More Donation Money Required

Governing body member Stephen Lett, showcased and utilizing televangelism on the JW Broadcasting site, May 2015 edition, denying 'they' ask for money, moments before he asks (albeit indirectly) for money, makes for an embarrassingly obvious hypocritical liar:

http://tv.jw.org/#video/VODStudio/pub-jwb_201505_1_VIDEO

It's a fine demonstration of being like any other money grabbing religious charlatan, and is truly one of the "spiritual" leaders of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Yes, the Supreme Being of the universe needs your money; give generously and please them Him, indeed.  "Listen, Obey, and be Blessed" has never sounded so good to some...Especially for those who are leading the sheep.

Real Estate And The New Donation Arrangement

The Watchtower Society's sold properties in recent years include:

360 Furman Street = $205 million
67 Livingston Street = $18.6 million
89 Hicks Street = $14 million
169 Columbia Heights = $50 million
50 Orange Street = $7.1 million
165 Columbia Heights = $4.1 million
161 Columbia Heights = $3 million
183 Columbia Heights = $6.6 million
105 Willow Street = $3.3 million
34 Orange Street = $2.825 million
Bossert Hotel = $81 million
67 Remsen Street = $3.25 million
173 Front Street, 177 Front Street, 200 Water Street = $30.6 million
117 Adams Street, 55 Prospect Street, 175 Pearl Street, 81 Prospect Street, 77 Sands Street, 90 Sands Street = $375 million

TOTAL = $804,375,000 in real estate property sales.

The Watchtower Society has also recently arranged for congregations to survey and collect a form indicating a pledge amount publishers commit to in writing that would be donated monthly, in cooperation with a new donation arrangement.

There have been a few letters sent to the elder bodies concerning this arrangement, including a four pages one, in which only the first page was read to the congregation.  The three pages that followed laid the groundwork for the below "adjustments".

In the letter dated May 12, 2014, and shared among the Elder Body alone, it directs:

In part, it stipulates:

1.  Each congregation is allowed to keep 2-3 months of operating expenses in the bank.

2.  A maximum amount of $5000 per Kingdom Hall in additional reserve.

3.  The only other items permitted to be consider and have money set aside is for other already agreed to resolutions such as: The Kingdom Hall Assistance Arrangement, The Traveling Overseer Assistance Arrangement, and now this new arrangement which is completely restructuring finances.

Surplus in the bank is to be sent to the Watchtower Society and not saved by the congregation.  This was covered on page 3 from the letter dated March 29, 2014 (Again, only page 1 was read to the congregation):

The Governing Body has referred to the above restructuring of finances towards a so-called "Kingdom Hall and Assembly Hall construction program".  They are taking practically all of the congregations' saved and surplus money in addition to setting up (indirect) tithing with its members.

Please, Jehovah's Witnesses - WAKE UP!

Hypocritical Arrangement

Having an arguably unequivocal history of bashing and outright slandering of other religions and other religious organizations, with an intent of showing how evil and wicked or misleading those organizations are to people, the following articles are no exception:

Awake! December 8, 1973 issue on page 29, under ‘Watching the World’:

“Church Money

Some religious organizations are going to new ends to acquire money. The Coronation of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church in Buffalo, New York, now accepts credit cards, not just cash donations. One finance committee member says: “A church can’t survive on 50-cent [cash] donations.” Credit-card donations are up to $30. Admission is now being charged visitors to London’s thirteenth-century Salisbury Cathedral. A London Observer article calls this “a last-ditch attempt to find a way of meeting the desperate need for funds.””


Watchtower November 1, 1975 issue on page 651, under ‘Insight on the News’:

“Pray Now, Pay Later

The phrase “pray now, pay later” appeared in a headline of the Philadelphia “Inquirer” in reporting on a church experiment due to go into effect shortly. A group of ten U.S. religions, including some major Lutheran, Episcopal, Methodist and Baptist denominations, have decided to try church collections by credit card. The experiment, sponsored by the National Council of Churches, will encourage participating church members to authorize credit-card transfers of a specified contribution to their church each month. The idea, a Council spokesman says, is that “this will provide the local church with regular income whether or not the local congregation is in attendance,” especially in “off-seasons,” like summer vacation time. The report on the experiment says that those joining the program will be “giving unto business what belongs to business—a profit.” How so? “Participating banks will charge 65 cents a transaction, and the credit card companies will take off 3 percent of every donation.” Obviously someone benefits, but how much spiritual benefit is the modern churchgoer getting?


Awake! August 8, 2003 issue on page 29, under ‘Watching the World’:

Plastic Card Donations

“A growing number of Canadian churches” are adopting “modern banking practices, introducing bank cards and credit cards as convenient ways for parishioners to make collection-plate donations,” says the Vancouver Sun newspaper. Debit machines have been placed in church halls along with “donation envelopes with options for automatic account withdrawal and credit card payment.” Individuals simply swipe their card, key in the amount they wish to donate, and then put a copy of the receipt in the collection plate. As one pastor stated: “A cashless society is where society is going. Why not the church?” A church treasurer joked: “You get air-miles on your card, plus you go to heaven for donations. Just think of it as double reward points.”


Some may see the Watchtower Society being completely in the right and justified in pointing out what can be perceived as the obvious. Money comes first for those religious organizations that install debit/credit machines. The financial well-being of the members is not important, just as long as that religious organization obtains funding the most important goal is being met.

What we really have is not only the bashing and the passive aggressive style of the Watchtower Society shining through once again, but the reaching of all-new levels of hypocrisy.

The following letter dated August 25, 2011 has been sent and read to all congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses in the United States:

"TO ALL CONGREGATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES


Re: Donations at circuit events by debit or credit card

Dear Brothers:

At Deuteronomy 16:15, Jehovah commanded those celebrating the festival of booths: “You must become nothing but joyful.” Similarly, circuit assemblies and special assembly days are always joyous occasions because of Jehovah’s abundant blessing. In view of this, many show appreciation by making voluntary contributions at the assembly.

As in previous years, voluntary contributions can be placed in the contribution boxes either in cash or by check made payable to the circuit. However, a new arrangement for making donations by debit or credit card has been approved for congregations that hold their circuit events in Assembly Halls. Locations for making debit or credit card donations will be announced at the assembly.

We pray Jehovah’s rich blessing on your preparations to attend the circuit assembly and special assembly day programs for the 2012 service year.

Your brothers,

Christian Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses"


Unsurprisingly, the Watchtower Society has hypocritically went forth to have machines installed to process credit/debit cards of members.  The organization is trying to ensure it receives donations, regardless of the consequences to publishers who will be ‘inclined’ to donate despite their financial circumstances.

In fairness, let's view possible supporting ideas of the arrangement:

-Don’t have cash on hand to drop in the ‘voluntary’ contribution boxes? No problem. Just swipe your credit card! Jehovah will be pleased. It shows your loyalty and devotion to him and his organization. Your sacrifice, support and ultimate praise to Jehovah will be rewarded!

-Has that emotional…”encouraging” talk at the assembly stirred you to action and you don’t have money on hand to drop towards ‘Jehovah’s’ organization? Just swipe that card!

-Contribute with credit now! The end is just around the corner…Don’t worry about the bills or years of debt…This system will be long gone soon but you will have stored up 'treasure in heaven'.

-Can you not afford to donate by credit card to the Worldwide Work at this time of the end?

-Satan’s system would have you believe you cannot afford to donate by credit card. Don’t let that discourage you!  Donate and run the race for life with endurance to the end.

Knowing how the Watchtower Society twist scripture to fit their purposes at times, they could even try something like this…

All true Christians should be able to rightly claim “we have no credit to ourselves.” – 1 Corinthians 8:8.

Bash other religions, call them evil, of Satan’s system or whatever else, but as soon as the Watchtower Society implements or practices the same, Jehovah’s Witnesses are a blessed people with a loving arrangement.

Truth is Jehovah’s Witnesses are a victimized, brain-washed people, inside a hypocritical organization. The organization will continue to show its true colors with the passing of time. The book and magazine publishing company at its foundation has moved to real estate for money and outright, unapologetic taking of funds. It’s hungering to survive and trying to hold back the curtain.

However, the members need to look behind the curtain and see what is really going on around them. What the Watchtower blatantly stated of other religious organizations can easily and evidently be applied to them:

“…a last-ditch attempt to find a way of meeting the desperate need for funds.”

“…giving unto business what belongs to business—a profit.”

“Obviously someone benefits, but how much spiritual benefit is the modern [kingdom hall] goer getting?”

“You get air-miles on your card, plus you [survive Armageddon] for donations. Just think of it as double reward points.”

Hypocrisy, money and greed...Welcome to the Watchtower Society, the organization behind, running and controlling, Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Friendship with Jesus Christ

Jehovah’s Witness are taught that friendship with Jesus Christ is highly contingent upon their obedience and support of the Watchtower Society. This has been detailed in many of the Watchtower Society’s publications which Jehovah’s Witnesses are instructed to study and meditate upon.

Let’s take one example: The Watchtower from October 15, 2009 on page 15, under the subheading ‘Friendship with Christ Today’ states the following in paragraph 14:

"How, then can we be friends of Christ? One way is to obey the direction provided by the faithful and discreet slave class, which consists of Jesus' spirit-anointed brothers still alive on earth."


The “faithful and discreet slave class” as mentioned above, consists for Jehovah’s Witnesses of several men who reside in Brooklyn, NY who supposedly look over and approve all literature or ‘spiritual food’ provided to Jehovah’s Witnesses. They set doctrines such as not allowing the transfusion of whole blood, blood fractions are a conscience matter, no celebrating of holidays or birthdays and the shunning of former Jehovah’s Witnesses besides many other regulations and teachings.

It is sickening to think that one’s friendship with Jesus is conditioned with obedience to these men. The article does not stop there though. Continuing further in paragraph 17, this statement is made for Jehovah’s Witnesses to believe as truth:

"A second way that those of the other sheep class can help Christ's brothers is by financially supporting the preaching work."


While Kingdom Halls of Jehovah’s Witnesses will not ‘pass around plates’ so to speak, there are ‘contribution boxes’ found throughout their places of worship. While such monetary contribution may appear on the surface to be voluntary, what is being taught is if you want to be a friend of Jesus you will financially support the preaching work. The Watchtower Society has been masters over many years of causing Jehovah’s Witnesses to ‘read between the lines’ of the indoctrinating messages they dispense in their literature such as the Watchtower. This is just another example of one of them.

If the high level control has not enforced itself enough with this study article for Jehovah’s Witnesses, the next paragraph drives the obedience and support of the Watchtower Society organization home once more. Paragraph 18 brings the following admonition and instructions:

"A third way that all of us prove that we are friends of Christ is by cooperating with the direction provided by congregation elders."
&
"When we overlook the faults of the elders and joyfully follow their directions, we prove our love for Christ."


As if obedience to the men in Brooklyn, NY were not enough along with the financial support of the organization’s preaching work of distributing their literature and asking for money in order to solidify friendship with Jesus, Jehovah’s Witnesses are taught that cooperating with the Elders including overlooking their faults and following their directions is what proves your love for Him.

To be friends of Jesus Christ and to prove your love for Him, requires your obedience and support of the Watchtower Society. How convenient for the organization and how terribly controlling for its members.

How much so it contradicts the Bible which clearly states Jesus’ words regarding love and friendship. Even in the Watchtower Society’s version of the Bible, The New World Translation states in John 15: 13-15:

“No one has love greater than this, that someone should surrender his soul in behalf of his friends. YOU are my friends if YOU do what I am commanding YOU. I no longer call YOU slaves, because a slave does not know what his master does. But I have called YOU friends, because all the things I have heard from my Father I have made known to YOU.”


Jesus never mentioned obedience to an organization as being a stipulation on whether or not he would be friends with an individual. Never was there any hint of financially support a 19th century started publishing company in order to show love or have His friendship either. Furthermore, the notion of going along and joyfully following the directions of elders in the religion of Jehovah’s Witnesses in order to prove one’s love for Jesus is so far gone from anything that Christ taught.

It is clearly evident that while the Watchtower Society may print articles respecting ‘Friendship with Jesus’, what their real motive reveals is a controlling, manipulative message of obedience and support of their organization.

Jimmy Swaggart and his friend of the court, The Watchtower Society

Many Jehovah's Witnesses do not know the truth about The Watchtower Society and their relationship with Jimmy Swaggart. This is an important matter to consider since Jehovah's Witnesses are taught that all other religions are false and will be destroyed due to their receiving unfavorable judgment by God, and any ties or association with them results in the same judgment.

One of the end results of what Jimmy Swaggart and the Watchtower Society experienced together is the Watchtower Society changing its literature distribution program in 1990, which eliminated paying for literature items and going to a “donation arrangement”.

Jehovah's Witnesses were read a letter explaining the change to a “donation arrangement” this way...

"By adopting a method of literature distribution based completely on donation, Jehovah's people are able to greatly simplify our Bible education work and separate ourselves from those who commercialize religion."

Is this the whole truth? Notice the chain of events which took place:

EARLY 1980...
Jimmy Swaggart Ministries is informed by the State of California that tax is due on all publications sold since 1974 in the state. The total of which is $183,000.00. Swaggart pays the tax but sues for a refund. This puts the wheels in motion for the case moving toward the U.S. Supreme Court.

FEBRUARY 1989...
The U.S. Supreme Court rules sales taxes must be paid for religious publications sold. Although some states had been taxing religious publications from the start, Texas along with 14 other states were not doing so previously.

LATE SPRING/SUMMER 1989...
During the U.S District Conventions of Jehovah's Witnesses, the Watchtower Society gives away books for free. Instruction is provided to Jehovah's Witnesses to place "donations" for covering costs in the Contribution boxes located throughout the faculty.

JUNE 22, 1989...
The Watchtower Society files a "friend of the court" brief (amicus curiae) with the U.S. Supreme Court in the Jimmy Swaggart taxation case. This places the Watchtower Society with other religious organization performing similar acts such as Krishna Consciousness and the National Council of Churches.

JANUARY 17, 1990...
The U.S. Supreme Court upholds that sales tax must be paid on all religious publications ruling against Jimmy Swaggart,

FEBRUARY 9, 1990...
The Watchtower Society prepares a letter to be sent and read to all congregations announcing that literature will no longer be sold but offered at a "donation" basis.

FEBRUARY 25, 1990...
The Watchtower Society's letter is read to the congregations of Jehovah's Witnesses throughout the U.S.

MARCH 1, 1990
New "donation arrangement" goes into effect, including distributing magazines and books door-to-door without stating a price.

After thoughts...
The March 15, 1990 Watchtower and the Match 22nd Awake still carried a 25 cents a copy and 5 dollars a year listing in their respective magazine. If this was such a well thought out and planned move by a so-called Godly directed organization, why were the prices still there after such a planned adjustment? The reason is it was not planned, not thought out, and not Godly directed. It was a quick business decision to avoid taxation.

Why did the Watchtower Society not provide the whole truth to Jehovah's Witnesses? They could easily have provided the entire truth through their letters to the congregations. Instead, they chose to hide the facts and fabricate a reason which made it appear as if there were no ulterior motive to their prescribed "donation arrangement."