A question that has haunted all of JWs is that; if the Society is not the FDS, then who is? This is not only a question, but it is also an answer, an answer that most all JWs would respond when someone points to them some of the Society's problematic teachings or behaviour.
This topic has been dealt with on a number of occasions on this board and on others with very sound arguments that refuted the Society's interpretation and application of Jesus' parable.
While I was doing few chores at home this afternoon, I wondered on a couple of thoughts on this subject:
The most important role of a faithful and discreet slave is feeding the sheep that belong to Christ. This is a critical point. First, we must have sheep. The sheep are those that have come to hear about Christ and his ransom sacrifice and his promises and have put their faith in Him. They have grown accustomed to hearing Jesus voice. For those sheep to continue to hold on to their faith, they must be fed and encouraged spiritually. Jesus said that his true sheep will only listen to His voice and to strangers they will not. Before Jesus left earth he repeatedly admonished Peter to feed His sheep. So, Peter, in effect resembled the first faithful and discreet slave in that he fed the Master's sheep with the Master’s voice.
What kind of spiritual food did Peter feed the sheep? This is another critical point. Jesus correctly prophesied that many will rise to speak on his behalf, but he warned that most of them are going to be frauds. A faithful and discreet slave will feed the sheep only what Christ had been feeding them himself. Any other form of diet will be rejected by the true sheep themselves. This is the crux of the matter.
True Christians and followers of Jesus Christ will not ask the question of who or where is the faithful and discreet slave today. In their hearts, they know. They know when they hear anyone preaching and evangelizing whether he is speaking with the Master’s voice or his own. True Christians know that there are many strangers out there speaking and teaching strange and different spiritual diets.
It is not for the teacher or evangelizer or a religious organization or church to claim that they are the faithful and discreet slave. The true sheep will make that distinction and Jesus Christ will reward that slave accordingly.
The question for JWs is this. If they are Christ’s sheep and are accustomed to hearing his voice and teachings, then they will know if the Society is speaking with the Master’s voice. Is it?