JW's and offering?

Question

I keep seeing on here JW's take no offerings in church. My first question is why? And my second question is how do you pay for the church utilities, pastor's salary, and other needed things. Do you guys just give money at other times?

I know in that Paul told the churches how to take up collections so I can't see there being anything wrong with it.

1Co 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.
1Co 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

Moises_Frias - Not asking about tithe. I am asking about offerings which is a NT thing. For example the verses I quoted.

Bill - do you have a point?

Conundrum - thanks for the invite but I have a church that I love. Not looking for another one.

Answer 1

Many times the elders have scolded the congregation during meetings because the set donation amount hasn't been met. Sometimes we are urged to donate a certain amount a month. So sometimes is not voluntary but OBLIGATORY

Answer 2

we as JW's have no "pastor" no one gets paid for doing what they do, the brothers in the congregation are not paid for teaching the congregation.

Utilities and up keep, building of kingdom halls, etc. is all done by voluntary donations. We have a contribution box located in the back of the kingdom hall, it is marked for separate things, such as local fund & for the worldwide work, (which goes to the printing of the magazines and books)

We have no plate that is passed.,

Once a month we have our accounts read to show how much was received and how much was spent for expenses.

We do not sell our magazines they are free, some do ask for donations, and those go directly to the worldwide fund. But if you don't want to contribute to that fund, thats fine, the literature is still free.

Answer 3

Supported by Voluntary Donations

The Bible sets the pattern. Under the Mosaic Law, there were certain contributions that were voluntary. Others were required of the people. The giving of a tithe, or tenth part, was one of the latter. (Ex. 25:2; 30:11-16; Num. 15:17-21; 18:25-32) But the Bible also shows that Christ fulfilled the Law, and God brought it to an end; so Christians are not bound by its regulations. They do not tithe, nor are they under obligation to give any other contribution of a specified amount or at a particular time.—Matt. 5:17; Rom. 7:6; Col. 2:13, 14.

Instead, they are encouraged to cultivate a spirit of generosity and liberality in imitation of the marvelous example set by Jehovah himself and by his Son, Jesus Christ. (2 Cor. 8:7, 9; 9:8-15; 1 John 3:16-18) Thus, with reference to giving, the apostle Paul wrote to the Christian congregation in Corinth: “Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” When informed of a need, this presented them with ‘a test of the genuineness of their love,’ as Paul explained. He also said: “If the readiness is there first, it is especially acceptable according to what a person has, not according to what a person does not have.”—2 Cor. 8:8, 12; 9:7.

IT IS obvious that the work carried on by Jehovah’s Witnesses requires money. Building Kingdom Halls, Assembly Halls, branch offices, factories, and Bethel homes involves money, and more is needed to maintain them. Expenses are also incurred in publishing and distributing literature for Bible study. How is all of this financed?

Unfounded speculations regarding this have been publicized by persons who oppose the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses. But a review of the evidence supports the answer that the Witnesses themselves give. What is that? Most of the work is done by volunteers, who neither expect nor desire financial return for their services, and organizational expenses are met by voluntary donations.

Answer 4

no one in the Kingdom Hall gets paid. we do not pass around a plate like in churches. we give as much or as little as we want. no one is forced to give. all the bills get paid each month. the elders do not yell at us if there is not enough money for the bills. when we offer the books, watchtower and awakes people we don't ask for money unless someone wants to give us money and that money goes right into the box in the back of the hall

Answer 5

Is it not interesting, most people when quoteing a scripture, never follow up, never read farther than the scripture they quote.

But when I get there, whatever men YOU approve of by letters, these I shall send to carry YOUR kind gift to Jerusalem. 4 However, if it is fitting for me to go there also, they will go there with me.

Paul is going to take this collection to Jerusalem, to Brothers & Sisters that are in need.

Rather than specifying an amount or a percentage, Paul merely suggested that “on the first day of every week, each one, should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income.” By planning and reserving an amount on a regular basis, the Corinthians would not feel pressured into giving begrudgingly or on emotional impulse when Paul arrived. For each Christian, the decision of how much to give was to be a private matter, one that ‘he had resolved in his own heart.’

No suggestion of giving until it hurts was ever made. ‘I do not mean for it to be hard on you,’ Paul assured them. Contributions were ‘especially acceptable according to what a person had, not according to what a person did not have.’ (2 Corinthians 8:12, 13; 9:6) In a later letter, the apostle warned: “If anyone does not provide for those who are members of his household, he has disowned the faith and is worse than a person without faith.” (1 Timothy 5:8) Paul did not encourage giving that violated this principle.

It is significant that Paul supervised a ‘collection for the holy ones’ who were in need. We do not read in the Scriptures about Paul or the other apostles organizing collections or receiving tithes to finance their own ministries. Always grateful to receive the gifts that the congregations sent him, Paul conscientiously avoided imposing “an expensive burden” on his brothers.

Today the worldwide work of Jehovah’s people keeps expanding, requiring ever-increasing financial support. It is appropriate that we too “set something aside” regularly to help fill the need. (2 Cor. 8:3, 4) Material giving can be done in a variety of ways.
We rightly view this as a privilege that brings real happiness.

We have no paid Ministers, we have Elders in the Congregation that are just as qualified or more so than the ministers of other religions, we have utility bills, such as gas, phone, electric, we have contribution boxes in the back of the building, no one tells anyone how much to donate, we do not charge for any of our publications, VCR, or CD's, if a person wishes to contribute to the world wide preaching work, it would be accepted.

Answer 6

They do not pass a plate for collections. I believe there is a slot on the wall for people to put their collections.

BTW, JWs don't have a pastor system like most churches do.
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Answer 7

We take no formal offerings, IE, pass the plate. We do have contribution boxes discretely placed within the Kingdom Halls. No one need know what anyone else, does or doesn't give.

Answer 8

Edge, why dont you Visit a Kingdom hall and find out for yourself instead, while you there put some Money in the Contribution box.

Answer 9

Jehovah's Witnesses make donations (as much as they wish) which are used to spread the good news of God’s Kingdom (producing Bibles and Bible-oriented publications as well as audiocassettes and videocassettes, building Kingdom Halls, sending out traveling overseers to fortify the congregations and to encourage them in their public ministry etc.)

"... there is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving." -- Acts 20:35

Answer 10

There is generally a box with a cut slot in it for contributions inside the Kingdom Hall. They use the moneys from the sales of their publications and their contributions to run their system worldwide. The people who go to doors and receive 'donations' for their publications do not get any of the moneys.

Answer 11

According to Ephesians 2:15 we are not under the old covenant.

"By means of his flesh he abolished the enmity, the Law of commandments consisting in decrees, that he might create the two peoples in union with himself into one new man and make peace"

In USA there are 12,300 congregation and 80,000 elders and around the world 100,000 congregations,all elders do the work for absolutly nothing.

only the one that are in full services as Circuit overseers receive certain amount of money but nothing compare of the salary I have seen in internet that the pastors receive, several times less money.

it would be so easier to tell us " you have to give tithing" instead of "sell" the magazines that is incorrect cause we left the publication if the people want to read no matter if have or haven´t money.

we give contributions of course but that is up to you and nobody ....repeat nobody force you or suggest you ... or know if you give or not give money you can go 10 years to a KH and nobody will know if you don´t give money.