for example what did you think of bob geldof organising band aid and the hit single "do they know its christmas " and shows like children of courage about kids who may have cancer but still find time to raise funds for ill people , or someone rescues a stranger from a burning building without a thought for themselves , when bob geldof did what he did for the starving in ethiopia did you never wonder why "true christians " did not get involved ? and did you ever feel confused that the kid with cancer would be for it come armageddon because his parents were not jws despite being a much nicer kid than you often observed at the kingdum hall ?
As a jw ,what did you make of non dubs doing christ like things and showing compassion
by looloo 8 Replies latest jw friends
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kitten whiskers
It made me think. It stuck in my mind, as a child.
I didn't pay attention to the news, and the big things going on it the world. I did however pay attention to my grandparents and their friends and neighbors. I saw a lot of selflessness and love. Things I didn't see witnesses doing. My mother was the JW in our house and only did things for the "friends". She did expecting something back. The others that I observed, did things for widows and others who needed help. They didn't expect anything back and didn't really want their deeds acknowledged. They were true Christians.
I always wondered how God could destroy them. But he reads the heart, so maybe he wouldn't.
As an adult, on the verge of leaving JW's, I had put the kids in the community theater program. There we sat in a full auditorium with other parents. They were excited. They were holding bouquets of garden flowers. Their grandparents and extended families were there. There was a happy buzz in the auditorium. I looked around and realized there was so much love in that room. It was impossible God would destroy these people because they weren't JW's. At that moment, I just knew that teaching was wrong.
Were you also noticing these things while in the JW religion, or was it more after you left? If it was while you were in the JW's, did it stir your heart and stick with you as a little point that just couldn't be pushed down?
To this day, I remember my grandpa mowing the lawns of all the widows in his neighborhood. It was long hot work. He never felt good and sunburned easily. But he did it.
My widowed grandmother is now supported by her neighbors now that grandpa is gone. They come and shovel her walk early in the morning before work. They plow her driveway. They bring her the mail on days they don't want her to go outside for fear of falling and freezing. Though nearly blind, she bakes for them in appreciation. There is such a spirit of Christian love (they are religious and are Christian in faith) that it can't be overlooked.
There is a saying, "You may be the only bible a person ever reads.". These people are excellent examples of their bible principles and they witnessed to me even when I was led to believe I knew it all and was educated in the bible more than they ever could be. God has certainly been retraining me!
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awildflower
This is one of the things that never sat well with me in the org. How could people be so good and yet I was being told that they are really NOT good because they are not jw's?! It was quite the struggle in my mind and it's completely wrong. I believe that whatever MOTIVE we do stuff out of is what counts, not WHAT we do. The jw's claim to DO a lot of good stuff, but most of the time the motive is all wrong therefore it's phony....wf
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Mad Sweeney
Here is what Dubs are trained to think about such things:
Judas, when seeing a lot of money being 'wasted' on oil for Jesus, suggested that the money would be better spent given to the poor. Jesus indicated that spending the money on "Kingdom Interests" was more important than such things.
Therefore, any Dub who would support ANY "worldly" charity rather than give the money and time to the WTS is thinking like Judas.
Besides, all those charities are a part of "Satan's world" which we should avoid.
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blondie
jws would apply this scripture:
(Romans 2:13-15) . . .For the hearers of law are not the ones righteous before God, but the doers of law will be declared righteous. 14 For whenever people of the nations that do not have law do by nature the things of the law, these people, although not having law, are a law to themselves. 15 They are the very ones who demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts, while their conscience is bearing witness with them and, between their own thoughts, they are being accused or even excused.
*** w07 10/15 p. 21 par. 8 Hear the Voice From Within ***This moral inclination has surfaced in many lands. A Cambridge professor noted that the standards of Babylonians, Egyptians, and Greeks as well as of Australian Aborigines and Native Americans included "denunciations of oppression, murder, treachery and falsehood, the same injunctions of kindness to the aged, the young, and the weak." And Dr. Collins wrote: "The concept of right and wrong appears to be universal among all members of the human species." Does that not remind you of Romans 2:14?
*** w00 5/1 p. 16 Hear What the Spirit Has to Say ***
Guidance From Our Conscience
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Jehovah has given us another source of guidance—our conscience. He created man with an inner sense of right and wrong. It is part of our nature. In his letter to the Romans, the apostle Paul explained: "Whenever people of the nations that do not have law do by nature the things of the law, these people, although not having law, are a law to themselves. They are the very ones who demonstrate the matter of the law to be written in their hearts, while their conscience is bearing witness with them and, between their own thoughts, they are being accused or even excused."—Romans 2:14, 15.13
Many who are not acquainted with Jehovah can, to some extent, bring their thoughts and actions into harmony with godly principles of right and wrong. It is as if they were hearing a faint inner voice guiding them in the right direction. If this can be true of those who do not have accurate knowledge of God’s Word, how much more should that inner voice speak in the case of true Christians! Certainly, a Christian conscience that is refined by an accurate knowledge of God’s Word and that works in harmony with Jehovah’s holy spirit can provide trustworthy guidance.—Romans 9:1. -
sd-7
I always thought it was great that non-Witnesses were actually out there DOING SOMETHING to help people. I always used to see commercial about helping kids and that sort of thing, and I'd get a feeling inside, a desire to do something. I let myself assume converting people could solve more problems, but...deep down I always wondered why, if we're the best people in the world, we don't bother to do more stuff to actually help people right now, regardless of religion. Just...forget religion and help someone because you feel like helping. I eventually ended up supporting a few charities myself, even while still believing in the religion. I was sure to keep it quiet, though, knowing it would be seen as potentially evil--"propping up Satan's old system" by helping people now rather than waiting for God's Kingdom.
It didn't occur to me for awhile that there was something odd about that. Or the stories about helping fellow Witnesses in disasters, which rarely included helping non-Witnesses. While non-Witnesses would help Witnesses without asking or caring what they believed under the same circumstances. Yeah, stuff builds up like that.
--Christopher
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Heaven
For me, it was definitely one of many contradictions that didn't support the JWs theory that they were exclusively "God's Chosen". Nothing refutes their statements like actual real life, physical evidence such as these examples. Like sd-7, I often wondered how the JW way was better than people who were actually out in the trenches, like Mother Teresa, DOING something to help people. I guess the JWs don't like to get any on themselves. Keep it all neat, tidy, and 'clean'. See? They have no problems -- (just don't look under the rugs).
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crapola
As I've read through these posts I've come to realise how much I have changed since leaving. I used to would not give much thought to helping complete strangers, for instance, this week I saw an older lady walking to the post office and it was really cold and windy out. Well, after she picked her mail up I offered to give her a ride home, took her to the bank and to the store for cookies. I know this is a small thing compared to what many here have been talking about but the point is that I have changed. I see people in a different way. As more deserving of my help or attention. I hope this makes sense. Anyway, helping her in this small way made me feel better that day than going out in service ever did.
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agonus
I always wondered why we weren't doing more of the same.
Now, when a gal at the checkout counter asks me if I would like to donate a dollar towards something like breast cancer research, many times I will simply say "Why not?" and go ahead with a donation.
I don't do it because I think I will be "making a difference".
I don't do it because it will "soothe my conscience."
I don't do it so "others will notice."
I do it - because - I WANT TO. Period.
After all... "WHY NOT?"