While Jehovah’s Witnesses continue to represent themselves as a charitable religion, their latest Watchtower magazine strongly reminds its followers that any assistance given to refugees be limited to Witnesses only, and that non-Jehovah’s Witnesses be given no material support.
As stated by the May 2017 Watchtower, page 7:
“The best way to [help suffering people] is by sharing the good news with them. “It is important to make clear right away that we are Jehovah’s Witnesses and that our primary mission is to help them spiritually, not materially,” notes an elder who has helped many refugees. “Otherwise, some may associate with us only for personal advantage.” [bold ours]
Meanwhile, faith-based groups from around the world, together with numerous governments, have facilitated meaningful assistance for victims of civil war and other conflicts, providing such persons with food, clothing and shelter, and doing so without expectations of religious conversion or reimbursement. These very organizations are the ones which Jehovah’s Witnesses declare are doomed for complete destruction during the impending apocalypse of Armageddon.
It is of interest that the Watchtower article cited above follows the story of a refugee from Burundi named Lije, who fled civil war in his country and found himself in a Malawian refugee camp. The article stated:
“Most of Lije’s family eventually spent years in United Nations refugee camps.”
According to Jehovah’s Witnesses, the United Nations is a Satanic organization that is depicted in the book of Revelation as the scarlet-colored wild beast with seven heads and ten horns, which dishonors God and will very soon be completely destroyed. Clearly this is bad news for those refugees like Lije, whose family was cared for by this evil organization. The Watchtower described this UN refugee sanctuary by saying:
Yet, they were not safe there. Lije, now a circuit overseer, comments: “Most people had no work. They gossiped, drank, gambled, stole, and were immoral.”
While refugee camps can hardly be expected to be luxurious Club-Med style resorts, the portrayal of such places as an immoral den of alcohol and gambling seems disrespectfully dismissive of such humanitarian missions.
Witnesses [only] Helping Witnesses
Given the insular nature of Jehovah’s Witnesses, it is no surprise that their expectation of lending a meaningful helping hand to refugees is strictly limited to those who are baptized Witnesses in “good standing” within the Witness organization. Good standing means that the person is not breaking any doctrinal rules, obeys the elders, and remits a monthly count of hours spent in the public preaching activity, including knocking on doors and tending to public literature display carts. If such conditions are met, a Witness may be permitted to give or receive assistance to a JW refugee. These instructions are laid out rather clearly in the latest Watchtower.
Strict procedures put in place by Watchtower’s Governing Body guarantee that aid will only be extended to a Jehovah’s Witness who is approved, and not attempting to impersonate or misrepresent his “standing” in the organization. As mentioned in the Watchtower article, the term “basic needs” is immediately followed by a footnote (see above) which reminds congregation elders that their internal branch-to-branch communications protocol must be followed to decide if the refugee is in fact an approved baptized Witness. Once contacted, the branch from which the refugee is fleeing attempts to reach the person’s original congregation elders, where they maintain his “publisher record card” – a private document kept by every congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses in the world. This document contains extensive personal information, including the person’s date of baptism and recent records of public ministry activity.
If the jw.org elder-to-branch communication system breaks down, elders are instructed to ask “discreet questions” about the refugee in a covert manner, to establish the refugee’s “spiritual condition.” The net result of this entire procedure is to guarantee that assistance is provided ONLY to those who are genuine, door-knocking, watchtower-studying, rule-obeying Jehovah’s Witnesses. If you are not, no charity for you.
Editors Note: In referring to refugee “aid” or “assistance” I would like to clarify that this help comes from individual Jehovah’s Witnesses and NOT the organization itself or any of its congregations.
Watchtower Imposes Harsh Limits on JW Refugees
As if it were not difficult enough for Jehovah’s Witness refugees to assimilate into another culture, they are warned against accepting jobs which might interfere with Witness meetings. The same July Watchtower says:
“Further, authorities have at times made it difficult for our brothers who are refugees to contact the congregation. Some agencies have threatened to cut off assistance or deny our brothers asylum if they refuse to accept employment that requires them to miss meetings. Frightened and vulnerable, a few brothers have given in to such pressures. Therefore, it is urgent to meet our refugee brothers as soon as possible after their arrival. [Bold ours] – Watchtower May 2017, study edition, page 5
Loyalty to Watchtower’s indoctrination meetings is paramount. Yet the JW organization takes matters one step further by reminding their followers that they should not associate with their own blood relatives, or other non-Witness refugees who would normally lend support and aid. Watchtower continues:
“Many refugees have been torn away from their tight-knit extended families, communities, and congregations. They need to sense Jehovah’s love and compassion among their fellow Christians. Otherwise, they may be drawn to unbelieving relatives or compatriots who can relate to their culture and experiences.” [Bold ours] – Watchtower May 2017, study edition, page 6
Job restrictions, isolation from family, isolation from fellow compatriots; Is this organization running a charity, or a cult?
Jehovah’s Witnesses: Not a Charity
This same self-serving policy of Jehovah’s Witnesses applies to every aspect of any work which they consider humanitarian. For example, Jehovah’s Witnesses claim to engage in disaster relief work for the benefit of victims of hurricanes and other tragedies. Having been a JW who was intimately involved with this work for decades, I can assure you that none of this work is directed to anyone outside of the Jehovah’s Witness organization. The only exceptions to this are when rendering assistance or building and repairing are done with the intent of receiving something in trade.
As an example, when hurricane Luis struck the Leeward Islands in 1995, Jehovah’s Witnesses organized efforts to help fellow Witnesses in several islands, including Antigua. I remember discussing our project plans with the construction overseer. He said “We will be repairing the home of an official here in Antigua.” [the official was not a Witness] – He then explained that this official was responsible for the freight coming into and out of the primary port of Antigua, and if one of our crews repaired his home, he would release the shipment of supplies we needed, which were being detained by customs. In other words, we made a shady deal to repair this man’s home in exchange for his power to release our containers. Our construction overseer declared that this was God’s direction, proving that Jehovah was backing our work, while apparently overlooking the relief work of all non-Witness humanitarian agencies.
There is simply nothing Watchtower will do for charity on behalf of mankind without strings attached. While individual Jehovah’s Witnesses have personally engaged in charitable giving, the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses gives nothing back to society. Even their latest efforts in Warwick, New York to repair a dam, improve a greenway and construct a little league press box were all the result of satisfying an agreement made with a town which otherwise has lost all tax revenue from the new World Headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses. In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, Watchtower coordinated the repairs to hundreds of homes using free Witness labor, but demanded that Jehovah’s Witness victims turn over their insurance checks, netting the JW organization a tidy profit from the sweat of their own volunteers.
Witnesses as an organization operate no refugee camps, no homeless shelters, give nothing to charity, yet have amassed billions of dollars in real estate, much of which they have flipped for profit at the expense of taxpaying citizens in the United States and around the world. They have exploited every possible means to acquire money, including multiple pleas for funds on their JW Broadcasting televangelist studios, as well as an extensive list of ways to collect dollars as documented on their jw.org website – yet are unable to write even the smallest of checks to charity.
One can’t help but think of the seven obese Jehovah’s Witness Governing Body members in Warwick New York, perched atop billion dollar bank accounts, flying across the globe in business class seats, while poverty-stricken Jehovah’s Witnesses in third world countries are stripped of their ability to obtain higher education, yet are still expected to donate money generously.
In times of crisis we should reflect on the generosity of the countries who have opened their borders to immigrants, regardless of race or religion. Many are welcomed by charitable organizations staffed by volunteers with no ulterior motives, but whose sole desire is to lend a helping hand, expecting nothing in return. Charities are usually granted tax-exempt status by governments to help them fulfill their honorable work. As a religion, Jehovah’s Witnesses are granted this exemption in numerous lands.
If you believe in miracles, perhaps the greatest miracle of all is the fact that Jehovah’s Witnesses have redefined what it means to be a charity.
What about love thy neighbour?
That doesn’t factor in. Unless your neighbor happens to be another jw. Isn’t that crazy? Isn’t it crazy that we also used to think that as well?
They don’t even support their own once their usefulness
is over. Witness the thousands of bethel workers cast
adrift in the recent downsizing, dismissed without a
lifeline. No severance pay to cushion the blow. Some
mother org, eh. Leaving her own children destitute.
Two things will happen eventually. One; shunning will cease and second blood transfusions will be okay. If not the organization as it is already happening will dwindle in numbers. 2017 will be the first time the US will see a decrease in publishers; this after so many subtle changes to boost numbers. They must accommodate the masses to stay afloat just like the doctrines of many other religions. Remember the Catholics had thousands of years to perfect their doctrine the JW’s are new at this.
Excellent point! I have often said that the Witnesses are very similar to the Catholic Church, just 1,000 years behind them.
WS
Great article John,
Christian; in name only. Jehovah’s Witnesses are not a very charitable Christian organization are they. At least the refugees can get help from the Red Cross/Red Crescent and former partners with Jehovah’s Witnesses, namely the United Nations.
James 2:15-17 states: Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you tells him, “Go in peace; stay warm and well fed,” but does not provide for his physical needs, what good is that? 17 So too, faith by itself, if it is not complemented by action, is dead.…
How can anyone, especially refugees be in any way receptive to the ‘Good News’ that J.W.’s are supposed to have when their physical needs are not met? Wouldn’t they be more receptive to someone helping them through a tough spot?
Once again the Society is hypocritically and arrogantly ‘short sighted’ by not seeing the forest for the trees’. The possible good will and humanity shown would be considered by most a public opinion bonanza. But no, those poor people are not considered “a brother or sister” so go somewhere else for your physical needs. Oh, by the way, here’s a copy of the WATCHTOWER describing a new system and paradise earth. Truly sad. :(
Can you also elaborate more on hurricane sandy?
Is there any source regarding the insurance payouts?
Concerned JW
The insurance reimbursements have been in place for a number of years and occurred not only following hurricane Sandy, but other hurricanes, such as Katrina. This was not a secret among JWs. While rank and file JWs did not pay much heed to this or care one way or the other, ,many who have left the organization consider it scandalous. Using the example of Sandy, Watchtower often would pay for materials and coordinate the free volunteer labor, then ask the JW homeowners to sign over the insurance checks. Hence, deducting for material costs, Watchtower collected the profit from all of the free labor, since this labor was not reimbursed.
This was my personal experience, but you can find references to this on the internet and by speaking to any RBC members who were involved in relief work following these storms.
JR
We can vouch for that as well. I’ve seen that creepy attitude (towards insurance fraud, really) spread among some of those elders who know how this con works. Good for you for talking about it!
WT probably collected more money than just the amount for free labor. In California, USA general contractors make up to 30% profit to build a house, above all expenses, which include materials, permits, and labor. I’m pretty sure the insurance companies paid whatever the local rate was for reconstructing the houses. WT’s smart enough to make sure of that when their getting the money. So, as an example, if those insurance companies figured in 20% profit for the general contractors then an insurance check for $50,000 would net WT $10,000 profit, plus a (regular) contractors labor costs, minus any additional expenses WT paid by relocating and feeding their workers.
No doubt a large corporation like WT cleared this action with their attorneys. Still that part of their operation is the same as operating a commercial enterprise, even if they’ve found a tax loophole (religion).
I don’t know if I read here of elsewhere that the reason we stopped selling literature is that Jimmy Swaggart was going to have to start paying taxes on publications he was selling. WT filed a friend of the court brief on Swaggart’s behalf. However, Swaggart lost his case, so WT started giving away their literature so as not to have to pay taxes on the profit.
I was taking a bath and wondering how WT got around the tax bite. Here’s one way they could have done so without claiming religious exemption. They have several corporations, so they could have one corporation that makes money, and then donates all its profit after expenses to another (religious charity) corporation. That way neither corp. pays taxes. Don’t know if they do it this way, but its seems a possibility. And how do they shield their profit from stocks? They’ve got thousands and thousand (myriads upon myriads) of stocks.
I help refugees and victims and I neither judge them, nor impose my religion on them. I am a devout believer, but do not encourage children to lie about the beliefs of their parents (or their own if the can articulate them in a comparison-identifying way). Helping people survive does not require that the be of my faith. The words of Jesus about helping one’s neighbor did not exclude sinners, the unjust, unbelievers, Pagans, Non-convert Jews, or even those who have done harm to us directly. By helping people, their trust is in us, then we can help them build their trust in The Lord God. If they find us judgmental and hateful, withdrawn, unnourturing, and unfair, then they will never see that our God is Good because we, who are acting in His name, are not. Acting as judge harshly on children, condeming them, and letting them starve or die a cruel death, when we have not given them a chance to know The Lord, or forcing them to convert (and likely pretend, memorizing, acting), we have sinned by creating sin ourselves. If our children were likely traumatised, hungry, cold, naked, imprisoned, sick, etc., we would want the “other people” to help them rather than treat them as just mentioned. When they have survived the atrocities, they have the opportunity for learning The Truth, embracing their Faith, and for salvation, rather than, being left to perish, never freely accepting and living the responsibilities of The Faith. Why are we being dictated-to by rulers who deviate more and more from the Scriptures; new laws from the pulpit. I hope this is published in the interest of exploration and testing the authenticty of our leadership and seeing how scripturally-based these legislations and rulings are because leaders are not better people nor are they more righteous than other believers.
If only you ran the Organization. Thank you for your words. They were beautifully written and express the sentiment I wish was standard among my family and friends.
Cannot help but notice how closely the signature on this watchtower order resembles Trumps. People on this thread
have wondered in the past if he was a jw. Here is the proof! Same smarmy face (look at me, I am so very smart!) Holding up the saw-like signature, for all to see with such wonder and pride.
Please don’t equate Trump with a JW. Trump has every right to consider the security of the U.S., and quite frankly I’m glad someone finally cares. He is well within his power to do so being the president of the US and not the world. Mainstream media equates to the GB and we disfellowshipped
to Trump supporters who have awaken to the deception.
Comparable perhaps because Trump is trying to keep innocent families from finding a welcoming place of refuge…what WOULD Jesus do!?
Yeah, and the Trumpster is a self-proclaimed Christian. But he and the Watchtower Society seem to be in total synch! He himself said, ‘We’re not letting in anyone who doesn’t respect America’ – READ, “We’re not helping anyone who may not think EXACTLY as we do – You don’t fit our profile? – SCREW OFF.”
Nobody knows for sure how D. Trump will effect our economy, but the USA’s recent presidents have been totally irresponsible with it. If you don’t live in the USA then how would you like your national debt to be 19 trillion dollars ($19,000,000,000,000)? That’s one of the reasons Trump won. Americans don’t know exactly what he’ll do, but the ones that voted him in don’t believe he’ll behave financially as irresponsibly as the alternative candidate, or our previous presidents who sold our kids out, because our kids are the ones that will feel the effects of the mess that been created. TRUMP PRIMARILY GOT ELECTED BECAUSE OF MONEY. Social issues were just a secondary reason.
Holy Mother of Jehovah! You’re right. Not only does it resemble Trump’s signature, it IS Trump’s signature! WTF??? Hey, I said the GB secretly admire Trump! Proof the Watchtower Society is NOT an ‘island’. The tentacles really do reach far and wide.
@Williams, It is Trumps signature. It was photo shopped w/ A. Morris3rd. I don’t know why. Ask John Redwood.
Cause I don’t know what A. Morris would be signing and showing off. Where did the photo come from? There is no source.
Peggy
You are correct. The photo is just a Photoshop of Morris’ head over Donald Trump. No intent to deceive anyone – this was just used to make a point. Right now we are living at a time when the topic of refugees and Trump intersect with the latest Watchtower article, so the image is simply there to provoke thought. We are not here to make political statements, but it’s hard not to make a comparison between President Trump’s policies and those of the Watchtower organization, despite the fact that one represents a political power, and the other a religion. So we will let our readers draw their own conclusions on the matter.
JR
ha ha ha Nothing wrong with a little “creative licence”. Watchtower AND the Trumpet do it ALL the time!
I’m too lazy to look it up, but I vaguely remember some business (real estate) connection between Trump & WT – something like, Trump’s son-in-law was interested in acquiring WT’s Brooklyn property. I could be way off, or perhaps the deal just never went through. Anyway, the concept is not so outlandish – just connect the dots – real estate, $$$, corporations (like WT), New York, Trump…
Perfectly understandable, and a rather good comparison considering the refugee issue.
I personally think we should steer clear of the political issues, as the real issue this site tries to address (based on my understanding) is that of the undue influence of the organization of the Jehovah’s Witnesses. But since it is now on the table…
As a born in JW having been awake for about 4 years, this was the first presidential election I ever voted in. And guess what? I VOTED FOR TRUMP. Compared to the alternative, he was the better choice in my opinion. I stand by my choice. Do I agree with everything he does? Of course not! But I think he has good intentions and is far better than any of these career politicians (ahem, HRC) who have done nothing for our country and who essentially make their living off of other people’s misery. And if he is so bad, why do so many still want to come into our country?
Trump in no way is on par with the Watchctower Society. He does not claim to be the sole, spirit-directed mouth of God, he does not discourage charitable acts, he does not promote shunning. We are talking apples and oranges here. If you don’t like Trump that’s fine. But save it for a political editorial site. I’d prefer to stick to dealing with helping people wake up from the undue influence of the Watchtower org.
WS
Oh, come on aye, Winston! lol
You’ve reminded me of 9/11 and Muslim reaction to it. Why didn’t Muslims, in the free world at least, take to the streets and denounce the attacks with ‘NOT IN MY NAME’!!! if they didn’t agree. Doing that would have eased a lot of tension and gone a long way to promote trust. They were too scared of their religion, I would say.
Which leads me to ask, why don’t any JW’s who know full well whats going on stand up and make one hell of a din with ‘NOT IN MY NAME’. Again, fear of their religion.
Jehovah’s Witnesses will tell you time and time that they have a religion of love. If they had a religion of love, they would stand up but they can’t because they’re ruled by fear, just like the Muslims.
You just simply can’t claim to be in a religion of love where you’re petrified of those in charge.
My tuppence worth.
outandabout,
I can’t remember if you were a JW, but if you were did you know any other JWs attending any of the congregations you were in that did not have their beliefs sold out to WT? I’ve never been in a congregation that I knew had friends attending with that attitude.
By far the greater number of JWs that do not believe just stop going. I don’t believe there is any sizeable group inside that fits your description. Therefore a vocal protest would not be effective, as it may have been if almost the whole Muslim church stood up.
There are a lot of comments on this site which claim WT controls JWs through fear and intimidation. That may be true with a rather small percentage, but a very, very, high percentage of JW’s sincerely believe the gb are who they claim to be, and so they follow because they want to, not because they are intimidated. Most are like those folks that come on this site and argue in defense of WT.
Also, a percentage exists inside the org who don’t follow all their recommendations, like not going to universities for higher education, not working overtime, not going on dating sites, not being irregular in field service, turning in time slips…rules like that. Not everyone follows their advice on such things without fear WT repercussions. What can they do about it? Even when I believed the gb was legit I didn’t follow that type of guidance… with what type of repercussions? Not being used to do work in the Hall! Big deal. Elders have never spoken to me about such stupid rules.
No, messenger, I have never been a JW but have JW family.
They don’t follow every command laid down by the GB and lead a fairly hypocritical life which they just cannot see and are fairly bigoted when they shouldn’t be if they were true Christians but as Ricardo nicely pointed out, they are trained to be good Witnesses which, when you follow WT beliefs, naturally leads to being a lousy Christian.
As for being ruled by fear…yes, but it’s unrecognizable to the indoctrinated. The fear is nicely disguised as love by the WT. That’s one of their tricks, in fact it is a trick of all of Christendom.
Think about the bottom line – ‘I love you, but if you don’t love me back, I will kill you’, so…. if you don’t believe, you are in fear of your life. Not the basis for a healthy relationship in anyone’s language and should raise a red flag to the thinking person.
I would also like to point out that their congregation is quite a nice one and I’ve met quite a few and on the surface you couldn’t meet better people. I’ve also met a couple of Elders, one who was a family friend, who were just downright decent blokes and I think that is the key to the mindset of the congregation and when you have a decent congregation like this one, they just can’t comprehend any flak coming their way and just see it as the work of Satan and so study harder.
Nicely done, Watchtower Cult.
It should be noted that one of the first things a Cult does to a potential convert is to convince them that the Bible has been corrupted and then, ‘here’s a bible I prepared earlier’…enter the NWT which is slanted towards what they want you to believe so they can imprison you in their beliefs.
Nicely done, Watchtower Cult.
So anyway, my family don’t fear the Elders but they do fear falling foul of the Watchtower which to them is the same as Jehovah but, oh boy, they can’t see it
Nicely done, Watchtower Cult.
@outandabout, who are concerned witnesses to protest to, and shout ‘Not in my name’?
If to the elders, we become marked as troublemakers and dismissed. The CO’s can’t do anything. If we write a letter of condemnation to the GB it will be put in the trash tin. If we complain in the media we will be viewed as apostate.
Yesterday I asked an aunty whether she had looked at the Royal Commission information. She said no, she didn’t want to look at it because it would upset her too much and she would get angry. So I talked about some of it, and she got upset and asked, ‘Well, why isn’t Jehovah doing something about it?’
Most witnesses are waiting on Jehovah. He can do more than we individually can. That’s the typical view.
I think only those who can see that Jehovah is not actually involved in this organization, these will be prepared to protest. But most of those couldn’t be bothered because they are on their way out.
Hi outandabout,
I just wrote a comment at the end of this blog, and I included some observations from South Central LA where I did see JW members that feared their circuit and district overseers. Check it out if you’d like , but forgive my spelling, all the letters didn’t come out right.
I think what most people hate about JWs when we come to their doors is the bigoted attitude that WT teaching develops in JWs. I’ve been in several congregations. Most of the people appear to be somewhat nice, but not always. The bigoted attitude is sometimes directed at JWs also.
Best wishes!
Winston, WTF??? Read ‘1984’ again (since u took ur username from the novel’s protagonist). ;) I agree with u though, this is not a political forum, but I’ve gotta put my 2 cents’ worth in real quick, in point form:
1. U said Trump doesn’t see himself as God’s rep. on Earth. Did u watch the inaugural? Did u see all the Holy Joe’s who prayed and recommended Trump? I counted at least 3 Christians & a Jew. (No Muslims, of course. lol)
2. Speaking of ‘1984’ – “Newspeak”/”Doublethink”/”Doublespeak” – What’s the difference between a “ban”, and “extreme vetting”???!!!
3. Personally, I see a HUGE parallel between Trump & Watchtower – they both play on people’s fears, emotions, and egos.
Just for a yuk, “Three Priests and a Rabbi walk into an Inaugural…” – the beginning of a true-to-life JOKE.
PS Another commonality btwn trump & wt: SENSELESSNESS. I’m all for security, but NO ONE from any of the 7 nations trump has banned, has engaged in terrorism against USA. 18 or 19 of the 20 9/11 terrorists were from Saudi Arabia. Yet Saudi Arabia is NOT on the list. Just like WT, he makes NO SENSE.
PPPS Not to beat a dead horse, but a cult is a cult is a cult —
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cult_of_personality
I have often wondered why, when we went to help our brothers and sisters affected by floods, we only helped them and not their suffering neighbours. I know we can’t help everybody, but there were so many of us we could help sweep out the neighbour’s house in a few minutes. But the elder in charge was only concerned with our member’s house.
Now I understand why.
Of course, it didn’t prevent us from helping out individually. But who is going to separate from the group to help an unbeliever, and get the wrath of the elder?
This is something I questioned at a very young age. I was about 10 and I remember seeing a slide presentation where JW’s were rebuilding a hall that had been damaged during a hurricane. They mentioned helping some of the local JW’s rebuild their houses but they didn’t mention anyone else. I asked my dad why, because it had been all over the news that other groups had helped everyone, why we didn’t help everyone. I’m not sure what his answer was but I know it was pretty vague. From that point on it’s something that has always bothered me. If I’m not a catholic I can still receive aid from a catholic charity but if I’m not a JW then I can’t expect aid from JW’s.
Correct. And you can’t expect help from JWs either, unless higher-ups give the okay. Or individual JWs are moved to help.
As an individual man you would not have been out of step to step across the street and sweep a person’s step who was in need. Nobody prevented you from crossing the street but you. Own it.
Larry, I did go elsewhere to help ‘worldly’ people to sweep out their places. But this was only after I had left the witness group with the elder leading them. I know that it seems hypocritical to blame the witnesses and, as you say, I could have just gone myself and helped the people in need, perhaps showing an example to the witnesses of what a Christian is. I have no doubt that if I could replay that situation now, I would say damn the elder, and I would go.
But at that time I was much younger, and still had respect for our leaders. I looked to them as guides for correct Christian behaviour. But those naive days have well and truly passed.
If you have any doubts about Watchtower being an open brotherhood. Please try to get the information below from the Watchtower Babble and Tract Society.
One of the main characteristics of a religious cult is restricting information that you can get from everyday companies.
Watchtower secrets:
Financial Records for the years 2000 through present
Court Case Victories for the years 2000 through present
Court Case Losses for the years 2000 through present
Court Case Settlements for the years 2000 through present
Court Case Settlement amounts for the years 2000 through present
What about interested ones who think they may have found ‘the truth’ before fleeing? Hopefully the org., in it’s own stupidity over this, will inadvertently save such ones from being sucked in.
BTW, has AM 3 got any teeth?
Thanks John. Some insightful points. In broadcasts showing JW workers helping hurricane victims, by reconstructing homes, WT never mentioned they collected the insurance checks.
Seems to me that might legally be considered as engaging in a commercial enterprise by the proper governmental agency.
Fraud???
I don’t even have to read the article to know the answer to this one. They are not nor have they ever been a charitable organization. I had a friend who worked at Bethel during 09/11. As people were trying to find safe shelter someone made the mistake of opening the doors and allow people to come in…from what I understand these Bethelites were severely reprimanded. Nobody is to be allowed into Bethel if they aren’t baptized (brain-washed) and in good standing regardless of what peril they might be in.
I remember hearing an older sister, who claimed loudly and vehemently that she was one of the anointed, give a long comment one Sunday. She went on and on about how “we” shouldn’t care about people of the world. About people of the world being to ignorant and stupid to become witnesses and that these people didn’t deserve a true witnesses time or energy. She went on to state that if she drove past someone that needed help and they had refused to listen to her at the door that she would just keep driving. I’ll never forget the looks on the elders faces as she went on and on. The problem was, after the service, 1/2 the congregation went up to her and thanked her for saying what they all felt. They all agreed with her! After dealing with the cliques, the back-stabbing, the gossiping and rumor mongering I have no hesitation in saying there is very little true love among witnesses.
@Lauralou, you give yet another example where the witnesses have remembered to preach the good news, but forgotten to love. Paul said something about worshipping God but forgetting to love makes us like a banging piece of metal (1 Cor 13:1).
Perhaps the dire financial situation the GB is in or expects to be in limits how much help it is willing to give.
I wonder what Jehovah’s view is on all this?
An obvious example of how we are being taught how to be good Witnesses, but poor Christians.
‘good Witnesses, but poor Christians’….very well put, Ricardo. Love yer work.
I wonder whose going to come along here and take the name BUSTING LOOSE?
@Ricardo….perfectly summed up. Says it all. Thank you
if someone had been to that meeting for the very first time, they probably would not have returned because of that vile woman’s comments. heaven forbid.
“our primary mission is to help them spiritually, not materially,”
Amusing how the WT demands to be helped materially on a permanent basis by the people they condemn as being selfish, haughty and unloving.
Sick to the core.
An unsurprisingly selfish display by “jahs” organization once again. In order to receive “help” in the organization your indoctrination has to be measured first. This is and always has been the case. This is what one elders wife said in a car group I was in :”Worldy” people don’t qualify for the “privilege” of being around gods clean people.”
Interesting that the rank and file would think this but not realize that the organization itself ranks them as worthy or unworthy as well. Susan Gaskins experience is an example of how your measured before you get even the most basic assistance. When she was visiting NY and needed a place to stay for the night in a city where she knew no one where did she go? Bethel of course! Upon ringing the intercom and explaining her situation the front desk asks her “sister are you a bethelite?” She said “no but I’m a pioneer”. The front desk then said “JUST a pioneer or a special pioneer?” And sadly she was just a regular pioneer which disqualified her from receiving help from the org even though she volunteered hundreds of hours per year for them. If she was a missionary or special pioneer they would have made room but not for Joe shmoe regular pioneer.
This behavior reflects the importance the organization places on rank. The refusal to help refugees reflects the complete and utter lack of charity the organization is willing to offer. May the charity commission and Australian royal commission be made aware of this heinous behavior.
The experience from Susan is a good example of the ranking within the JW organization. However it even happens to Bethelites. If you read Brock Talon’s book “Journey to God’s House” – about his experiences in Bethel, he was left standing at the airport his very first day at Bethel. He received poor treatment despite being invited to serve there. Mis-communication or not, things like this happen, but the cross-examination of JWs refugees really makes you realize the emphasis placed by the organization on perceived “spirituality.” – As they say- it is sad…but true
Nothing new under the sun so speak!They claim to be charity to the government as religion so they don’t need to pay any taxes however when it comes to help their neighbor materially they refuse and it show again they break again Jesus commandment to feed the poor and care for children without father or mother!
It is indeed very clear they are cursed by Elohim.Shalom.
I’m not sure of all the requirements to become a religious charity but I think that if an Organisation is advancing religion or offering spiritual guidance, then that is enough. Perhaps somebody knows more.
It’s not enough according to Jesus thats for sure! He said that those who show mercy to the poor, the sick, and the needy are in effect ministering to Him personally (Matthew 25:35–40)
With all the respect in the world I want to point out that you misquoted Mt. 23. Those whom Jesus we’re referring to as being helped he called brothers, and to show that all men are not considered Jesus Brothers even if they stand in an approved condition, think about the men he was talking to, he said they helped his brothers but he didn’t call them men brothers themselves. I point that out just to say that just as you may look at scripture and not fully see it for what it actually says you may be doing the same thing to the organization
Larry there is a possibility that your comment has merit, but a possibility it does not as well for two reasons:
1. Your comment implies that all people that are Christians are not Christ’s brothers (a WT teaching)…because you said people could be in approved conditions with Christ and still not be considered as brothers and sisters by him. In which case your point of view is valid, but only if WT teaching on it is correct, and Christ does not consider all Christians his brothers and sisters. But, that may not be true. Remember when his relatives came to see him? Look it up and see who Christ said his brothers were. “For whoever does the will of my Father who is heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Matt 12:50.
2. Also, the good Samaritan parable shows that Christ believes in ministering to people who are not his brothers. That’s what he did, and that’s what he said God does. So, by helping in a work that God and Christ do, couldn’t that be considered as indirectly ministering to Christ and God?
Also, I noticed you brought out the point that the favored group was not called his brothers. Two things about that: just because it’s not stated there does not mean he does not consider them as such.
Also, Christ returns to bring the judgment of Armeggedon after the great tribulation, or at least the end of it. Most Christian churches believe that all Christians are taken to heaven before the tribulation, in which case the ones Christ would be addressing are people who were not Christians before the tribulation, but after going through the tribulation and repenting because of it became Christians. That’s the belief of some Christians.
Now I can see you holding to WT thinking, and on this point it may be correct. But they’ve been incorrect on hundreds of Bible interpretations in the past.
Best wishes.
And if they became Christians during the tribulation and helped each other, than according to Christ’s words he would consider them his brothers…brothers helping brothers.
[“Most Christian churches believe that all Christians are taken to heaven before the tribulation”]
What is the point of the Christian Apocalypse (Great Tribulation, Armageddon etc)
if during the Messianic age to come people will be walking in the name of whatever god they wish to worship?
Micah 4:5:
“All peoples will walk, each in the name of THEIR God, and we (Israel) will walk in the name of our God.
An Apocalyptic end of the world is not unique to Christianity. Non- Christian religions also have their apocalyptic teachings.
Wonder who is right? The Christians or the non-Christians?
Hello dee2,
Micah 4:5 does not say people will be walking in the name of various gods during the Messianic age, if that refers to after Christ’s 2nd coming. That scripture refers to what people were doing and what they would be doing up until that time.
Best wishes!
Perhaps you should consult a Jew regarding Micah 4 but as far as I know Micah 4 is about the Jews’ Messianic age to come.
This is made clear in Micah 4:4:
“Everyone will sit under their own vine and under their own fig tree, and no one will make them afraid, for the Lord Almighty has spoken.”
I appreciate your well thought out response. Please have patience with me and I’ll only add this,there’s a reason Jesus instructed his followers to only preach to the “lost sheep of the house of Isreal” and as well there’s a reason why entitles weren’t accepted into the congregation until 3and a half years later beginning with Cornelius. Delve into the “why” and I believe it will be the thread that will open up for you a truly meaningful study and she’d some insight on your rebuttal. Thank you for the best wishes,take care.
Thank you for your Kind response Larry. I’m aware of the reason you allude to- the fact that Christ takes humans to heaven to serve God and mankind, and the fact you’ve been taught that it is only this group who Christ considers his brothers.
First I refer back to Matt 12:50. I see no reason not to take Christ’s words literally. He definitely was not using figurative language.
Christ returns after the tribulation to separate folks. So, the group of people that he addressed in Matt 25, the sheep and the goats, are not chosen in our day but then. Those are the people who went through the tribulation except HarMagedon. Considering that, a reasonable person can conclude that the sheep helped Christ brothers [each other, per Mat 12:50] during the tribulation period, and that Christ was not alluding to the heavenly class taken before the tribulation at all, or that he was referring to both groups as his brothers.
The important point Larry is, if the exact understanding on scriptures like these is a life and death issue then 90 some% of our brothers that already died receive no resurrection, because what they believed about many of these things is different than what you and I believe today. If Christ wanted everything absolutely definitive he would have explained things that way. He explained things as he did for certain reasons.
Keep going Larry. Don’t let anything out there take you down!!!
They are liars, decievers and selfish…despicable…they should have their charity status revoked and have to pay tax on all their wealth. You can not even offer a starving person the Grey Bible to gnaw on…before real leather now fake leather like all other of theirs…everything is fake! Even their telly awards! Sad and disgusting…I was helped by the so-called bad people of the world…and have done the same for people of all or no faith…did Jesus first look at ones pub card, before helping the person? The description of the refugee camp…sounds like more of a description of the most congregations! Glad to be out of such a “disgusting”thing!
I can remember articles where the Watchtower has condemmed other religions for making ‘rice christians’. How is the Watchtower’s stance any different?
Rice Christian’s is term that describes how the church (not WT) gave out bowls of rice in an Asian country, I think China, while they preached sermons. The people came for the food, as some did with Jesus’ sermon. The Society is not even doing that, according to John’s article.
THE MOST IMPORTANT HELP PEOPLE CAN RECIEVE IS SPIRITUAL HELP, AND MAYBE SOME ASSISTANCE FINDING A JOB. OTHERWISE THEY WILL SIMPLY COME FOR JUST THE *FOOD* AND *SHELTER* AND WHATEVER ELSE THEY THINK THEY CAN GET FOR *FREE*; BUT WONT COME FOR THE SPIRITUAL HELP, WONT COME TO FIND OUT HOW TO PLEASE GOD AND HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH SO THAT HE CAN HELP THEM TO BETTER THEIR LIVES IN WAYS BEYOND FOOD AND SHELTER AND CLOTHES…LOOK AT HOW THEY DO THE *CHURCHES* THEY KEEP COMING BACK FOR FOOD, SHELTER, AND CLOTHING, BUT DONT WANNA STAY LONG ENOUGH TO FILL OUT A FEW JOB APPLICATIONS, AND THEN WHEN YOU STOP HELPING THEM BECAUSE OF IT, THEY WANNA STEAL IT AND WHATEVER ELSE THEY CAN GET..
SORRYYYY; BUT YOU WONT DEAL TREACHEROUSLY WITH JEHOVAH’S HOUSE THAT WAY.. YOU CAN DO THAT WITH THE *WORLD* THEY DO IT TO EACH OTHER
This is a typical Watchtower and JW type comment from you. When you give, you expect something back in return. That is not love nor charity.
Love and charity is freely given and does not expect something in return.
So what if anyone comes to you a thousand times just for food ? It is for Jehovah to judge that person, not you.
If you feel grievance that someone is giving nothing in return then your heart is not with God.
Everything from God is freely given, we should do likewise. Can you not forgive the man who comes to you many times for a bowl of soup with nothing to offer you? Forgive seventy times seven.
You say that the most important help people can receive is spiritual help. Did not Jesus provide material food to people before his sermons? He knew the importance of filling an empty belly as a priority.
Remember the Good Samaritan, he did not ask questions of the man he helped to see if he was deserving of charity. JW’s, the GB and the Watchtower are like the priest and the Levite who passed by on the other side.
We are all brothers in Christ, not brothers in Michael the Archangel. Please read Matthew 25 v/s 31-46 to see how Jesus feels about how we treat one another.
Your comment states: ‘you won’t deal treacherously with Jehovah’s house that way’. The Watchtower has turned Jehovah’s house into a den of thieves run by the Governing Body who have replaced Jesus with themselves as Mediator between man and God.
Helpful hint: The caps-lock key turns off as well as on.
You’re welcome.
How contrary your comment and jw teachings are to scripture. Did Jesus ask any of the people He healed, preached to and fed if they were beleivers first before He helped them?
Matthew 25:35-40 For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
Actually he did ask them before he preached to them in the fact that it was a rarity,not absolute absence of, that Jesus would feed or heal anyone other than an Isrealite. That is seen in his statement to only preach to “the lost sheep of the house of Isreal”. Why only Is real,because they alone were in a “covenant” relationship with Jehovah.
@long name,
Could you kindly stop with all caps?
Sad, misled and indoctrinated JW for sure. Pure conditional love. Go read the Bible and begin to follow Jesus and not man. You are being misled and lied to!
Sad, misled and indoctrinated JW for sure. Pure conditional love. Go read the Bible and begin to follow Jesus and not man. You are being misled and lied to!
I agree with everything except the last sentence. Many religions are doing the very same. It’s time for Christian’s to realize that we are all brothers and stop bashing one another. Surely Jehovah and Jesus disapproves of this. It must hurt them to see this taking place in their name.
One question please DTWTATGBWRIL.
Recently I went on JW.org to look up WT’s teaching on one of Christ’s parables. While there I noticed a statement in a WT that said TRUE Christianity is recognized and proved true by the preaching work. Of course WT was alluding to itself.
But I just googled how many Christians are there in China. The answer:
Foreign scholars estimate that there are 67 million to 100 million Christians in China — compared with 87 million Communist Party cadres. Yang estimates that China will be home to 250 million Christians by 2030.Dec 23, 2015
So, my question is if true religion is determined by the preaching work, as WT claims, then who is doing most of the Bible preaching in China? Is it WT? And if it is WT why aren’t they having the success that other Christian denominations are having? Could it be not as much of God’s spirit is on their work there? Or, is it just untrue that the preaching work is what proves the TRUE Christian religion or religions? Then I guess the only way to know how all these things can add up is to believe WT, is that the case?
Ooops I guess that was more than one question. Sorry!!!
@messenger, you mention China. Another interesting example is the next most populous nation: India. Witnesses have been preaching in India for decades and have hardly scrapped the surface. We have just over 40,000 members there, less than even Australia. How have the other churches done? India was for many years the country with the highest number of Seventh Day Adventists; they number over 1 million.
When you consider that the SDA’s started about 50 years before the witnesses, their achievement in India is outstanding. Is it God’s spirit that is blessing their efforts?
So if China has, say, 30,000 witnesses, and India has over 40,000, then the combined total of witnesses for those 2 billion people is around 80,000.
Quite pathetic.
I googled how many Christians in India. Here’s the answer:
Christianity is India’s third-largest religion according to the census of 2011, with approximately 27.8 million followers, constituting 2.3 percent of India’s population.
So, I guess if the Society is right, that the preaching work proves who is the true religion, then it looks like we’re not it.
Good night buddy…got to get some sleep. Almost 1:00am here.
Did you ever read the parable about the good Samaritzn? I don’t recall the part where he first did a spiritual evaluation of the suffering Jew….his help was unconditional!
Very interesting piece. Thank you.
Just to address the issue of the definition of a charity, here are a few observations:
In the UK, religious education is one of the defining criteria for a charity. This is something emphasised by the annual reports of the IBSA (International Bible Students Association, one of the JW’s registered charities in the UK), an example of which you can see here:
http://apps.charitycommission.gov.uk/SIR/ENDS47/0000216647_SIR_20130831_E.PDF.
Where the JWs organisation could potential fall foul of charity regulations, and therefore lose its status and benefits as a charity, relates to the matter of ‘public benefit’: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/public-benefit-rules-for-charities.
Note this requirement of any charity in the UK: ‘Make decisions to manage risks of detriment or harm to your charity’s beneficiaries or to the public in general that might result from carrying out the purpose.
This means identifying risks of harm, minimising the risks and making sure that any harm that might arise is a minor consequence of carrying out the purpose.’
This is why JWs are being investigated in the UK, because in carrying out its purpose ‘To promote the Christian religion, in particular as practiced by Jehovah’s Witnesses’, it has come to the attention of the Charity Commission that the organisation has promoted a policy of safeguarding children and vulnerable adults that it detrimental to its members and the general public.
In my own opinion, the JW charities in the UK technically qualify as charities according to current legislation in fulfilling the ‘public interest’ aspect, but only *according to their statements relating to religious education* (whether religious education should be by itself sufficient to qualify as a charitable endeavour is a moot point), but they have FAILED repeatedly in carrying out their stated purpose because their education work has seriously endangered children and vulnerable people through its promotion of inappropriate methods of dealing with cases of sexual abuse and violence within its ranks.
I really hope Watchtower Britain loses its status as a charity in the UK because I want to see it hit in the pocket.
I suspect, though I have no direct evidence for this, that it will be found in breach of charity regulations, but I fear it may be given the opportunity to put its house in order. However, this should mean that Watchtower Britain has to make significant changes to its policies regarding the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults.
Chris Monk
Thanks for your excellent comment. This really gets to the root of the article. Governments must ask and define exactly what a charity is, and if one of the definitions is “religious education” – then what should comprise such education. One could argue regarding Christian and Muslim faiths that the very teaching that “unbelievers” or “infidels” are disapproved by God leads to hate crimes and terrorism. Jehovah’s Witnesses most certainly teach this – that all infidels will be wiped clean from this Earth – but they excuse themselves by claiming that this comes from God, not from humans.
Well, with what we know of extremists, it does not take too much of a leap to go from God executing divine “justice” to humans carrying it out, which is what we today call terrorism. Who is to say that a JW will not go off his medications and act in the same manner as other terrorists, most of whom are religiously motivated?
Times are changing, and it is no wonder that Russia considers JW materials as extremist, no matter how hard that may seem to comprehend for most JWs. But their views are most definitely extreme, and their terrorism has taken the form of killings worldwide for decades due to blood policy. Every rational person considers this behavior extreme. It’s up to our governments to recognize this and protect against it. This is a difficult matter when they are also trying to protect freedoms of speech and belief.
It would be interesting to see if WT choose’s money over their hard-line ‘god’s word’ policies if the UK charity comm. force either a change in doctrine or losing charity status. If push comes to shove we’d find out just what’s more important to them – money or doctrine.
New Light is less expensive then the cost of losing charity status – so let’s hope we see some new light sometime soon :-)
This is another subtle way of preaching the good news of kingdom. In 2009, when I stated showing less interest in JWs, there was war in one of neighboring country. My wife (a Jehovah Witness) was told by Elders “If we happen to run away, we will have difficulties in taking you in our refugee camps… you will be obliged to follow your husband who is an APOSTATE…”!
That was a way of telling her indirectly “Divorce the apostate…”! Five years later, through everyday stress, the wife filed for divorce…
You see, when Christian missionaries came here (in Africa), they built schools used them to convert us… and now Jehovah’s Witnesses are using “refugee camps”!!!!!!!!!! I understand the politics behind.
In 1994 the GB write this: “During the 1930s, when the churches were battling for control of the education system, the Catholics favoured the Tutsi aristocracy while the Protestants allied themselves with the oppressed Hutu majority. In 1959 the Hutus seized power and rapidly came to enjoy the support of Catholics and Protestants. Protestant support for the Hutu majority remains very strong.” (Ref: w94 12/15 p. 28)!
They are not Christians they are business men they use JW for their charity status while they live privileged lives.
Hope this cult goes down.
Because of following Watchtower’s dictates, my husband pioneered right out of school and then we got married and had 3 kids and he had to get a regular job in a factory and we survived but we had to count every penny and it was hard to put money in the contribution box every month but we managed to do it.
I remember walking past Salvation Army people feeling so guilty about not putting any money in their buckets but we were made to feel guilty about contributing to any charity besides the Watchtower “charity”.
I remember articles telling us that the best “charity” that we could support was the Watchtower because it was saving people’s lives which was eternal but the charity for any other organization was only temporary.
So, we were made to feel guilty for helping anybody else or any charity and that was because of our limited education, most of us don’t have very much money to spread around and any money put into “worldly” charities was money not going to the Society.
It’s true, there are thousands of wonderful charities and we can’t help them all but we should not have been made to feel guilty about helping them even if it was just a few dollars a year.
The Society wants it’s followers to give any means of life that they have over to the Watchtower and the Governing Body can salve their consciences by telling themselves that the literature is saving lives but the food for the day is only temporary.
That is what they tell themselves and that is what the rank and file tell themselves too but if they are like me, they feel bad about not helping other real charities but Witnesses only have so much money and time and they are made to feel guilty about not giving all their money and time to Watchtower because they really think that Armageddon is coming any minute now and the best thing they can do with their money and time is to help save lives into the new world by telling them the “truth”.
It’s an emotional tug of war for Witnesses I think and because most of them don’t have that much money to spare, it salves their conscience not to help anybody who isn’t a Witness in good standing and that article the Society is coming out with is to help them salve their consciences about not helping others who haven’t been vetted by the Society.
Besides that, if the Witnesses help somebody who isn’t a good Witness in good standing, that person is considered “worldly” and Witnesses can’t associate with anybody who is “worldly”.
Exactly the same experience, Caroline. Well expressed.
When I was fading, I happened to be sitting around with a couple of JWs, just shooting the sh**. I casually mentioned that I had started volunteering one nite a week at a local community center. Instantly, one of these guys says, “OUR volunteer work is the BEST volunteer work in the world.” I was just making casual conversation, and all of a sudden this guy sees it as some kind of competition, and felt the need to chime in. What a douche. I’m not sure exactly why, but I just reflexively let out a big old gut laugh. He was probably insulted. Good.
I felt the same way. Guilty for not contributing to real charities, but guilty that I wanted to take any money away from the watchtower. You can’t win.
So sad…. ☹️
All I can see is the JW’s fixation on purity. Respectfully, their on display of intolerance & degrees of discrimination. These are the true Jehovah’s Witnesses in practice of their faith through the NWT? I guess it’s fair to say also their Jehovah is only for witnesses, not humanity.
BTW, where does this purity stop and start? Even fish can not live in pure water!
IMHO
dogstar
Hi the WT study articles you cite say May 2017, since we are not there yet I am assuming May 2016? Is this correct?
>>>Hi the WT study articles you cite say May 2017, since we are not there yet I am assuming May 2016? Is this correct
NOPE! In fact, an easy Internet check can pull out the May 2016 Study article.
dogstar
Hi there.
The Watchtower Study Edition May 2017 is the article discussed and is currently available for download on JW.org.
Many Thanks
Despicable. How is this loving or kind? Yet, this has been the way for years. I remember someone asked a pioneer sister what the org did for the poor, “read the Bible to them?” Yep, that’s about right. This is not a charitable organization, and that tax status needs to be revoked.
In the parable of the sheep and goats (Matthew 25), there is no requirement for those in need and those giving the help to believe in Jesus.
Those giving the help were not deemed to be sheep because they believed in Jesus but because they helped the needy.
For that matter, these people who were giving the help, who were deemed sheep didn’t even know Jesus, they had never laid eyes on this glorious divine figure, let alone done anything for him hence their surprise:
“When did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you…?”
And the king replies to them: “as you did it to one of the least of these, my brothers, you did it to me” (Matt. 25:34-40).
The basis for judging them to be sheep who would inherit the kingdom was based solely on their helping those in need, not belief in Jesus.
There is also no mention of any requirement for the persons in need to believe in Jesus in order to receive help.
dee2 see John 3:16
Some of the points you make about this parable as an isolated parable are correct, however, when taken in context with many other Bible scriptures the thought is not accurate. John 3:16 is probably the most famous scripture that carries the thought those who receive life eternal believe in Christ. Read the scriptures right after that one also and it will become even clearer. Sorry I was hard on you about this point before. Then I supposed you were aware of it and just chose to argue. If you read the gospel of John you’ll see Jesus stressed this point over and over. My belief is that it is the central message or theme of the Bible, not the kingdom as many say. In the books Mat, Mark, and Luke Jesus is recorded when he was speaking to crowds a lot, and when doing that he used a lot of parables about the kingdom. John recorded Christ more often speaking to individuals and small groups, where he stressed they MUST believe in him. There were only two apostles, Matthew and John, who wrote the gospels. Mark and Luke were not apostles. I think Mark may have been related to Peter, his nephew or something. Anyway, John was closer to Christ than Matthew was. I believe he represented Christ’s teaching better by stressing the intention behind his teaching. Christ’s primary intention was to get people to believe in and follow him. Sorry again for being hard on you in the past about this point.
best wishes!
As far as I see, the parable of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25 explains itself. It doesn’t require another scripture to explain it.
If you do not allow the parable of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25 to explain itself but instead resort to adding further meaning to it by explaining it with other scriptures, then you are in fact siding with the GB by insisting that only refugees who are JWs, and by extension believers, should be helped.
What about the refugees who are not JWs or who are not believers?
Shouldn’t they be helped too?
The Watchtower Society does not help people outside their organisation in material ways because it claims they are doing a more important job by helping people spiritually. Thus they can claim Charity Status to avoid payment of taxes.
But what about the rest of God’s creation that needs help such as the forests and the animal kingdom?
The ‘Worldly Organisations’ campaign against forests being destroyed. They fight for animal welfare and have charities to relieve the suffering of our fellow creatures who have no voice for themselves.
The JW Organisation doesn’t lift a finger to help the world of Nature, yet it condemns those who do help as being ‘associates of the Devil’.
The Borg completely ignores the sufferings of Nature and yet it expects to be rewarded in ‘Paradise Earth’ with cuddly pandas and lions that it can hug.
It’s enough to make the angels weep.
It’s a noble human attribute to go to the aid of someone
in distress, and not being selective in this. I was brought up
in a poor area, and in the 30s and 40s Salvation Army vans
would come round the streets with food, soup, broth etc.
They didn’t want to know whether you were a Salvationist
or just someone taking advantage of their generosity,
no one was turned away. Needless to say there were no
JW vans helping to alleviate the poverty .
The spirit of generosity towards ALL, the human qualities
we possess will be sucked out of anyone who allows the
philosophy of these divisive and mean spirited men to
take control.
Well said Ted, humanity is indeed “sucked out” of a person when they fall under the influence of the GB and JW.org!
In all the years I was a Witness, I don’t think I ever heard of the insurance check collection. As I started reading the article, I thought “Well these are just practical safeguards so Witnesses don’t get scammed”, which I still maintain to an extent.
I always considered the natural disaster relief work to be the last good thing left that made me consider the Governing Body to be at least somewhat sincere in what they do. But as you started to piece it all together, it finally clicked. Especially the insurance collecting part. Of course the work is still a good one and helpful, but I no longer consider the GB’s motives to be sincere. Thanks for opening my eyes to that last bit of hypocrisy. Great article.
Oh yeah:
“Helping them spiritually” is JW.Org-newspeak for “turn them into JW.Org-preaching bots.” Only if they bow to us and become our obedient, servile slaves, only if they become “useful” to us – only then do we care; not for them as human being, not for their true spiritual and mental well-being – just for them delivering the performance we expect from each of our preaching bots. Hail Machiavelli! This is how the “Only & true loving brotherhood” rolls.
Compassion and empathy are not acts of faith. They are not limited to a religious individual and from what I’ve seen most of them seem to lack it. They ask to stop being persecuted while turning around and persecuting other with their ridiculous ideologies. Using the excuse “the wt” tells me to act this way or that is an absolute cop out. Your actions are an individual responsibility. To quote your archaic book Romans 14:12. Salvation is not contingent on an organization
You’re correct Milka…even if a JW each person is responsible for his/her own actions. And no one is justified with the excuse, ‘they told me to do it.’ A JW that is not blind should not follow all the directions of WT, because some are not only harmful, but harmful and unbiblical. And if the WT member is blind, well, ‘If a blind man follows a blind man they’ll both fall into the pit’ (Christ).WT directs most of their venom at there own. They can only point fingers at and talk derogatorily about others, but they do marginalize and attack their own.
Another example that the GB and WTBS management have not followed the example set for ALL of us by Jesus. When Jesus cured the sick and fed the hungry he did not first check if they were Jewish, Gentile or had any other religious affiliation.
JW.org has said in the past that these miracles were only an example of what Jesus could do for ALL of mankind under his Kingdom reign – if the GB claim to be under the direct control and delegated authority of Jesus they would surely likewise be able to PROVE that they are instrumental in bringing spiritual and physical relief to ALL of mankind even in a small way as Jesus did in his day.
There are many examples of people who are not associated with JW.org that help and have helped needy people physically with no spiritual strings attached:
https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/
http://therealjunkfoodproject.org/
This Watchtower article reminds me of the parable of the good samaritan – Jesus taught us to KNOW who our neighbour is and assist him regardless of his spiritual or religious belief, thus showing religious tolerance and fellow human compassion in our lives.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Good_Samaritan
As a fellow commentator once said – let’s review – it’s a cult!
If the WT helps the community “spiritually”, then as a “spiritual” charity, they should only be “spiritually” tax-exempt.
LOL..,…. take that one to the bank!
hahaha….sounds fair to me!
Well said TS
The thing is during a natural disaster like a flood or tornado or anything like that and let’s say a roof is destroyed and the insurance company is willing to reimburse the householder $10,000.00 to have it replaced, it would not be fair for the householder to keep the $10,000 when it was repaired by a brother or a group of brothers either.
As I remember during Katrina in New Orleans, U.S.A., the Society bought up tons of shingles and wood etc. to help with the rebuilding of those homes of the brothers and sisters and then the brothers and sisters went from all over the United States to do the work. A lot of the supplies were also donated by brothers and sisters with businesses too.
So, who was it that deserved to get the insurance money? It should have been the brothers and sisters doing the work but of course those brothers and sisters did it specifically so that the insurance money would go to the Society instead of them. The Society would have looked at those brothers and sisters as “stealing” from Jehovah if they took the insurance money but those brothers and sisters were instructed to tell the householders to make their checks out to the Society.
The brothers and sisters who went and did that work were suckered into giving the Society the money but I am sure they all felt really good about helping out the Society that way but they knew that the work they were doing for those brothers and sisters knew it was not “charity” in any way and the ones that had been affected by the disaster also felt good about that money going to the Society as well.
My question is: Would they have done that work for any Jehovah’s Witness who did not have insurance? I think not but I don’t know.
Also, those brothers and sisters whose homes were damaged by Katrina, had to wait months and months and months with plastic over their houses until the brothers and sisters could get to their houses to fix them up and as I remember, there were a lot of people who were very unhappy about having to wait like that but they were shamed into having the brothers doing it.
I’m not speaking for the organization but scripture says that discernment has to be exercised along with your ministry such as when Jesus admonished the crowd for following him for bread only,John 6:26,27. His purpose was to preach the kingdom of God and everything including charity took a backseat to that,Lk 4:33. He didn’t seek to appeal to man’s heart through their stomachs. it’s a promise that the stomach will be filled after. Mt. 6:33, Ps. 37:25.
Can’t have it both ways. Either you align yourself according to what the definition of a charity really is and benefit from not paying taxes or you do not. It’s really simple.
Jehovah’s Witnesses one door at a time try to encourage a clean lifestyle in their own neighborhoods. All of that time is volunteered and at their own expense. You don’t consider that “giving”? And at the risk of seeming blunt,Jesus,even by his enemies was termed “Teacher” ,not cook,not physician.
[ “………Jesus,even by his enemies was termed “Teacher” ,not cook,not physician. “]
Maybe Jesus was not called ‘cook’ because he didn’t know how to and /or didn’t have time to cook given his busy schedule – he had to get everything done in about 3 years before returning to heaven.
Maybe he wasn’t called ‘physician’ because he was a JW and given that JWs are discouraged from pursuing higher education, Jesus didn’t go to medical school.
That’s not the point, Larry. Witnesses are forced to go door to door, are they not? They don’t do it voluntarily. If they don’t go door to door they risk dying a hideous death at Armageddon, right? And besides, it is the individual Witnesses giving their time and money, not the Watchtower. The Watchtower holds an axe over the heads of Witnesses in order to get them going door to door. What a hideous, immoral predicament!
It’s not the individual Witnesses on trial here. They are also victims. The focus here is on the GB, their sycophantic minions and anyone else who knows full well whats going on and does nothing and that includes those excuses for human beings, their slippery, slimy lawyers.
In order for a lawyer to mount a defense he needs to fully understand BOTH sides of the case otherwise he may as well not even turn up. They’e not deluded…they know!
I understand your point. Wish I could talk more but this medium leaves very little room for a true conversation. Take care.
Your points are well taken Larry. But other points were brought up in John’s article….points that include WT discriminating even against their own, when their own are in dire need as refugees would be. That plainly contradicts the scriptures. Anyone who knows the scriptures knows that. The scriptures do not in any way say a brother or sister must qualify before a Christian is obligated to help them, except for the comments Paul made about giving assistance to widows. And the behavior is even more disgusting when coming from people who claim to be the one true Christian religion.
Another point brought out in John’s article is that WT collects insurance checks when helping friends repair their damaged homes. Why is this disgusting? Because in their broadcasts they depict the help as charitable. If they came out and stated they made money it would not be so unethical. But again WT’s narrative paints a false picture, a lie of omission; and they know about those types of lies because they’ve discussed them in their literature.
We are all imperfect but we are not all tricksters. Why would Christ us tricksters as his sole spokesmen? It doesn’t make sense he would.
I didn’t reply to some things because I only meant to speak on proper insight into scripture and nothing else. Not running from the conversation as a whole but in truth my job is to defend scripture. If I have left you confused in my objective,I apologize.
No need to apologize Larry, you did nothing wrong.
Take care!
Well, apparently Jesus forgot about what he said in the parable of the sheep and goats in Matthew 25. In that parable, there is no requirement for those in need or those giving the help to believe in Jesus or his kingdom.
Those giving the help were deemed sheep who would inherit the kingdom solely on the basis of their helping those in need, not because they believed in Jesus, in fact, these persons didn’t even know who Jesus was (Matt. 25:34-40).
There is also no mention in the parable of any requirement for the persons in need to believe in Jesus or his kingdom in order to receive help.
you seem to be a bit of a whizz with the answers, Dee, so tell me, how can I get this beetroot stain out of my shirt?
Buy another shirt?
Outandabout,
Forgot to ask: Is the shirt red?
only in one spot. Shall I just add a few more?
LOL……maybe you should create a “tie-dye” pattern on the shirt. Do you know about the art of “tie-dye”?
Try praying the stain away.
With all the respect in the world I want to point out that you misquoted Mt. 23. Those whom Jesus we’re referring to as being helped he called brothers, and to show that all men are not considered Jesus Brothers even if they stand in an approved condition, think about the men he was talking to, he said they helped his brothers but he didn’t call them men brothers themselves. I point that out just to say that just as you may look at scripture and not fully see it for what it actually says you may be doing the same thing to the organization
Hello Larry G.,
[“…….you misquoted Mt. 23…..]
Please note I was quoting from Matthew 25 not Matthew 23.
My comments did not mention anything about Jesus calling anybody “brothers” but to address your point:
Jesus called the people in need “brothers” but did you notice what he called the people who gave the help? He called the people who offered help “sheep” and rewarded them with inheriting the kingdom.
So Jesus called those who received help “brothers” while he called those who gave the help “sheep” and rewarded the “sheep” with inheriting the kingdom.
I meant 25, sorry for the misquote
This is the Merriam-Websters definition of charity;
* benevolent goodwill toward or love of humanity
* generosity and helpfulness especially toward the needy or suffering
* an institution engaged in relief of the poor
* lenient judgment of others
* public provision for the relief of the needy
and since WTBS love to always quote the origins of words here it is;
Origin and Etymology of charity
Middle English charite, from Anglo-French charité, from Late Latin caritat-, caritas Christian love, from Latin, dearness, from carus dear; akin to Old Irish carae friend, Sanskrit kāma love
How many of the above applies to WBTS? If none, should tax exemption be removed?
If WT feel the need to quote scripture to back up their non- charitable attitude, is there a piece of scripture they can dig up which shows first century Christians receiving tax exempt status?
Somebody pointed out earlier that this is a hate site. It is most certainly a hate site. We hate Cults and everything they stand for but mostly, we hate injustice.
Keep up the hate.
No tax exempt scripture, but there are ones that allow them to follow govt laws including tax laws. Romans, ‘obey superior authorities,’ gospels, ‘pay back Caesar’s things to Caesar.’
The WT’s way of justifying their lack of involvement in charity work is to claim that only the long-term solution of God’s Kingdom can solve mankind’s problems. All other other solutions such as charity work are only short-term solutions designed to patch up Satan’s dying system of things which is soon to be destroyed.
How does this justification compare with the Israelites, who claimed to be God’s chosen people, who allowed IMMIGRANTS /RESIDENT FOREIGNERS
living among them who were vulnerable to poverty to glean in the fields (Leviticus 19:9-10, Leviticus 23:22, Deuteronomy 24:19-22, Exodus 23:10-11, Exodus 22:21-27 & 23:10-11)………..recall the story of Ruth the Moabitess (Ruth 2:17-23).
…….maybe the Israelites were too far away from the end of Satan’s system of things to be bothered about whether or not immigrants should be allowed to glean in the fields.
right, so they just made up their own rules in order to cling on to the dosh. No real biblical justification. I’m beginning to suspect the WT’s a Cult.
You’re right outandabout. The only scripture which says any Christian’s qualifications should be considered before providing assistance is what Paul said about widows [to consider their age, whether they were sitting around gossiping all day , etc]. To consider the qualifications of Christians that are in dire need before helping them is diametrically opposed to Bible teaching. The same even applies to non-Christians via the good Samaritan parable.
JW’s make things up as they go along. That’s why their narrative constantly changes. I wish people would stop referring to them as strict followers of scripture, because they’re not. To claim the same thing over and over does not make it true. Sometimes that’s a propaganda technique.
WATCHTOWER CHARITY 101
EDUCATE
Recruit Member
Educate Members belief system to Watchtower Belief System
BITE
Control Members behaviour
Control Members Information
Control Members thoughts
Control Members emotions
FOG
Member must remain obedient to “Jehovah” (Watchtower Society) or die at armageddon.
Member must feel obligated to slave for “Jehovah” (Watchtower Society) or die at armageddon.
Member must learn not to displease “Jehovah” or die at armageddon.
Paranoia is fostered among the followers of this cult.
The black and white, us and them credo, our spiritual
sanctuary, vs, Satan’s system is a persistent theme.
I remember one man, just studying, was worried that he
had started viewing people he worked with and others
with suspicion, he didn’t think it was normal. He ended
the study.
So here we go again. Beware of immigrants who are out
to take advantage of our “Generosity”. Make stringent
checks to ensure they are one of us before any help is
given.
Nasty, judgemental, avaricious, and hypocritical mind
poisoners.
That depends, Dee. Does this ‘Art of Tie-Die’ involve a blanking of the mind? Very dangerous! Sounds rather Eastern and mystical to me.
LOL Outandabout,
There’s nothing to worry about as “tie-dye” is 100% demon-proof so even JWs could do it if they wish.
“Tie-dye” is short for “tied-and-dyed”. It is a form of art and craft whereby parts of a fabric are tied to shield it from the dye. The result is a fabric with interesting patterns. Check out:
http://tiedyeyoursummer.com/get-inspired.html
for the techniques and what a finished product looks like.
John Redwood, please tell me that this Watchtower has been forwarded to the Charities Commission as further proof of the deceit of the Borg.