WT: "Don't be a FOOLISH Christian and OWN things!"

by cedars 23 Replies latest jw friends

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  cedars

  Hi everyone

  I've taken a bit of a break recently from analysing the more recent articles. I find it makes my head spin when I dwell for too long on all the lunacy, fear-mongering and paranoia - of which this month's issue is a classic example. However, this time round I just couldn't help myself.

  There were quite a few things that leapt out at me, but one of the funnier quotes was as follows (taken from page 19, paragraph 20):

  "A North American brother writes: “When my wife and I attended an assembly in 2006, we had been baptized for 30 years. While driving home after the program, we discussed how we could apply the counsel given on simplifying our life. (Matt. 6:19-22) We owned three homes, land, luxury cars, a boat, and a motor home. Feeling that we must have looked like foolish Christians, we decided to make the full-time ministry our goal. In 2008 we joined our daughter in the regular pioneer service. What a joy it has been to work more closely with the brothers! We have been able to serve where there is greater need. Also, the experience of doing more for Jehovah has drawn us closer to him. Especially rewarding is the privilege of seeing people’s eyes light up when they hear and understand the truth of God’s Word.”

  Yes, once again the Watchtower is using it's old trick of making offensive and/or ludicrous statements seem more acceptable by smuggling them through in the form of 'experiences'. Unquestionably, this experience is NOWHERE NEAR as offensive as the one that touched on domestic abuse in the previous article. However, branding people as being "foolish" simply for owning a portfolio of property and more than one mode of transport smacks of jealousy, narrow-mindedness and desperation.

  Also, if materialism is a hallmark of the foolish, then I wonder if the individual members of the Governing Body would mind publishing a complete list of all their material assets and posessions? After all, they are supposed to be the "faithful and WISE (or discreet) servant/slave". Surely, in their infinite wisdom, they must own next to nothing (the complete opposites of foolish wealthy Christians) - so one assumes they would have nothing to be ashamed of??

  Cedars
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  serenitynow!

  I find the statement, "feeling that we must have looked like foolish Christians" to be strange. Now they want to make JWs obsess about how their financial status looks to others. God forbid a JW isn't living hand-to-mouth, instead of being able to have some peace in his soul, the poor schmuck has to worry about appearing foolish to the other JWs because he's doing ok. Once again this proves there is no substance to JWs, it is all about appearances.
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  designs

  The crazy whacky wonderful world of the Watchtower aka Alice In Wonderland..

  Its a wonder we didn't completely lose our marbles.
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  undercover

  We owned three homes, land, luxury cars, a boat, and a motor home. Feeling that we must have looked like foolish Christians...

  ...and some people claim they're not a cult. Those crazies...
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  cedars

  designs - I couldn't agree with you more. It does make you wonder why we ever bought into this sort of stuff in the first place.

  serenitynow - yes, it is noteworthy that the Watchtower is now encouraging publishers to be paranoid about how they appear to others. It's crazier still that one's posessions and financial security should be legitimate grounds for feeling paranoid.

  With this in mind, look at what is says on page 27, paragraph 11, beneath the heading "Past Sacrifices":

  Sad to say, some look back on sacrifices they made in the past and view them as missed opportunities. Perhaps you had opportunities for higher education, for prominence, or for financial security, but you decided not to pursue them. Many of our brothers and sisters have left behind lucrative positions in the fields of business, entertainment, education, or sports. Now time has passed, and the end has not yet arrived. Do you fantasize about what could have happened had you not made those sacrifices?

  Yes, higher education and even financial security should be sacrificed, and not looked back at longingly in the style of Lot's wife. I find it frankly negligent that, in a world where financial insecurity at a national level is causing untold hardship for millions, the Watchtower is encouraging people that financial security is an expendible safeguard. Furthermore, it lists "prominence" in the same breath as higher education and financial security, thereby implying that any who seek higher education or financial security are actually doing so for no other reason than because they seek prominence.

  Cedars
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  00DAD

  I'm surprised that article wasn't followed up with one of their semi-regular reminders of "How to Donate all Your Worldly Possessions to the WTBTS" articles.
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  cedars

  I'm surprised that article wasn't followed up with one of their semi-regular reminders of "How to Donate all Your Worldly Possessions to the WTBTS" articles.

  Quite true. I wonder if the Governing Body has its own marina for brothers who are guilt-tripped into donating their boats?!

  Cedars
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  sd-7

  I don't recall Paul writing to Timothy, "Give orders to those rich in the present system of things to sell their stuff and go into missionary work." No, he told them to not rest their hope in uncertain riches but to share good things with others and focus on 'the real life'. Wealth can just as easily be used to help those in need as it can be to make one feel 'prominent' or whatever. But far be it from the Society to tell people to actually give to those in need, even inside the congregation...

  Want to talk about foolish Christians? "When I was hungry, you told me to go out in field service and hope for a random bag of groceries like in that WT experience; thirsty, drink from the KH water fountain and then put money in the contribution box marked "Congregation" so our water bill doesn't go up; sick, you told me to report 15 minutes of field service or else become 'inactive'; in prison, and 40 years later you reversed the reason why I went to prison in the first place. Why, c'mon into the kingdom, why don't ya????"

  --sd-7
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  wha happened?

  ah yes, appearances. That was one angle thrown at me in the past. If you are well to do, will your toys stumble others?

  So the advice in print form with this experaince is, act as if u don't have a single brain cell in your head, these other dubs who are more spritually minded did something extremely stupid with their money and so should u.
• 

  cedars

  act as if u don't have a single brain cell in your head, these other dubs who are more spritually minded did something extremely stupid with their money and so should u

  wha happened? - Ha ha! I love that way of putting it! Sums things up perfectly.

  Wealth can just as easily be used to help those in need as it can be to make one feel 'prominent' or whatever. But far be it from the Society to tell people to actually give to those in need, even inside the congregation...

  sd-7 - very true. I'd like to know when was the last time the Society encouraged brothers to donate money to the poor and needy within their own congregation.

  Cedars