Is Charity Utterly Incomprehensible to Them? (Dec. 1, Wt)

by metatron 13 Replies latest jw friends

  • metatron
    metatron

    Once upon a time, Monty Python had a sketch in which John Clease portrayed

    a businessman approached for a contribution to feed starving orphans. He appeared

    completely unable to grasp the concept of "charity", expressing utter amazement

    at the thought of giving away money with no chance of return.

    .......and so it is with that thought I introduce you to a remarkable article in a recent

    Watchtower (Dec. 1, 2003) that apparently reflects the same mindset.

    Entitled "Ready For EveryGood Work", it actually reveals , by default, exactly

    what good works Jehovah's Witnesses are UNREADY to do.

    In scanning an entire world - and publishing this finding in 25 million copies -

    evidently the best they can come up with is that the Watchtower "branch office

    [in Japan] has cooperated with the local authorities in a [yearly!] exhibition ...

    to promote fire prevention awareness."

    The article introduces this achievement by reminding readers that "Christians

    participate in certain works that are of public concern as long as they do not

    conflict with God's laws." Does it appear that "certain works" are a reduced subset

    of the heralded "EVERY GOOD WORK"?

    Beyond this eye-popping act of public interest, the article quotes a Canadian jurist

    commenting favorably on Witness publications.

    But the problem here, Your Honor, is that the Jehovah's Witnesses who stand in

    your courtroom absorb the protection of a costly legal system , as well as all

    other government services, WITHOUT PAYING FOR THEM THRU TAXES.

    In addition, if Jehovah's Witnesses actually benefit the public morally, WHY

    are they instructed TO AVOID COOPERATING WITH SURVEYS AND STUDIES

    designed to expose their effectiveness? ( Letter to elders AND Kingdom Ministry)

    And..... does what does the recent exposure of concealing child sexual abuse

    in Canada tell us about the value of Witness "good works" towards the public?

    Is charity an utterly foreign concept to them? Is their mind-set so completely

    cemented in place that real good works like feeding the poor, looking for cures

    for disease or special programs for the young and elderly bewilder them?

    Maybe so. .... although I would observe that these articles reveal an increasing

    uneasiness with the (rightfull!) political pressure that is being brought to bear on them,

    to manifest some greater concern for the public than trolling for converts at public

    expense.

    metatron

  • cruzanheart
    cruzanheart

    Good post as usual, metatron! I think they're grasping at straws by pointing out their yearly contribution to fire safety (yawn), but they honestly -- or dishonestly -- can't come up with anything better than that. I remember wondering about that when I was growing up, but my parents (who were quite miserly) explained that any charity given or performed would only benefit a dying system of things, whereas slogging from door to door would provide everlasting benefits. That philosophy is completely against the teachings of Jesus, who helped EVERYONE he came in contact with, both great and small. He wasn't just looking for a photo op; he genuinely cared about the people and that's the message he passed on to his followers. And he didn't just hand out literature -- he helped people in a physical way just as much as he taught them spiritually.

    However, the WTBTS has long since passed any pretense of being charitable, whether spiritually or otherwise. They are a large corporation and are dedicated to the preservation of said corporation. "And I want to thank all of the little people I had to step on to get to where I am today."

    Nina

  • willyloman
    willyloman

    Nina said:

    That philosophy is completely against the teachings of Jesus, who helped EVERYONE he came in contact with, both great and small. He wasn't just looking for a photo op

    Words to live by!

  • stillajwexelder
    stillajwexelder

    Only as long as the Charity is the World Wide Work box at KH/Circuit-District Convention donation boxes

  • CPiolo
    CPiolo

    Some charitable acts by Christendom and non-Christian faiths (offered mostly for free or on a sliding scale according to one's ability to pay):


    Homework help for children

    After school care and programs for working families

    Counseling of various sorts -- marriage, psychological, career, education, alcohol and drug abuse, etc.

    Food for the poor and the hungry -- by distributing foodstuffs and through soup kitchens

    Medical and dental care

    Clothing

    Battered women's shelters

    Homeless shelters

    College and educational scholarships

    Meal delivery programs for the elderly and infirm

    Hospital visitation

    Hospice care

    Rehabilitation programs for the disabled

    Job training

    Orphanages

    Political advocacy for the disenfranchised

    There is more. Add to the list.

    All this occurs in addition to whatever proselytizing, missionary work and literature distribution they may do. Most don't require one to be a member of the particular church/faith -- all in need are cared for.

  • metatron
    metatron

    "looking for a photo op" really sums up the situation very well.

    Perhaps their copy of the Bible reads differently:

    "when making gifts of mercy, BLOW A TRUMPET AHEAD OF YOU"

    how obvious is this (among others) naked ploy to shore up their tainted image?

    metatron

  • heathen
    heathen

    Not only that cpiolo , they would defame their members for taking advantage of stuff provided by other sects . I've noticed that these people can't even organize a church supper .

  • ozziepost
    ozziepost

    I always found this scripture awkward to explain as a dub:

    "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." - James 1:27 (NIV)

  • M.J.
    M.J.

    I heard from a JW family member a few months ago that an apparently homeless person interrupted sunday service at the local KH by knocking on one of the doors and asking for a handout. I was incredulous as my family member told me how this person was not welcomed but driven away and the announcement was made that no one was to give anything to this person if approached in the parking lot after service. Apparently the worry was that more would follow!

  • heathen
    heathen

    MJ--- that is pretty sad . YOu would think that they would at least invite the fellow in to listen to the instuctional talk or hand him a WT. There is nothing wrong with begging in the bible but if said person was not interested in the religion they are not obligated to do anything .IMO . There are plenty of other churches that could be sought out .

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