Quick Question for Jehovah's Witnesses # 2

1 John 3:9 Everyone who has been born from God does not carry on sin, because His [reproductive] seed remains in such one, and he cannot practice sin, because he has been born from God.

So far what's evident is that one cannot habitually practice sin if he is born of God. The next verse says:

"The children of God and the children of the Devil are evident by this fact: Everyone who does not carry on righteousness does not originate with God, neither does he who does not love his brother."
So verse 10 reiterates the thought that those "born of God" carry on in righteousness and notes that there are "children of God" and "children of the devil." This creates a sobering dilemma for Jehovah's Witnesses because even the Watchtower would have to admit that being born of God means being born again. In the Watchtower Insight book, volume 1, under "incorruption", 1 John 3:9 is given as a reference text for those who are "born again." Yes, being born again (which, again, is synonymous with being "born of God") is 1 John's admonition if one is to carry on in righteousness and hence be a child of Yahweh.

So my question for Jehovah's Witnesses is, given that there are only two options in 1 John 3:10 which are:

1. to be a child of God, born of him, yes, born again essentially or

2. to be a child of the devil

Whose child are you? If you say God's, then you must be born again according to 1 John.

In addition, 1 John 2:29 says:

"Everyone who does what is right has been born of him."

Quick Question for Jehovah's Witnesses

 In Acts chapter 2, people listening to Peter's message about the resurrection and extolling of the Messiah were "cut to the heart" (verse 37) and so Peter told them to "repent and be baptized." Verse 41 says :

"Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."

In another example in Acts, an Ethiopian eunuch was baptized right after hearing the good news about Yeshua. He said "Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?” (Acts 8:26-39)

I've only given these 3,001 examples to make a point. Hopefully that will be sufficient. In light of these, I ask the following:

Since the Watchtower organization makes the lofty claim to be the only place where someone can worship Yahweh while at the same time being absolutely true to the*biblical* model of how this is supposed to be done, how can such an assertion be maintained when in fact their baptism requirements are positively nothing like the bible's at all? Doesn't the Watchtower require insistent indoctrination for a long period of time and a lengthy test before baptism? Where is this model found in scripture? Shouldn't it be found there since the WT claims all their dogmas and practices come straight from the bible? Depending on the individual Jehovah's Witness of course and how zealous that one is in his or her studies, field service, and meeting attendance, isn't approximately a year or more a far cry from (the biblical model of) instant baptism upon sincere belief? If the Watchtower's method of doing things is a far cry from scripture's, which way is right? I'm not suggesting it's wrong to get baptized after studying, believing, and obeying for a long time. I'm only noticing how the Watchtower forbids anything but, which is notably unbiblical.

There's something else worth noting about the Christian baptisms in scripture as well. None of them at all were performed without those who were baptized then becoming members in Christ's body. Is this the Watchtower way? Because it's the bible's. I know which way I'd rather follow. What about you?



A Jehovah's Witness (I'm assuming) commented on this question on youtube and said :

"A huge difference between the 3K&1 ppl that u mentioned having gotten baptized all had the ML & prophets in their minds. By this I mean they knew things. Ppl can't commit themselves to something they don't know can they? Let's not 4get the practice we have for those who leave the truth. How does 1 get baptized a 'JW' then learn the doctrine/s & say 'no I don't agree w/xyz doctrine/s'? Those who persist in rebelling against doctrine will b DF'd. So y not avoid this by making sure ppl know the main things about Jesus & other JW doctrine?"

My answer:

Leave the truth? The truth is not an organization. My message here isn't "get baptized as a JW quickly without their intensive indoctrination." My message is not to get baptized as a JW at all because of this and many other red flags. To avoid that indoctrination altogether. My intent is to point out that 1st century Christians weren't baptized into an organization after being intensely indoctrinated with a publishing corporation's materials. They were baptized into Christ after believing a *simple* gospel and repenting. See the difference? When you say they "knew things", all they knew was that the prophesied Christ had come, died for us, and was raised up to sit at the right hand of Yahweh. They believed and repented and were baptized after only hearing a simple message that spoke to their hearts.

Are you scared of "Crisis of Conscience?"

When recommending Ray Franz's books to Jehovah's
Witnesses, I am most often met with appalling disgust and sentiments like "he has no proof for anything and demonizes Jehovah's organization. No way will I read his books! You hate Jehovah's Witnesses!" I actually, I'm ashamed to admit, used to share these wacky ideas because I was heavily indoctrinated with persuasive and bias Watchtower literature, which somehow causes JW's who heed it to be terrified that any criticisms of the Watchtower are apt to not only be wrong but downright dangerous because they could shipwreck your faith entirely, causing you to lose Jehovah's favor. Yes, a good sign you're in a cult is when the leadership inspires great fear when it comes to examining the opinions of those who question the leadership's claims. When Jehovah's Witnesses respond the way I just noted, I will typically respond this way:

Imagine for a moment that as a Jehovah's Witness you're witnessing to a Mormon. You recommend a book to that Mormon that exposes the truth about Mormonism and all the deceptions in it. However, the Mormon has been told by his leaders not to read any literature that doesn't come from them. That anyone who tells him that Joseph Smith or Mormonism are in any capacity wrong or to be questioned conscientiously is mentally diseased, possibly even demonized. That such persons are only trying to demonize Joseph Smith and Mormonism and shipwreck his faith and relationship with his creator. To avoid those persons with any dissenting information about Mr. Smith or Mormonism like the plague, as if they could destroy him, since that is obviously their goal. And as you, the sincere Jehovah's Witness, also try to hand this Mormon a Watchtower with an article about Mormonism's and Joseph Smith's deceptions, this Mormon says "no way will I read that. I know better. You're just trying to demonize the only true religion and shipwreck my faith. You obviously hate Mormons. Go away."

What would you think about this Mormon and how would you feel? (And I'm not suggesting Mormons would act this way..it's just a fictional illustration intended to make a point.) And would the reason for trying to help this Mormon have been because you hate him or because you care about him and want him to find out the truth?

However it is you would feel and whatever it is you would think, that's kind of how folk like me feel and think when JW's act like the Mormon in my brief illustration.

In reality, who's demonizing who here? And what are they trying to hide? Shouldn't truth be able to stand up glowingly to any scrutiny? The Watchtower unfairly demonizes Ray Franz. The only way you could possibly know if he unfairly demonizes them is if you give him the same shot you've given the Watchtower. If you ever read his books ("Crisis of Conscience" and "In Search of Christian Freedom"), not only will you be glad you did, it may change your life for the better if you care about holy scripture, justice, and truth. Ray Franz was a Christian man who knows everything that happened in the governing body meetings for a time because he was a member! He has proof and documentation for almost all of his claims, sharp and undeniable reasoning, and compassion for Jehovah's Witnesses like only someone who has been one could. I used to literally be scared to even have one of his books in the same neighborhood as me, much less pick one up to read. I am truly ashamed of myself for that. I feared men. No more. I bet you have seen some so-called "apostate" videos or websites where the people were disrespectful and off-putting. Franz is the OPPOSITE of that. If you are willing to examine the sincere truth about the Watchtower, respectfully and irrefutably presented, Ray is the way to go! He didn't harbor all the bitterness and anger and hatred a lot of ex-JW's have even though he probably was more entitled to it than any other ex-JW after all he went through, after how harshly he's been demonized & slandered.
                                                                                                                                                                                             It is those Jehovah's Witnesses online who ARE checking out supposed "apostate" web pages and youtube videos and blogs (etc.) who generally say Franz's books are a no no. Seems a little hypocritical, doncha think? So don't be like the Mormon from my earlier illustration. The bible says to make sure of and examine all things. Ray Franz wasn't critical of the bible or Yahweh. Watchtower literature is not the bible and the governing body are not Yahweh, so you should be able to discern the difference there even though the Watchtower attempts to conflate them all, imprisoning  JW's in the fear that to entertain conscientious criticism of an organization is somehow the same thing as questioning Yahweh himself! Ridiculous. Franz didn't fear men.  Do you?

I really care about and love Jehovah's Witnesses. I mean no harm here just like JW's would mean no harm if they were to witness to a Catholic about the problems within Catholicism's religious institution. As a Jehovah's Witness, you wouldn't do it to "demonize" Catholics because you hate them..you would do it to help them find Christian freedom because you care about them. So why and how could you accuse people like me of hatred and slander when I'm only doing the same things JW's do..trying to reach people with what I consider the good news from the bible while also informing them of certain dangers within religious organizations that don't conform.

The Watchtower's "new light" on the faithful and discreet slave

The following is a link to explain.

http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/governing-body-says-we-are-the-faithful-and-discreet-slave

Wow. Just, wow. How I ever bought anything the Watchtower sells is beyond me at this point. Mind-boggling. I almost feel like calling the sole anointed brother in my former congregation up and consoling him on his demotion. But he'd just tell me the same thing he told me when I disassociated. Namely, that we must "change with the organization and trust Jehovah." Which translated means that we must obey fallible men no matter what and link the organization so inextricably with Jehovah that it becomes an idol.

The Watchtower's "Faithful Slave"-a Few Concerns and Questions

Already blogged about this previously.This is that blog in a video form with a few minor adjustments.Hopefully there will be at least one or two little points within this that will make Jehovah's Witnesses think critically about governing body claims.Or that will help those who desire to reach JW's with the truth of Christ.

Jehovah's Witnesses and Questioning Authority(excerpt from a Ray Franz book)

1 John 4:1:Dearly loved friends,don't always believe you hear just because someone says it is a message from God:test it first to see if it really is

The following book excerpt is from pp.16-18 of "In Search of Christian Freedom" by Ray Franz

"If indeed authority has been an ancient enemy of truth,it has also been an ancient enemy of freedom,for truth is a prime liberating source,able to "make one free."When compelled to confront truth in the field of combat,error finds its favorite weapon,and also its ultimate refuge in authority.All too often,the claimed authority has no more genuineness than does the error itself.

No matter how much evidence may be supplied,no matter how much scriptural testimony may be presented,no matter how much logic may be brought to bear on the points discussed in this book,these may all be rejected and discarded by those who place a particular human religious authority as their guide,as the determiner of truth.In fact,with the vast majority of Jehovah's Witnesses all such evidence and scriptural testimony will be rejected before it is even heard--because authority has decreed for them that they should reject it.Those under the authority are thus robbed of the freedom to decide for themselves whether the information is factual or false,beneficial or detrimental.

And the same is true of all persons who submit to any human religious authority as their supreme arbiter of right and wrong.If they choose to allow that authority to decide for them ,speak for them,think for them,then any alternative argument or evidence advanced has no hope of a fair hearing,for "against authority there is no defense."The authority has no need to respond ,no need to refute,or even to consider the evidence presented;it simply condemns.This is,I believe,the basic issue and unless it is first understood,little else can be undertsood.At least that has proved to be the case in my own experience.

Men can make no greater claim to authority than to claim to speak for God--even more than that--to claim to be his *sole channel of communication* to all mankind.To occupy such a position would be an awesome responsibility indeed,and one that should logically call for the greatest humility on the part of the imperfect humans if they were in fact assigned to fill it.

A fitting analogy might be that of a slave sent forth by a king to deliver a proclamation.If impressed with his own importance,lacking humility,the messenger might feel free to add to the message or make adjustments,while nonetheless insisting that all hearers should accept whatever he presented as a bona fide royal order.If people questioned him on certain points,he might become resentful,seek to awe them with his royal backing in order to override any doubts about the authenticity of his statements.

By contrast,a truly humble messenger would scrupulously avoid any alteration of what came from the royal source.He would not become resentful if asked for proof of full authenticity for what he said,nor would he criticize if some took steps to confirm that the message he presented was delivered just as given,free from embroidery or change.Rather than decry such investigation as an abusive lack of respect for himself(the mere slave),he would accept it,even welcome it,as evidence of the inquirer's concern and deep respect for the will of his master,the Sovereign.

The Watchtower society repeatedly states that its message has life and death importance.The organization claims its message has been sent by God,the supreme Sovereign,for all mankind,with ultimate destruction as the outcome for disobedience.Some other religions take a similar position.

Surely,any claim of such magnitude should never go untested.In fact,the greatness of the claim calls for,not less,but more caution,more careful testing.Simple respect for God should move us,actually compel us,to make sure that the message is genuinely His,free from additions or alterations.The deeper our respect for God,the more conscientious our effort in testing."



I'm not asking Jehovah's Witnesses to question God or Jesus.I'm asking them to question *imperfect men* who make the downright astonishing & remarkably lofty claim to be the "sole channel" of God's.See the difference?If not,then when were the lines blurred for you?According to the WT,to question them demonstrates the same kind of "independent spirit" Adam and Eve demonstrated in the Garden of Eden when they questioned God.The Watchtower,however,isn't God.

Jehovah's Witnesses and the Faithful and Discreet Slave

Matthew 24:45 “Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his master has set over his household, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. 47 Truly, I say to you, he will set him over all his possessions.

The Watchtower "Insight" publication says:

"Those forming the Christian congregation are referred to by the apostle Paul as “members of the household of God” (Eph 2:19; 1Ti 3:15), and the same apostle shows that ‘faithful stewardship’ among such household members involved the dispensing of spiritual truths on which those becoming believers would ‘feed.’ (1Co 3:2, 5; 4:1, 2; compare Mt 4:4.)Whereas this(food dispension) was a prime responsibility of those appointed as ‘shepherds’ of the flock (1Pe 5:1-3), the apostle Peter shows that such stewardship of the divine truths was actually committed to all the ‘chosen ones,’ all the spirit-anointed ones, of the Christian congregation. (1Pe 1:1, 2; 4:10, 11)"(Insight vol. 1 under "faithful and discreet slave")


So,awesomely enough,the WT is willing to admit that in the first century,because they believe that at that time ALL true Christians were anointed,that this parable is in application to every member within the congregations,feeding one another as well as getting fed.They articulate this by saying further:


"The entire anointed Christian congregation was to serve in a united stewardship, dispensing such truths. At the same time the individual members making up such composite body, or the “domestics” making up the “house” of God (Mt 24:45; Heb 3:6; Eph 2:19), would also be recipients of the “food” dispensed. (Heb 5:11-14; compare 1Co 12:12, 19-27.)"

The WT admits this parable applies to the entire body of Christ,and thus everyone who was present in the congregations(the home fellowships) of the 1st century fulfilled it.Today,however, they inexplicably believe only a few "chosen ones",literally only thousands of people within their organization itself,fulfill it,and especially those in their "governing body."

We actually have a decent starting point because at least the WT admits that the "household" of God are anointed Christians.It's just entirely too bad that they think most Christians aren't spirit anointed at all!Therefore,they have to equivocate as they expand the household of God to include Christians who aren't in Christ at all to justify their unique application of this parable.The REAL problem with this is that the New Testament scriptures don't speak of anyone who is supposed to be Christian as actually being outside the body of Christ,which IS "God's household."In other words,to say there's a group distinct from the body of Christ within the household of God is scripturally baseless.When there are people progressing to true Christianity,once they have decided to exercise faith in the Messiah,then they need to live in him as their ark and truth,as their sole mediator and way to eternal life.(Jn. 14:6,1 Tim. 2:5)They receive the SAME reward(life in Christ alone) as those who are more mature in the faith.(Matt. 10:40-42)Essentially,fulfilling the parable along with every professed believer because they become slaves for Christ who,hopefully,are faithful and discreet ones.

Let's see,further, who scripture actually identifies as "God's household" to get a proper understanding of Matt. 24:45.Scripture says:

1 Peter 2:5:you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.


1 Timothy 3:15 if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

Hebrews 3:6:Christ is faithful over God's house as a son. And we are his house if indeed we hold fast our confidence and our boasting in our hope.

The WT,of course,claim these texts apply to all Christians in the 1st century and VERY FEW today.This is because they believe the only true Christians are Jehovah's Witnesses,and most of them are of a class that are *outside* the body of Christ.This has been determined by their leaders by a clever misuse of texts like John 10:16 and Luke 12:32.Even though common sense as well as the bible itself makes it clear the "other sheep" are Gentiles(while the little flock are Jews) & that ALL ,quite frankly, share in the blessings of the body of Christ.(Eph. 2:11-22 expounds on the two groups)It would seem the WT has a different application for this parable from the 1st century to now.THEN,it was "all the Christians" feeding one another and being fed.Now it's just a few Christians(of a little flock anointed class,particularly privileged) feeding those who are not anointed at all(the less privileged).

How can the discreet slave of the WT feed God's household if,according to scripture,God's household is explicitly identified as the body of Christ?In other words,if it is the body of Christ that feeds those who aren't in it at the "proper time"(according to Watchtower theology),then who feeds the household(the body of Christ) itself?I'm sure JW's would say "Christ does" but according to this parable,faithful stewards OF Christ do.(with Christ as sole leader of every true believer of course)Since the governing body are ALSO "God's household" as members of Christ's body,then what faithful and wise servant feeds them in fulfillment of the parable?Also,if one says "the governing body of the JW's" feeds the *rest* of Christ's body,then on what scriptural basis can this be dogmatically established clearly & scripturally,while also asserting that the anointed fed ones fulfill the parable too even as they accomplish the EXACT SAME WORK as the "other sheep"?But that the "other sheep" somehow just don't fulfill it at all?It seems more to be a baseless assertion than a solid truth.If the WT magazines and such are your "food at the proper time",then how in the world did the Christians in the 1st century ever get properly nourished?

God in these last days has spoken to us through his SON.(Heb. 1:2)We have the holy scriptures and nothing else is essential,nothing else is prophesied to be necessary food for salvation.Only the truth found in Christ.I suppose that's why men who make claims as lofty as the governing body do always give themselves away with something,like false date setting and a bizarre separation of Christians into "classes."Yahushua is being ignored and an institution/organization "arrangement" and "food" is being hailed as something that's necessary for salvation.It's really blasphemous considering the sufficiency of Yahushua,the blemishless Lamb,eternal life from the Father himself.

I guess one of my beefs here is the fact that if you raise any objections to JW's about their unwarranted application of this parable,you will be met with claims like :

"but this parable can't be applied to all Christians individually because it's only for those set OVER the household."

This objection will not hold up at all if you read the WT publications themselves where they admit,again,about 1st century Christians,that "the entire anointed Christian congregation was to serve in a united stewardship, dispensing such truths. At the same time the individual members making up such composite body, or the “domestics” making up the “house” of God,would also be recipients of the “food” dispensed."So I guess my question is:

WHY,if in the 1st century every Christian in the congregations fulfilled this parable,even if they weren't spiritual leaders or elders or appointed in any position of oversight at all,can't this also be true of the parable today?OR,reworded:How can you say that every Christian can't possibly meet the requirements of this parable today because not every Christian is in a position of oversight if,according to the WT,all Christians used to fulfill this parable in the past regardless of not being appointed as leaders of any kind?Where is the justice in changing the parable's application at all?Wouldn't that be not only inconsistent,but peculiar and sly even?

Please keep in mind,JW's,that most of those claiming to be in the body of Christ within the WT organization itself are being fed by the governing body,even as the governing body claims that those not in the governing body yet in the body of Christ who are anointed JW's *also* fulfill this parable.So,again,why is it that the "other sheep" aren't fulfilling the parable as well since they are doing the **exact same** "faithful and discreet" work as the rest of the anointed JW's who claim to be in Christ who are outside the governing body itself?We have some real inconsistencies going on in WT theological matters!

This parable,clearly,is about those within the body of Christ tending carefully,faithfully,and discreetly to one another,handling the word of truth aright.If one MUST say it's in application solely to some spiritual leaders or teachers of the church,then why would that be "the governing body of JW's" as opposed to all the elders and servants appointed in the humble fellowships of the first century and today?In fact,where was the governing body in the 1st century home fellowships?Where was the location where they convened?Where is the evidence that any governing body privately,in closed chambers,concocted the "food" for all the fellowships at "the proper time?"Where are the rules by which the members could discreetly be appointed?Since there are detailed regulations for the appointment of elders and the like,it would only make sense that there would likewise be for the governing body that supposedly(according to the WT alone) dictated every affair of every congregation.It's absence in the epistles would be dumbfounding were it a prevailing reality.And absent it is!


Please keep in mind that regardless of the application of who the stewards are in Matthew 24:45,these stewards are feeding the body of Christ(identified in scripture as God's household befitting the parable) as opposed to people kept FROM the body of Christ by an manmade organization.


How can slaves of Christ be faithful and discreet?

Galatians 6:10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

Matthew 7:24 Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.

Luke 16:10 Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

2 Tim. 2:15:Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

As Christians,we all have the responsibility to slave for Christ as faithfully and discreetly as possible.

A bible commentary says about this parable:

"The "servant" is there called a "steward", for such a servant is meant; and a name that is very proper for the apostles and ministers of the word, who are stewards of the mysteries of Christ, and of the manifold grace of God; and whose characters are, that they are "faithful": for this is required in stewards, that they be faithful to the trust reposed in them; as ministers are, when they preach the pure Gospel of Christ, and the whole of it; conceal no part, nor keep anything of it; seek not to please men, but God; neither seek their own things, their ease, honour, and profit, but the glory of God, the honour of Christ, and the good of souls; and abide by the truths, cause, and interest of a Redeemer, at all hazards. And they are "wise", who know and are well instructed in divine things; who make Christ the main subject of their ministry; who improve their talents and time for their master's use, and the advantage of those that are under their care; who seek for, and deliver acceptable words and matter; and manage their whole trust, so as to be able to give in a good account of their stewardship another day. The post that such a person is put in, and the work he is to do, follow:" ~Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Scripture enlightens:

Proverbs 14:35 A king delights in a wise servant, but a shameful servant incurs his wrath.

Proverbs 28:20 A faithful man will be richly blessed, but one eager to get rich will not go unpunished.

Hmm..looks like we better,as believers,be wise and faithful slaves.:)(Rom. 6:22,Eph. 6:6,Col. 3:24)For to do so entails an inheritance like no other,yes,eternal life!!Found in Christ alone,not an organization.

The Faithful and Discreet Slave and Watchtower hypocrisy

This blog was inspired by the book "In Search of Christian Freedom"(by former governing body member Ray Franz) that I am not very far into yet.It's a big book!It's really great so far though!

Charles Taze Russell said in 1881:"Must I not join some organization on earth,assent to some creed and have my name written on earth?No,remember that Jesus is your pattern and teacher,and neither in his words nor acts will you find any authority for binding yourselves with creeds and traditions of the elders,which will tend to make the word of God to no effect."(Mark 7:13.)

So this blog isn't to suggest that Charles Taze Russell would actually approve of all that this organization has become,but rather to emphasize the origin of it and question why it is perfectly ok to the rank and file Jehovah's Witnesses when their leadership discourages "touching an unclean thing" with a "bad origin" to embrace the organization that actually has a bad origin with unclean things according to its own literature and the principles it heralds?

So who EXACTLY are the faithful and discreet slave in the parable?(quoting myself here from another blog):
I am going to assume like most Christians that all true Christians are "slaves" of Christ,and that if they are "faithful and discreet",caring for one another (and also caring for those who need to hear the gospel and be cared for spiritually and even materially,emotionally,and physically) and handling the word of truth aright,then they are "faithful and discreet slaves."There is nothing in the texts to suggest that it is the men in the higher echalons of the Watchtower bible and tract society.Changing light is neither inspired nor discreet when it has resulted in mishandled sheep.

1 Peter 4:10:As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of Gods varied grace

Hmm..doesn't sound like any Christian is excluded from stewardship.

The WT obviously made up what they say it is to have an excuse for a few men in NY to control millions of peoples' thinking & to have great authority over them.I'm not suggesting these men know any better.I think they're as deceived as the rank and file JW's and actually believe God is using them no matter how many times it's been proven He isn't.God allows an operation of error to overcome people who don't listen to His Son.

"From this it is clearly seen that the editor and publisher of Zion's Watch Tower disavowed any claim to being individually, in his person, that "faithful and wise servant." He never did claim to be such," ("God's Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached," 1973, p. 346).

This contradicts Watchtower December 1, 1919, p. 357 :"Thousands of the readers of Pastor Russell's writings believe that he filled the office of 'that faithful and wise servant,' and that his great work was giving to the household of faith meat in due season. His modesty and humility precluded him from openly claiming this title, but he admitted as much in private conversation," (Watchtower, Dec. 1, 1919, p. 357).

I know JW's will attempt to chalk this up to new light and progressive revelation,in the fact that NOW they say all anointed people in the WT society are the "faithful and discreet slave class",but one must remember that God supposedly chose the JW's as his people and sole channel when it was so full of error that there would have been no reason for him to choose it over any other.Basically,JW's believe any horrific error they make is perfectly fine..it's others errors whose aren't that they must expose.And if anyone exposes theirs,then that person is labelled and fit for destruction,because no one can survive Armageddon without being a member of the WT organization,according to its own literature..

"Survival of individuals today depends on their faith and their loyal association with the earthly part of Jehovah's universal organization." WT 5/15/2006 p.22 "Are You Prepared for Survival?"

"The WT Society's teaching is that a "slave class" has had a continuous,uninterrupted existence from its beginning in 33 A.D. until the present time."p.127 "In Search of Christian Freedom" by Ray Franz

The WT society advances the absurd concept that God has always fed his people as an organization,ignoring the fact that small groups and individuals can actually be "fed" without an enormous billion dollar a year organized society.Ignoring the bible's emphasis on God's attention given to individuals,judging them on individual basises and the fact that the 1st century fellowships were humble home ones and Jesus threatened to remove their lamps individually.

Acts 10:35:in every nation the MAN(as opposed to only members of particular organizations) that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him.

JW's pretend it is perfectly fine that their founder taught many things they're ashamed of now and prefer not to acknowledge,that God never taught that an organization is required for salvation and spiritual food dispension,and that Christians survived without it right up until a little over 100 yrs. ago.They make excuses for this by saying IN THE LAST days true knowledge would become abundant,as if the organization is true knowledge and Jesus Christ wasn't the truth for millions before the society strolled along.As if their lies and false predictions are perfectly acceptable because of some bizarre concept that the organization is the truth anyway,no matter what!And how dare anyone question that,right?

"The historical reality of such a premise,of any close-knit,interrelated,composite body down through the centuries constituting the sole recipient of Christ's feeding and thereby becoming the sole channel of instruction from God for all Christians everywhere,is NOWHERE demonstrated or documented.It is simply asserted.The interpretation advanced and the organizational stance taken REQUIRES it.The WT's publications make NO attempt to identify such a channel,offering as a reason that the entrance of apostasy "obscured" the identification of the "faithful and discreet slave class."So,the existence of such a "channel"during that period is simply assumed."p.128 "In Search of Christian Freedom" by Ray Franz

I guess I'll ask the JW's..Who was the channel before the WT society's inception,since they claim there has always been one?And why was it ok for Charles Russell to be identified as the sole man who was this faithful and discreet slave if there has always been a larger class?Recognize any inconsistency yet?

"The WT,despite its claims that there has ALWAYS been one,cannot find ANYTHING that would fit its description as ,to quote Ray,"a single,ongoing "faithful and discreet slave" class,a homogenous,close-knit,collective group functioning down through the centuries as the one and only feeding source for generation after generation of all genuine Christians in all places.Why not show at least those links of "the faithful and discreet slave" that would connect Russell and his founding of the WT society in 1881?"p. 128

Interestingly,to try and obscure the fact that it is misleading to identify a "faithful and discreet slave class" within a worldwide organization who are God's supposed sole channel that MUST be identified and has in fact existed throughout time for Christians,the WT has actually mentioned people like the Waldenses and Anabaptists,conveniently ignoring the VAST differences in doctrinal opinions.Even though they believed in the trinity and the immortality of the soul etc.In other words,the WT,to cover it's deceptions,pulled whatever it could out of a hat in a futile attempt to support their idea of this organized faithful slave sole channel always existing,as they assert it has.Obviously,it hasn't.Certainly not in the way they've established it!

"The bible is an organizational book and belongs to the Christian congregation as an organization,not to individuals,regardless of how sincerely they may believe that they can interpret the bible.For this reason the BIBLE CANNOT BE PROPERLY UNDERSTOOD WITHOUT JEHOVAH'S VISIBLE ORGANIZATION IN MIND."-WT 10/1/67 p.587

After an assertion like that,this BEGS the question:How,as a JW, can you trust that the foundation of this organization,and that,my friends would be the independent and private study of Charles Taze Russell its founder,is stable or acceptable given that this entire idea wholeheartedly contradicts WT principles that no one could possibly understand scripture without a class of men in an organization?In other words,can you recognize how ridiculous it is to be a member of an organization founded on independent bible study that forbids it for you?How could Russell reintroduce biblical truths that had been lost without Jehovah's sole channel of communication?And why would there need to be a reintroduction of these truths to begin with if there had always been a faithful and discreet slave class as the WT asserts?!Wouldn't that in essence mean that Charles Taze wouldn't have had to revive any truth at all..that it would be a consistent given thing as the WT claims it has?And isn't the truth Jesus Christ and not an organization at all?If so,and I can assure you he is,then why is YOUR truth an organization and not the Messiah himself?Would we be safer "in Christ" or in an organization chockfull of false haughty lofty claims,deception,and mistreatment of sheep,all wrapped up in a pretty package because of the good that DOES exist there like an angel of light?I trust Christ implicitly.I don't trust men implicitly.What about you?

"In its efforts to deny that Jesus Christ is now dealing,or would EVER deal with individuals apart from an organization,a unique "channel",the teaching produces an untenable position.It also claims that Christ did precisely that in dealing with Russell as an individual apart from any organization..This facet of their carefully constructed teaching about "the faithful and discreet slave class" proves to be a mere "house of cards" which their own statements cause to fall flat."p. 132

How,as a JW,can you in good conscience not see the discrepancy and hypocrisy here?Can you at the very least understand why some of us have "crisises of consciences?"And does it really make someone an apostate to be a Christian without a worldwide organization controlling one with manmade policies and intellectual intimidation,threats and unwarranted dogmatisms?If so,then wasn't Charles Taze Russell an apostate?And if you're commanded by the men you implicitly trust to avoid all things with negative origins,then wouldn't a man independently studying scripture establishing the very organization you think you need to save you be something to avoid like the plague,given the fact that independent bible study leads to apostate doctrines and negative findings according to the society you think is your savior?

"They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such 'Bible reading,' they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago."(WT; 8/15/1981; p.29)

Yet that's the VERY foundation & origin of the WT society.What an enormous discrepancy!

"The Bible cannot be properly understood without Jehovah's visible organization in mind." (w67 10/1 p. 587)

YET that's exactly what the society's founder did!

"Let us face the fact that no matter how much Bible reading we have done, we would never have learned the truth on our own." (w90 12/1 p. 19)"

Even though the truth is Jesus and the men in the WT organization pilfer his sole titles and roles?

"To hold to the headship of Christ, it is therefore necessary to obey the organization that he is personally directing. Doing what the organization says is to do what he says. Resisting the organization is to resist him."WT 5/01/1959..

Sounds like the Pope's claims!!And if you DON'T think the organization is your savior,then why do you belong to it when it says it is?And why do you label and shun people who know it's not?

John 14:6:Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

John 10:1"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door(which is Christ as opposed to an organization that says Christ isn't your door but that they are!) into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up SOME OTHER WAY he is a thief and a robber."

In other words,if you think you need ANYONE but Jesus to reach the father and find salvation,you've been deceived by men,who Yah tells us NOT to put our faith in.We ARE allowed to question them,ESPECIALLY if they've proven they need to be.

My viddie on this..YEP my accent is ATROCIOUS!At least it's distinctive ;-)

How discreet are the faithful and discreet slave?

I have no idea why the audio sounds so hideous.It's perfectly fine until it gets uploaded to youtube.

This was partially inspired,again,by the MUST READ "Crisis of Conscience" by Ray Franz.

First let me say there are many good things about Jehovah's Witnesses..but JW's already know that!There are many good things about almost every religion..should I excuse all the bad because of them?If not,then why should JW's excuse the bad in THEIR religion because of the good?Wouldn't that be hypocritical to expect others not to do so but then to do so yourselves(if you're a JW)?

As for who the faithful and discreet slave are,I am going to assume like most Christians that all true Christians are "slaves" of Christ,and that if they are "faithful and discreet",caring for one another and handling the word of truth aright,then they are "faithful and discreet slaves."There is nothing in the texts to suggest that it is the men in the higher echalons of the Watchtower bible and tract society.Changing light is neither inspired nor discreet when it has resulted in mishandled sheep.

If just ONE Jehovah's Witness sees this and ponders the injustices and bloodguilt in the society,then that's enough for me.Organizational policies and legalistic standards are not the way to salvation.In fact,they're Pharisaic..When I was a JW,because of how controlled my mind was by constant meetings and WT literature,I HONESTLY believed these men were God's channel of communication.The bible became secondary,naturally.If you read everything they tell you to read,there's not much time for anything else.I believed I needed to be in their organization before I could be saved.I trusted them.Then I discovered the deceitful rhetoric,the lies,the history,the origin,the cover ups,the bloodguilt,the hypocrisy,the dangerous doctrines,the burdensome dogmatisms.etc.God prefers humility,grace,truth and justice.Christ is the answer.He is the "ark",the way,the truth and the life.The mediator.Not men.Not a "society",and not time slips or meeting attendance.

About the blood doctrine,EVEN IF you as a JW think the WT society is correct,you must at least consider that the NT reiterates the OT and ALL the blood that was mentioned from which to refrain was consuming that of deceased animals.Therefore,why would you jump to "possible life-saving blood transfusion" from that?If you hold the sanctity of life in as high a regard as Yah does,I do hope you'll at least consider that,if anything,this issue should at least be up to the individual conscience and not the policies of men who are interpreting a text outside it's OT context.Who have flip flopped over deadly doctrines many times.And how much blood product is allowed,taking control of YOUR conscience.And expecting you to change your mind tomorrow if they do.

Some SERIOUS flip flops to ponder:
http://www.bible.ca/Jw-changes.htm#science