Was There a Governing Body in the First Century?
I n the first century the apostles and older men did not exercise control over congregations outside their area. Once, when a problem arose concerning the circumcision issue, it was dealt with by the mature elders and apostles in Jerusalem where the problem arose and the decision was relayed to all affected congregations. (Acts 15:1,2) We could compare it to how things are done among Jehovah's witnesses on a local level. Each congregation has its body of elders, who are supposed to have scriptural qualifications. (Number of hours in preaching is not a scriptural qualification. Titus 1:5-9 ) The elders are there to feed and shepherd the members of their congregation. When a problem arises the elders in their own congregation deal with it. If the problem affects congregations in the surrounding area then mature brothers of the affected congregations will get involved, sometimes on a circuit or even district level. The elders should be qualified to handle the situation or they would not scripturally qualify to be elders in the first place. In this way they are all led by holy spirit. There should be no need to ask brothers from some head office for permission or instructions as if such ones have special qualifications. All elders are equal before Jehovah and all will be equally held accountable for the carrying out of the responsibility they willingly accepted. (1 Corinthians 2:12,13; James 3:1) Please consider: when Jesus wrote the seven letters to the seven congregations in the book of Revelation, if there was a governing body at that time, why did he bypass them and deal directly with each elder (star, angel) in his congregation (lampstand)? (Revelation 1:20-3:22) If a governing body had been put in place by holy spirit should not that body of governors have been called to account by the Master as to the situation in the various congregations, since, as we understand it today, they would be the ones having authority over every aspect of the congregations, including the appointment of elders? Would they be given authority over God's household and yet not be acknowledged and held accountable?
The twelve apostles have the distinction of being the "twelve foundation stones" of the New Jerusalem. (Revelation 21:14) They are the ones chosen by Jehovah through whom Jesus directed the congregations. But, by way of example, they were also told by their Master not to imitate the nations in lording it over their brothers. At the end of the first century only the apostle John was still alive. By that time many had presented themselves with the claim of having apostolic authority. In his first letter to the congregation in Ephesus, Jesus addressed that problem and commended them for "[weeding] out apostolic pretenders." (Revelation 2:2) These craved the recognition and authority of the apostles, and they are likened to Satan himself. (2 Corinthians 11:5,12-14) They had no respect for their fellow believers, even wanting to disfellowship ones who disagreed with them. Why, even the aged apostle John became the target of such ones. (2 Corinthians 11:26; 12:11; Galations 2:4; 3 John 9,10)
The apostle Paul foretold that "oppressive wolves will enter in among YOU and will not treat the flock with tenderness, and from among YOU yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves." (Acts 20:29,30)This situation would especially develop in the "last days" when this wicked slave's presence would become apparent. It would be during the time just before his master's sudden and unexpected arrival.
The apostle Peter counseled shepherds of God's flock, "Shepherd the flock of God in YOUR care, not under compulsion, but willingly; neither for love of dishonest gain, but eagerly; neither as lording it over those who are God ?s inheritance, but becoming examples to the flock. And when the chief shepherd has been made manifest, YOU will receive the unfadable crown of glory." ?1 Peter 5:2-4.
Those elders, of whom it could be said that they were "appointed by holy spirit," did not "lord it over" the sheep, the ones who are God's inheritance. (Acts 20:28)
Our body of governors have justified their lording it over their fellow slaves by their unique interpretations of the scriptures and going beyond the things written. They have done this by claiming that 1. Jesus inspected them in 1918-19 and found them faithful and thus appointed them over all his belongings. Therefore, they insist to have the right to govern, or rule, before actually sitting on their heavenly thrones. 2. Also, they claim to have special status with God in connection with the New Covenant, which they say includes only them. In this they have also made Jesus the mediator of only themselves. Thus, they have legitimized what they were commanded not to do, claiming the words of Jesus and Peter no longer apply to them. Rather than "lording it over" their fellow slaves they ought to be "examples to the flock," because "all you are brothers." They have started ruling ahead of their time. (compare 1 Corinthians 4:6,8)
Over the decades, since the early twenties, this was not really an issue. But when 1975 did not bring about the anticipated end of this system as they had predicted, their authority began to be seriously questioned. By that time they had in subjection over two million worshipers. (Which has grown to over six million today.) Fearful of losing authority over such a great crowd, a number of those highly placed in the organization began to flex their muscles, so to speak, to keep their flock in subjection. Many articles on apostasy began to appear in the publications and questioning the authority of "the faithful and discreet" slave became intolerable. The evil slave, the "man of lawlessness," was starting to make his presence felt. Jehovah has seen good to allow him time to become fully exposed, so that when the master arrives at an hour we "do not think to be it," we will all understand that the judgment upon him is fully deserved. Therefore, we can expect the situation in God's household to go from bad to worse, until the unexpected arrival of the master. (2 Thessalonians 2:3,8-12) There are those who believe that since Jehovah has allowed all these things to take place such as it has, he must be in agreement with it. But our God has always been patient. He put up with the sins of his people Israel for a very long time. Like them, because of seeming lack of action on his part, so far, we are in danger of becoming fully set in our wayward course. "Because sentence against a bad work has not been executed speedily, that is why the heart of the sons of men has become fully set in them to do bad." ?Ecclesiastes 8:11.
Instead of being overly disturbed by the wicked slave among us getting away with it for so long let us find comfort in what Ecclesiastes goes on to say, 12 But even though a person sins a hundred times and still lives a long time, I know that those who fear God will be better off. 13 The wicked will never live long, good lives, for they do not fear God. Their days will never grow long like the evening shadows.
14 And this is not all that is meaningless in our world. In this life, good people are often treated as though they were wicked, and wicked people are often treated as though they were good. This is so meaningless! ?Ecclesiastes 8:12-14, New Living Translation.
