WHO TEACHES US THE BIBLE?
Consider this hypothetical situation. A group of person’s are gathered together to learn the Bible. For many years they are absorbed in this study. They gain much knowledge. So much so that they begin talking to others about what they have been learning. Imparting their knowledge to others.
Then they begin to grow into a very powerful religious institution. They set themselves up as the only teaching instrument to learn the Bible. They begin to tell others that they are the only religion appointed by God. They tell others that they cannot learn the Bible without their direction.
They become involved in a world-Wide preaching campaign. Every teaching seems to be in full harmony with the Bible. So others join with them and become involved with this preaching activity. All of these others are taught to view them as the only true religion. Why? Because they have been told that it is so. So each one passively accepts everything they are being told as the word of God.
Later on as they progress they develop a method of maintaining their power and control over any who might rise up and disagree with them. This has become necessary because certain ones are beginning to question some of their teachings as their own knowledge advances.
The disfellowshipping process begins with its subsequent practice of marking and shunning. Now out of fear of losing family and friends and marriage mates most passively fall into line. Now they begin to come under a bondage of fear.
This is not fear of God though. It is fear of what man can do to them. Fear of God is cast aside. They have their privileges in this institution now that become the most important things in their lives. They want to be looked up to by other members. So they strive for all of the special privileges offered to them. The males are concerned with being titled Elder. They want the power that that title gives them over other members of the group. Others wish to be titled as “special pioneer” and they desire all of the privileged treatment that goes along with that title. They form their own little clique’s to which others are excluded.
Those whom they deem to be unfit are deprived of any of this special treatment.
When some are disfellowshipped by these Elders all others blindly do as they are told. They mark and shun these individuals to harm them further. They are never informed of all of the facts in each individual case. They do what they do because they are held in that bondage of fear, fear of being marked and shunned themselves.
They are told that a particular publication is the principle teaching agent that their God uses to teach all. They blindly and passively accept that explanation. They actually begin to put this publication ahead of the Bible. Now this publication is “inspired of God and beneficial for teaching for reproving for setting things straight.” They are instructed not to go beyond what this publication states. Doing that will bring them before a judicial committee with the threat of removal if they do not show proper repentance. Again they are held in bondage to fear of being disfellowshipped for disagreeing with anything this publication states.
As the knowledge of some increases because of time and effort put forth by them, they come across scripture’s that they have read before, but never really thought deeply about what they were actually saying. Now suddenly they begin to have meaning to them. They learn about all of the warnings Jesus gave about false prophets. Then it comes to their mind that Jesus warned they would be teaching so close to the truth that “if it were possible they would mislead even the chosen ones.” Matthew 7:15; 24:24. They start to reason within themselves. It is not possible to mislead the chosen ones. But what about me? What about all of the others in this particular institution? Who may not be of that class?
As their studies continue they begin to realize that they have unknowingly been violating scriptural direction, by just passively accepting everything they have been taught as word of God.
They have been reading the words of the Apostle John at Chapter four verse one. They come to realize that because they have been held in bondage of fear they have never applied this direction. They have never “tested” everything that they have been taught, to see if the teachings “originate with God.” They learn that inspired men of old gave them all the freedom to do that. Even more they learn that the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:2 gave them the freedom to “Prove to themselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Now armed with this knowledge they begin to call into question some of this religious institutions teachings. They are then accused of being “independent thinkers”} and threatened with removal, if they do not fall into line. More fear tactics. To frighten them into silence.
They have been taught and believe that since 1914 Jesus has been enthroned on His heavenly throne. One of the scriptures they have been directed to that supports this teaching, is at Daniel 7: 13, 14. Another is at Revelation 12:10. Then in Daniel 7: 9, 10 they have learned that at that time the Ancient of Days had seated himself in His heavenly court, and “the books were opened.” They have also learned that the one who was destined to “Judge the living and the dead” was then appointed to do that judging. Matthew 25: 31, 32. They have been taught that since that time a separating work was going on. Jesus was now employing His power as the appointed Judge.
Now they come to realize that this institution has been running ahead of the ONE seated in His heavenly court and of His appointed judge. Neither of which has made a move yet to remove anyone from this institution. Patience is being exercised in the hopes that “all will attain to repentance”.
Then they, because of that knowledge begin to realize that the practice of disfellowshipping with its ensuing marking and shunning constitutes a running ahead of Jehovah’s heavenly court, now in session.
Now they know that there is something terribly wrong in this institution that makes the claim to “God’s only channel.”
They begin to dig deeper into the Bible and learn about the foretold “Great Apostasy.” They learn that it all started right within the true Christian congregation in the first century. They learn that it was to be exactly the same in their own day.
They now because of what they have experienced while a member of this institution begin to focus more clearly on the words of the Apostle Paul in Acts 20: 29,30. Now they know who the Apostle Paul was talking about in that scripture. They know that in this institution from the top right on down it is running rampant with these foretold “oppressive wolves that would not treat the flock with tenderness.”
Then because of further digging into the Bible they learn that it is Jehovah Himself who does the teaching of each individual through His Holy Spirit. That the credit for that teaching goes to no man. They learn that the principle instrument for teaching is really the Holy Spirit. It is Jehovah who puts His “laws in the minds” of willing individuals. He is the one who” writes them on the hearts.” All that man can do is deliver the message. He can do absolutely nothing else!
Who teaches us the Bible? Only Jehovah does that. After viewing the oppressive tactics of those within the particular institution I am making reference to isn’t it a good thing that He does? 1 John 2:27 Jeremiah 31:33 End.