The Faithful and Discreet WHAT?

by Cold Steel 34 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Cold Steel

  Thanks for the replies. I tried to find out more about the JWs through YouTube, but it appears that every single video is by either an ex-JW or an Evangelical who thinks the religion is a diabolical cult. The notion that the Governing Body is some kind of God-appointed group is very interesting to me. Jesus said to his apostles, "For ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you...." In this case it seems as if it's okay to appoint one's self.

  So how does one make it from Joe Bloe member to sitting in an office in Bethel and directing branches of the church? How would one get in at the ground level and work their way up? Must all applicants be of the anointed class or can they be of the earthly class? If any of these leaders visit the local congragations, do they roll out the red carpets for these guys? Who's the top dog? Surely the church must have one person who makes some of the most crucial decisions. And how is "new light" received?
• 

  villabolo

  Jolliette dares to wonder:

  I've wondered HOW a person knew they were annointed. Its never really added up to me. I've actually never seen anyone partake. The whole thing seems really odd to me.

  I knew one of them. His name was Tom Banakas from the Toluca Lake Congregation in North Hollywood, California. Of course, I had to ask him. He told me how he could sense certain things like feeling the Earth rotating beneath his feet. That revived childhood memories in me when I used to fantasize the same thing.

  One of the most amusing things he said, IMO, was when he said that after Armageddon that Ranch was going to be his. You see, he was a pet supply salesman and a certain ranch nestled in the local hills had animals that it would rent out to the movie industry. That Ranch was one of his customers.

  You would think that attitude was the the equivalent of Witnesses in the field telling themselves which house their going to get after Armageddon. And you'd be right. But I didn't even realize it till later. Isn't he one of the Anointed who's going to Heaven while we feed those damn camels and chimpanzees? (Yes, they had them at the Ranch.)

  Welcome to the nuthouse, Jolliette.

  VILLABOLO
• 

  villabolo

  Cold Steel, don't lose too much sleep over your questions. It's a complicated Socio-Historical process that, like all things related to the Jehovah's Witnesses, has to do with the power and control of their leadership than anything else.

  The Anointed have been an Organization paper tiger for at least 70 years. The word used to refer to any member of the Bible Students Association. Then Rutherford, who was nowhere as imaginative in conjuring up new doctrines as his predecessor Russell, decided to simplify the number of spiritual "CLASSES" that Russell had bequeathed the Bible Students, as Jehovah's Witnesses were then referred to.

  There were four (maybe five) classes; two Heavenly Classes and two Earthly Classes (Think spiritual aristocracy). The original Bible Students were only of the Heavenly Class (The first one, I thinketh?) and the Earthly Classes were nowhere in sight, just prophecy. Also, they were growing in numbers, so they didn't want to surpass the 144,000 mark that defined the first Heavenly Class.

  So Rutherford simplified things by making two classes that stood side by side. The Heavenly Class that was defined at that moment made up a substantial portion of the Witnesses but as time passed their numbers diminished. They were basically referred to as the Anointed as time passed while the Earthly Class started out with all sorts of macabre names like the Jonadab Class.

  Since the Organization is a power mongering entity, it did not seem proper that their higher echelons in Bethel be made up of just any "Class". It had to be the Heavenly one, until that is, their numbers diminished and the remaining "Anointed" grew older in age.

  Since most of them never had any privileges or position of power in the Governing Body, they became, in due time, an empty symbol. The real prestige in the concept of the "Anointed" became embedded in the Governing Body. Currently, the "Anointed" outside the Organization's Governing Body is dangling on them like a limp, paralyzed tail.

  At this time of night, I'm sure I've made some mistakes and forgotten a few details but I hope this helps you. You may want to contact one of our resident scholars such as Leolaia, our beloved Synesthetic. She'll provide enough details to give you nightmares.

  VILLABOLO
• 

  NeonMadman

  • So how does one make it from Joe Bloe member to sitting in an office in Bethel and directing branches of the church?

  You have to understand that merely being anointed doesn't guarantee you anything in terms of advancement within the organizational structure. There are plenty of professed anointed just serving in congregations as regular members. The one distinction, for now at least, is that you must be of the anointed to be appointed to the governing body. In terms of advancement in the organization, one would ordinarily start out as a pioneer and then apply for either Bethel service or missionary training at the Gilead School. Then, if you served well, there would likely be further opportunities, such as being a circuit or district overseer, and so on up the line. Each advancement carries greater authority. It's a lot like making advancement in a worldly corporation. You start at the bottom and work hard. Backstabbing as you go doesn't hurt, either. Oh, and, of course, you must be male.

  • How would one get in at the ground level and work their way up? Must all applicants be of the anointed class or can they be of the earthly class?

  Being anointed doesn't make much of a difference at any point that I can tell, except at the very top - as I noted, you need to be anointed to be considered for membership in the governing body.

  • If any of these leaders visit the local congragations, do they roll out the red carpets for these guys?

  Yeah, they are pretty much treated like kings, and the ordinary JW's hang on every word that comes out of their mouths.

  • Who's the top dog? Surely the church must have one person who makes some of the most crucial decisions.

  The "top dog" is the governing body. That is a group of usually 10-12 anointed men who make all of the decisions about the rules and what will be taught. There are, of course, politics within that body, so undoubtedly some members have more pull than others, but there is no one person who is fully in charge. The most power after the governing body is probably vested in the Watchtower's legal department.

  • And how is "new light" received?

  Truly? I think they make it up as they see the need. Supposedly the holy spirit acts in some unspecified manner on the members of the governing body, giving them new understanding. The question is, if that's what is happening, why do they waffle back and forth on some issues so much, and where do the outright falsehoods and false prophecies come from? It's pretty obvious from the organization's history that whatever "spirit" is acting on the leadership to produce their teachings is anything but holy.
• 

  exwhyzee

  Jesus Parable about the faithful and discrete slave never reffered to a "Class" of people who would exist in the future.
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  debator

  Matthew 24:44-46 (New International Version)

  44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

  45 "Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? 46 It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.

  Acts 20:28
  Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

  1 Timothy 3:2
  Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,

  Titus 1:7
  Since an overseer is entrusted with God's work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain.

  1 Peter 5:2
  Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve;

  Romans 12:6-8 (New International Version)

  6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his [a] faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully
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  exwhyzee

  Did anyone see anything about a Faithful and discrete slave "Class" (as they call themselves) in the above information? And who says the WTBTS GB is it, other than themselves? How do we know they are taking care of the other servants properly and that when the master returns, he will be pleased? What if he feels they have abused his household? I know they certainly abused mine.
• 

  villabolo

  Cold Steel asks:

  So how does one make it from Joe Bloe member to sitting in an office in Bethel and directing branches of the church? How would one get in at the ground level and work their way up? Must all applicants be of the anointed class or can they be of the earthly class?

  I doubt they do anymore nor have for quite a while. As I mentioned before, the 'Anointed' outside of the Organization, are a "paper tiger" without any power whatsoever. Also, both them and those 'Anointed' within the Governing Body are aging, particularly amongst the ruling elite.

  My understanding is, that as of the past several years, they have been giving more responsibilities to the "Earthly Class". It will soon get to the point where the entire concept of the Anointed will become a paper tiger.

  Who's the top dog? Surely the church must have one person who makes some of the most crucial decisions. And how is "new light" received?

  There used to be a top dog. First, it was the founder, Charles Taze Russell. Then, Joseph Rutherford. Nathan Knorr, then Frederich Franz. The official delusion was that they were supposed to have their power vested mostly in the Governing Body. In the 1970s there was a mild coup among the Governing Body members known as "The tail wags the dog" issue. It was, and remains to this day, the moment that the Governing Body acquired the full powers it was supposed to have had all along.

  As far as "New Lies Light" being received, it is a collective process where the Governing Body votes on the issue or doctrine and, poof, there it is. In my observation during the past 30 + years, new doctrines or modifications on old ones, always occur when the morale of the Witnesses is being adversely affected by the "old understanding".

  VILLABOLO
• 

  thetrueone

  One thing that has to taken notice of is that the WTS themselves has determined what group of individuals qualify

  for this identifying name and appointment .

  In reality this is and was just another self marketing ploy proclaimed by the organizers and leaders of the WTS.,

  a proclamation of validity against other Christian based faiths.

  There are many aspects connected to the BS of the WTS. empire, this is one of them.
• 

  thetrueone

  And who says the WTBTS GB is it, other than themselves? How do we know they are taking care of the other servants properly and that when the master returns, he will be pleased? What if he feels they have abused his household?

  Good point EXWHYZEE

  I don't think Christ would be pleased, being that the WTS. exploited and commercialized his word and household.