galaxy7:
Show me where Jesus said to "feed the poor, shelter the poor and visit the prisoners". Jeus DID say "Feed my sheep". That is spiritual food as they were tossed about by the pharasies, who were supposed to be feeding them.
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JWs get used as an "agency" at Resources Fair for inmates in Iowa
by Gopher 62 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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galaxy7
afriend in need:
MT 25:34 Then will the King say to them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:
MT 25:35 For I was hungry, and ye gave me food: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:
MT 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came to me.
MT 25:37 Then will the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
MT 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
MT 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came to thee?
MT 25:40 And the king will answer and say to them, Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it to me.
MT 25:41 Then will he say also to them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
MT 25:42 For I was hungry, and ye gave me no food: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:
MT 25:43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.
MT 25:44 Then will they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee hungry, or thirsty, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister to thee?
MT 25:45 Then will he answer them, saying, Verily I say to you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.
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a friend in need
galaxy7:
The way I read Mt 25:40 is:
And in reply the king will say to them, "Truly I say to you, To the extent that you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me."
The important words there is "my brothers". In other words Jesus' true followers. You are taking it to mean people in general.
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Junction-Guy
To " a friend in need" So if you take that literally then jesus said to only help the brothers? what about the sisters? JW's take everything out of context and twist it around to suit their religious dogma. Jesus said to" love one another" The Bible stresses love and charity and helping your neighbors, At least the Salvation Army helps those in destitute situations, The WT society is only in it for itself and to peddle their Bible contradicting magazines. Jim Jones caused the death of thousands people back in the 70's, however the watchtower society is blood guilty for ensnaring people into their no blood doctrine, many of them innocent children.
JG
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Junction-Guy
And another thing, Jesus fed 5000 with 2 fishes and bread, You would think the JW's with all their money they've squeezed and bilked out of the elderly they could afford one measly soup kitchen
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a friend in need
Junction-Guy:
Are you serious? Of course sisters are included.
You are right. The bible tells us to 'love one another' and to help our neighbours. What is more loving than to pass on life-giving news? Jehovah's Witnesses DO help their neighbours in need as well. They just don't make a production of advertising it. In many countries where natural disasters strike, Witnesses are usually there first to help. They do help their own but others as well.
As in Jesus time, most don't appreciate the Good News, so how you feel is very typical.
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Junction-Guy
The only thing JW's pass on is a free ticket to "insanity" I know as I was raised one, and Ive also studied the bible without their help. Its amazing you can just pick and choose which verses you want to believe.JW's are a cult plain and simple, and nothing will ever be able to convince me otherwise.
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Gopher
Really, you can't critisize JWs for helping in any way they can, just as the SA does. My point is, why did you only critisize one group?
Because -- out of all the groups mentioned above, JW's have NO programs for assisting people, unless you really honestly believe that their "bible study" program for induction into their religion really helps people. To me they're just there looking for recruits, and in no way are they a charity.
And I agree with the poster who said that Christ is cited as saying help those sick, in prison, etc. All mankind is a brotherhood.
Your limitation of "brothers" to "Jesus' true followers" is wrong. Jesus himself said in the illustration of the Good Samaritan that we were to make ourselves brothers to ANYONE who needed one.
Again, these other charities are there to help people in general, and not to lure them in with "love bombing" into a religion where eventually if you change your mind and don't want to belong, then you're unlovingly excluded by all your former friends and "believing" relatives.
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a friend in need
Junction-Guy:
I should likely quit now but just want to say, no one is trying to change your mind about anything, that I know of. This is a discussion forum and we are discussing. I'm entitled to my beliefs and you are yours. I'm not critical of you or anyone else. I just like to say what I see as truth.
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blondie
Misty Sweet, a correctional counselor
Imagine having a name like that and work in the correctional setting!
Actually, in this state every prison, correctional center, and jail is in the WTS sphere of contact. The congregation holding the territory the facility is located in is responsible for arranging for "qualified" brothers to contact the officials and make arrangements to have talks to groups and individual bible studies according to the regulations of the facility. (Qualified sisters go to female facilities.) They do nothing to address their practical requirements, letting the governmental arrangement handle that.
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km 4/03 p. 7 Question Box/ What cautions should we heed when witnessing to prison inmates?Worldwide there are at least eight million prison inmates, some of whom show an interest in the good news. (1 Tim. 2:4) One branch office receives some 1,400 letters each month from inmates and their family members requesting literature or a personal visit. While the interest of many inmates is sincere, experience has shown that some feign interest, seeking to take selfish advantage of God?s people. In view of this, all should heed the following cautions regarding witnessing to prison inmates.
In many cases inmates are given a witness by means of correspondence. It is strongly recommended that sisters not write to male prisoners, even if it is with the goal of giving spiritual help. That responsibility should be handled only by qualified brothers. Qualified sisters may be assigned to correspond with female inmates who express sincere interest in Bible truth. Money or personal gifts should not be sent to inmates, despite the fact that such may be requested.
When an incarcerated person shows interest, his name and address should be turned over to the congregation in the area of the prison facility. Usually the qualified brothers there know how to handle the various situations that can arise. If the congregation is not known, the information should be sent to the branch office.
It is not objectionable for the assigned brothers to hold meetings with prisoners so that several may study at one time. However, special events in which publishers mingle freely with inmates should not be held in prisons. Furthermore, it is ill-advised for publishers to visit a prison indiscriminately and have close association with prisoners.
May we be "cautious as serpents and yet innocent as doves" as we share the good news with prison inmates.?Matt. 10:16.
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km 12/89 p. 7 Corresponding With Prisoners ***1
People from many walks of life are being contacted with the Kingdom message. Our Kingdom Ministry for February 1982 gave direction regarding witnessing to prisoners. Since that time, positive reports continue to be received about incarcerated persons who have responded favorably. Bible studies and meetings are being held in a number of institutions. This has resulted in new disciples dedicating their lives to Jehovah and getting baptized.2
In many cases prisoners are being witnessed to by correspondence. In this regard, we feel it is necessary to repeat a word of caution. It has been found that some prisoners who are eager to correspond with others have questionable motives. While it would be appropriate to write to prisoners, providing Scriptural information and encouragement or Bible literature as needed, money or personal gifts should not be sent, despite the fact that such may be requested by the correspondent.3
It is strongly recommended that only qualified brothers correspond with male prisoners. Qualified sisters should write to female prisoners. Individual members of the congregation should not indiscriminately visit prisons and have close association with inmates.4
When interest is shown by prisoners, it is best to turn the names and addresses of such ones over to the congregation in the area of the particular institution. The qualified brothers there will visit these prisoners and, if possible, arrange to study with those who are sincerely interested in the truth.5
If questions arise about writing to prisoners or visiting penal institutions, please review what was stated in the article referred to above. Additional written direction was provided for all bodies of elders in a letter from the Society dated December 1, 1981.*** km 2/82 pp. 7-8 Witnessing to Prisoners ***
1 Reports have come in from all over the country telling of the good work brothers are doing in contacting prisoners in various jails and penitentiaries, helping some to rehabilitate their lives spiritually. In a number of such institutions regular meetings are being held and several prisoners have studied to the point of dedication and baptism. Their changed pattern of life has been in itself a tremendous witness to others.
2 In some cases, prisoners have been helped by brothers who have corresponded with them over a period of time. There is a danger, though, about which we wish to issue a warning. Some prisoners are willing to carry on correspondence, feigning interest, simply for their own selfish advantage. The love, compassion and generosity of Jehovah?s people sometimes make them an easy mark for such individuals. If correspondence is carried on with a prisoner, it would not be good to begin sending money or material things at the prisoner?s request. Rather, the giving of spiritual information and encouragement to apply Bible principles in his life should be the reason for writing.?Prov. 14:15.
3 Since it is not recommended that sisters carry on correspondence with male prisoners, it would be good for such to be done by qualified brothers. It is also ill-advised for members of the congregation to visit the prison indiscriminately and have close association with inmates.
4 Where interest is shown by prisoners, it is good to turn the names and addresses of such ones over to the congregation nearest the prison, and let the brothers qualified to visit the prison contact these prisoners and arrange to study with them if possible. Usually these brothers know what is required and have special permission to enter prison facilities. It is not objectionable for these brothers to hold meetings with prisoners so that several may study at one time. We do not recommend that special events be held in prisons where publishers are invited to mingle with the prisoners indiscriminately. We believe the most good can be accomplished by just holding the regular weekly meeting where they are permitted by the prison officials. Thus, dedicated or interested inmates will be receiving the same spiritual feeding that Jehovah?s people on the outside are receiving.
5 Certainly we want to be of help to all persons who are hungering and thirsting for the truth, but caution must be exercised when dealing with those whose imprisonment is due to their own wrongdoing.
*** km 4/74 p. 4 Question Box ***? Is there a way to reach prison inmates to witness to them?
Many requests come to the Society each week from prison inmates asking for literature and requesting that someone conduct a Bible study with them. To help such persons, the Society writes the local congregation and asks that the interested person be contacted in the prison. It would be appreciated if prompt attention would be given to these calls. Literature can, in some cases, be given directly to the prisoner by those calling, but in some prisons it is required that the literature be sent directly from the publishing house. Where the prisoner cannot afford a contribution, the congregation or the individual publisher may provide the contribution to cover the cost and ask the Society to send the literature.
In some localities it has been possible, after discussing our Bible educational program with the prison officials or with government officials who have jurisdiction over prison matters, to obtain a permit that will actually allow one to go from cell to cell in the prison to talk with the inmates, leaving literature where possible. Older magazines may be left free with the inmates, if the prison officials permit, and then, as interest is developed, books or subscriptions may be placed and Bible studies started.
If there is a prison in your territory, it is recommended that the congregation arrange for an elder to visit the prison officials to find out what may be required to contact the prisoners and to provide Bible literature for them to read and, if at all possible, to conduct Bible studies with them on either a group or an individual basis.
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w87 1/15 p. 7 Jehovah?s Witnesses in the Missionary Field ***It is undeniable that the missionaries of Christendom have made many converts by the social services they provide. But because such works are directed mainly at satisfying the people?s material needs rather than their spiritual ones, these missionaries have not been successful in making real disciples of Jesus Christ. (Matthew 7:22, 23; 28:19, 20) More importantly, they have not been able to point out any permanent solution to the social ills they are trying to overcome.