini nikada neće saznati što sam učinio.’ No onaj tko tako razmišlja zaboravlja neke važne činioce. Koje? Jehova je “Bog milosrdan i dobrostiv, spor na gnjev, pun milosti i istine, koji milost svoju čuva za tisuće, oprašta prijestupe, krivnju i grijehe”. Pa ipak, on svoj narod ‘kažnjava’ — no čini to onoliko “koliko treba” (2. Mojsijeva 34:6, 7; Jeremija 30:11). Ako učiniš težak grijeh, kako će ti Bog moći ukazati milosrđe budeš li ga skrivao? Jehova zna što si učinio, a on nikada neće olako prijeći preko grijeha (Mudre izreke 15:3; Habakuk 1:13). Što se može dogoditi ako pokušavamo sakriti grijeh? Ako učiniš neki težak grijeh, priznanje ti može pomoći da ponovno imaš čistu savjest (1. No ako ga ne priznaš, savjest ti može otupjeti, pa možeš početi činiti još veće grijehe. Upamti da grijeh nikada nije učinjen samo prema drugom čovjeku ili skupštini nego i prema Bogu. Psalmist je u pjesmi rekao: “Jehova — na nebu je prijestolje njegovo. Oči njegove promatraju, pogled njegov ispituje sinove ljudske. Jehova ispituje i pravednoga i zloga” (Psalam 11:4, 5). Jehova neće blagosloviti nikoga tko skriva veliki grijeh, a istovremeno pokušava ostati u čistoj kršćanskoj skupštini (Jakov 4:6). Stoga ako si sagriješio, ali ipak želiš postupati ispravno, ne oklijevaj iskreno priznati što si učinio. U suprotnom ćeš osjećati grižnju savjesti, naročito kad pročitaš ili čuješ savjete koji se odnose na grijeh kakav si sam počinio. Što ako ti Jehova oduzme svoj duh, kao što je učinio u slučaju kralja Šaula? Samuelova 16:14). Bez Božjeg duha mogao bi učiniti još teži grijeh. Imaj povjerenja u svoju vjernu braću Zašto grešnik treba poslušati savjet iz Jakova 5:14, 15? Što bi onda grešnik koji se pokajao trebao učiniti? “Neka pozove starješine skupštinske, pa neka se oni mole za njega, mažući ga uljem u ime Jehovino. I molitva upućena s vjerom ozdravit će bolesnoga, i Jehova će ga podignuti” (Jakov 5:14, 15). Osoba ‘donosi plod koji dolikuje pokajanju’ i tako da zatraži pomoć starješina (Matej 3:8). Ti vjerni muževi puni ljubavi ‘molit će se za nju, mažući je uljem u ime Jehovino’. Poput ulja koje se stavlja na ranu i ublažava bol, njihovi biblijski savjeti bit će velika utjeha svakome tko se iskreno kaje (Jeremija 8:22). Kako starješine oponašaju Božji primjer opisan u Ezekijelu 34:15, 16? Naš Pastir, Jehova, pokazao je veliku ljubav kad je 537. pr. n. e. oslobodio Židove iz babilonskog ropstva, a 1919. n. e. duhovni Izrael iz ‘Babilona Velikog’. Na taj je način pružio izvrstan primjer svom narodu (Otkrivenje 17:3-5; Galaćanima 6:16). Time je ispunio svoje obećanje: “Ja ću pasti ovce svoje i ja ću ih na počinak voditi (...). Izgubljene ću potražiti, odlutale ću dovesti natrag, ranjene ću poviti i bolesne ojačati” (Ezekijel 34:15, 16). Jehova hrani svoje “ovce”, vodi ih na siguran počinak i traži izgubljene. Slično tome, kršćanski pastiri vode računa o tome da Božje stado bude duhovno sito i sigurno. Starješine traže ovce koje su odlutale iz skupštine. Kao što Bog ‘povija ranjene’, tako nadglednici ‘povijaju’ ovce koje su ranjene nečijim riječima ili vlastitim prijestupom. A kao što Bog ‘jača bolesne’, tako i starješine pomažu onima koji su duhovno oboljeli, možda zbog grijeha koji su učinili. Kako pastiri pružaju pomoć Zašto ne bismo trebali oklijevati tražiti duhovnu pomoć od starješina? Starješine spremno slušaju ovaj savjet: “Budite milosrdni, pazeći na sebe” (Juda 23). Neki kršćani učine spolni nemoral i time ozbiljno sagriješe. No ako se iskreno kaju, mogu biti sigurni da će starješine prema njima biti milosrdni i puni ljubavi te da će im rado pružiti duhovnu pomoć. O takvim starješinama, u koje se i sam ubrajao, Pavao je rekao: “Ne kažem da smo mi gospodari vaše vjere, nego smo vaši suradnici da biste bili radosni” (2. Korinćanima 1:24). Stoga nikada ne oklijevaj zatražiti njihovu duhovnu pomoć. Kako se starješine ophode sa suvjernicima koji su sagriješili? Ako si učinio težak grijeh, zašto se možeš s povjerenjem obratiti starješinama? Zato što su oni prije svega pastiri Božjeg stada (1. Nijedan brižan pastir ne tuče krotko janje koje bleji jer se ozlijedilo. Slično tome, starješine se u svom ophođenju sa suvjernicima koji su sagriješili ne usredotočuju na to koju kaznu izreći za učinjeni prijestup, nego na sam grijeh i duhovni oporavak, kad je to moguće (Jakov 5:13-20). Starješine moraju suditi po pravdi i “imati obzira prema stadu” (Djela apostolska 20:29, 30; Izaija 32:1, 2). Poput svih ostalih kršćana, i oni trebaju ‘postupati pravedno, ljubiti dobrotu i skromno hoditi s Bogom’ (Mihej 6:8). Te su osobine izuzetno važne kad donose odluke koje se tiču ‘ovaca paše Jehovine’, to jest njihovog života i svete službe (Psalam 100:3). Poput pastira iz starog doba, starješine ‘povijaju’ Božje ranjene ovce Kakav stav imaju kršćanski starješine kad pomažu grešniku? Kršćanski pastiri imenovani su svetim duhom i nastoje slijediti njegovo vodstvo. “Ako tko nenamjerno pogriješi”, odnosno pogriješi, a da toga i nije bio svjestan, duhovno zreli muškarci ‘ispravljaju ga u duhu blagosti’ (Galaćanima 6:1; Djela apostolska 20:28). Premda se čvrsto drže Božjih mjerila, starješine na blag način nastoje pomoći osobi da ispravi svoj način razmišljanja, kao što obziran liječnik pažljivo namješta slomljenu kost da pacijentu ne bi nepotrebno nanosio bol, a da bi ga ipak izliječio (Kološanima 3:12). Budući da starješine odluku o iskazivanju milosrđa uvijek donose uz molitvu i na temelju Biblije, može se reći da ona odražava Božje gledište (Matej 18:18). Kada može biti neophodno obavijestiti skupštinu o ukoru neke osobe? Ako je grijeh općepoznat ili će nesumnjivo postati poznat, najvjerojatnije će trebati dati odgovarajuću obavijest skupštini da se ne bi okaljao njen ugled. Obavijest će se dati i ako skupština treba biti upoznata s tim. Dok se osoba koju je pravni odbor ukorio duhovno oporavlja, slična je čovjeku koji se oporavlja od ozljede, pa neko vrijeme ne može raditi sve što je prije radio. Vrlo je vjerojatno da će za pokajnika biti dobro neko vrijeme na sastancima ne komentirati, nego samo slušati. Starješine mogu odlučiti da netko s njim proučava Bibliju kako bi mu pomogao da radi na svojim slabim stranama i ponovno bude ‘zdrav u vjeri’ (Titu 2:2). Sve se to čini iz ljubavi, a ne zato da bi se kaznilo onoga tko je sagriješio. Koji se postupak može primijeniti u slučaju nekih prijestupa? Starješine duhovnu pomoć mogu pružati na različite načine. Naprimjer, pretpostavimo da se neki brat koji je u prošlosti imao problema s alkoholom opio jednom ili dvaput kad je bio sam kod kuće. Možda je netko tko je davno prestao pušiti jednom ili dvaput nasamo ponovno pušio u trenutku slabosti. Iako se molio i vjeruje da mu je Bog oprostio, treba zatražiti pomoć nekog starješine kako mu grijeh ne bi prešao u naviku. S njim mogu razgovarati jedan ili dvojica starješina, no oni o tome trebaju obavijestiti predsjedavajućeg nadglednika jer s time mogu biti povezane i neke druge stvari. Prihvaćaj ukor i opomene koje dolaze od Boga Zašto trebaš uvijek prihvaćati ukor i opomene koje dolaze od Boga? Da bi imao Božje odobravanje, svaki kršćanin mora slušati opomene i ukore koje Bog daje (1. Timoteju 5:20). Zato uzmi k srcu svaki savjet i opomenu koju dobiješ proučavajući Bibliju i kršćanske publikacije te koju čuješ na skupštinskim i pokrajinskim sastancima i na kongresima Jehovinog naroda. U svemu što činiš imaj na umu Jehovinu volju. Tada će ti ukor i opomene koje dolaze od Boga biti poput bedema koji će te u duhovnom pogledu štititi i pomagat će ti da izbjegavaš grijeh. Prihvaćanje takvog ukora omogućit će ti da se održiš u Božjoj ljubavi. Istina, neki su morali biti isključeni iz kršćanske skupštine, ali tebi se to neće dogoditi ako ‘čuvaš srce svoje’ i ‘živiš kao mudra osoba’ (Mudre izreke 4:23; Efežanima 5:15). No ako si isključen, zašto se ne bi potrudio da budeš ponovno primljen u skupštinu? Bog bi želio da mu svi koji su mu se predali služe vjerno i “radosna srca” (5. Mojsijeva 28:47). Budeš li uvijek prihvaćao ukor i opomene koje dolaze od Boga, moći ćeš mu služiti zauvijek (Psalam 100:2).