It's gotta be a pretty crappy job but I'd like to know how come they don't offer to help people in the full time ministry with their daily needs . Never once have I seen an article that encouraged to share monitarily within the congregation . Usually it's about supporting the world wide work
Well, heathen, the WTS has a time-honored position of no one within the congregation, not even the pioneers, officially receiving money from the congregation. Giving money to the CO and DO, yes. Not even the special pioneers can expect an official donation from the congregation. The expectation is that individual JWs in the congregation will make themselves aware of who needs help financially and make individual and private monetary donations. But most JWs don’t know each other well enough. Hey, many JWs don’t even offer gas money to the pioneers.
As to needy folk, I went on a return visit where the sister asked this woman for money for the publications. I had looked around this clean, but sparsely furnished one-bedroom apartment, noticed there was no food in the cupboard or refrigerator. She had 2 children, one still crawling. She didn’t smoke or drink. She wasn’t wasting her money. But this sister asked for money. As I went to the car with this sister, I pointed out how this woman had no money. She said, "They won’t appreciate the publications if they don’t pay for them." I went out shopping that day and got some staples, milk, bread, baby food, etc., and dropped them off. She cried and I cried and for once felt I had actually done a Christian thing. Now, I’m not a chump. I had a woman cry poverty as she smoked away on cigarettes, saying she couldn’t afford milk for her son. I suggested that she quit smoking and use the money….well, I was more tactful than that. But you get the picture.
Xjwms
, you are my faithful supporter. Hope things are going well with your projects. I supposed I should find something good to say about the WTS. Individually, JWs are most blinded to the realities, or choose not to look to close. But many a man who beats his wife and/or children, may have a good quality here or there, but as soon as their fist hits the body of their family…what good is that quality.
Bluesbrother
,
It starts with a subtle hint that elders should be appointed in their late twenties.
Well, the WTS has been dropping subtle hints to baptize JW children younger and younger; why not appoint elders younger and younger.
"They base their counsel ......not on their own wisdom but on Gods word"... Is this not a subtle way of telling the elders to stop voicing their own opinions
The WTS is more concerned that elders do not base their counsel on the directions of the WTS than the Bible. They feel that their directions have more weight and authority than the Bible.
A notable exception to the list of training aids - The Pay Attention Book for elders only.
Yes, I brought that point out too and made sure I put a link to that book in that paragraph.
Hi cathyk,
It was some time back when I was trying to fill in the holes in my WT library.
the "Watchtower Collectors' Corner,"
Legally, I don’t think they can change it on the flyleaf of the books. But it was surprising to see the change in the WT articles.
Hi BigPicture,
New poster, eh? Are you or were you a JW? I have 50 years of reading WT publications and attending meetings to base my statement on. The WTS focuses on "Jehovah" because they focus so much on OT examples and scriptures. The WTS used to focus more on Jesus back in the days when all of them had the heavenly hope, were of the anointed, the remnant of the 144,000, etc. They felt they were personally connected with Jesus as their Bridegroom and their future to "soon" rule in heaven with him. This closeness has been put on the back burner as the WTS has concentrated on the great crowd whose relationship with Christ can only be achieved through their association with the "faithful and discreet slave" found only in the WTS organization.
I do my review so people have access to what is studied each Sunday. As to the WT Study, conductors loved my comments, which were never long. I was even assigned to book studies where the commenting was not very lively. Even now when I meet JWs, they say "we miss your comments," and surprisingly they do mean it.
If the WT Review is not your cup of tea, there are many other threads on JWD that may be more to your liking. And you are probably right, out of 100 JWs, probably only 10 really study and comment. I noted for the year just before I stopped attending, that out of 5 elders, 5 elders wives, 6 regular pioneers, 3 MS, 3 MS wives, maybe 3 commented at the meeting. Considering that most articles average 20 paragraphs, and this being 22 people, there should have been more people participating.
Hate the WTS? I do love them less, than I love God and Jesus. (smile)
Hi merry, good observation. Just remember that the FDS teaches that we cannot get to Jesus and God unless we go through them. So that makes them more important, right?
Thanks everyone. I know how hard it is to read this stuff. Thanks for taking the time.
Blondie
