Watchtower, January 1,2006. Study article, First paragraph. (page 2)

vitty

What is their reasoning to give up a well paid job, surely you can contribute more to the society if you have more money ?

Does it really put it in that order? How can it possibly be Christian to quit your job before finding another one? If he is responsible, and particularly if he has a family surely the scripture
(1 Timothy 5:8) 8 Certainly if anyone does not provide for those who are his own, and especially for those who are members of his household, he has disowned the faith and is worse than a person without faith.
comes before providing for the congregation.

fullofdoubtnow

He simplified his life

I just simplified my life as well, by leaving the org. I think quite a few will follow my example in the next few years

I doubt that this story is true, it sounds like something they dreamed up in the writing department in Brooklyn

Lady Lee

For those who doubt the veracity of the story my ex was and still is one of those people who "simplify" their lives. I also know of many others who have done the same.

The WTS guilt tripping has been honed to be a very fine tool to control the R&F. It isn't always the money they are after. Control over people is a powerful force and the WTS has used it in a multitude of ways.

This particular control "simply" has been used very successfully in the past. It has been so successful that they will keep using it whether it works now or not.

I suspect the reason it is still used is that they think that the more material things a person has, the less likely they are to see what's on the other side. The ones who have the better jobs have more opportunities to education, travel, exposure to non-JWs, maybe even computers in their homes, and information .

Elsewhere

A YOUNG man wanted to be more useful in his congregation

I find it interesting that when I was a JW many of the older elders were actually financially well off. I would not say rich, but they were doing pretty good and some even owned rental properties.

I wonder why this article is not asking the older more financially well off men to give up their income.

FairMind

but he still cares for his family's needs and is much better able to support the congregation

Seems as if everyone thought of "Financial Support" in the above statement. IMO what was meant by supporting the congregation had to do with meeting attendance, field service, caring for meeting assingnments, and so-on. I do know people who did as this young man did and regretted it.

xjwms

Did you notice..............?

They did NOT say that this young man was .........MORE SPIRITUAL did they.?

TopHat

WHO writes that stuff??? I call it emotional torture!

mouthy

What is their reasoning to give up a well paid job, surely you can contribute more to the society if you have more money ?

It isnt the money they really want it is the souls... I gave up a very good job as an assitant manager with a house etc: because the need was great !!!! been there done that ... Pity!!! They dont drink the Cool-aid.... YET!!!!

ICBehindtheCurtain

It's really enfuriating, that they keep putting out this BS, I know firsthand of many R&F that either quit jobs or did not accept jobs that would compromise meeting attendance all the while their families were in need, the brainwashed mentality was "If we put ~~Jehovah first~~ WTS first, Jehovah will provide", yeah right, as someone else mentioned what about when the car breaks down, or a child gets sick, etc? then they are pretty much up the creak without a paddle.

I wondered as was already mentioned, why they don't see that the less money the R&F makes the less they will contribute, then I realized that they look at the whole picture and figure out what will bring the most gains for them and they publish the adequate brainwashing to produce the best result for them, example:

Brother A, has a very time consuming job, is missing meetings, therefore the time he spends with worldlies is increasing and he is risking establishing freindships with these people, meanwhile brother A, has a wife and 2 kids, his immediate family consists of 4 siblings who are currently showing interest in the religion, a mom whom is a devout catholic but is currently harboring doubts about her religion, she sees that all her kids are leaning towards Brother A's religion, she wonders if maybe she should accept the study Brother A has offered.

Scenario 1 - Brother A, is enjoying the extra cash he is getting, now he is able to actually pay his bills, purchase a new home, and go on vacation, life is good! he is also relating more with the worldlies at work and they seem to be really caring people he wonders "why does the society demonize these people? they are caring, and loving to their families and they seem to be good people", he continues missing meetings and has more time to think for himself, someone at work mentions that the JW's are a cult, and takes him to a website that talks about this, and Brother A is shocked, his mind doesn't immediately accept what he is seeing, but he decides he wants to know more, and decides to type in "Jehovah's witness research" and WALA! he begins learning about the lies and all the crap, he misses showing up to study with his siblings, then eventually shares what he has learned with his wife and family members, and they stop studying, his mom then lets him know she will now accept the bible study he had offered, and he fills her in, so she decides to stay where she is.

Result - Brother A, his wife, 2 kids, his 4 siblings and their spouses, his mom, her siblings and all their close freinds will never be part of the JW's now that they know the Crap, so there is a considerable loss of potential converts, all because Brother A, wanted to have a little extra money to provide for his family and enjoy his life. I know it doesn't always go like this but, the WTS knows the potential for losing all those possible new converts.

Scenario 2 - Brother A, attends the Sunday meeting where they are mentioning all the dangers of missing meetings etc. his conscience kicks in and he tells his boss he needs to leave earlier on meeting days, he also begins to realize he has been too freindly with his co-workers he needs to keep his distance lest he start liking hanging around with them.

He is then attending the Tuesday School Mtng. he had missed for the last 2 months, he begins hearing how he should be reaching out for priviledges, his conscience bothers him, he feels the pressure of needing to do more to please ~~Jehovah~~ the WTS, he now speaks to his wife who is finally so happy he is heading the counsel, but doesn't know why she feels this cold feeling in her chest when she thinks he might decide to quit his nice job now that they are finally getting their heads above the water financially, but thinks "oh well, he would be putting Kingdom interests first and Jehovah will surely provide" . Brother A's boss begins telling him that the holidays are coming and they need to really work hard to keep up with the extra work, Brother A, sees this as Satan attacking now that he has decided to put ~~Jehovah~~ the WTS first, the elders said this would happen, so after much thought, prayer and discussing it with his wife Brother A decides to quit his job and not worry, Jehovah will surely bless him. Sister A feels that sinking cold feeling in her chest but realizes that she has to be strong and prays to Jehovah to remove her doubts and fears, that that is exactly what Satan wants, so she cuts corners here and there, and begins clipping coupons, and eliminates all the unneccessary spending from the budget.

Brother A, is looking for a job, but is having a hard time, he hadn't realized that now that the holidays are approaching people would be taking extra jobs to make extra money for the holidays, but he keeps looking , his studies with his siblings are going really well, 2 of them have decided to pursue becoming approved publishers and Brother A's mom finally accepted that study he had offered, he feels torn, on the one hand he is feeling really great he is doing so much for ~~Jehovah~~ the WTS, on the other hand he is scared to death these are the last bills he can pay off, and no job in sight, so he decides he really needs to simplify his life, so he cashes in his 401K and after talking it over with his wife, they decide to sell their house, it's really bigger than they need, and the meeting sunday was about simplifying your life and letting go of unneccessary material ties, surely Jehovah will bless this decision. So they sell their house, and purchase a trailer, and decide to pioneer.

Brother A finally finds a job cleaning offices overnight, Sister A joins him, they feel a little tired but hey, this is what they should be doing. Their kids are very resentful and ashamed to have their JW freinds over, before, they felt really proud when they brought their freinds over, they had a nice house in a nice neighborhood, but now look where they live, they feel guilty, because their parents said this sacrifice was for Jehovah. They don't hang around so much with their JW freinds, but have begun making freinds with their school mates, and see that these kids are pretty Kool.

Result - Brother A, his wife, their kids for now are in the "Truth", his 4 siblings and their wives decided to get baptized, so did his mom, she is currently studying with 3 of her 6 siblings and 2 of her siblings spouses are now showing interest. So the WTS has gained quite a few converts, all because Brother A heard that talk that Sunday about not missing meetings because of work, and decided to heed the counsel. Their kids however, are leading a double life and will leave as soon as they can survive on their own.

So you see, it is not unlike a pyramid scheme one person that comes in, means alot of potential converts for the WTS and they know this, which is the reason they will never stop saying all this crap about avoiding material things, and keeping your eye simple, if people heed this council they will be WTS brainwashed slaves who will try to share the "Truth" with all those around them.

IC (of the I'm no longer brainwashed class)

Watchtower, January 1,2006. Study article, First paragraph.