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Anonymous
Anonymous asked in Society & CultureReligion & Spirituality · 1 decade ago

If a Jehovah's Witness informs elders of serious criminal fraud committed against them by another witness?

but the elders refuse to take any action even ignoring the victim who is disabled and suffering greatly, then a complaint is made to the society who in turn, ignores the fraudulent activity by the Witness committing the fraud, is this grounds for legal action against the fraudulent Witness, the congregation for allowing it to go on ignored having never had a meeting with the, and the Watchtower Society who chose to ignore the fraud and victimization -- even though they know the victim is disabled and alone?

Research I have found on fraud within the organization and in Watchtower 1954/10-1 it states this:

13"While we Christians today do not live under the same priestly arrangement as did ancient Israel, nevertheless we are under obligation to be honest and upright and to settle all debts and pledges properly. We do not defraud brothers, but should make things right with the brothers and ask Jehovah’s forgiveness for any wrong that has been committed. Brothers will deal justly with one another in all business and keep lies, dishonesty and fraud out of their midst.

14 Occasionally reports come to the Society from individual brothers or from congregations showing that some dishonest, immoral persons have slipped into the congregation. (Jude 4) It is clear how to deal with immoral ones, but what about people who go around preying on their brothers, or who appear to be brothers merely for the purpose of taking money, who are as the psalmist says: “The wicked borroweth, and payeth not again”? (37:21) What can be done about them? If a brother in his love and kindness allows another who appears to be a brother to have some of his money or material things for a time and then the borrowing individual, after the time agreed upon has elapsed, refuses to pay back, the brother who made the loan can go to the one who took the money or materials and ask him to make full return. It is proper to go to your brother when you have anything against him and speak to him. (Matthew 18:15-17)

If he will not make proper settlement, then the brother involved can speak to the congregation servant and arrange to have a hearing before the committee, with the offender present. At a time like this one will find it to his advantage to have a signed written agreement and it will not be a case of the word of one person against another. If guilt is established, the committee may set a limited but reasonable time for the offender to settle his debts or right the wrongs done.

15 If the offender refuses to make a just and proper settlement, then is it proper for the brother who made the loan to take the debtor brother into court and sue him? The Scriptures advise us that we should bring such matters before the mature brothers in the congregation and not take a brother before the courts. (1 Corinthians 6:1-10)

But he may be disfellowshiped from the congregation if he is an extortioner. He should be avoided from then on. Being disfellowshiped by the congregation is the greatest punishment that can come upon such a person at the hands of men, for when mature brothers act according to the advice of the Scriptures they are in fact acting for Jehovah and the judgment is from his Word. Whether or not a defrauded person wishes to take a disfellowshiped person into a court is for him to decide. The disfellowshiped person is no longer a brother and the congregation has exhausted its powers in the case, so the only recourse would be to the law courts of the land. But it is a good thing to consider the costs involved in time and money. Legal suits are expensive and sometimes the result is that the lawyers get everything through their fees. It is also necessary to think of any reproach that might come upon the work through such public action.

That is why a brother may not take his brother into court; there is reproach upon the organization. Paul’s argument is that it is better to be defrauded than to bring reproach upon the congregation. But with a disfellowshiped person the position is different, although the people in general may not realize that the one sued has been disfellowshiped. If legal action is taken, restitution of what was taken should be the goal, and not revenge. Anyone who would go that far to have a debt paid should have the agreement in writing from the start. Or if the wronged brother chooses to drop the matter it can be left in the hands of Jehovah, who searches the hearts of all men and knows their motives and who rewards those who do right with life. (Romans 12:17-19; 1 Corinthians 5:11-13; Hebrews 10:26-31)

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The victim was never given a meeting with the elders and the fraudulent Witness though she asked many times for such a meeting; she was ignored and the fraud allowed to run ragged over the disabled victim. Now the victim feels she has no other choice but to sue the fraudulent witness or else the victim will be homeless, and to include as defendants the elders and congregation, and the W

Update:

Corrections:

1) elders refuse to take any action even ignoring the victim who is disabled and suffering greatly, then a complaint is made to the society who in turn, ignores the fraudulent activity by the Witness committing the fraud, is this grounds for legal action against the fraudulent Witness, the congregation for allowing it to go on ignored having never had a meeting with the VICTIM and THE PERSECUTOR....

2) Now the victim feels she has no other choice but to sue the fraudulent witness or else the victim will be homeless, and to include as defendants the elders and congregation, and the Watchtower Society for doing absolutely nothing. What do you suggest?

Update 2:

Tattoomom: I have never mentioned this much less as a rape. I am not referring to anything resembling any rape. Sorry, wrong person.

Update 3:

Please this is not a rape situation. This has to do with FRAUD, not rape. Please read my post carefully. There is no mention of any rape. Thank you.

9 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Sadly, I think the victim would be wasting their time.

    You know that the elders will stick together like glue, they are completely corrupt and selfishly will want to protect themselves and the congregation from any media.

    Im a non believer but if I were you I would pray for Karma and know that what goes around comes around. These people are the false prophets the bible warned us of.

    They will have their own answering to do on judgement day and they will not be forgiven as much as they claim they are the elite....whatever.

    They are salesmen for a bent printing firm, nothing more, nothing less.

  • 1 decade ago

    This is a difficult question, because no one reading your question can be sure of the facts surrounding the incident.

    I fist think of all the treachery in the bible when fraud is committed.

    In first Kings the wicked king Ahab, who served as king in God's nation of ancient Israel coveted Naboth's vineyard, and subsequently had Naboth killed to obtain Naboth's vineyard, (1st Kings chapter 21).

    Psalms 119:165 says there is no stumbling block for a servant of Jehovah, even if it is being ripped off from a person who pretends to be a brother/sister.

    The Bible says we live in critical times hard to deal with.

    In these critical times brother/sister may turn on brother/sister, however Jehovah knows exactly what is in a person's heart.

    Our sincere prayers can be for a person who is the victim of fraud. Most of Jehovah's Witnesses are not lawyers, so the court may be the best place to settle a matter that requires legal judgment concerning money matters.

  • 1 decade ago

    If you have 2 credible witnesses or documents to unquestionably prove your case as scripture, and law dictate, talk to Jehovah and beg for proper resolution if you feel the local brother have not acted properly. Jesus praised the widow in Luke 18:1-7 for her tenacity in seeking justice.

    No disrespect intended, if you are doing research and you stopped at 1954, then I STRONGLY encourage you to read further. If you have the Library on CD, search under "business brother". You will find a plethora of CURRENT information from the 'faithful and discreet slave" to assist you in how to proceed in a way that gives Jehovah glory.

    Disabled and alone is not criteria to prove fraud and should not be used as a factor to gain sympathy that may not be deserved as I am sure you know. I wish you well in your quest for knowledge on how to proceed and I am glad to play a small part, but you have to know THIS is not a venue that has Jehovah's blessing to get knowledge from.

    Source(s): Scripture,
  • Please do not start legal action. The witnesses are against that and for solving the problem properly. If you can't get a ministerial servant or an elder to fix the problem I think that you are probably not approaching them with the right information otherwise they would fix it quickly.

    If you think you have and they at that congregation have acted in your opinion improperly go to a nearby Hall and tell them. It isn't that hard to get it resolved. If you or the person in question is worrying what will happen to them and there lively hood then you are obviously not following the gospel properly. There will be difficult times but for you to worry about what will happen to someone else you believe to be as faithful as yourself is in itself contradicting your faith in scripture.

    God will handle it!

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  • 1 decade ago

    Looks like a higher power needs to be introduced - ie the police and or courts

  • Anonymous
    5 years ago

    How cruel of you to suggest snatching away the bottle from the baby! Leave them alone.

  • 1 decade ago

    Look, you have been talking about this for weeks now. Here's my advice:

    Tell the rape victim to GO TO THE POLICE>

    Both of you leave the JW religion and call it a day.

    Source(s): Catholic
  • 1 decade ago

    As Jehova is my witness, I hope nobody will call me to take the witness' stand

  • 1 decade ago

    “We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does his will, he listens to this one.” (John 9:31)

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