Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Does the Organization of Jehovah's Witnesses Do Any Charity Work?

Just like Christ our organization teaches us to help the poor in any way that we can. But Jesus also never organized shelters or "Benevolence funds."

The W(atch) T(ower) S(ociety) uses 90%+ of all donations to disaster relief and printing Bibles and bible aids!! Jehovah's Witnesses have no monetary objectives and no individual benefits financially from donations given to the WTS. So you can be sure that the vast majority of any money donated to the WTS ends up going directly to pay for literature and disaster relief. No other religions organization can make this claim.

Witnesses have a fund to help both (J)ehovah's (W)itnesses and non-JWs in disasters and we have a local arrangement which makes sure that any poor and needy in the congregation are cared for. However, we follow the bible's teaching that is a responsibility first of the families. We also point them to the secular arrangements available.

You don't see any Jehovah's Witness "widows and orphans" homeless, begging on the street or lacking in any material needs. But, you do see members of EVERY other religion who are in those situations.

If other religions would take care of their own like the Witnesses we would not need all the food banks, homeless shelters and etc.!

Although doing good deeds for people in need was important to Jesus, preaching about God's Kingdom was his primary mission. And the ONLY needy he fed were those who were his followers! (Mt 14:15-21; 15:32-38; Jn 6:2-13; Rm 15:25,26; 1Cor 16:1; 2Cor 8:4).

People primarily called Jesus a "teacher," not "a healer" or "benefactor" (Jn 1:38; 13:13; Lk 4:43).

The "Great Commission" by Christ was NOT: "Go give to the poor..." or "Go build hospitals... schools... orphanages... old folks homes." He said "Go and make disciples...teaching them" (Mt 24:14; 28:19, 20).

The apostles and first century Christians understood clearly what Christ commanded them to do and in the whole book of acts we find absolutely no record of them setting up public “poor houses," but we do find them preaching! (Mt.24:14; Ac 1:8; 14:21; Rm 10:18; 11:13; Re 14:6).

Since the Bible urges Christians "to follow Jesus' steps closely," Christians today have clear guidance when it comes to setting priorities in their efforts to help others (1Pt 2:21) Like Jesus, they help people in need. However, also like Jesus, they make the work of teaching the Bible's message about the good news of God's Kingdom their top priority (Mt 5:14- 16; 24:14; 28:19, 20; Mk 1:14).

As usual, any criticism of Jehovah's Witnesses also condemns Christ since Witnesses follow Christ's directions exactly!

It is irrefutable that Jehovah's Witnesses are engaged in the greatest Bible education work that has ever occurred in all human history (Mt.24:14; 28:18-20).

Jehovah's Witnesses are publishing the greatest amount of Bible based literature ever published in all human history. Jehovah's Witnesses are now publishing literature in more than 600 languages!

It is also significant that Jehovah's Witnesses distribute bibles and bible based literature worldwide free of charge while other religions’ publishing houses are profit making operations. It is a proven fact that, like most “charitable” organizations, most of these groups are shams or actually end up giving very little to those in need. Money sent to them largely pay for the large salaries of their executives and preachers.

SOURCE: This is an answer provided by BAR_ANERGES to a question at Yahoo Answers.

Also see:

Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Assist With Disaster Relief? (JW.ORG)

Do Jehovah’s Witnesses Only Assist Fellow Members Suffering From War, Natural Disasters, or Other Calamities? (Defend Jehovah's Witnesses)
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