Are jws, like many other fundamentalist groups, swayed by an underlying belief that if you're doing well earthlywise then God favours you, and if not then you've probably been sinning ?
Prosperity gospel?
by A Paduan 4 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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freedom96
I think it is much the opposite. You are not supposed to have much, and if you do, your priorities are clearly in the wrong area. Those with money are looked upon usually with disgust.
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peacefulpete
They play it both ways leaving the poorer JWs to always be unsure just how to feel. When the WT defined "decent living" as having enough money to pay all the bills and be able to contribute their share to the WTS many pioneeers felt they were failing. It is taught to be appropriate to pray so as to have the means to carry their load financially so when a family or pioneeer comes up short it feels like abandonment by god with an accompanying self doubt. So while they openly disparage seeking wealth they also give the message that Jehovah would never abandon his loyal ones who look to him for the necessities. It depends upon the thrust of the article which angle they emphasize.
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fullofdoubtnow
In my old kh, there were quite a few wealthy jws who were able to make large financial contributions to the wts, and when we refurbished the hall some of them gave interest - free loans to the congregation. Despite several of them not being over - zealous in the preaching work, to say the least, they were accredited with almost hero status by the elders, whereas those who were able to contribute little financially were tolerated at best, even though by and large they contributed the most to the preaching work and many gave up their time to help with the refurb. So in my hall at least, the wealthier minority were better thought of than the poorer majority, and it did seem a lot of the time that the inference was that we (I was one of the poorer ones) were failing spiritually somehow.
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aniron
Are jws, like many other fundamentalist groups, swayed by an underlying belief that if you're doing well earthlywise then God favours you, and if not then you've probably been sinning ?
It depends which way its looked at.
Jw's can swing it both ways. If a JW is doing well and attending meetings etc, then Jehovah must be favouring them. If a JW is doing badly then it must be because they are "spiritually weak" and not attending meetings etc.
Or if a JW is doing well and hardly ever attends meetings etc, then they are materialistic and being drawn away by Satan. If a JW is dong badly but is attending all meetings etc, then he is a "fine example" to others.
Increase in members "we are near the end"
Increase slowing down, or number decreasing "we are near the end."
Jw's are very adepted at making any situation fit whatever way they see it.