DOCTRINE SHOPPING: How the Governing Body became the new MAJESTERIUM

by Terry 9 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Terry

  The Catholic Church is founded upon Majesterium which is the doctrine that Jesus began a long succession of priests who administered his kingdom work and education through Peter and his subsequent Popes. Moreover, Jesus gave this Catholic Church the right to make policy which heaven would back up with divine authority.

  The Protestant Reformation nullified this idea by presenting a rival doctrine of SOLA SCRIPTURA which is the doctrine that no priesthood is necessary for an individual human being. Sola Scriptura says one man and one bible is what God will work through directly as long as Jesus is invoked as the mediator.

  The Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses coalesce around the doctrine that the MAJESTERIUM applies to them as "anointed" and no Lone Ranger christian can go around them.

  When Pastor Russell produced his STUDIES IN THE SCRIPTURES it was promoted as superior to reading the bible itself. This destroyed the Protestant doctrine of Sola Scriptura. In place of one man/one bible through Jesus a hierarchy of "faithful and discreet slave" was interposed in much the way the Pope and his priests served in the Catholic Church. Jehovah would ONLY work through an ORGANIZATION and not through identities of solo believers.

  The Jehovah's Witnesses are guilty of Doctrine Shopping by, in effect, stealing the Catholic doctrine and applying it to themselves and replacing the Pope with "anointed".

  The Protestant Reformation is set back 500 years!

  The corruption of the Catholic heirarchy and the Pope is well demonstrated by history. The corruption of Jehovah's Witness theology through End Times predictions which have repeatedly failed (100% failure) demonstrate no connection with a Supreme Being who administers Truth.

  Yet, Jehovah's Witnesses insist on calling their religion THE Truth.
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  sir82

  I have held this opinion for quite a long time: If the WT Society manages to avoid collapse via lawsuits and/or mass defections, it would be functionally indistinguishable from the RC church in about 200-300 years. Superfically different perhaps, different terminology and so on, but virtually identical practically.
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  abbagail

  Very well said, Terry. Thanks for the crystal clear observation.
  
  /ab
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  FireNBandits

  The history of Bible religion PERIOD is a history awash in gore. It's all puke, puke and excrement. "We have the really true truth!" "What Truth is that?"
  
  "GOD WROTE A BOOK!"
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  Atlantis

  Terry:

  Thank you Terry!

  What an excellent way of presenting that information! Great job! I would even skip tea time for posts like yours. Better make a copy for the blue book!

  

  Good show, old friend!

  Cheers! Atlantis-
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  Hellrider

  Very true. All their fundamental doctrines are stolen, btw. Pretty much all the basics came from the Adventists. The "calculations" (2520 days/years etc.), "invisible presence", the view on blood, earthly paradise, the elect as the "bride" awaiting the "birdegroom", etc. Russell stole it all. He pretty much didn`t have any original ideas himself. So he just copied everyone else`s. What a guy.
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  FireNBandits

  You're wrong Hellrider. He came up with the "jellyfish" creepiness and the Miracle Wheat fiasco. Plus I think it was his original idea to not be original. Maybe he even thought up the idea that Christians aren't part of the New Covenant. Probably not though.
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  Terry

  A tablemaker built a table. It collapsed the first time a meal was served upon it. What kind of tablemaker do we have here?

  A furniture maker built a chair. The first time someone sat in the chair it broke. What kind of furniture maker do we have here?

  A god built a person. The first time obedience was tested the person failed. What kind of god do we have here?

  A pastor built a doctrine. The first time the doctrine was tested it failed. What kind of doctrine do we have here?

  Mostly, we end up with apologists.
• 

  Arthur

  There is no doubt that the concept of a supreme governing council (or ecclesiastical authority) that has final judicial and legislative power; is something that is post-apostolic, and post-biblical.

  It's strange how the WTS will reject the Trinity doctrine due to it's post-apostolic / post biblical adoption into the churches. (I am not necessarily supporting these assertions, I am merely restating WT arguments) But, they completely ignore the fact that the modern day Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses is almost identical with the centralized ecclesiastical bodies (or councils of bishops) that developed in the churches of Christendom after the deaths of the apostles.

  The Jerusalem council of the first century, on the other hand, was merely a large gathering made up of apostles, and many church elders. The body resolved divisive issues, but never operated as a centralized governing council that had legislative power over Christians. Had it been considered a divinely appointed arrangement, there would have been evidence of it's operation after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. But, there is none, in fact, the Apostle John in his writings (after 70 A.D.) never even mentioned such a body and never gave any indication to the congregations giving submission to such a body.
• 

  Terry

  The Jerusalem council of the first century, on the other hand, was merely a large gathering made up of apostles, and many church elders. The body resolved divisive issues, but never operated as a centralized governing council that had legislative power over Christians. Had it been considered a divinely appointed arrangement, there would have been evidence of it's operation after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. But, there is none, in fact, the Apostle John in his writings (after 70 A.D.) never even mentioned such a body and never gave any indication to the congregations giving submission to such a body.

  Clearly Paul dealt with problems in local congregations as an advisor in much the same way that any man in Israel could stand up and rant about wicked deeds. No prophet was an organization. The Jerusalem council was local and did not try to meddle in the affairs of churches elsewhere.

  The doctrine of the FDS is untenable and I am convinced the Governing Body knows it.