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