WT September 15, 2010 - The Faithful and NOT SO Discrete Slave

The WT of September 15, 2010 (kool-aid version) has two articles on Unity. One is titled: “Unity Identifies True Worship” and the other “Christian Unity Glorifies God”. Of course it is more UNIFORMITY, not true unity. Once again the Faithful and Discrete slave proved to be not so discrete, as they literally placed themselves in the place of Jesus. I am so glad not to have to listen to this crap any more. Please read the quotes below, directly taken from the WT:

We cannot hope to acquire a good relationship with Jehovah if we ignore those whom Jesus has appointed to care for his belongings. Without the assistance of “the faithful and discreet slave,” we would neither understand the full import of what we read in God’s Word nor know how to apply it.

In this time of the end, Christ has committed “all his belongings”— all the earthly interests of the Kingdom—to his “faithful and discreet slave” and its representative Governing Body, a group of anointed Christian men. The anointed and their other sheep companions recognize that by following the lead of the modern-day Governing Body, they are in fact following their Leader, Christ.

Jesus had prophesied that “on arriving” to inspect his domestics during “the conclusion of the system of things,” he would find a slave providing them “food at the proper time.” He would pronounce that slave happy and would “appoint him over all his belongings” on earth. As Head of the Christian congregation, Christ has used this “faithful and discreet slave” to administer His Kingdom interests on earth. He has provided direction for the anointed “domestics” and their “other sheep” companions by means of a Governing Body.

They never cease to amaze me.

Loz x

Here's another doozy from the same article (p. 21):

CHRISTENDOM’S churches have human leaders, such as the pope of Rome, the patriarchs and metropolitans of the Eastern Orthodox churches, and the heads of other religions. Jehovah’s Witnesses recognize no human as their leader. They are not disciples or followers of any man. This is in line with Jehovah’s prophetic utterance concerning his Son: “Look! As a witness to the nation- al groups I have given him, as a leader and commander to the national groups.” (Isa. 55:4) The international congregation of anointed Christians and their “other sheep” companions want no leader other than the one Jehovah has given them. (John 10:16) They subscribe to Jesus’ statement: “Your Leader is one, the Christ.”—Matt. 23:10.

My wife and I lost it on this one. To compare themselves to Catholics in the area of following men as a contrasting example was too much. This is one part of their belief system that is identical.

This is great stuff!  This worship of the GB was my biggest source of dissonance before I left, so I hope this helps others leave the cult!

Designer, FreeAtLast:  Glad to see you've not forgotten to underline your main points!

So there is a super-thin thread between "following the lead of (the GB)" and not "following a leader (GB)".

You are to follow the lead but not a leader.

It will be interesting to see it in other languages. 

Not to mention the new songbook emphasising the GB instead of God or Jesus.

Examples of songs elevating the FDS:

Song 51/11: Making Jehovah’s Heart Glad

Old Book (Song 51):
2. May we from your side never move;
A liar the Tempter we would prove.
Your principles and laws so right
We would make daily our delight.

New Book (Song 11):
2. Your slave, your steward here on earth,
Proclaims your greatness and your worth,
Feeds us with nourishment when due,
Thus strengthens us your will to do.

Song 174 and 43 - Stay Awake, Stand Firm, Grow Mighty.

Second verse: Old book - "In his place each one be heeding, what Christ Jesus has to say" - NEW ONE -> "Stay alert to Christ's direction, Through his faithful slave today, heed the counsel of the older men"

i wonder if the uberdubs underline the same points

*ALARM, ALARM* Illogic alert!

P.21, para 1

CHRISTENDOM'S churches have human leaders, such as the pope of Rome, the patriarchs and metropolitans of the Eastern Orthodox churches, and the heads of other religions. Jehovah's Witnesses recognize no human as their leader. They are not disciples or followers of any man. 

P. 23, para 8

In this time of the end, Christ has committed "all his belongings"- all the earthly interests of the Kingdom - to his "faithful and discreet slave" and its representative Governing Body, a group of anointed Christian men. (Matt. 24:45-47) The anointed and their other sheep companions recognize that by following the lead of the modern-day Governing Body, they are in fact following their Leader, Christ. 

The 'anointed' and 'other sheep' follow the lead of the GB ...

B...b...but didn't they just say that JWs don't recognize any human as their leader nor do they follow any man?

B...b...but does that mean the GB aren't men? Or does it mean these men lead without being leaders and the 'anointed' and 'other sheep' follow without being followers?

For fun, compare:

"He [Jesus] gives that office to Peter, as symbolized by the 'keys of the kingdom.' This establishes that in principle there is nothing antithetical between the supreme Lordship of Jesus Christ and a mortal man serving as His 'vicar' on earth." ...

Catholics are saying that Jesus wants someone to lead his people on earth. This person is not taking Jesus' place, he is simply guiding the Church the same way Peter did ...

... Jesus is the head of the Church. Catholics believe the Pope is simply his "vicar" on earth, the one who He has appointed. 

- http://armoredcatholic.com/AN/authorityofpope.html 

I don't see much of a contrast between the Catholics and the JWs here. Do you?

How do the WT writers get away with this stuff?

wow, contradicting themselves within the same article. Amazing!

So even thought Jesus said the HE is our mediator to God, the GB is saying that THEY are our mediator to Jesus, who then mediates to God from them...

I want scriptural eveidence that shows that one. Oh wait, THERE ISN'T ANY! Some one should call up the service desk and tell them to stop practicing faginometry.

Wow!!, just Wow!!.  I can't believe some of the sh!t they come up with.  They are in essence saying the they (the GB) is receiving more and better holy spirit than the rest of the JW's.  Since they alone can interpret what the bible says.

How did all those people in history get along without them?

How insulting to the R&F.  They are telling them that they are too stupid to understand the bible by themselves.

Great thread.

This Sept WT is a doozy. 

The propaganda wolves are out in force trying to keep the sheep convinced that they still need to follow the faithful and not so discreet slave.

This propaganda stuff really works, it keeps the people in submission to men and allows these men to impose their righteousness on them.

LD

So there is a super-thin thread between "following the lead of (the GB)" and not "following a leader (GB)".

You are to follow the lead but not a leader.

It will be interesting to see it in other languages. 

In hungarian: "The annointed and their companions, the other sheep knows that if they accept the lead of the modern-day Governing Body, they are in fact following their leader, Christ."

In romanian: "The annointed and their companions, the other sheep are convinced that by respecting the lead of the modern-day Governing Body, they are in fact following their leader, Christ."

In spanish: "The annointed and the other sheep understand that by following the lead of the Governing Body, they are in fact following their leader, Christ."

The bold is mine, underlining the relevant differences in the respective languages.

Classic Watchtower 'double-think':

Jehovah’s Witnesses recognize no human as their leader. They are not disciples or followers of any man.

The anointed and their other sheep companions recognize that by following the lead of the modern-day Governing Body, they are in fact following their Leader, Christ.

Honestly, this stuff makes me want to puke. Can't believe my entire family swallows this shite............

And the typical JW says, "All I know, is I'm going to serve Jehovah God and be loyal to His Organization."

Hypothetical conversation with a Witness -

Me:  You people don't follow Jesus, you follow men.

Witness:  We don't follow any human leader.  We worship Jehovah.

Me:  What about your Governing Body?  Don't they tell you what to do?

Witness:  The Governing Body has Jehovah's Holy Spirit to guide them.

Me:  So they are your leaders, just like the Pope is the leader of the Catholics.

Witness:  No they're not!

Me:  Even your own Watchtower magazine says that you should follow the lead of the Governing Body, so that makes them your leaders.

Witness:  The Watchtower helps us [Witnesses] understand the Bible better, but we don't worship it.

Me:  Well, if they're not your leaders, then you should feel free to criticize them when they make mistakes, right?  After all, even Catholics criticize the Pope openly.

Witness:  .....

That is the point for me, PrimateDave. Catholics freely and frequently criticize the actions and opinions of the church and the Pope w/o any negative repercussions. They remain Catholics in good standing. If JW's do the same they are "apostates".