This would range from offering simple assistance to any sick or elderly person when we encounter them at the door, such as offering to go to the chemist for medication, helping out with shopping, spending time chatting to lonely elderly people who have little family support...to offering assistance to anyone who showed interest in God's word in any way we can. We don't talk about this except between ourselves because it isn't our primary focus. We do this on a personal needs basis as we encounter a problem that we can help with as individuals. (Like the good Samaritan)
We are dedicated to preaching the best news there is for anyone who hates the suffering and inequality of this world ruled by the devil. (1 John 5:19) The kingdom is the only sure hope we have. Jesus told us to preach it in all the earth and that is exactly what his disciples have been doing for the last hundred years. (Matthew 24:14; Matthew 28:19-20)
How can we judge who can 'help themselves'? Where are we commanded to make such a judgement? Isn't it possible that God helps people through those who give freely?
We don't judge people on anything except their own behavior. Insincere ones will soon demonstrate their true intentions. I remember offering to help a struggling family in my small country town whom I had been calling on and offering assistance to for some time. (I made clothing for their children, gave the family free haircuts and generally helped them out when I could.) I loaned them my car whilst my husband and I were away for the weekend because their car had broken down and he needed to get parts to fix it.They showed their gratitude by taking a trip to Queensland in my car without telling me. Their children let the cat out of the bag later but only after I noticed that there were several thousand K's added to my odometer.
They moved away not long afterwards to no doubt take advantage of someone else's good nature. Jesus too waited for people to show their real motives. After he had fed the multitudes, they returned and he asked them if they had just come back for the food. (Rice Christians. John 6:25-27)
Thankfully, mine are beyond that stage, but although it is a time for questioning authority and establishing identity, teens are also unwilling to cause distress to a parent they love, and are capable of logic and restraint.
I found it particularly important to give them honest, complete and balanced information on everything they asked; it led to mutual trust and good decisions.
I am facing this now with grandchildren. All mine are low to high teens and as I mentioned, my brother in law drives the school bus and is appalled at how the behavior of the primary school age children is making his job a nightmare. He is dreading them going to high school. He has been doing this work for the last 10 years and has seen a steady decline in their behavior. Parents have lost control because of the laws that now prevent any real discipline. Expelling or suspending kids from school is a holiday, not a punishment.
I don't think vague conspiracy theories are relevant to this thread, although of course it's yours.
The topic has been thoroughly discussed already. Tangents are now inevitable I'm afraid.
Who, apart from jws, are this 'lot of people'? And whatever is this 'seeming breaking point'?
I sometimes wonder what bubble you live in?
The world is caught up in the greatest humanitarian crisis in its history and you haven't noticed? The economies of many once very strong nations are at critical levels and yet everything is OK in your world? Morally and spiritually human lives have "gone to hell in a hand basket" and things are still hunky dory for you? Really? The scourge of drug addiction (now with ice) has reached epidemic levels among people of all ages and the heartbreak is hard to watch as people trash their lives and can never recover. I cannot divorce myself from the suffering I see everywhere. Maybe you can?
I have an elderly mother who is not a JW. She can see very clearly what I have been trying to tell her for years. She now admits that she can see the world heading in a dangerous direction. She also understands that humans cannot promise to fix any of it because the system simply will not allow it. She has joined many other Australians in becoming immune and annoyed by political campaigns. Lies...all lies. We notice too in talking to people at their doors that their concerns are escalating. We have a finger on the public 'pulse' because we talk to them all the time.They tell us what concerns them.
Yes, the concept has been around. But it seems your only problem with it is that it isn't headed by God. I can understand the appeal of the idea, frankly, but doubt even a partial 'world government' has a chance in the foreseeable future.
It will come in by deception. What the world signs up for will not appear to be anything but a way out of a hopeless situation. It will promise freedom and justice..."peace and security"......but will deliver nothing but a loss of every freedom that humans have fought for all these years.
1 Thess 5:1-6:
"Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober."
The laws you reference are not based on the Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 (CRC), but the processes may well have been modified after the ratification. Basically the premise is that a child of 15+ years will wreak havoc if forced to live where they absolutely don't want to. This may be because of problems with the child (eg substance abuse, rebellion) or the environment (violence, over-controlling, even incest). Or both. This is now treated as 'irreconcilable differences' and as for divorce and settlements, the courts and services try hard for mediation, counselling and a peaceful settlement of differences. Where this is not possible, I think it would be a relief for both the child and family not to be at loggerheads. In the case you mention I find the actions of the 'renegade uncle' hard to fathom.
Once you give children rights with no real responsibility, it is a recipe for disaster.
Now, a suggestion. I cannot see how we can progress the subject of blood transfusions when you will not read any current medical literature on the subject (in case it has been written by apostates; have I understood that rightly?)
Not exactly. I have offered my reasons for why many in the medical profession refuse to budge on a procedure that they have practiced for decades. They are reluctant to admit that they may have actually harmed anyone because the first rule of physicians is "do not harm". It appears as if the patients, in the majority of cases (according to their own numerous studies) survived in spite of the blood transfusions administered to them, rather than because of them. The medical profession has its "dinosaurs" as any nurse in a hospital environment will tell you. They would rather play Russian Roulette with a patients life than admit they might be wrong after all these decades.
Proud? Stubborn? Arrogant? Sadly, yes. The independent studies speak for themselves. You cant ignore their findings. The medical data prove that what they are saying is true and that they have known about this for years. To continue is just irresponsible.
Could we take our discussion of the other matters (including doctrines) to your thread "How can we identify true worship" where it might fit better?
Sounds good.
