Treatment of those DF'd or DA'd

by ExpandedMind 3 Replies latest jw friends

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  ExpandedMind

  Hi!

  Does anyone on this board, understand how the WTS justifies helping your DF'd or DA's parent or child if they need medical or financial help (in the case of an aging parent) as this would be "honoring your parent", but calling them to see how they are doing (when they are well) is somehow is wrong? Can you "articulate" it as if you were a JW trying to explain it to an outsider? Or would it be apparent that there is something wrong with their teaching?

  Doesn't it make sense that if that person is "dead" to you when they are well, that they are still "dead" to you when they are sick?

  Obviously I don't wish them (the WTS) to change and make a ruling that would make JWs shun their sick relatives, but when I read a recent article in a WT publication about this issue, I started to think about this more.

  I understand that the WTS can make any rule they wish (in this case how to treat DF'd or DA's persons) and also show what the exceptions to that rule might be, but why not leave it to the individual JW to decide?

  Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

  ExpandedMind

  "The mind, once expanded to the dimensions of larger ideas, never returns to its original size." --- Oliver Wendell Holmes
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  onacruse

  The WTS policy on treatment of DFd/DAd family keeps running up against the natural resistance that storge ("love of kindred, especially of parents for children and children for parents"-Vine) engenders. After all, those "having no natural affection [Gk. a-storge]" (2 Tim. 3:3 NWT) are among those that Paul says "and from these turn away" (2 Tim. 3:5 NWT) And Paul says regarding such persons: "God gave them up to a disapproved mental state." (Rom. 1:28, 31 NWT) Also, 1 Tim. 5:8--

  Certainly if anyone does not provide for those who are his own, and especially for those who are members of his household, he has disowned the faith and is worse than a person without faith. (NWT)

  Phillips better captures the thought of "provide for ":

  You should make it clear that for a man to refuse to look after his own relations, especially those actually living in his house, is a denial of the faith he professes. He is worse than a man who makes no profession.

  Vine says of this word [Gk pronoeo]: "to take thought for." Not merely to "provide food and clothing," but to show the honor and concern that family quite naturally should have for each other. The NWT cross-references 1 Tim. 5:8 to Matthew 15:5, and there Jesus condemns the hypocritical Pharisees for subverting natural family affections (vs.6):

  he must not honor his father at all.' And so you have made the word of God invalid because of your tradition. (NWT)

  The WTS stands self-condemned by its perverted and anti-Scriptural interpretation.

  Craig

  Edited by - onacruse on 29 January 2003 15:15:25
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  benext

  It's been stated here many times that the Watchtower has no interest in charitable works. As long as you are well and can hustle the literature, that's great. Get sick and on the scrap heap you go. First question to ask is: "Doesn't that sister have any relatives that can help?"
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  Guest 77

  benext, and that is some scrap yard.

  Guest 77