Tone of WT Study article's for 10/6/2013

JakeM2012

I thought the tone of this weeks WT study article was interestingly alarming. In nearly 50 years of reading WT's I have never seen attempts to substantiate the tithing system. WTBTS has always criticised the Catholic Church about modern day tithing.

Yet, after recently selling around $900 million dollars of real estate property in Brooklyn, I feel that the WTBTS infers a veiled threat towards those in the congregation that don't fully financially support WTBTS's projects.

The veiled threat comes from developing the situation in Nehemiah's day and that Levites were either not collecting or forwarding tithing money's received from Israelites. Therefore, Nehemiah appointed men to collect the tithes. "Is there a lesson for us?" In other words they infer,
"Yes, if you don't contribute we will come and get it by any means necessary." (Somehow I am reminded of the Menlo Park Congregation)

After reading this portion of the article to my wife, she told how her family, who is poor, used to take words like this to heart and donate funds that they could not afford to. She mentioned that her parents would likely study this article and be again guilted into donating money they can not afford to give, even at the expense of their own necessities.

To say the least, it is disturbing what the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has become. Or perhaps, I'm just seeing what they have always been. Be assured, they will not receive any more donantions from me.

SUPPORT THEOCRATIC ARRANGEMENTS
9 Read Nehemiah 13:10-13. It appears
that contributions to the temple had all

but stopped by the time Nehemiah returned
to Jerusalem. Not having this
support, the Levites were abandoning
their assignments and going off to work
in their fields. Nehemiah blamed the
deputy rulers for the situation. Apparently,
they were not caring for their duties.
Either they were not collecting the
people’s tithes or they were not forwarding
them to the temple, as they had been
assigned to do. (Neh. 12:44) So Nehemiah
took steps to have the tithes collected.
He appointed trustworthy men
to oversee the temple stores and future
distributions.
10 Is there a lesson here for us? Yes,
for we are reminded that we have the

privilege of honoring Jehovah with our

valuable things. (Prov. 3:9) When we
make contributions to support his work,
we are merely giving to Jehovah what already
belongs to him. (1 Chron. 29:14-
16)We may not think that we have much
to give, but if the desire is there, all of us
can have a share.—2 Cor. 8:12.

hoser

If you call it a privilege it doesn't seem so bad

sir82

I don't note any change in tone in this article, vs. other articles.

The consistent tone week over week is "you miserable worms aren't doing enough!"

AndDontCallMeShirley

To know what WT is currently guilty of, or will be in the future, simply read what they harp on most often.

For years WT condemned other religions for:

> using credit cards/atms to collect contributions- now the WT does it.

> protecting pedophiles- now the WT does it.

> Running their religion like a business by investing in equity markets and real estate- now the WT does it.

> Having a hierarchy/clergy-laity class- now the WT has the same thing.

WT has condemned tithing in the past but has recently escalated its focus on demanding more 'donations' and fleecing the flock by any means possible.

Tithing is on its way.

Splash

I also noticed there were lots of references to 'money' and 'funds' in this article.

Money/sacrifice/donation/funds has become the WT's new 'Mt24:45'.
Expect to see it repeated somewhere in every WT magazine.

Splash

eyeuse2badub

At the congregation level, we receive a monthly financial report, so we know where our our money is spent. At the circuit level we receive a (sort of) brief financial report to let us know how much more we need to 'donate' to pay the rent on an Assembly Hall that is already paid for. Why doesn't the WTBTS provide us rank and file members with a financial report so we know where our 'donated' money is spent? I'd like to know where they spend the money.

Legacy

Hi,

...This is all they have to say or do...at the AGM, just ask everyone to donate $2 per week...So let's do the math...

7 or so millions of witnesses (RIGHT) ?....weekly meeting...each donate $1 x's 7 1/2 million, then each donate $1 x's 7 1/2 million...Sundays meeting..

Approx. 14 or more million per week...viola...monthly....I can't count up that high....imagine 14 million per week then times that monthy...

That ain't no chicken change....

I'm just saying.

Legacy

AndDontCallMeShirley

Why doesn't the WTBTS provide us rank and file members with a financial report so we know where our 'donated' money is spent?

Because you are just a "domestic". Shut up and open your wallet!! It's none of your business what the WT does with your money.

BU2B

We can only hope that this money grabbing greedyness will turn off some JWs and make them think long and hard about why they are hassling them for money when they are selling off Brooklyn property for $1B.

By the way, this lesson will be summarized by a stream from the annual meeting. I hope they have a GB member do the begging for money.. They are so narcisistic that it may help some sleeping JWs

DATA-DOG

What do think a project like Warwick costs? It has to be in the Multi-million dollar range. One thing's for sure, the WTBTS will never be destroyed because of lack of finances. There are plenty of ignorant dubs would will gladly tithe. Even if just 3 million dubs gave $4 dollars a week, problem solved. They can still close other facilities as well. All they need is 1 main facility, that's Warwick, and an adequate server room. JW.Org, Dell computer assemblies, having all the JWs print tracts from the website at their own expense, contributions could fall by 50% and the WTBTS would survive. Especially with dubs paying their own way to foreign fields and sending them cash.

Only a major, MAJOR catastrophe could take them down, IMO.

Tone of WT Study article's for 10/6/2013

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