JWs "Directed by" Governing Body, but GB members "not leaders" of Jehovah's people

by sd-7 9 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  sd-7

  Bearing Thorough Witness, page 110, pars. 1 & 8:

  "Like the first century Christians, Jehovah's Witnesses today are directed by a Governing Body of dedicated, spirit-anointed men representing "the faithful and discreet slave."" [Ever since younger members miraculously received a heavenly calling that was supposed to have been closed before they were born, that is...But it's easy to adjust that 'understanding' when you're ON the Governing Body, now isn't it?]

  "The Governing Body relies on God's holy spirit for direction. Its members do not regard themselves as the leaders of Jehovah's people."

  Note some dictionary defintions of "direct" and "lead", care of dictionary.com:

  DIRECT

  	to regulate the course of; control :
  	to manage or guide by advice, helpful information, instruction

  to administer; manage; supervise

  to give authoritative instructions to; command; order or ordain: I directed him to leave the room.

  to guide, tell, or show (a person) the way to a place: I directed him to the post office.

  to act as a guide.

  to give commands or orders.

  LEAD

  to go before or with to show the way

  to guide in direction, course, action, opinion, etc.

  to command or direct (an army or other large organization):

  to have the directing or principal part in

  'Nuff said.

  SD-7
• 

  mrsjones5

  Talk about having the cake and eating it too or perhaps speaking out of both sides of the mouth?

  We're demi-gods and we don't lead anyone but actually you do have to obey us. Good grief
• 

  frankiespeakin

  Sd,

  "The Governing Body relies on God's holy spirit for direction. Its members do not regard themselves as the leaders of Jehovah's people."

  It's a game of semantics, they don't "call" themselves leaders and so by juggling words and meanings they make that claim.

  And so by a slight of hand they instead insist that they only have one leader Jesus Christ by claiming their rules are inspired(god directed).
• 

  wobble

  I bet the legal department loved this bit, or even wrote it, its no good suing them, they ain't the leaders.

  Jesus Christ.

  If I am blaspheming by using that name as an expletive,then what on earth are that lot, the GB doing ?

  love

  Wobble
• 

  yesidid

  It's just semantics to circumvent Matt 23.10

  . 10 Neither be called ‘leaders,’ for YOUR Leader is one, the Christ.

  Guess they don't care much for 11 either:

  11 But the greatest one among YOU must be YOUR minister.

  y
• 

  yesidid

  It's a variation of......... not "inspired" but........... "spirit directed".

  As Ray Franz says it's a "distinction without a difference".

  y
• 

  yadda yadda 2

  Excellent points!
• 

  BluesBrother

  WT 07 4/11 P24

  Para 11]"“The Governing Body meets every Wednesday, opening the meeting with prayer and asking for the direction of Jehovah’s spirit. A real effort is made to see that every matter that is handled and every decision that is made is in harmony with God’s Word the Bible.” We can have confidence in such faithful anointed Christians. Regarding them in particular, we should heed the apostle Paul’s injunction: “Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you and be submissive, for they are keeping watch over your souls.”—Hebrews 13:17."

  Para 13 " certain rights and responsibilities within the Christian congregation belong exclusively to this collective slave. For this reason, all in the congregation view it as their sacred duty to follow and uphold the direction coming from the faithful slave and its Governing Body"
• 

  boyzone

  BB

  I hated that April 07 WT. It was the phrase ""sacred duty" that was the final straw that sent me to the computer to compose my DA letter.
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  Pistoff

  I guess I would agree with the GB on this one; they do direct, in fact control, the fellowship.

  But there is not one of them I would regard as a leader; to lead is to go ahead of, to motivate and show the way.

  No one on the GB has the desire to be a real leader; a real leader takes great risks and is subject to criticism and review.

  The GB control anonymously and would never allow criticism.

  P