Srecko Sostar

Excellently said!

What you said have logic. But also, if existing members will work more hour in "field service", logically, God will give blessing and more new members will come. And new members will give donations too. With bigger number of members organization will be blessed with more donations. If 8 million members give $1 every week that is $8 million. IF 20 mil members is involved in donation that is $20 mill every week. :)) 

I seem to have failed to write the word — perhaps, and than this or that. Perhaps she was late due to traffic jam.

The uniqueness of JWs’ form of preaching door to door, has come to a halt; even though the organization has stated that nothing would stop them from actively preaching, not even crocodile-infested waters.   Many had put faith in that proclamation.  But now, JWs are using computers to reach people, in the same way those who are not JWs, are doing.  I remember resident Tom scoffing at the idea of preaching and reaching people in this manner.  I also remember quoting Zech 4:6 and it was down voted by someone, which totally baffled me.  How could anyone downplay the power of God’s Spirit to see His will accomplished?   
 The identity of truth, and those who desire it, are under the guidance of the Father and the Son, through the Holy Spirit. (John 6:37; 14:6; 15:26) The identity of falsehoods, and what necessary evils are needed to spread them, are under the guidance of the evil one.  To create the discrepancy between both “preaching” efforts, requires Satan to magnify not only the lie, but the manner in which it is spread. (Matt 7:15,22; 24:24)   It becomes “lust” of the eyes – settling into the heart as a wicked desire.    Luke 6:45
 Whereas truth is pure, not needing regulations, rules and ‘tampering’, to make it palatable by men, to spread it. (James 1:17; Col 2:8, 20-23) The only effort needed, is the love of truth. It does not need massive visual aids to convince the hearer, that it is truth.  It doesn’t need the corporate legal watchdog to preserve it.   Along with Satan’s spiritual influence, his lies rely on large sums money to produce them, and defend them; lies that “tickles the ears” of one lusting after, the desire of the eyes.  (1 John 2:16; 2 Tim 4:3)
 God’s Truth reaches the hearer by Holy Spirit, through Jesus, his teachings, and those who speak it. (John 13:20; 2 Cor 1:12,20)   That is all one needs to not only live by truth, but by preaching it.  If it takes massive efforts to grab money and hold onto it, all to maintain an organization and its visual effects, it is not the source of truth!  It is a powerful deception. 2 Thess 2:9-12
Right now, JWs will either stubbornly uphold their organization with its belly full of “iniquities”; or they will leave it behind and either follow Christ, or perhaps their own desires, just to get away from the regulations and falsehoods of an idol.  Rom 1:25; Rev 13:4;18:4,5
God’s “Temple” of truth, is not an organization that produces lies. (how can any JW refute his or her's organization's falsehoods?)  There are anointed “living stones” of that Temple who speak truth, and do not demand money to provide it. (1 Pet 2:5,9; 1 Cor 3:16,17; Eph 2:20-22)(Matt 10:8; 1 Cor 2:12)  There is absolutely nothing in Christ’s teachings that says we need to adhere to an earthly organization, stationed in the world where exploitation thrives...to receive salvation. (James 3:13-16; Phil 3:18,19)
 
“The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. 25 And He is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26 From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. 27 God did this so that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 28 ‘For in Him we live and move and have our being.” Acts 17:24-28
 
“Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. 2 Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. 4 Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.
 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.”    James 5:1-6,19,20
 
One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon. 2 Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. 3 When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. 4 Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.
6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”  Acts 3:1-6
 
“He has made it clear to you, mortal man, what is good and what the Lord is requiring from you— to act with justice, to treasure the Lord’s gracious love, and to walk humbly in the company of your God.”  Micah 6:8
Matt 6:19,20
 
 
Where is the "True Religion" -- Christ's Body -- God's Temple?  -  https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2012/05/where-is-true-religion.html
 
 

It was and still is all about control of people. It was about the leaders giving orders and the congregants obeying without question. 
That can clearly be seen when proper research is done about the late 1960's and early 1970's, when people sold their houses and possessions and moved into tiny accommodation, just following instructions from their leaders in the Org. Many people were in big trouble financially when Armageddon didn't happen. 
If they were not hung up on money they wouldn't be closing so many Kingdom Halls, Halls that were built on 'free labour' volunteers, just to sell for profit. And they wouldn't have real estate offices in different countries either. 
Keep the people poor, keep the leaders rich. keep control. No different to worldly governments really. 

If 'spiritual food' is falling from heaven it is no where near the CCJW or Watchtower orgs that's for sure. And the GB admit to not being inspired so the spiritual food is no where near them either. 
As regards money, i used to find it funny when the meetings were all about 'simplify your life',  'work less hours',  'no need for a decent education', do a part time manual labouring job,  BUT the Org still wanted donations every week and people still needed cars to get to meetings and were expected to drive around picking up other people that didn't have transport. And as more Kingdom Halls closed people had to drive even further and now, as @Arauna says, people need computers and internet and mobile phones / cell phones. All JWs are expected to have these things. But remember, keep your life simple  . 

So you think I cannot think for myself - think again.  

In a "real word" people should be careful and have critical thinking about "food" placed/offered by their leaders. Leaders in WTJWorg are not completely honest in their intentions and plans. Their theological doctrines and other maneuvers in the “real world,” past and present, are proof that they cannot be trusted.

In a "real word" people should be careful and have critical thinking about "food" placed/offered by their leaders. Leaders in WTJWorg are not completely honest in their intentions and plans. Their theological doctrines and other maneuvers in the “real world,” past and present, are proof that they cannot be trusted.

Its all about Money,Money!

google translation from article in Sweden, - https://www.expressen.se/dinapengar/jehovas-vittnen-kraver-25-miljoner-av-staten/
25 000 000 SEK = cca 2.400.000,00 EUR (2.800.000,00 US Dollar)
 
Jehovah's Witnesses demand 25 million from the state
Published 9 Jul 2020 at 17.00
 
Jehovah's Witnesses have been denied state funding for several years. 
Last year, the government overturned the decision - and now the organization is demanding SEK 25 million in compensation. 
After being denied state subsidies twelve years in a row, the government last year approved the organization as eligible to receive grants for denominations. 
The reason was a ruling by the Supreme Administrative Court which ruled that the practices of Jehovah's Witnesses - such as denying blood transfusions - do not in themselves constitute sufficient grounds for denying state subsidies. 
Requires SEK 25 million
Jehovah's Witnesses believe that their rights under the European Convention have been violated. 
Jehovah's Witnesses are now applying for damages of nearly 25 million in compensation for the years without support, as evidenced by documents produced by News Agency Siren. 
The claim, which has been sent to the Chancellor of Justice, applies to both financial and non-pecuniary damage. Jehovah's Witnesses also include legal costs to claim their case.

- google translation, part of Croatian Law on the Legal Status of Religious Communities
I do not know the status of the JW church in Croatia on this issue.
Article 17
(1) A religious community acquires funds:
- income from its property,
- from the profits of companies which hold shares or stakes,
- performing charitable, educational, cultural, artistic or other general useful activities, and selling religious publications or souvenirs,
- from the provision of religious services,
- from inheritance and gifts,
- from voluntary contributions (in money, services or works) of natural and legal persons.
(2) Religious communities shall be granted funds from the state budget, the annual amount of which shall be determined depending on the type and significance of its religious buildings (cultural, historical, artistic, etc.), and on the activities of the religious community in educational, social and health care. and the cultural field and its contribution to national culture, as well as the humanitarian and community service of the religious community.
(3) Dedicated support may be granted to a religious community from the state budget and the budget of local self-government units and the budget of regional self-government units, especially for the construction and renovation of religious community facilities.
 

UPDATE 
https://nltimes.nl/2020/08/30/dutch-govt-launches-hotline-sexual-abuse-jehovahs-witnesses
DUTCH GOV'T LAUNCHES HOTLINE FOR SEXUAL ABUSE IN JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
 
The government is expanding the 'Break the silence" hotline of Victim Support Netherlands so that there is a special hotline where victims of sexual abuse within the Jehovah's Witnesses can get the help they need, Minister Sander Dekker for Legal Protection announced. The Jehovah's Witnesses refused to set up its own, low-threshold internal hotline, so the Minister decided to do so himself.
"I expect every community or organization to do everything possible to combat sexual abuse and to help and support victims. That is not happening with the Jehovah's Witnesses and I find that extremely bad," Dekker said. "That is why we are reaching out now and victims from this community will soon be able to contact the 'Break the silence' hotline of Victims Support Netherlands. Victims are entitled to professional help and a listening ear, it cannot be that they run into a wall of reluctance."
The government agency for scientific research WODC investigated sexual abuse and the willingness to come forward in the Jehovah's Witnesses, following calls from Foundation Reclaimed Voices to do so, and concluded that there is evidence that coming forward is complicated by the closed nature fo the community. The WODC said it was essential for a low-threshold hotline to be created, and the government is doing so now after repeated instructions to the board of the Jehovah's Witnesses to create such a hotline were ignored. 
Link to article at top of this comment.
I do wonder if Almighty God is using worldly leaders / governments to 'sort out' the CCJW. 
God used worldly nations to punish the Nation of Israel and to destroy Jerusalem. 

Again, I am not singling you out, but just your words, "unrighteous riches".  I wonder, do these riches become "righteous" if used for "Jehovah's organization"?  
I also wonder why the WT even refers to the use of “unrighteous riches”, since the parable reveals that the “manager” who is “shrewd” with “unrighteous riches” is called a “dishonest manager”.    (Luke 16:1-13)
 “And the Master praised the dishonest manager, because he had acted shrewdly. For the sons of this age are shrewder than the sons of light, with regard to their own generation.”  (Luke 16:8)
Do we compare the GB to the “manager” in this parable, or one of the “sons of light”?  They are the GB, after all, managers of an organization.  And, they have also placed themselves above all anointed ones, as stewards/managers over God’s household.  Yet they reject any spiritual “riches”/food from God's priests, that they “owe” the Master (Luke 16:5); which certainly would not be considered “unrighteous” if they were to listen and obey Christ.   
It appears that the GB prefer “unrighteous riches”, both in the terms of money, and in the terms of their own selfish lust for power over Jesus’ servants. They have, without Christ’s approval canceled out any spiritual dept the anointed each must “pay” to the Master upon his return. (Luke 17:10)  How? By teaching that a “faithful steward” over God’s household,  is the only source of spiritual food.   You see?  The anointed are not allowed to offer their personal spiritual food, which is their obligation to the Master.  Instead, they are beaten back from doing so, by the presence of the elder body who have the authority to keep them quiet and apart from one another – which benefits who?   JWs?  Not in the least.  They have no clue what “truth” may have been revealed by the cohesiveness of the anointed Body working together under Christ and his Spirit.   (1 John 2:27; 1 Cor 12:11,25)
Cancelling out the debt the anointed have toward their Master benefits those in power, both the GB and the elders.   It preserves their authority over all God’s priests, and every JW.   (1 Cor 4:8; Mark 10:42-44)
The “sons of light” though, would be focused only on the Kingdom, and not on the riches and burdens of “organization”, or the riches of holding power over another.   (1 Thess 5:5)   Their only motivation would be on heavenly things, on doing God’s will in the manner of “sacrifices of praise”.    You see, the sons of light are not as “shrewd” as the dishonest manager, who knows all about “unrighteous riches”.
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.”  Col 3:1,2 
That’s pretty hard for the GB to accomplish when they are immersed with “things on the earth”, chasing after money, muscling their way to the forefront  to receive the same riches another religious organization may receive; and then squandering it away instead of helping victims of abuse, abuse resulting from poor “management”.  They challenge the court systems, they challenge the victims.  They are so far from practicing God’s righteousness, it is sickening. 
Because the Master praises the dishonest man for his use of “unrighteous riches”, does this mean he’s safe with God? 
“And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous riches, so that when it runs out they will welcome you into the eternal dwellings.”
 If the GB were ever to humble themselves before their anointed brothers and sisters, and “make friends” with the Body of Christ by allowing them to bond under Christ;
by allowing the anointed to be independent and free to listen to their Master;
to offer their priestly sacrifices as expected of them; (1 Pet 2:5,9)
by realizing they are all equal before God, and treating them as such;
then those who are “sons of light” would then recognize what a true honest steward would do for the spiritual house of God.  (Eph 2:20-22) And under those circumstances, just maybe, if the GB were to lose all riches, both monetary and that of recognition of power and authority, the “sons of light”, sons of the Kingdom, would receive them into the “eternal dwellings”. 
But these men do not have a humble bone in their body.  Jesus gave us parables that address the situation with the anointed today, because he knew what God’s priests would face in the last days, under the rule of a wicked steward.  (Matt 24:48-51)
 
 
https://4womaninthewilderness.blogspot.com/2015/01/is-wicked-steward-real.html

Why is all of this okay with JWs? 
7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so that neither can we bring anything out. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these things we will be content. 9 But those who want to be rich fall into temptation and a trap and many foolish and harmful desires, which plunge those people into ruin and destruction. 10 For the love of money is a root of all evil, by which some, because they desire it, have gone astray from the faith and have pierced themselves with many pains.
But you, O man of God, flee from these things, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patient endurance, gentleness."
Command those who are rich in this present age not to be proud and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of riches, but in God, who provides us all things richly for enjoyment, 18 to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous, sharing freely, 19 storing up for themselves a good foundation for the future, in order that they may take hold of what is truly life."  (1 Tim 6)
The foundation we store up for the future has nothing to do with money! It has nothing to do with building huge complex communities, or procuring power over others.  (Matt 6:20; Phil 3:18,19)
From one month, maybe from one day, to the next, the WT pursues riches, to pursue its desires;  and JWs fork it over. 
This isn't how one follows in the footsteps of Christ.  
 

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-netherlands-women-crime-trfn/netherlands-wants-to-punish-silence-on-sex-abuse-in-closed-communities-idUSKBN25O2IV
AMSTERDAM (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - The Dutch government wants to prosecute members of private groups and communities who fail to report sexual abuse in their organisations, a move that comes after Jehovah’s Witnesses rejected demands to tackle the under-reporting of abuse.
A 2019 report commissioned by the government to investigate sexual abuse involving Jehovah’s Witnesses found few cases were being reported to police, but group leaders dismissed calls for change and said they were being discriminated against.
 
Minister for Legal Protection Sander Dekker said the reluctance to change had spurred him to analyse how a law that punished organisations for failing to report sexual abuse could be structured.
“This makes it clear to me that the leadership (of the Jehovah’s Witnesses community) does not see or does not want to see the gravity of the situation. The leadership is leaving vulnerable victims out in the cold,” he said in a letter to parliament published late on Thursday.
Victims of sexual abuse in the Netherlands have the same right to access help, care and justice, regardless of which community they belong to,” he added, promising a progress update on the potential legislation later this year.
Link at top of page to full report.

But not to pay compensation to VICTIMS of Child Sexual Abuse in the CCJW.  Oh why are you people so blind !
Jesus makes it so clear that true Christians should let themselves be wronged regarding material things, not make demands on governments for compensation, then refuse to pay compensation to VICTIMS that they have wronged. 
If you cannot see the hypocrisy here it is because you are being blinded by the Devil. 
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And Tom's comment about JWs are already doing them, and yes, they do resolve the problems he details.
This is so laughable it's not even worth a serious reply. In your dreams Tom  

I suppose that "unrighteous wealth" should be achieved by working with one's own hands, "by the sweat of your brow", and not by suing  in the courts. :))

No, you don’t have to explain anything; although you’ve just cemented the fact that no Holy Spirit is needed to run the WT.  It only needs people.  And money.  Just like all the other “worldly” religious organizations, right?
 

Does God, who supposedly guides this organization need any monetary rectification or equality with other religions?  Or, is it men who demand rectification and equality?    
When did Christ’s kingdom become part of the world? 
 “My kingdom doesn’t belong to this world. If my kingdom belonged to this world, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. My kingdom doesn’t have its origin on earth.”  John 18:36
The “followers” of the organization which has its origin on earth, fight for the organization - on all levels.  They are not fighting for Christ, who has no interest in material possessions, including money.  So, why is this fight by “Jehovah’s organization”, for worldly funds from a government, a positive action?  JWs will reason that its rights as an organization must be upheld.  That’s fine, for an organization in the world.  But Christ and the Father cannot be linked to the world, no matter what the GB might tell their "sheep".  
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, 16 because everything that is in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the arrogance of material possessions—is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and its desire, but the one who does the will of God remains forever.”  1 John 2:15-17
To the WT organization, money carries more clout than Holy Spirit.  
 
 

Yeah, small country with diversity of climates, terrain configurations, mountains, lowland, sea, and more :).
We are, most often, short with time, life time, money, willingness to do changes, preoccupied with worries and with a uniformed everyday life.  

Money is strong magnet and people rarely can resist at his call. 

Money is strong magnet and people rarely can resist at his call. 

Neither religion is no longer what it used to be. :))

Good points. WTJWorg made excuses that they have no "institutional settings" for redress scheme in Australia. Also they have no "institutional settings" to announce public apologize for wrongs they done in handling CSA or any other cases. Shameful explanation.
If JW organization is not able to make "institutional settings" that missing now, it is fascinating to hear that this modern, advanced organization with so many Departments and Helpers is not ready and in capacity, competence to produce settings for victims, own members and former members. Such massive and global administration, supposedly backed by God and founded on spiritual values are not ready to face this need. Funny.