WTS limits Field Service in Certain Cases

by Amazing 7 Replies latest jw friends

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  Amazing

  WTS limits Field Service in Certain Cases

  Should users of tobacco and those addicted to drugs, or those taking “substitute” drugs (like those on the “methodone program”), be allowed to share with us in the filed ministry?

  – July 1973, KM, P.4, ‘Question Box’

  After glowing and altruistic statements, the WTS concludes:

  “... Circumstances of individuals will vary, but in every case involving those not completely free of their addiction the deciding factor is whether their accompanying us in our field ministry will be cause for stumbling or not. In some cases their going along to a home Bible study or on a return visit might cause no problem, whereas going from door to door might require greater caution to avoid a wrong impression.

  “However, such a one would certainly not be encouraged to go from house to house on his own or to represent himself at the homes as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Neither would a field service report be accepted from such a one.”

  So, a child molester can go door to door, representing himself as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and even go to the doors on his own. But, someone who still has a problem with cigarettes or maybe marijuana is barred as one who would not be encouraged from even representing themselves as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

  Earlier, in the Dec 1974 KM, P.8, ‘Question Box, the WTS quotes from the Organization book of those who are not disfellowshiped, but either reproved or recently reinstated,

  “The person would be free to fully engage in the preaching work and to report such...”, Likely in the case of a NOTORIOUS situation where one is publicly reproved, it would be the course of wisdom for that one to engage in the preaching work in a section of the territory where the problem is not widely known, at least for a while.”

  So, by this standard, if you commit any crime, even a NOTORIOUS crime, you can be shuffled off to another part of town, for a while, until the problem blows over, but keep preaching anyway. Even child molesters, then, could be classed in this category. But, if you smoke a Marlboro, then you are encouraged not to go house to house alone, or represent yourself as a Witness, or turn in your time. Fascinating set of values. - Amazing
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  nytelecom1

  you forgot some phrases
  

  in every caseinvolving those not completely free of their addiction the deciding factor is whether their accompanying us in our field ministry will be cause for stumbling or not

  In some cases.............going from door to door[might require greater caution to avoid a wrong impression

  sooo....if your smoking in the middle of town of course your not going to be allowed to preach..this would/could be a cuase for stumling

  however if joe camel is toking in the bedroom...i think a little more
  leaway would be given...of course this is only if he is honestly trying to quit.
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  Amazing

  Hi Nytelecom: The issue of stumbling was, and likely still is, based on "gut" feel of the Elders. A JW in construction work accepts a cigarette from the guys on the job. These men may or may not know he is a JW. They may or may not live in the same area. Yet, some Elder may worry that if the JW man who smoked is seen at the doors, or accidently calls on one of the fellow construction workers. In truth, the fellow construction workers could care less if their co-worker JW smoked.

  Yet, the same concern for 'stumbling' is not shown when it comes to child molesters. They let these men go door to door, and have parts on the meeting, and when the Elders get that nice, warm 'gut-feeling' they can appoint the molester to a position of responsibility. It is more difficult to make such appointments, but eventually they can. - Amazing
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  Francois

  What the hell is "such a one"?

  This position taken by the WTBTS discloses the same lack of compassion, insight, or understanding that the rest of their bullshit positions display.

  I wonder they never consider the fact that their rigid, unyielding, judgemental postions stumble plenty of people that they think they've got their hooks into?

  Franc
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  think41self

  Hi Amazing,

  Great post, as always. Just another example of the WTBTS taking a harder stance against someone who may smoke cigs OR marijuana than a guy who may have molested as many as 100 innocent girls.(over the course of a lifetime)

  Your phrase "when the Elders get that nice, warm 'gut-feeling' they can appoint the molester to a position of responsibility."

  Don't you know what that "nice,warm gut-feeling" is? Why, that's the holy spirit directing them, buddy.

  think41self

  "When agnostics die, do they go to the great perhaps"?
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  Rex B13

  You're all missing thepoint and intent of the Witchtower. Its all about control, none of it has to make sense.
  Rex
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  Hank

  You're all missing thepoint and intent of the Witchtower religion. Its all about control, none of it has to make sense.

  Henry
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  Kent

  The new introduction:

  Hi, I'm a pedophile Jehovah's Witness, but I don't smoke. Are your children home?

  Yakki Da

  Kent

  "The only difference between a fool and the JW legal department is that a fool might be sympathetic ."

  Daily News On The Watchtower and the Jehovah's Witnesses:
  http://watchtower.observer.org