Jehovah's Witnesses Straight Talk - Forum/Blog

Religious Entitlement

James 4:2 You lust, and don't have. You kill, covet, and can't obtain. You fight and make war. You don't have, because you don't ask.

entitlement; plural noun:entitlements
1. the fact of having a right to something.
"full entitlement to fees and maintenance should be offered"

2. the belief that one is inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment.
"no wonder your kids have a sense of entitlement"

3. a government program that provides benefits to any individual meeting certain eligibility requirements.
"Social Security, Medicare, and other entitlements are going broke"

There has been so much unrighteous abuse through religious entitlement just about as much as anything on earth. Christ made it clear that those coming after him, he being the last prophet, Christ, God's finished work; sent to set all things right in heaven and on earth those after him would be thieves that will plunder and steal what was Christ by using his teachings, his name, and whatever else was of Christ for dishonest gains. They would feel entitled to what belongs Christ and to another.

1 Peter 2:16 as free, and not using your freedom for a cloak of wickedness, but as bondservants of God.

That is a hard message and one most of us find difficult to understand when dealing with Christian's who claim to love the Lord Jesus Christ. Why religious entitlement? Well, its actually very simple, it explains why religion steals what is Christ and then uses it against people to enslave them instead of setting them free in Christ.

Galatians 5:13 For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don't use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.
To be entitled to what another person has comes from a trait that is not found in God or in Christ. It is a evil trait, a trait that one thinks they are superior in some fashion giving them a god given right to someone else belongings.

Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers{TR adds ", raise the dead"}, and cast out demons. Freely you received, so freely give.

In the criminal justice system that trait is known as a criminal mind, it is the attitude that a person can take something from someone else because they are an exception to the rule of law the same law that apply to everyone else. Such a trait is an equally narcissistic personality that ones makes themselves so-important that their personal wants, and needs gives them the right to take what others have with no moral conscience.

Hebrews 13:5 Be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have, for he has said, "I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you."{Deuteronomy 31:6}

It seems impossible for some to understand this, but it is nevertheless true, and it must be dealt with or those lusting in covetousness will harm and destroy other peoples lives as a god given right with no compunction of conscience.

2 Peter 2:10 but chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries;

1 Peter 4:2 that you no longer should live the rest of your time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

But what of religious entitlement? First, the very principal of God's own personality denies entitlements, that is, that one should think that it is their religious right to take what is someone else: “Thou shall not covet”! Using the cloak of religious garb to covet what is another person does not make it of God righteous, or Holy! Cloaking such lust in religious words is worst than those of the world, who are ignorant of God's ways.

2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 6:10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

1 Timothy 6:9 But those who are determined to be rich fall into a temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful lusts, such as drown men in ruin and destruction.

James 2:5 Listen, my beloved brothers. Didn't God choose those who are poor in this world to be rich in faith, and heirs of the Kingdom which he promised to those who love him?

The lust for greed in having what someone else has by the justification of God's word the bible is exactly what Satan the Devil did in stealing God's children from him. He used God's words, twisting them for his own lust for power, control, stealing God's own glory.

Zechariah 5:4 I will cause it to go out," says Yahweh of Armies, "and it will enter into the house of the thief, and into the house of him who swears falsely by my name; and it will remain in the midst of his house, and will destroy it with its timber and its stones."

John 10:10 The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

Satan forthrightly told a lie, he slander God for dishonest gains. He took what was God's by feeling entitle to God's worship because of his feeling of superiority over God's other spirit sons. It is always those who's feeling entitle them that are thieves they are the ones who unrighteously think they have a right to what someone else has worked hard for, but they are law breakers and lawless to God.

John 12:6 Now he said this, not because he cared for the poor, but because he was a thief, and having the money box, used to steal what was put into it. (speaking of Judas)

They are self-righteous allowing themselves to judge others over covetousness, turning the very laws of God into an evil tool to take what a person has. Claiming it is for some noble purpose bigger than anyone person giving them the right to ruin the person life in choosing how they spend their money. It is this mark which is the mark of a beast like disposition, to take by power what someone else has for thier own greed, to eating first by superior power.

Levitius 19:15 "'You shall do no injustice in judgment: you shall not be partial to the poor, nor show favoritism to the great; but you shall judge your neighbor in righteousness.

There is no compassion of Christ found in such beast-like traits, it is a complete lie to the truth of God's loving kindness.

1 Corinthians 13:3 If I dole out all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don't have love, it profits me nothing.

Deuteronomy 5:21 "Neither shall you covet your neighbor's wife; neither shall you desire your neighbor's house, his field, or his male servant, or his female servant, his ox, or his donkey, or anything that is your neighbor's."

Romans 13:9 For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery," "You shall not murder," "You shall not steal," "You shall not give false testimony," "You shall not covet,"{TR adds "You shall not give false testimony,"}{Exodus 20:13-15,17; Deuteronomy 5:17-19,21} and whatever other commandments there are, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."{Leviticus 19:18}

Rule of Law For Christian's

The very concept of truth which founded the Christian's faith is Christ life. The rule of Christ was to give of himself freely, demanding no rights for himself. Without the law of love given freely there is no Christ, he does not exist in entitlement religion.

Luke 12:15 He said to them, "Beware! Keep yourselves from covetousness, for a man's life doesn't consist of the abundance of the things which he possesses."

1 Thessalonians 2:5 For neither were we at any time found using words of flattery, as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness (God is witness).

2 Peter 2:3 In covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words: whose sentence now from of old doesn't linger, and their destruction will not slumber.

Christ does not exist in manipulative evil flattery, or covetousness for dishonest gains. Christ does not exist in the lust of flesh, he does not become our savior for money or to make us a slave to a religious group. Christ gives freely, and we must if we have Christ in us. Our giving freely is our new personality, it is our new nature in Christ. When a Christian's separates themselves from Christ for gains in the fleshy into get something by guilt which creates a debt, that is, a demand cloacked in righteous words. It is the very thing that ruin their name by accusation, which is not of Christ.

Jeremiah 22:17 But your eyes and your heart are not but for your covetousness, and for shedding innocent blood, and for oppression, and for violence, to do it.
Jeremiah 6:13 For from the least of them even to the greatest of them everyone is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even to the priest everyone deals falsely.

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Peter 4:10 As each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms.

The law of love removes the flesh that covets, it removes the debt for sin once for all times. Those guilty of dishonest gains, that is, to take what is someone else; judged as something rightfully their or an organization are apostates from the new covenant they trade the life of Christ to take by laws not in Christ what belongs to someone else cloacked in the love of the New Covenant!

Ephesians 4:7 But to each one of us was the grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

We as Christian's are to owe no one a single thing, but love, that is, the Christ, God's love to us. It was Christ own life, his love for his Father YHWH that freed us from our debt of sin. It is Christ life that removed any payment for sins once for all time that is what we owe each other.

Rom.13:8 Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

Coercion is a sin, it is against God no matter how noble the cause may be in His name of doing good for others. When a Christian's demand payment of any kind from another Christian's because they feel entitled to it. In other words, it not that the person borrowed money, but because we are a Christian's and we think because of that close brotherly connection we have the rights to their time, money, home, their occupation for free, for our needs because we think ourselves more deserving, we are covetous, and an unrighteous person.

1 Corinthians 5:11 But as it is, I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother who is a sexual sinner, or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner. Don't even eat with such a person.

1 Corinthians 6:10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor extortioners, will inherit the Kingdom of God.

The Deception of Religious Power

The idea because I am a Shepard of your soul that gives me the right to take your time and/or money to uses it as I see fit because God has given me the title, the right to direct your life, that is also an evil lie!

Luke 16:10 He who is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much. He who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much.

Titus 1:7 For the overseer must be blameless, as God's steward; not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain;

1 Peter 5:2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion, but voluntarily, not for dishonest gain, but willingly;

If you break the rule of love, it not of God, and God did not put you in a position it was instead some man made group that did and that is why you demonstrate the personality of evil one. Being a Shepard does not entitles you to anything of others, but love. And that is why we work with own hands to have something to give others in times of need. Just as Christ does in us daily, in our times of need.

2 Peter 1:3 seeing that his divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and virtue;

2 Peter 1:16 For we did not follow cunningly devised fables, when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

Colossians 1:13 who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love;

2 Corinthians 8:3 For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord.

2 Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves.

For a Christian to constantly seek money from others means you are selling the truth for dishonest gains, such lust for what others have is not a biblical teachings. Nor do we have a biblical justification to making others give to our religion and/or business. Such covetousness proves we are not faithful with the things Christ has freely given us, when we must go beyond the free gift of Christ into the greed of soliciting money from others . Thus, we prove by actions we love our own life more than the ones we are shepherding.

Ezekiel 34:15 I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I will cause them to lie down, says the Lord Yahweh.

Matthew 9:36 But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed{TR reads "weary" instead of "harassed"} and scattered, like sheep without a shepherd.

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd.{Isaiah 40:11; Ezekiel 34:11-12,15,22} The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

John 10:12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn't own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep, and scatters them.

Peter 2:25 For you were going astray like sheep; but now have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer{"Overseer" is from the Greek episkopon, which can mean overseer, curator, guardian, or superintendent.} of your souls.

We are to be free of covetousness in Christ we are not resentful of someone good fortune because we are filled with the richest of Christ. We lack nothing in Christ knowing we have received and unshakable kingdom so we like Christ can offer all things freely, that is, life's waters free, our time, our money, out talent in Christ if God moves us to do so.

Rom.12:1 Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service.
12:2 Don't be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.
12:3 For I say, through the grace that was given me, to every man who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think reasonably, as God has apportioned to each person a measure of faith.
12:4 For even as we have many members in one body, and all the members don't have the same function,
12:5 so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.
12:6 Having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, if prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith;
12:7 or service, let us give ourselves to service; or he who teaches, to his teaching;
12:8 or he who exhorts, to his exhorting: he who gives, let him do it with liberality; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.
12:9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor that which is evil. Cling to that which is good.
12:10 In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate one to another; in honor preferring one another;

We are not salesman of truth, we are not constantly manipulating others by outlandish claims of importance so we can gain something more then Christ in us. We cannot boast in the flesh to make money claiming that it is a right in Christ.

Psalms 34:2 My soul shall boast in Yahweh. The humble shall hear of it, and be glad.

Psalms 94:4 They pour out arrogant words. All the evildoers boast.

1 Corinthians 1:31 that, according as it is written, "He who boasts, let him boast in the Lord."{Jeremiah 9:24}

1 Corinthians 3:21 Therefore let no one boast in men. For all things are yours.

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who makes you different? And what do you have that you didn't receive? But if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?

Galatians 6:14 But far be it from me to boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Ephesians 2:9 not of works, that no one would boast.

Let us not be fooled in thinking because of some self-appointed position by man gives anyone the right to go beyond the Chist into another Good News allowing us to demand something from others. Such demanding, and the evil jealousy that goes with it, is not of God it is earthly demonic and against the light of Christ.

James.4:1 Where do wars and fightings among you come from? Don't they come from your pleasures that war in your members?
4:2 You lust, and don't have. You kill, covet, and can't obtain. You fight and make war. You don't have, because you don't ask.
4:3 You ask, and don't receive, because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it for your pleasures.
4:4 You adulterers and adulteresses, don't you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

2 Peter 2:10 but chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries;

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, isn't the Father's, but is the world's.