May you have peace!
I can imagine the conundrum of a position this puts you, a rather young person, in. You want/need the money, but don't want to make your parents unhappy, but also feel compromised. Perhaps there's a solution. Perhaps you could ask your parents a few discerning questions that will allow them to "see" themselves for who they are... and what they're doing. You could ask them:
1. What THEY would have thought of THEIR parents if they had put them in the same position, say, offering them $20 for every Catholic or Baptist sermon/bible class they attended?
2. What would THEY think about THEIR parents for doing so? Knowing what they know now, particularly about how Christ was, what SHOULD they have thought about THEIR parents for making such an offer?
3. WHY do they feel FREE to put such a choice on YOU?
4. Will they still RESPECT you if you took the money soley for the purpose of putting up appearances? Will they still respect themselves? SHOULD they?
5. Will they still LOVE you if you don't; SHOULD they?
6. Do they know what EXTORTION is? Do they know what the supposed "lot" is for extortioners? If not, you can always refer them to 1 Corinthians 5:11, for they count themselves in with the folks who adhere to such "law."
Unfortunately, dear one, like so many other Witnesses, including myself and many here at one time, your parents haven't been taught that what THEY'RE doing is truly WRONG. Personally, I wouldn't take this kind of extortion on, but like my Lord, would turn it back on the "christians" that your parents apparently profess to be. Indeed, let THEM decide, as the "christians" they profess to be... what you... and THEY... should TRULY do.
I bid you peace!
Your servant and a slave of Christ,
SJ
