Here are some quotes from the Watchtower concerning “imperfect men” and how we should not follow what men say:
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“You may wisely decide against putting your trust in imperfect men and their fallible predictions and promises.” (3/15/66 page 168)
“Build your hope on Scriptural truth, not on the imaginations of imperfect men.” 1/1/68
“How deep-seated within imperfect men can be the desire for distinction, to have prominent positions and prestige.” (10/1/68)
“The Bible’s main objective is to provide sound guidance for living in harmony with the will of God. Logically, therefore, what it says should be far superior to what imperfect men not following it have recommended and continue to recommend as a guide.” (3/1/75)
“According to First Timothy 6:20 it would be unwise to fill one’s mind with philosophies of imperfect men” (9/1/1975)
“Whenever God’s Word is displaced by the views of imperfect men as a source of guidance, serious problems can result.” (4/1/78)
“They [approved servants of God] are convinced that the head of the Christian congregation is the Lord Jesus Christ. They will not identify themselves with groups that exalt imperfect men;” (6/1/80 page 31)
” Can you imagine the potential for abuse if Jesus’ power were placed in the hands of an imperfect ruler? But Jesus was sinless. He refused to be tainted by the selfishness, ambition, and greed that drive imperfect men to use their power to hurt others.” (Close to Jehovah, 2002, p.93)
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What do you get out of these quotes? The message is clear that we should not follow or put our trust in men. (Psalms 146:3) And Proverbs 30:5,6 is even more clear when it says this:
“Every saying of God is refined. Add nothing to his words, that he may not reprove you, and that you may not have to be proved a liar.”
When we add our own interpretation to a scripture, that is our business. But when we scribe it into law via the printed page and enforced shunning, this scripture applies with great force. If you disagree with something in the Watchtower and you are one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, you are not permitted to voice any disbelief or disagreement with what is written on those pages. If you do so openly you will be silenced by disfellowshiping and branded an evil apostate by the congregation. Does this seem scriptural to you personally? Or is it “going beyond the things that are written”? (1 Corinthians 4:6)
Tags: GB, governing body, imperfection
JJ, thanks for the information you posted here and the cartoon comparison. Sometimes an important argument can be more effectively presented via pictures. Of course, in terms of overall power over the minds of others, it does not matter whether the controling authority is in the hands of a single man or a small group of men.
Well anyway, don’t lose heart, even the GB don’t agree with *themselves* sometimes, as is evident from the way they’ve had to resort to steering the good ship WT by “tacking in the wind”!
I wonder if they always read carefully what some of their “Nethinim” helpers in the Writing Department write [Please see Watch. 1992 Apr 15, page 31, “Announcement – Assistance for Governing Body Committees”]. It seems to me that some of the writers, upon being admirably open and frank, have not thought sometimes about the implications of what they’ve written. I particularly appreciated the article in Insight Vol 2, on the subject of “The Last Days” and their application the the end of the Jewish system of things. Needless to say, I’ve put the information online:
http://jwbaptism.blogspot.com/p/last-days.html
JWB(Quote)
Recently a friend sent me a movie on DVD of the life of William Tyndale. It is quite amazing how the clergy made the same argument back then as to the validity of their authority as the GB makes today. According to the clergy the pope was the representative of Christ, and the Cardinals and Bishops through the pope.
According to JW teachings, the GB is Jesus’ representative and the traveling overseers and elders through the GB.
Back in Tyndale’s day reaction to disagreement with church authority was viewed the same way as it is today among JWs, not something to be tolerated. Any disagreement was viewed as wicked heresy. Today it is viewed as wicked apostasy. Extreme forms of punishment were meted out to those “heretics”. Today the most extreme form of punishment allowable by law is given to today’s “apostates”, total banishment.
andrew(Quote)
I totally agree with you Andrew. Foxes Book Of Martyres, shows many more who were treated similarly to Tyndale. It’s interesting to note that both Catholic & Protestant sectors used extreme punishments, torure & death on thousands who believed differently to themselves. As I understand from history, this is why the Pilgrims left England & went to America, seeking religious freedom.
This is one reason that I see the WTS in the same light as the Papacy.
Amos(Quote)
Hi all,
I agree with amos – the patterns by set these imperfect men wanting to be rulers over their brothers is very much alike.
Unclean teachings – Unclean teachings – Unclean teachings that are the same thing as uncanny power and teraphims. seems like a good time to separate from these things so that Jehovah can take us in as true sons and daughters.
Your brother in Christ
belongingtojah
belongingtojah(Quote)