'Look After Orphans and Widows in Their Tribulation' June 15 2001 WT
This article is so poor it’s UNBELIEVABLE. Pity the R+F will likely miss the insidious undercurrent that basically the WTS isn’t going to do ANYTHING for widows and orphans.
After describing how in Bible times widows and orphans were looked after the article then went on to relate how they are looked after by the WTS. In bible times assistance was material and these examples were noted
1. The gleanings were left for the widow and orphans. Deut. 24:19-21
2. Distribution of funds. Acts 4:34,35
Now notice the change in emphasis…………
Caring for Orphans and Widows Today
The principles followed by servants of God in the past are still applied in the congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses when it comes to showing concern for and rendering help to those suffering tribulation Brotherly love is a characterizing feature. Just as Jesus stated: “By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love among yourselves.” (John 13:35) If some are suffering want or have become victims of a disaster or the effects of war or civil strife, the international brotherhood is eager to find ways to be of assistance spiritually and materially.Let us note some modern experiences that show what is being done in this regard.Pedro does not recall much about his mother, who died when he was only a year and a half old. When Pedro was five his father also died. So Pedro was left alone with his brothers. Jehovah’s Witnesses had already been calling on their father, thus Pedro and his older brothers all started to receive a home Bible study. Pedro relates: ‘The very next week, we started to attend the meetings. As we associated with the brothers, we could feel the love that they expressed toward us. The congregation was a refuge for me because the brothers and sisters showed me love and affection, just as if they were my parents.” Pedro recalls that one of the Christian elders would invite him to his home. There Pedro shared with the family in conversation and relaxation. These are memories that I cherish,” says Pedro, who started to preach about his faith at the age of 11 and got baptized at 15. Aided by those in the congregation his older brothers likewise made much progress in a spiritual way.
There is also the case of David. He and his twin sister were abandoned when their parents separated. Their grandparents and an aunt raised them. “When we grew older and realized the situation we were in, we were overcome by a feeling of insecurity and sadness. We needed something to lean on. My aunt became one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and thanks to this, we were instructed in Bible truth. The brothers extended to us their affection and friendship. They were very fond of us and encouraged us to reach goals and to keep on working for Jehovah. When I was about ten years old, a ministerial servant would pick me up to share in the field ministry. Another brother took care of my expenses when I attended conventions. One even helped me so that I could make contributions at the Kingdom Hall.”
David was baptized when he was 17 years old, and later he began serving at the branch office of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Mexico. Even now he acknowledges: “There are several elders who contribute to my education and provide me with helpful counsel. In this way I am overcoming the feeling of insecurity and loneliness.”
Abel, an elder in a congregation in Mexico where there are several widows who need assistance, relates: “I am convinced that the most compelling need that the widows have is emotional support. Sometimes they go through periods of depression; they feel lonely. Therefore, it is very important to be supportive, listening to them. We [the congregation elders] visit them frequently. It is good to take the time to pay attention to their problems. This contributes to their feeling spiritually comforted.” However, economic assistance is sometimes needed as well. “We are now building a house for a sister who is a widow” Abel related a while ago. “We spend some Saturdays and some afternoons during the week working on her home.”
About his own experience in providing help to orphans and widows, another congregation elder says: “I believe that orphans are even more deeply in need of Christian love than are widows. I have noticed that they are more likely to feel rejected than children and adolescents who have both of their parents. They need many expressions of brotherly affection. It is good to look for them after the meetings to find out how they are. There is a married brother who was orphaned when a little boy. I always greet him warmly at the meeting, and he embraces me when he sees me. This strengthens the bonds of true brotherly love.”
The particular difficulty that will face widows and orphans is a material/financial one. The displaying of ‘love’ is something that is displayed to all in the congregation is it not? So is that all widows and orphans are to receive? The modern day examples quoted show conditional emotional support i.e. if the person has a study, goes to the meetings – they get assistance. The assistance is not material though. There is mention of the brothers helping build a widows house. This does seem to be a step in the right direction but notice how it is been done in the brothers spare time. You can be assured it would not take precedence over the ministry. But the widow has to evidently live in a property under construction! All this does not dispel the overriding notion that the WTS although claiming to honor such afflicted ones, is not going to help them in the area they most need it.
ISP