False "Reasoning from the Scriptures" (Part 2)

The responses suggested below by the WTS in the Reasoning Book are misleading for a number of reasons, discussed in brackets. (I use Firefox and can't seem to bold, underline, etc for ease of reading, sorry.)

If Someone Says—

‘Why don’t you people get involved in doing things to help make the world (the community) a better place to live?’

You might reply: ‘Conditions in the community are obviously important to you, and they are to me too. May I ask, What problem do you feel should be among the first that gets attention?’ Then perhaps add: ‘Why do you feel that this has become such a major need? . . . Obviously, immediate action on the matter can be beneficial, but I’m sure you’ll agree that we would like to see improvement on a long-term basis. That is the approach that we as Jehovah’s Witnesses take to the matter. (Explain what we do to help people to apply Bible principles in their lives in order to get to the root of the matter on a personal basis; also, what God’s Kingdom will do, and why this will permanently solve the problem for humankind.)’

(Jehovah’s Witnesses do nothing to help poor, sick and otherwise disadvantaged persons in their local communities. The only time they ever do is in times of tragedy/disaster and usually only to their own. The WTS is here implying that ‘improvement on a long-term basis’ only comes through conversion to their religion, because only by being an active, baptized JW can one have any hope for everlasting life. This is what they mean by 'long-term basis'. They feel that just because God’s kingdom is the ultimate permanent solution to mankind’s problems this somehow absolves them from having to practically help disadvantaged people now in their local communities. Did Jesus neglect to help the sick, lame, poor, blind, crippled, etc, just because his help there and then was ultimately only temporary? Can sick, diseased, disabled, elderly, poor, blind, deaf, intellectually handicapped, mentally ill persons get to the ‘root of the matter’ simply by applying Bible principles in their lives??)

Or you could say: ‘(After covering some of the points in the preceding reply . . . ) Some people contribute toward community improvement by providing money; others do it by volunteering their services. Jehovah’s Witnesses do both. Let me explain.’ Then perhaps add: (1) ‘To be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, a person must conscientiously pay his taxes; that provides money for the government to supply needed services.’ (2) ‘We go beyond that, calling at the homes of people, offering to study the Bible with them free of charge. When they become acquainted with what the Bible says, they learn to apply Bible principles and so cope with their problems.’

(The first reply is deliberately disingenuous. The JW is told to say ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses do both’ in relation to ‘providing money’ and ‘volunteering their services’ toward community improvement. This is qualified to mean that simply paying ones taxes is to contribute toward community improvement. However, it goes without saying that Christians should pay their taxes. That's the bare minimum that every citizen, by law, is required to do, Christian or not, willingly or not. This is not at all what a householder is getting at when asking what JW’s do to improve their community. Next ‘volunteering their services’ is qualified to mean simply door-knocking to gain converts. Is this what the average householder would mean when enquiring about ‘volunteering’ one's services for the community? Hardly – the householder obviously wants to know what JW’s do over and above their usual proselytizing and preaching to help others in their community. The householder is enquiring about charitable efforts by JW's, because they know that Jesus did a lot of charity for people irespective of their religion persuasion, and the householder wants to know if JW's are doing the same. The householder already knows that Christians are meant to share their faith with others and this is not what they are enquiring about re 'volunteering their services'. The reason for these twisted, adroit suggestions in the Reasoning Book is course of course because JW’s do nothing charitable for persons (except their own in times of disaster), not even one foodbank.)

Another possibility: ‘I’m glad you brought the matter up. Many people have never inquired to find out what the Witnesses are actually doing about community affairs. Obviously there is more than one way to offer help.’ Then perhaps add: (1) ‘Some do it by establishing institutions—hospitals, homes for the elderly, rehabilitation centers for drug addicts, and so forth. Others may volunteer to go right to the homes of people and offer appropriate help as they are able. That is what Jehovah’s Witnesses do.’ (2) ‘We have observed that there is something that can transform a person’s entire outlook on life, and that is knowledge of what the Bible shows to be the real purpose of life and what the future holds.’

(Look at the crafty response in (1). The JW is encouraged to say they ‘go right to the homes of people and offer appropriate help as they are able’. What kind of help is being discussed by the context? Why, help for the sick (hospitals), the elderly, drug addicts, and ‘so forth’, and ‘community affairs’. This is what the householder is being led to imagine the Witness is talking about. The truth is that jdubs NEVER go ‘right to the homes’ of such suffering persons with the intention of only helping them with their material/health needs, as the kind Samaritan did. They ONLY go to persons homes to place literature, get time for their reports, and to try and make converts (if they can even be bothered to offer a bible study, which most of them rarely do if ever). If they happen to stumble across a sick or elderly person, or a drug addict, etc, then any help or kindness shown to such persons is completely predicated on their response to the message the JW brings them (usually just a perfunctory magazines or tract presentation). )

(It doesn’t get much more twisted than the above response. As mentioned, the Jdubs practically never offer people ‘practical’ help in the way that Jesus did. Jesus materially and physically helped needy, suffering people without ever making such help conditional on their having 'accurate knowledge' or such-like. Jdubs must have a strange definition of ‘practical’ if they think that merely placing literature with people and holding bible studies with them is ‘practical’ help.)

False "Reasoning from the Scriptures" (Part 2)

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Arthur

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