for example: do they provide help for the poor, homeless or community events? like food drives, emergency shelters or any kind of volunteering ?
2007-01-14 05:33:25 · 8 answers · asked by ka'iwi 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Many Jehovah's Witnesses do provide charitable gifts and works in their communities. It is true that INDIVIDUALS in the Christian congregation are required to be charitable, and to help with the practical needs of those in need.
(James 1:26,27) If any MAN seems to himself to be a formal worshiper... The form of worship that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation, and to keep oneself without spot from the world [caps added]
(Isaiah 58:6-7) Is not this the [worship] that I choose?... Is it not the dividing of your bread out to the hungry one, and that you should bring the afflicted, homeless people into your house? That, in case you should see someone naked, you must cover him, and that you should not hide yourself from your own flesh?
Jesus clearly taught that the needy should not be the FOCUS of Christian efforts. After all, this entire system of things will be replaced by a godly new system very soon!
(Matthew 26:8-11) The disciples became indignant and said: “Why this waste? For this [valuable oil] could have been sold for a great deal and been given to poor people.” Aware of this, Jesus said to them: “Why do you try to make trouble for the woman? For she did a fine deed toward me. For you always have the poor with you
What would have permanent benefits? Jesus taught that the assignment and purpose of the Christian CONGREGATION is the preaching work. Christianity is based on living in harmony with and preaching the "good news" of God's Messianic Kingdom by Christ Jesus. The true Christian congregation is organized primarily to perform this global Scriptural assignment.
(Matthew 24:14) And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations
(Luke 9:6) They went through the territory from village to village, declaring the good news
(Acts 5:42) Every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus.
By stark contrast with so-called "religious" activists, however, Jehovah's Witnesses note pointedly that biblical "good news" is not about such things as neighborhood initiatives for homelessness or food drives or shelters or abortion or homosexuality or the death penalty or Iraq or pharmaceuticals or psychiatry. Individual Jehovah's Witnesses may have opinions on such issues, but they do not advocate for or against these issues as though it were a primary message from God.
Sadly, so-called "religious" activists distract from the real message of God and obfuscate the bible's "Good News". These self-absorbed religionists focus so much attention of their human agendas that they ignore the godly teachings that can really help people.
Jehovah's Witnesses go from house to house to encourage and upbuild. Their work is to spread the "Good News", which is about the Kingdom of God, and the blessings the Messianic King Christ Jesus will bring.
(Luke 8:1) Journeying from city to city and from village to village, preaching and declaring the good news of the kingdom of God
(Acts 10:36) Declare to them the good news of peace through Jesus Christ
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_04.htm
http://jw-media.org/people/ministry.htm
2007-01-16 02:17:59 · answer #1 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Yes they do, yet no they don't at the same time. To understand this you have to understand how Jws are made up.
Unlike the disorganized nature of other churches, as regards tracking their membership, where an elder cannot easily identify every member, let alone know exactly where they live, in the JWs, they are organized from the bottom up.
You have a certain number of individuals and households, 10-15 individuals, that make up the weekly book study, which is led by an elder, who formally was just a publisher. This elder knows and has frequently visited the homes of each of their group.
10-15 of these book study groups make up a congregation, led by an Overseer. An Overseer is an elder who formally was just a publisher. As stated above, none of these people are professional ministers and don't get paid or compensated in any way. They hold full time jobs, except for those who are retired from their careers. The congregation hold meetings twice a week.
When a congregation reaches 200 active publishers, they are split, and since every member is taught the same, it is simple to come up with a new set of elders from the active publishers.
10-15 congregations make up a circuit, led by a Circuit servant, who formally held a position of an Overseer, an elder, and a publisher. The have twice yearly circuit assemblies.
10-15 circuits make up a district, led by a District Servant, who formally held a position of a Circuit Servant, an Overseer, an elder, and a publisher. The have assemblies once a year, with over 250 of them held yearly all over the world.
With this type of organization, it simply takes one phone call set into motion a massive effort in the event of a disaster or other major event. No need for special committees or divisions.
2007-01-14 07:02:25 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Jehovah’s Witnesses today are also quick to help when disaster strikes. During the summer of 2001, for instance, torrential storms caused major flooding in Houston, Texas, U.S.A. In all, 723 homes of Witnesses were damaged to some extent, many of them quite badly. A disaster relief committee made up of qualified Christian elders was immediately formed to assess individual needs and to allocate relief funds to help the local Witnesses to cope with the situation and repair their homes. Willing volunteers from neighboring congregations performed all the work. One Witness was so appreciative of the help that when she received payment from her insurance company to cover the repairs to her house, she immediately donated the money to the relief fund so that it could help others in need.
There is a kind of giving that is even more important than charity. Jesus alluded to this when a rich young ruler asked what he had to do to get everlasting life. Jesus told him: “Go sell your belongings and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven, and come be my follower.” (Matthew 19:16-22) Notice that Jesus did not just say, ‘Give to the poor and you will get life.’ Instead, he added, “Come be my follower.” In other words, as commendable and beneficial as charitable acts are, Christian discipleship involves more.
Jesus’ chief interest was in helping others spiritually. Shortly before his death, he told Pilate: “For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.” (John 18:37) While he took the lead in helping the poor, healing the sick, and feeding the hungry, Jesus primarily trained his disciples to preach. (Matthew 10:7, 8) In fact, among his final instructions to them was the command: “Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations.”—Matthew 28:19, 20.
Of course, preaching will not solve all the world’s problems. Yet, sharing the good news of God’s Kingdom with all sorts of people glorifies God because preaching accomplishes God’s will and opens the way to everlasting benefits for those who accept the divine message. (John 17:3; 1 Timothy 2:3, 4) Why not listen to what Jehovah’s Witnesses have to say the next time they call? They come with a spiritual gift. And they know that this is the best way that they can give to you.
2007-01-14 05:43:31 · answer #3 · answered by Ra1ph10 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
maximum? 'sturdy Christians' experience their charitable acts should not be touted/bragged approximately. "i'm asking this because of the fact I actual have on no account heard of Jehovah's Witnesses ever assisting out a destitute kin or circulate to the ill interior the Hospitals or the prisoners interior the jails and penitentiaries. they might help one yet another yet not no man or woman who isn't a Witness" Your assertion is thrilling because it is going from saying you have on no account heard of Witnesses doing countless sturdy deeds *that would or won't be real* then you definately circulate 3 steps further and declare Witnesses do not help non Witnesses .. that's the place your assertion fails. As to your further contentions of requiring 'info' .. attractive .. maximum? human beings all of us know do not shop affidavits for those they help to sign, as info ..
2016-10-07 03:42:05 · answer #4 · answered by alia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
yes, but not in a way that the goverment provides,,,they have several huge farms growing food for needy members,,and not just in the states.. clothing food and building materials are sent worldwide to members in need,,all labor,work and support are done without pay by all members who donate their free time..the governing body of the jehovas witnesses is made up of non-paid over-seers who take turns donating their time..alot of these members are teachers ,plumbers,contractors,and everyday people like you and i,,you can visit the watch tower bible and tract sosciety in new york,,they can answer any question you may have.....
2007-01-14 05:56:24 · answer #5 · answered by lowerthanaslave 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
yes we do. whenever there is trouble we help. we are the first ones there to help. we help all year long and we do not brag about it. during the holidays all you hear is help the hungry and homeless, what about the rest of the year. if people would help all year, there would never be homeless and hungry people
2007-01-14 06:16:17 · answer #6 · answered by lover of Jehovah and Jesus 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes,they were the 1st ones to help after the katrina,they help people every day and they never steal or kill or do adultery
2007-01-14 06:59:24 · answer #7 · answered by glad to help :) 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
there's details on www.jw-media.com
2007-01-16 04:27:35 · answer #8 · answered by krobin 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋