CARING FOR THE NEEDY – NOT!
When I first became a JW in the late 1960s and all the years thereafter, the Watch Tower Society would frequently boast about the loving care and concern that JWs show among themselves, providing for the needy during disasters, even helping the ‘world.’ The Society would publish in the magazines, or comments at Conventions about how the world observed our efficiency and overwhelming spirit of giving.
What about the rest of the year? As JWs we were taught that the world gives only once a year at Christmas, but JWs give all year ‘round. Yet, aside from these unique disaster situations, the WTS has no year ‘round program to help people. But, some JWs with good hearts do, and some do a lot to help the needy, but ... they have to do it in spite of the organization, not because of it.
Brother C was one of those kind, compassionate, and caring persons. He studied with me after the Pioneer Brother who started studying with me moved away. Brother C always impressed upon me the importance of helping others. I already had this in my Catholic training, but his emphasis as a JW made me feel that this was truly a good organization.
One day I saw Brother C crying/ He was standing outside the Kingdom Hall in the back and appeared very low. He is a big man, not prone to tears, kind of like Arnold Swartzneggar. I went up to him and asked him what the problem was. He could hardly talk. I feared that maybe something terrible had happened. He then began to explain that the Elders were talking about disfellowshipping him, and he could not understand it at all.
Here is what happened. Every couple of months or so, Brother C would go around the congregation and collect clothing, non-perishable food, shoes, household supplies, and many things useful to people, and take these to Mexico to distribute to needy JWs and others in the area who needed help. Brother C did this at his own expense and time.
He was part of a large family and many of them would help too, and at times this resulted in creating a small caravan to get the supplies delivered in a shorter time frame. JWs in our area were good about supporting Brother C’s efforts, and there was never a shortage of things to send along. Brother C is among the JWs I truly miss. He is fun, generous, and truly of Christian spirit.
The Eyes of JW Justice begin to notice his activity: Gulp! Why? It seems that Brother C’s program was growing into a sizable operation. And, my recollection is that this was bringing excellent benefit to the people receiving help. Not only were their immediate needs being met with some regularity, but several who received help were also able to repair and sell some of the surplus to others in their country and make a little extra money.
What was so bad about that? Nothing was wrong. But, I understand that there was a little problem that emerged when crossing the border. When large amounts of materials are transported into another country, import duties, fees, licenses, etc. can be common. Sometimes the country of origin will impose export fees as well. [This was prior to the NAFTA free trade agreement in case you were wondering.]
I am not sure of the exact nature of the fees Brother C faced, but what he did was found a back route to avoid the fees associated with his transport. This went on for a while, and I believe that one of the other strategies employed at times was to have the caravan stop on the US side and then carry smaller amounts across.
The JC called Brother C in on the carpet to inquire about this evasion of Mexican import and/or US export rules. [I never really fully understood the rules involved or how this became noticed by the JC.] Brother C felt that his conscience allowed for bypassing the rules because this was a charitable work intended for the needy. He gained nothing personally from it, and felt that fees should not be paid. The JC felt that Caesar’s laws must always be obeyed in these cases, and that this could bring reproach upon Jehovah’s Organization.
The JC also alleged that this activity is not an ‘approved’ arrangement by the organization or part of any of its ‘official’ programs, and as such, he should not be taking needed time away from other activities, such as meeting attendance and Field Service. Brother C was not highly active in hours in service, and often took time on weekends for other activities in addition to making these charity trips. So, the Elders felt that he should be doing more in this regard and not out trying to smuggle goods into Mexico.
Brother C countered that the WTS at times smuggles literature into countries that do not permit such, and that even with Mexico some WTS materials are not permitted and have to be taken in discreetly. The JC argued that this was more important because it was a spiritual provision associated with the interests of Jehovah’s Organization, and thus at times the Society had to use such “strategy” to get around Caesar to get this time-sensitive “spiritual food” to the people.
Brother C countered again that material food, clothing, non-prescription medicine, supplies, etc. were very important as well, and that he was not hurting Caesar, he just could not afford the fees and felt that the rules could be bent to provide such basic and vital help. He said that his personal conscience made him feel that Caesar had no business taxing or charging fees on charitable materials.
What brought brother C to tears? It was after one of these JC sessions, when I saw Brother C standing out in the back. He said that he just couldn’t understand how the Elders could be so blind to the needs of people, and so overly concerned with technicalities. He explained the situation, and then went as far as warning me he might get DF’d!
The JC said NO! Brother C was ordered to either pay the fees, get whatever licenses, etc. that both governments might require, or cease his program of help to the needy. Failure to comply would result in him being DF’d. I do not know for sure how Brother C responded, but he did not get DF’d. I know he continued the caravan program for a while. And, I do recall him mumbling something to me about not complying with the Elders wishes. I could have misunderstood my good friend on this, so I decided not to pursue the issue out of deference to his good works.
I can somewhat understand the Elders encouraging a brother to comply with Caesar’s laws. I am quite sure that Brother C could have gotten many JWs to help out with cost of travel and any governmental fees to support his efforts. At the same time, I could also understand why he wanted to keep this a low profile operation with as little cost as possible to all, so that the needed help could be given at maximum benefit with little imposition to anyone.
What I cannot understand is how the Elders could so easily justify the Society bending rules to smuggle literature and other forbidden supplies, or how the Elders can fail to report sex offenders as required by many state laws, but then take such a strong righteous stand when it came to a brother providing help to the needy.
Why not just leave Brother C alone and any like him. Rather, just offer help to pay for travel and whatever government fees are needed. If the government catches them, they can deal with it then. But why add this burden on them? Why threaten to shame them and DF them and shun them simply because they are doing something not technically correct from one standpoint, but so overwhelmingly good from another perspective, a good that brings some hope and help to very needy people. - Amazing