“Love one another intensely from the heart.” 1 Peter 1:22
[From ws 03/20 p.24 May 25 – May 31]
“ON THE night before he died, Jesus gave his disciples a specific command. He told them: “Just as I have loved you, you also love one another.” Then he added: “By this all will know that you are my disciples—if you have love among yourselves.”—John 13:34, 35”.
We are all very familiar with this statement by Jesus. Over the years we have been Witnesses how many times have we heard it? But by the same token, how many perhaps including ourselves have ever shown or felt love for our fellow Witnesses. The love Jesus showed was being prepared to die an unjust and painful death for people he did not know, as well as for his disciples which he did know. He tried to protect them, to build them up, and many other things to cope with life after his death and resurrection.
But if we are honest with ourselves, for how many of our fellow witnesses would you truly be prepared to die for? If asked by the elders to put up some Witnesses who have been made homeless through the Covid-19 pandemic, how many fellow witnesses would you be prepared to have living with you on an indefinite basis? Or do you rather worry about what gossip about you and your family may be spread around the congregation behind your back? Do you worry that whatever you do, you will be criticized for being materialistic, after all, you still have material things, they do not?
Now, please do not take these pointed questions as trying to guilt-trip you into doing something you should want to do, but in reality do not want to, just like the Organization attempts to do through its video and printed media.
Do you perhaps feel a little aggrieved at being asked to put your hard-earned assets at the free disposal of fellow Witnesses who have always lived hand to mouth, who have no skills to hold a reasonably well-paying job, and so have been the first casualties of this economic downturn, exactly like the last recession of 2008-9 onwards. Perhaps they have even in the past implied you should support them because they are serving Jehovah fully, thereby implying that you are not? If so, rest assured that you are not alone.
Now the attitude about love amongst your fellow witnesses might be colored a little by the cultural context in which you live, but ask yourself, they may show love to some degree but do the members of the Organization really show more love than the society they live in? For instance, is there still racial prejudice? Do they shun people who do not comply or agree with their requirements? Sadly, the answer to both is yes.
Perhaps the real issue is that it is difficult to have an intense love for people who only love themselves, or who measure the interest they show in you according to how many hours you spend knocking on doors, and generally supporting all the Organization’s additional building projects and the like, rather than having an affection for you, because of the person you are.
In Acts 10:34 we find the Apostle Peter had just been taught and learned a big lesson. What was that? “For a certainty I perceive that God is not partial, but in every nation the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him”.
Now contrast that with the present and past members of the Governing Body. If the Organization’s teachings about the anointed and Governing Body were really true, and reflecting Christ’s example and that of the Apostle Peter, would we not expect to find perhaps a Chinese brother, an Indian brother, an Arabic brother, a West African, East African, and Southern African brothers, and South American, and North American indigenous brothers, to truly reflect the wide diversity of cultures found around the world. Have any members of the Governing Body ever been from these backgrounds? Not to my knowledge, although I stand to be corrected. Yet, we have had plenty of white Americans, and white Europeans. Does that sound like appointments from a God who is not partial? No, and as God is not partial, therefore, the appointments to the Governing Body cannot be appointments from God and Jesus.
Do the Governing Body and missionaries and Bethel families show love for the brothers and sisters by living free at their expense? Arguably not.
Yet note what the Apostle Paul said about this way of living (one who had been clearly appointed by Christ). In 1 Corinthians 9:1-18 he discusses this very subject at length. Note what he says in 2 Thessalonians 3:7-8, 10 “For you yourselves know the way you ought to imitate us, because we did not behave disorderly among you, nor did we eat food from anyone free. To the contrary, by labor and toil night and day we were working so as not to impose an expensive burden upon any one of you. …. ‘If anyone does not want to work, neither let him eat’”.
Note the Apostle Paul did not eat food from anyone free, rather he and his travelling companions like Barnabas and Luke, toiled to support themselves. Why? To show love for their fellow Christians by NOT imposing an expensive burden upon any one of them. If someone did not want to support themselves then the Christians were not duty-bound to support them.
But those early Christians did help one another out, they helped those poor through no fault of their own. Those hit by famine in Jerusalem were assisted by those in Macedonia and Achaia according to Romans 15:26, 28. 2 Corinthians 8:19-21 records how Titus was appointed by those local congregations because they fully trusted him, to go with the contribution, with the apostle Paul, to see it administered in Jerusalem and report back to them. Did Paul take umbrage at that? No, he welcomed it, wanting to show how honest he was, “not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men”.
How different this attitude of the Apostle Paul was to the Organization today. Today, the Organization asks for donations for relief but does not provide verifiable proof as to how these donations are used. Further, the Organization expects to be supported free of charge by every one of us rank and file witnesses. How different from the example of the early Apostles, who truly had the mind of Christ. How can this Organization be appointed by God or Jesus with practices like these?
Many charities and small religions of this world provide a public full set of accounts, showing exactly where their donations are spent.
There are many others, but for example, see what the Mormons do here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finances_of_The_Church_of_Jesus_Christ_of_Latter-day_Saints
This states “The LDS Church maintains an internal audit department that provides its certification at each annual general conference that contributions are collected and spent in accordance with established church policy. In addition, the church engages a public accounting firm (currently Deloitte) to perform annual audits in the United States of its not-for-profit,[7] for-profit,[8] and some educational[9][10] entities.” And “The church does disclose its financials in the United Kingdom[5] and Canada[6] where it is required to do so by law. In the UK, these financials are audited by the UK office of PricewaterhouseCoopers.”
It is true that any congregations in the UK that were registered as Charities were required to have their accounts audited by a certified accountant, but that was always done by Witnesses who were certified accountants, never by a public accounting firm. Witnesses are only ever given reports of the accounts of Congregations, circuits, and circuit assemblies. Regional Assemblies, branch offices, and headquarters never read out an account report, much less publicly report it, why not? Remember the Apostle Paul wanted to be clearly seen and all above board as the saying is. What a contrast!!
Does the Organization show love for its brothers and sisters in this way? Arguably not.
Does the Organization show live and compassion for those that go against Bible principles or the Organization’s view of right and wrong? Arguably No. The stance on disfellowshipping is particularly unloving and when one digs into the scriptures one finds it is not scripturally based. This subject has been covered many times on this site.
Paragraphs 4-8 deal with the subject “Be a Peacemaker”. As in previous Watchtower articles before we are told that when others do bad things to us, we should make the peace. It does not even hint that the perpetrator should change. This allows the perpetrators to continue their actions, knowing they can point to such articles and say “you should forgive me” without repentance on their part, and make the one who finds it difficult to forgive in the wrong. Again, this is one-sided counsel and does not address the issue, nor engender peace or love among fellow witnesses.
Paragraphs 9-13 deals with the subject “Be Impartial”. We have already dealt with the Organization’s lack of example in being impartial. One aspect of being impartial is a lack of favoritism. Most ex-Witness brothers can attest to many cases of clear favoritism being shown, even to the extent of misapplying Jehovah’s attitude to righteous ones to be allowed to show favoritism in the congregation.
Paragraphs 14-19 cover the subject “Be Hospitable”. As usual, this valuable Bible principle is only applied in the Organizational setting, such as putting up fellow witnesses for building projects such as Kingdom Halls. What it does not cover is how those witnesses who showed hospitality in this way will feel when that Kingdom Hall that they were helping to build, is then sold off, like so many in North America and Europe are being disposed of.
All in all, another missed opportunity, and shows up the Organization’s own hypocrisy in not even attempting to live up to the standards it preaches. Rather let us apply the Bible principles covered of being a peacemaker, being impartial, not showing favoritism, and being hospitable where we can, in whatever context we can, not just within the Organization of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Archived Comments
We have moved to the Disqus commenting system. To post a new comment, go to the bottom of this page.
Comment by Chet on 2020-05-24 14:33:49
One problem is, that a JW upbringing frequently leaves one unprepared to make a living. I have seen many needy people in congregations whom were needy because they had little in the way of marketable skills and had any ambition to succeed systematically suppressed by irresponsible counsel, irresponsible statements made at meetings and assemblies and literature that encourages full-time field service as a career and hints that God will be so pleased by this that making a living will be all but automatic.
In almost every congregation I attended, there always seemed to be some members whom were living one hiccup from financial disaster. I recall one case where a sister whose husband had died suddenly made it plain that the elders had to provide a place for her and her children to live. It was a tragic situation, but where were the elders supposed to come up with the money to accomplish this? Many of them were not all that well-off themselves.
Paul spoke of self sufficiency and lived it as well. He could have justified depending upon others, but instead he worked to support himself. For probably as long as I can remember, I have found it troubling that some JWs seem to think that there is a special virtue in making no efforts to improve their skills or employability, and to attribute this to somehow making them better prepared to serve God. Some years ago, a young Witness man approached me with a plan that might allow him to have a meaningful full-time job, yet give time to Pioneer. This was probably the only realistic approach I had ever heard. While, even at the time, I was skeptical about Pioneering, I did commend him for realizing that if he chose that path, making a living was still going to be a challenge and that he would have to come up with something more than just leaving it in Jehovah's hands.
If this sort of work ethic were to permeate the world of the Witnesses, there would be more to share with others whom were truly in need because of real problems. 100 families with stable incomes can do a lot more to help one family in their midst that is truly in need than can a congregation filled with people that have menial jobs and little to spare. I'm not suggesting that everyone go out and pursue vast educations, but there are plenty of skills one can acquire which are in demand and will serve to qualify one to make a decent living, even without an endless string of degrees.
If Witnesses would follow the example of Paul, whom was self-sufficient, they would probably do better within the congregations and would likely have a better reputation among their neighbors. Doing away with the notion of full-time ministers as a career, would go a long ways towards helping to alleviate need in the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses.Reply by Tadua on 2020-05-24 19:18:26
Chet
Couldn’t agree more with you.Reply by Chet on 2020-05-24 20:48:00
It’s always saddened me that people raised in the “Truth” are deliberately hindered in learning to make a living. They are hindered by social pressure within some congregations and by unrealistic teachings coming through Watchtower publications, which give lip service, at best, to trade school education, but imply that if you choose to pioneer, which is a manmade distinction of their own making, that you will gain greater blessings.
There are a lot of young JWs that believe pioneering equates to “seeking first the Kingdom” and expect that all they need to do is pioneer and the opportunities will open up for them. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work out that way. The problem is, if Armageddon doesn’t happen when the Watchtower Organization implies it will, you will end up with a person that has little, if any, in the way of transferable skills and they will end up at a disadvantage in the job market.
There are real costs. I have seen many young Witness men that were poor providers, because they have not been properly prepared to make a living. There are others that feel guilty if they are prospering and have seen some very self defeating behavior result from this.
The list goes on, but the point is that God is not honored by poverty. He is much more honored when productive people of good repute show their devotion to Him and bear Witness.Reply by Chet on 2020-05-25 21:51:46
The Organization has framed its own doom. By putting pressure on its youth to become “full time ministers”, they have raised generations of young JWs that can not afford to donate much in the way of money.
When I was still attending meetings, I tended not to do well at making a living. Being bombarded with bad advice from the platform and bad counsel from the elders certainly didn’t help matters. I couldn’t afford to give much back in those days, and I wouldn’t give them a penny, these days.
Now, with congregations told to keep a reserve of 3 months operating expenses and send that rest to Patterson, it doesn’t take much for them to feel the pinch at the local level.
As things go locally, so will they organizationally, in the long run. Right now, they seem to be cashing in on a lot of real estate, but sooner or later, that will have to come to an end. Then what? They are already dropping frequent hints that they need donations, so the chance of them being able to fund building of new Kingdom Halls doesn’t sound likely. I wouldn’t claim to know their net worth, but I suspect that it’s not increasing, beyond perhaps the inflation of the price of properties they own. Are they leveraged? If so, there could be some real fireworks, especially in view of the effect these quarantines would be bound to have on donations.
I’ve said it before; stock up on popcorn, because things may get very interesting.
Reply by Lucas Bridge on 2020-05-26 17:29:40
Wow! That was nearly me! I almost threw my career away due to pressure from members of the congregation that felt I should be doing more for the watchtower this fueled my depression and nearly cost my job. To be honest looking back now the advice I was given didn't come from a place of care about my spirituality but more from a fact that I had a well paid job which they was jealous of due to them taking the watchtowers 'command' to take up menial work. How sad.
Reply by Chet on 2020-05-26 20:16:52
I’ve experienced the same thing. Passing up opportunity is not part of my character and I’ve always enjoyed working. Sometimes, I had the impression that some in the congregation were jealous, not because I was wealthy (which I’m not), but because I felt free to pursue work that interested me. Some of the guys I grew up with never got beyond fairly menial work, in spite of being intelligent and capable.
At this point in life, my work is very satisfying and I can’t complain about where I ended up. However, for decades, any sort of work I proposed as a way to make a living was shot down by someone or another, in the family.
At one point, I was self employed and doing fairly well, but was sternly counseled by an uncle that my line of work would never be reliable. Later on, I told that same uncle that I had an in for an entry level job at an airline and he told me that I’d be working with the scum of the earth in that job and should consider something else. A job I proposed which required a fair amount of training was shot down as being impossible so ‘late in the System’, and on it went. No matter what I came up with, that wasn’t acceptable, according to him.
Looking back, there was no choice you could make which would satisfy these people, because they weren’t seeking a satisfactory solution; they were seeking to control others and that was all.
Reply by Chet on 2020-05-26 20:20:29
I doubt that Jacob or Job would be criticized, unless someone was hoping to borrow money from them. In the current Organization; how long would it take before they disfellowshipped Jesus? He’d be a lightning rod for criticism.
Reply by Frankie on 2020-05-29 16:27:33
Well said Just Asking. You showed examples of how Jesus behaved in certain situations. Jesus' conduct is a great example for me, for you, for everyone. To be Christian means to have Jesus' mind. I often say in my prayers, "Lord, may I always have your mind."
Our brother Paul clearly expressed it - Christians have the Christ's mind:
""For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ." (1 Cor 2:16).
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil 2:5). Strong words.
Jesus never behaved arrogantly, did not dictate to anyone, did not ask anyone for money, and did not speak of cruel emotional blackmail as a loving measure (shunning).
It is beyond understanding that he would cover up the abuse of children among his disciples so as not to throw offense at his Father (there were tears in my eyes when I was writing this sentence).
Do GB members then have the mind of Christ? If not, are they Christians, with respect to Paul's words? It's just a rhetorical question. I do not answer. I only pray that God will do to them what He promised in Ezekiel's prophecy:
" ... I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh." (Ez 11:19).
Frankie
Comment by London18 on 2020-05-24 17:49:43
Thank you we always enjoy your articles. Excellent points! The love in the organization is empty because it is riddled with judgement. You will only receive fake love if you have titles that the GB approve of. How can you love the way Christ loved us if you are judging each other? Jesus gave us the new commandment to love each other as he loved us. Jesus often stated he did not come to judge. The GB is constantly measuring out judgements on the rank and file and Jesus stated with the measure you are measuring out it will be measured out to you. I like the NLT bible Matthew 7:2 "For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged." That is what you do in your articles and on this site. You use their standard of judgement and measure them by it!! Honestly, with the harm they have done to people over the years myself included I feel like that movie Home...sad mad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvBnnuHs_rQ
Comment by Zazza on 2020-05-28 15:09:06
Het kostbare evangelie ademt en getuigt van Gods onvoorwaardelijke liefde in Christus.
Als ik in oprecht geloof deze liefde proef, weet ik twee dingen: Ik heb niets kunnen doen , waardoor ik deze liefde verdiend zou hebben, en zelfs bij fouten en zonden, wanneer ik oprecht berouw heb, zal ik deze liefde nooit kwijt geraken.
De onvoorwaardelijke vorm van deze Goddelijke liefde zonder enige vorm van een (economische)) tegenprestatie, zoals kerkelijke instituten of organisaties wel willen laten geloven: Als je dit niet doet ( mensenleringen) of het verplicht voldoen aan kerkelijke opgelegde activiteiten ga je naar de hel, of wordt je vernietigd bij het laatste oordeel, ademt niet de ware betekenis uit van Gods onvoorwaardelijke liefde in Christus.
Dit gezegd zijnde : Een zeer goede samenvattingen van de Wachttorenstudie.
Comment by Frankie on 2020-05-29 18:28:47
Thank you, Tadua, for your true analysis of relations within congregations. Maybe not in all of them, but if there are exceptions, they just confirm the rule. You also remembered the verse - John 13:35. Love is over all, especially in difficult times.
The first three paragraphs talked about each of us, including me. You gave me a mirror to look at. I see a large timber in the eye of GB, but in the mirror of the Bible I also see a splinter (hope it is only splinter) in my eye.
"If anyone with earthly possessions sees his brother in need, but withholds his compassion from him, how can the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:17).
I don't know about anyone at the moment, but that doesn't mean someone doesn't exist in my area.
Maybe someone doesn't have a lot of money, but he/she can help in other ways - buy something for quarantined elderly people, get help, please with a good word, get a disinfectant or a mask, make sure that lonely people are OK, take care of the vulnerable. Simply to bring some fruit to our brother's, sister's or neighbor's table (Gal. 5:22).
I've always been upset by the mantra that has appeared regularly in the WT literature - "can you do more?" Well, of course I can do more. I will divide myself into 10 parts and each part of me will still be able to do more. I can't imagine Jesus asking his disciples this.
Everyone can help each other according to situation and abilities. Christian ministry involves a number of different things that we can do for the benefit and pleasure of others. And here, any question "you can do more" is absolutely unacceptable, because if someone does something out of love, then he or she is already doing "more".
FrankieReply by Chet on 2020-05-29 21:23:13
Asking “can you do more” is a perfect example of the loaded language the Organization likes to use. It is designed to play upon self doubt because in theory, everybody could “do more”. But that’s not a reasonable question. We have to manage our resources responsibly, especially our time. I could stay awake all night helping someone in need, but if I do that too often I will quickly find myself in need. God loves a cheerful giver, but to be a cheerful giver, we have to be reasonable. Each of us has to give, whether of our time or our other resources, as we personally resolve.
Comment by Truth-Seeker on 2020-06-06 03:32:41
Hi everybody! As usual the article raps things up very well. I would only like to add what was said: "Do the Governing Body and missionaries and Bethel families show love for the brothers and sisters by living free at their expense? Arguably not." I would leave out the "missionaries and Bethel families". Living at Bethel in itself is a sacrifice. At least, I feel I sacrificed 3.5 years of my life. I don't think missionaries have it any better either. Those in power, however, - yes - they have taken advantage of their position for their own conveniences in my opinion. How they will be judged by 'the Judge of All the Earth', of course, is not my business.
Reply by Tadua on 2020-06-06 06:59:24
Hi, truthseeker, I would not deny for one moment that for many missionaries and bethelites it is a sacrifice on their part. The point I was making was that the sacrifice in their part and in the part of the brothers and sisters supporting them, was both unnecessary and not scriptural.
Reply by Truth-Seeker on 2020-06-06 07:18:20
Your point was well taken, Bro! Yes, unnecessary and not scriptual burdens placed upon our brothers. I also have respect for soldiers that fight and die in wars that are unnecessary and not authorized by God. I think their sacrifice, while in vain, is to be honored as I assume they acted 'in good faith'. No, I didn't in the least think you were minimalizing their sacrifice. It was just an added thought to indicate where the liability lies.