3/10/10 Do we
need to understand all the prophecies of the Bible at this time? What can we learn from the fact that Jesus explained to his disciples that he
was going to be betrayed, handed over to his enemies, suffer, be put to death
but be raised up on the third day, and yet they did not understand or believe
it even when it happened? Also, did they not have the prophecies that
foretold all these things? (Matt. 16:21; 17:22,23; 20:18,19; Luke 24:5-12; John
20:9, 24,25) Similarly, Jehovah foretold events
that took place at Pentecost, yet could any of his disciples have understood and
predicted what was about to happen even one day in advance? (Acts 2:1-4, 16-21;
Joel 2:28-32) The Bible speaks of future events, which apply to the "time of the
end," that were presented to the prophets in signs and symbolic language.
Regarding the visions that the prophet Daniel received, he said that "I heard,
but I could not understand; so that I said: 'O my lord, what will be the final
part of these things?'" He was told: "Go, Daniel, because the words are made
secret and sealed up until the time of the end." Only at God's appointed time
will "the true knowledge become abundant," and his servants understand these things; at the time of their fulfillment or
even shortly thereafter, as was the case with the disciples of Jesus. And we can
be certain that
"no wicked ones at all will understand." (Dan. 12:4, 8-10; Matt.
13:10,11; Rev. 1:1)
Today there are many who present themselves as having been given a key of
special insight into prophecies that have been "made secret and sealed up,"
especially with regard to the book of Revelation. Each one offers his own unique
interpretations. And since they all claim to be spirit directed, we can pick and choose whatever we personally prefer to believe,
and then wait for things to happen. (Jer. 14:21,22) Some claim that the Bible foretold 9/11, pointing
to certain scriptures. Yet, did these same ones predict it before it
happened, publicly drawing attention to it, or are they interpreting events
after the fact? It is the supposed need to understand details of prophecies
regarding future events that has spawned the proliferation of self-appointed
prophets for our time. (Jer. 23:16-32; 2 Peter 2:1-3) We do not want to become followers of men to have our "ears tickled,"
and turn our ears away from the truth to "false stories." Jehovah has
provided us with enough information to help us keep
our "senses in all things," enabling us to continue to "do the work of an evangelizer," and
"fully accomplish [our] ministry." (Matt. 7:15; Acts 20:30; 2
Tim. 4:3-5) There is one thing, though, we can be certain of: The prophecies
that apply to us, and require us to take action, these are not "made secret and
sealed up." They can be easily understood without any help from anyone. Just
compare Jesus' letters to the Seven Congregations with the rest of the
revelation, to understand that simple fact. "Let the one who has an ear hear
what the spirit says to the congregations." (Rev. 2:1-3:22)
3/6/10
Should we share with others what we have learned about the reasons behind
present developments within God's household,
including our family members and close friends? The Scriptures foretold certain
developments within God’s household prior to Christ’s return. As we become aware
of these things taking shape we realize that it is now our time of being
"inspected." (Luke 12:40; 19:44) When Jesus arrives in "his glory, and all the
angels with him," he will separate God's people as a shepherd separates the
sheep from the goats. From what Jesus said, it is clear that by the time he
arrives it will already have been determined whether someone is a sheep or a
goat. What we do now is therefore important, in order that we won't be
found among those who are told: “I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers
of lawlessness.” (Matt. 7:21-23; 25:31-46; 1 Thess. 5:4,5; 2 Thess.
1:7-9)
Our time is much like
that of Jesus' day. Jehovah often does things in an unusual way, so different
from what we would expect; and it catches the ungodly among his people unaware.
(Isa. 55:8,9; 1 Cor. 3:18,19) For example, the Messiah did not arrive according
to the expectations of God’s people in the first century, although an abundance
of prophecies foretold details concerning him. (Acts 3:18) The Jews fully
trusted their religious leaders and thus rejected any Scriptures that reflected
in a negative way on them. And there was nothing that Jesus could do, no amount
of amazing miracles, to convince them otherwise. (Matt. 15:7-9; John 7:47,48)
In much the same way,
we today have rejected God's foretold coming judgment upon his people, refusing to make personal
application of it, although Jehovah addresses "my people," and himself as "your God."
Our influential leaders shrug such prophecies off as having either already been
fulfilled, or applying them to the churches of
Christendom, particularly the clergy. (Jer. 5:26-31; 6:13-15, 21, 27-29; Amos
4:12; 1 Peter 4:17,18) If, heaven forbid, someone suggests that these critical prophecies,
including the one regarding "the man of lawlessness," applies to us as God's
people—his temple—he will be quickly denounced as an apostate and dealt with
accordingly. (compare Jer. 1:18,19; John 10:25-27, 31-33)
We can learn a
painful lesson from a young brother I know, who has always been very studios,
doing research in the Society’s publications and taking notes at the meetings
and conventions. By comparing his notes he became aware of many
inconsistencies and contradictions, even within the same talk. When he mentioned
this to his wife she became upset with him for questioning the Society. When he
discovered this website (Make Sure) he became very enthused about what he was
reading for he had reached many similar conclusions on his own. He couldn't hold
back from sharing with his wife what he was learning, and she ended up leaving
him, but not before turning him in to the elders as an apostate. (She has since
divorced him.) The elders haven't dealt with him for he no longer attends the
meetings. He is waiting for Jehovah to cleanse his people and remove the man of
lawlessness from his lofty position before he returns.
It is becoming more
and more obvious that Jehovah is in the process of identifying his true
worshippers, and exposing those who have become mere followers of men; in
advance of Christ's unexpected return. (Dan. 12:3, 9,10; Matt. 13:43) Unless a
person has God's spirit he cannot possibly understand or appreciate the truth,
nor what is happening within the congregations. (Dan. 11:35; Matt. 13:11-15) We
are not under compulsion to make life unnecessarily difficult for ourselves by
sharing with everyone within God’s house the things we have come to understand
regarding present developments. Our brothers and sisters are not ignorant of
Jehovah's requirements for true worship! That is not the problem. The only ones who will respond
favorably to the truth are those who are “sighing and groaning” over what they
observe taking place in their congregations. (Psalms 37:5-7; Amos 5:13;
Micah 7:7; Ezek. 9:4, 6; note James 5:19,20)
We
could easily become discouraged, perhaps even tire out and give up, for we do
not know how much longer we need to endure this time of distress, or
“tribulation” as Jesus called it, especially when your own marriage mate, family
members and friends may turn against you and avoid you. (Matt. 24:9-13)
Therefore we should be discerning about what we share in the way of our new
understanding, and with whom we share it. As Jesus warned: “Prove yourselves
cautious as serpents and yet innocent as doves.” (Matt. 10:16) Give it prayerful
consideration! The time is close at hand when we will all, unitedly, worship
Jehovah in spirit and truth, "for indeed, the Father is looking for suchlike
ones to worship him." But first he has to identify and remove from the midst of
his people "all things that cause stumbling and persons who are doing
lawlessness." (John 4:23,24; Matt. 13:41,42; Gal. 6:9,10)
3/1/10
Are you struggling with conscientiously placing literature or inviting
someone to the Kingdom Hall or Memorial?
Many among Jehovah's people who have come to
understand that the "man of lawlessness" is present within God's temple, his
household, now feel uncomfortable in inviting
interested ones to the congregation meetings, or the Memorial, not wanting to
share in exposing anyone to "inspired expressions of error." (1 John 4:1, 6) But
why not leave that matter in Jehovah's hands!
We direct individuals who are “rightly disposed for everlasting life” to God's
kingdom. That is our privilege and responsibility. (Acts 10:42,43; 13:48) We don’t know
yet how many of those with whom we study and invite to the meetings will be among the ones who survive the great tribulation. (Heb.
10:23-25; Rev. 7:9,10, 14-17) Could there be any greater joy than to see the
ones we thus helped attain
everlasting life? (1 Tim. 4:10, 16) Nothing that the man of lawlessness does can prevent that!
Jesus foretold that in the conclusion of the system of things his angels would
“collect out from his kingdom all things that cause stumbling and persons who
are doing lawlessness.” (Matt. 13:40-43) We leave the weeding of the lawless ones out from God's
kingdom to those whose assignment it is—the
angels. We keep to our assignment of preaching the good news that we have been
commissioned to do—no,
not by men, but by God. (Rom. 15:16)
In order to fulfill our assignment we don’t need to understand everything as
being
absolutely correct in all the details, otherwise Jesus would never have sent out his disciples to
preach, seeing how little they really understood about the kingdom. (Matt.
10:5-7; Luke 10:1,2; Acts 1:7) Neither do we need to make it difficult for
ourselves by opposing everything we don't agree with. (Eccl. 7:16) Paul wrote:
"Do not judge anything before the due time, until the Lord comes." (1 Cor. 4:5)
When it comes to preaching "the good news of the kingdom" we can be certain of
one fact: the reality of the kingdom. (Dan. 2:44) Once everything will have
been accomplished, and all the prophecies fulfilled, only then will we have a
complete and correct knowledge of everything. In the meantime, to help us endure
and not give up in our preaching work, Jehovah has revealed to us the reason
behind present developments within his household. (2 Tim. 4:2-5) It is his holy spirit that helps us in this. (1
Cor. 2:10-14) Therefore, at present we have the wonderful opportunity to
demonstrate to our heavenly Father that we
are obedient, that we love him and are truly loyal to him; and that our worship is genuine.
(1 John 5:3,4)
(1/28/10)
The Daily Text for
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
excerpted the following quote from The Watchtower (8/15/2008) article,
“Jehovah Will
Not Leave His Loyal Ones.” This is what it said regarding
Jeroboam’s apostate calf worship:
It is the tenth century
B.C.E. and a time of decision. Civil war has narrowly been avoided by granting
Israel’s restless northern tribes a measure of independence. Their newly
appointed king, Jeroboam, quickly moves to consolidate his power by
establishing a new State religion. He demands complete allegiance from his
subjects. What will faithful servants of Jehovah do? Will they remain loyal to
the God they worship? Thousands do, and Jehovah watches over them as they
maintain their integrity. (1 Ki. 12:1-33; 2 Chron. 11:13, 14) The loyalty
of God’s servants is being tested in our day too. “Your adversary, the
Devil, walks about like a roaring lion, seeking to devour someone,” warns the
Bible. Can we successfully “take [our] stand against him, solid in the faith”?
(1 Pet. 5:8, 9) Jehovah did not leave his loyal ones then, and he will not do so
today. w08 8/15 1:1, 2
(Bold mine)
Are we not shocked
at how quickly God’s people often turn away from true worship! Even wise king
Solomon would not remain loyal to Jehovah. He became apostate because his many
foreign wives inclined him away from the true God, to go after their own
gods. Therefore Jehovah told Solomon: “For the reason that this has taken place
with you and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes that I laid in
command upon you, I shall without fail rip the kingdom away from off you, and I
shall certainly give it to your servant. However, in your days I shall not do
it, for the sake of David your father. Out of the hand of your son I shall rip
it away. Only it will not be all the kingdom that I shall rip away. One tribe I
shall give to your son, for the sake of David my servant and for the sake of
Jerusalem which I have chosen.” (1 Kings 11:11-13)
True to God's word, during the reign of Solomon’s son Rehoboam, Jeroboam─whom Jehovah
had chosen and anointed─became king over ten of the twelve tribes of Israel,
while Rehoboam kept only the tribes of Benjamin and Judah. But just as soon as
Jeroboam began his rule he too became apostate, setting up calf worship in
Bethel and Dan. Why would he do such a horrible thing? The account tells us that
he was afraid of losing his authority over the people and they would
return to Rehoboam. He quickly consolidated his power and demanded complete
allegiance from his subjects. (1 Kings 11:26-32, 20; 12:26-33)
Interestingly, the comments go on to say that “the loyalty of God’s servants
is being tested in our day too.” Yes, today our worship and obedience can
also be inclined away from Jehovah. The apostle Paul foretold an apostasy from
true worship in connection with the coming of “Jehovah’s day”—New
World Translation (“Lord’s
day” most other translations, referring to Christ’s return). A “man of
lawlessness” will sit within God’s temple, assuming power and authority over
everyone who worships Jehovah. As was true of Jeroboam, this “lawless one” is
"set in opposition" to those who are loyal to Jehovah. He may have originally
been anointed by Jehovah to care for his sheep, but like Jeroboam he has also
moved quickly to consolidate his power and "demands complete allegiance from his
subjects." (2 Thess. 2:1-12; see "The
Man of Lawlessness Gets Revealed")
It is now Jehovah’s due time to reveal his identity and the fact that his
presence is “according to the operation of Satan,” our adversary the Devil. The Daily Text asks: “What will
faithful servants of Jehovah do? Will they remain loyal to the God they worship?
Thousands do, and Jehovah watches over them as they maintain their integrity.
Jehovah did not leave his loyal ones then, and he will not do so today.”
(12/18/09)
What benefit does God
derive from our obedience? Why should we listen to him? Young Elihu posed
this question to Job:
1 Then Elihu said:
2 “Do you think it is right for you to
claim, ‘I am righteous before God’?
3 For you also ask, ‘What’s in it for
me? What’s the use of living a righteous life?’
4 “I will answer you and all your
friends, too.
5 Look up into the sky, and see the
clouds high above you.
6 If you sin, how does that affect God?
Even if you sin again and again, what effect will it have on him?
7 If you are good, is this some great
gift to him? What could you possibly give him?
8 No, your sins affect only people like
yourself, and your good deeds also affect only humans.
9 “People cry out when they are
oppressed. They groan beneath the power of the mighty.
10 Yet they don’t ask, ‘Where is God my
Creator, the one who gives songs in the night?
11 Where is the one who makes us smarter than
the animals and wiser than the birds of the sky?’
12 And when they cry out, God does not answer
because of their pride.
13 But it is wrong to say God doesn’t listen,
to say the Almighty isn’t concerned.
14 You say you can’t see him, but he will
bring justice if you will only wait.
15 You say he does not respond to sinners
with anger and is not greatly concerned about wickedness.
16 But you are talking nonsense, Job. You
have spoken like a fool.” —Job 35:1-16, New Living Translation.
When we obey Jehovah it is really for our own benefit. He is "teaching you
to benefit yourself, the One causing you to tread in the way in which you should
walk." Because of his great love for us, like a concerned father he pleads, "O if only you would actually
pay attention to my commandments. Then your peace would become just like a
river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea." —Isaiah 48:17,18.
(11/16/09)
Not everyone
is permitted to understand “the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven.” After
having spoken another one of his many illustrations, Jesus’ disciples asked him,
“Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?’” Jesus replied: “You are
permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are
not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and
they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not
listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.
That is why I use these parables, for they look, but they don’t really see. They
hear, but they don’t really listen or understand. This fulfills the prophecy of
Isaiah that says, ‘When you hear what I say, you will not understand. When you
see what I do, you will not comprehend. For the hearts of these people are
hardened, and their ears cannot hear, and they have closed their eyes—so their
eyes cannot see, and their ears cannot hear, and their hearts cannot understand,
and they cannot turn to me and let me heal them.’” (Matt. 13:10-15, NLT)
It is a person’s own attitude in regard to spiritual matters that determines whether
or not he will understand the "sacred secrets of God," or rather, whether God permits him
to understand such things; for without God’s spirit no one can come to an
accurate knowledge of the
things pertaining to God. In harmony with Jesus’ words, the apostle Paul explained: “No one
can know a person’s thoughts except that person’s own spirit, and no one can
know God’s thoughts except God’s own Spirit. And we have received God’s Spirit
(not the world’s spirit), so we can know the wonderful things God has freely
given us. When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from
human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the
Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths. But people who aren’t spiritual
can’t receive these truths from God’s Spirit. It all sounds foolish to them and
they can’t understand it, for only those who are spiritual can understand what
the Spirit means. Those who are spiritual can evaluate all things, but they
themselves cannot be evaluated by others.” (1 Cor. 2:11-15, NLT)
Accordingly, can you see why not everyone comprehends that God has a household,
although the Scriptures not only speak of it but also give ample evidence on
how to identify it? (2 Cor. 6:14-18; Eph. 2:19-22; 1 Tim. 3:15; Heb. 3:6) The
“natural, nonspiritual man” (AMP) stumbles over present conditions and
developments within God’s household, not discerning that these things must take
place in order for the Scriptures to be fulfilled. (Luke 21:22) These prophecies
are not understood by the “nonspiritual” man, for as the Amplified Bible
translates Paul’s above words, “they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he
is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and
becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and
estimated and appreciated.” Such a person is "always learning and yet never able
to come to an accurate knowledge of truth." (2 Tim. 3:7)
Therefore, because of your understanding of these things, you have reason to rejoice for “happy are the eyes that behold the things you are beholding.”
It is evidence that you have God’s spirit, and this will enable you to endure,
even with joy, this present time of tribulation!
(Luke 10:21, 23; James 5:11)
(10/29/09)
Regarding Jesus Christ, the apostle Peter stated: "There is no salvation in anyone else, for there is not another name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must get saved." (Acts 4:12) What exactly does that mean to us? Simply put, our salvation is not dependent on any other person or persons apart from Jesus. For example, Jehovah has not caused any part of the Bible to be written in such a way that our understanding of it would depend entirely on another person(s) that we needed to go to, in order to gain life. It is God's holy spirit that teaches us and helps us to understand his Word. That is why Paul wrote: "For it is to us God has revealed [his wisdom] through his spirit, for the spirit searches into all things, even the deep things of God." When we teach others the things we ourselves have learned from God's Word about salvation, we "speak, not with words taught by human wisdom, but with those taught by the spirit, as we combine spiritual matters with spiritual words." (1 Cor. 2:7, 10-13) It is not anyone of us but rather God who opens the hearts of people, to understand his message of salvation. (Acts 16:14; 1 Cor. 3:6,7)
(10/16/09)
The greater Moses:
The apostle Paul compares the role that Moses served in God's purpose with the
superior position of Jesus, God's Son. Moses "was faithful in all the house of
[God]," as an attendant; whereas Jesus is "faithful as a Son over
the house of that One." The nation of Israel was the house of God at that time,
while today "we are the house of that One." Moses was the mediator of the old
covenant, and Jesus is the mediator of the new and "better" covenant. Also,
just as Aaron was the anointed high priest under that first covenant,
Jesus became the greater high priest under the new covenant. He is the "merciful
and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, in order to offer
propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of the people." Of course, the sacrifice
that Christ offered, his own flesh and blood body, is far superior to any
sacrifices that the former high priests offered to God. That is why Paul writes:
"For if the blood of goats and of bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on
those who have been defiled sanctifies to the extent of cleanness of the flesh,
how much more will the blood of the Christ, who through an everlasting spirit
offered himself without blemish to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works
that we may render sacred service to [the] living God?" —Heb. 2:17; 3:2, 5,6;
8:6; 9:11, 13-15.
Our publications, such as the Watchtower, argue that only a limited number,
namely 144,000, are parties to the new covenant, and that Jesus is the mediator
exclusively of them. This is how one article put it:
Only Christians referred to as "The Israel of God" are taken into this covenant with Jehovah God. (Galatians 6:16) Jesus spoke of this limited number of Christians as a "little flock." (Luke 12:32) However, there is a “great crowd” of other Christians, referred to by Jesus as his "other sheep." (Revelation 7:9, 10, 14; John 10:16) Although these enjoy benefits from the new covenant, they are not included in it. —w83 3/15 p. 9 Who Should Partake? (Bold mine)
The Watchtower of April 1, 1979, similarly explained in Questions From Readers:
The term “mediator” occurs just six times in the Christian Greek Scriptures and
Scripturally is always used regarding a formal covenant.
Moses was the “mediator” of the Law covenant made between God and the nation of
Israel. (Gal. 3:19, 20) Christ, though, is the “mediator of a new covenant”
between Jehovah and spiritual Israel, the “Israel of God” that will serve as
kings and priests in heaven with Jesus. (Heb. 8:6; 9:15; 12:24; Gal. 6:16) At a
time when God was selecting those to be taken into that new covenant, the
apostle Paul wrote that Christ was the “one mediator between God and men.”
(1 Tim. 2:5) Reasonably Paul was here using the word “mediator” in the same way
he did the other five times, which occurred before the writing of 1 Timothy 2:5,
referring to those then being taken into the new covenant for which Christ is
“mediator.” So in this strict Biblical sense Jesus is the “mediator” only for
anointed Christians.
The new covenant will terminate with the glorification of the remnant who are
today in that covenant mediated by Christ. The “great crowd” of “other sheep”
that is forming today is not in that new covenant. However, by their
associating with the “little flock” of those yet in that covenant they come
under benefits that flow from that new covenant. During the millennium Jesus
Christ will be their king, high priest and judge. For more detailed information,
see Aid to Bible Understanding, pages 1129 and 1130 under “Mediator”; also God’s
“Eternal Purpose” Now Triumphing for Man’s Good, page 160, paragraph 10; also
The Watchtower issues of February 15, 1966, pages 105 through 123; November 15,
1972, pages 685 and 686, under the subheading “Leading the Way to a New
Covenant”; and April 1, 1973, pages 198 and 199, under the subheading “The New
Covenant.” —w79 4/1 p. 31 Questions From
Readers. (Bold mine)
Please consider: Paul said that the features of the old covenant "has become our tutor leading to Christ." (Gal. 3:24; Heb. 8:5) If we are to accept the above Watchtower claims, that is, if Jesus is the mediator only of "anointed Christians" (144,000), then Moses was a greater mediator than Jesus, for Moses was the mediator between God and the entire nation of Israel, numbering into the millions. And if Jesus is the high priest of only this "little flock," then Aaron proved to be a greater high priest than Jesus, for the high priest under the old covenant represented before Jehovah, not merely other priests serving under him, but all the people, including the alien residents.* Have we not made God's word invalid by our traditions! Should we be surprised? (Matt. 15:6-9)
* The alien resident who had become a circumcised worshiper was bound to one law with the Israelites, that is, to obey all the terms of the Law covenant. (Le 24:22) A few examples are: He was required to keep the Sabbath (Ex 20:10; 23:12) and to celebrate the Passover (Nu 9:14; Ex 12:48, 49), the Festival of Unfermented Cakes (Ex 12:19), the Festival of Weeks (De 16:10, 11), the Festival of Booths (De 16:13, 14), and the Day of Atonement (Le 16:29, 30). He could offer sacrifices (Nu 15:14) and had to do so in the same manner as prescribed for the natural Israelite. (Nu 15:15, 16) His offerings were to be unblemished (Le 22:18-20) and brought to the entrance of the tent of meeting just as was done by the natural Israelite. (Le 17:8, 9) He could not engage in any false worship. (Le 20:2; Eze 14:7) He was required to drain blood out of game killed in hunting and would be “cut off” if he ate it undrained. (Le 17:10-14) He could receive forgiveness along with natural Israel for community responsibility for sins. (Nu 15:26, 29) He had to observe the purification procedures, for example, if unclean by touching a human corpse. (Nu 19:10, 11) The alien resident who could be given the body of an animal that had died of itself was evidently one who had not become a full-fledged worshiper of Jehovah.—De 14:21. —Insight on the Scriptures, Vol. 1, page 72, Alien Resident. (Bold mine)
(10/5/09)
Keep your eyes on the road: The Scriptures foretold that we would experience "critical times hard to deal with" in the "last days." (2 Tim. 3:1-7) Many of us can recite these Bible verses from memory. And yet, although forewarned, we find it to be a real challenge to keep our spiritual balance as we experience present day developments!"And it shall come to pass in the end of days, [that] the mountain of Jehovah's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow unto it. And many peoples shall go and say, Come, and let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths." —Isaiah 2:2, 3, Darby Translation.
(9/28/09)
Quote from The Watchtower: In order to avoid misunderstandings, Jehovah’s Witnesses try to be careful about how they express themselves. Instead of saying, “the Society teaches,” many Witnesses prefer to use such expressions as, “the Bible says” or, “I understand the Bible to teach.” In this way they emphasize the personal decision that each Witness has made in accepting Bible teachings and also avoid giving the false impression that Witnesses are somehow bound to the dictates of some religious sect. —The Watchtower, March 15, 1998, page 19, par 4, Living Up to Christian Dedication in Freedom. (Bold mine)(10/1/09)
The above article also stated:
Someone
may argue that the way the Witnesses speak about the Watch Tower Society—or more
often just “the Society”—indicates that they view it as more than a legal
instrument. Do they not consider it to be the final authority on matters of
worship? The book Jehovah’s Witnesses—Proclaimers of God’s Kingdom clarifies
this point by explaining: “When The Watchtower [June 1, 1938] referred to
‘The Society,’ this meant, not a mere legal instrumentality, but the body of
anointed Christians that had formed that legal entity and used it.” The
expression therefore stood for “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Matthew
24:45) It is in this sense that the Witnesses generally used the term “the
Society.” Of course, the legal corporation and “the faithful and discreet
slave” are not interchangeable terms. Directors of the Watch Tower Society are
elected, whereas Witnesses who make up ‘the faithful slave’ are anointed by
Jehovah’s holy spirit. —w98
3/15 pp. 18-19, par. 3, Living Up to Christian Dedication in Freedom.
(Bold mine)
This gives us some insight on how the
Governing Body members receive their position. They, as "the Society," which
stands for "the body of anointed Christians" (and "final authority on matters of
worship"), claim to be "anointed by Jehovah's holy spirit;" yet they, as
directors of the same Society, the corporation and legal entity, are "elected"
according to the democratic process of a corporation. It has nothing at all to
do with being appointed by holy spirit. (Matt. 20:25-27)