In the corporate world the top leaders are of course responsible when something goes wrong in the organization they lead. Why should it be different in the religious area? During its existence the Watchtower Society has printed all kinds of articles about who are chosen to become elders in the Watchtower organization.
The sum of all of them is that these men are appointed by all the big shots in the universe starting with Jehovah, which in turn delegates the handling of this matter to Jesus which in turn works his “wonders” through a mystic entity called the “Holy Spirit”. This Holy Spirit then allegedly works with a bunch of hopeless bunglers known as the Governing Body and claim to be the Spiritual leaders of the Watchtower sect. The end result is that a bunch of even more incompetent pathetic bunglers are “chosen” and voila, we have an elder.
In the March 15, 2002 Watchtower the Watchtower Society is publishing an article:
“CHRIST LEADS HIS CONGREGATION”
After the usual drivel about Matthew 24:45-47, and the old song and dance about “Jesus Christ, and that he has appointed "the faithful and discreet slave"-the body of anointed Christians on earth-over all his earthly interests.”
There can be no doubt that Christ committed a gigantic blunder in 1919, when he allegedly did this appointment. At the time the Watchtower Society under J. F. Rutherford was gearing up for the 6 year “Millions” campaign, which main message
was that Armageddon would occur in 1925. How Jesus would be interested in an organization which already had a string of failed dates like, 1799, 1874, 1878, 1881 and 1914 behind them and already galloping towards their next fiasco 1925 leaves us with serious doubt about Christ’s mental capacity.
Anyway, according to the Watchtower he appointed the Watchtower organization and from there on it has gone from bad to worse.
The article then jumps into Revelation and after a lot of incoherent nonsense about “lamp stands” and “stars” and such it states:
“The "stars" must therefore represent the human oversees, or elders, in the congregations, viewed as Jesus' messengers.” Watchtower March 15, 2002.
MUST? Why must? Anyway here is some more:
7. As in the first century, a small group of qualified men from among the anointed overseers now, serve as the Governing Body, representing the composite faithful and discreet slave. Our Leader uses this Governing Body to appoint qualified men-whether spirit-anointed or not-as elders in the local congregations. In this regard, the holy spirit, which Jehovah has given Jesus authority to employ, plays a pivotal role. (Acts 2:32, 33) First of all, these overseers must meet the requirements set out in God's Word, which was inspired by holy spirit. (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 2 Peter 1:20, 21) The recommendations and appointments are made after prayer and under the guidance of the holy spirit. Additionally, the individuals appointed give evidence of producing the fruitage of that spirit. (Galatians 5:22, 23) Paul's counsel, then, applies with equal force to all elders, whether anointed or not: "Pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the holy spirit has appointed you overseers." (Acts 20:28) These appointed men receive direction from the Governing Body and willingly shepherd the congregation. In this way, Christ is with us now and is actively leading the congregation. Watchtower March 15, 2002.
Well folks, there we have it. When Watchtower elders abuse children, or protect abusers it is of course all with the blessing of the whole host of the Heavenly big shots which appointed them. When they watch you like a hawk to prevent you from taking a forbidden blood component they are steeped to the gills in Holy Spirit. When the Judicial committee interrogate a young woman, about the juicy details in her sinful sexual encounter with someone, the Holy Sprit are there no doubt enjoying the proceedings very much. I don’t know if Jesus listen in occasionally but that is probably unlikely as he will be occupied directing the more important GB sessions, where they have to find out if something is a disfellowshiping offense.
Should the rank & file Jehovah's Witnesses be upset about the actions of many of these idiots? No, of course not:
9. How reassuring to know that Jesus Christ provides leadership to his disciples today through the Governing Body, the holy spirit, and the angels! Even if some of Jehovah's worshipers were to become temporarily isolated from the Governing Body because of persecution or the like, Christ would still provide leadership by means of the holy spirit and angelic support. However, we benefit from his leadership only when we accept it. How may we show that we do accept Christ's leadership?”Even the angels apparently are quite happy to stand bye and watch children being abused, people lied to and dying from sick rules about blood transfusions. Even if you should escape from the watchful eyes of the elders, the angels would be there to make sure you would follow the “rules”. Isn’t the world of superstition wonderful?
Watchtower March 15, 2002.
But then the article comes to the most important aspect of the whole thing. The word the love in Brooklyn, the most arousing word there is, OBEDIENCE!
“Be Obedient ... Be Submissive"
10. Our Leader has given the congregations "gifts in men"-"some as evangelizers, some as shepherds and teachers." (Ephesians 4:8, 11, 12) Our attitude and actions toward them speak volumes as to whether we accept Christ's leadership. It is only right that we 'show ourselves thankful' for the spiritually qualified men that Christ has given. (Colossians 3:15) They also deserve our respect. "Let the older men who preside in a fine way be reckoned worthy of double honor," wrote the apostle Paul. (1 Timothy 5:17) How can the display our gratitude and esteem for the old Christ leads his congregation and holds overseers in his right hand older men-elders, or overseers-in the congregation? Paul answers: "Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you and be submissive." (Hebrews 13:17) Yes, we are to obey them and be submissive, to yield, to them.” Watchtower March 15, 2002.
Yess! Unquestioning obedience to these men which represent Jesus himself, that’s the single most important thing for a “faithful” Jehovah's Witness.
But what about the fact that even the most devout and faithful Witness can see how hopeless many of these elders are, how mean and evil some of them are. What are they to make of that? Oh, relax dear “publishers”:
11. Our Leader is perfect. The men he has given as gifts are not. So they may err at times. Yet, it is vital that we remain loyal to Christ's arrangement. In fact, living up to our dedication and baptism means that we recognize the legitimacy of spirit-appointed authority in the congregation and willingly submit to it. Our baptism `in the name of the holy spirit' is a public declaration that we recognize the holy spirit and acknowledge the role it plays in Jehovah's purposes. (Matthew 28:19) Such a baptism implies that we cooperate with the spirit and do nothing to hinder its operation among Christ's followers. Since the holy spirit plays a vital role in the recommendation and appointment of elders, can we really be faithful to our dedication if we fail to cooperate with the elder arrangement in the congregation? Watchtower March 15, 2002.
Oh yes, the elders isn’t perfect, they err “at times”. Wonder how a “perfect Leader” can appoint such a bunch of incompetent people? But no matter what they do we have to remain LOYAL! If they tell us to keep our mouth shut about child molesting and such we have to respect it! Yes, obedience folks. You can learn all about it in the “Theocratic Obedience School”. So no matter what the elders do remember to be obedient and submissive!
12. The Scriptures contain examples that teach us the value of obedience and submission. Referring to those who spoke abusively of the appointed men in the congregation, the disciple Jude pointed to three warning examples, saying: "Too bad for them, because they have gone in the path of Cain, and have rushed into the erroneous course of Balaam for reward, and have perished in the rebellious talk of Korah!" (Jude 11) Cain ignored Jehovah's loving counsel and willfully pursued a course of murderous hatred. (Genesis 4:4-8) Despite receiving repeated divine warnings, Balaam tried to curse God's people for a financial reward. (Numbers 22: 5-28, 32-34; Deuteronomy 23:5) Korah had his own fine responsibility in Israel, but it was not enough for him. He fomented rebellion against God's servant Moses, the meekest man on earth. (Numbers 12:3; 16:1-3, 32, 33) Calamity befell Cain, Balaam, and Korah. Watchtower March 15, 2002.
Then we for the thousandth time get the worn out stupidity of the “example” of Korah, Brooklyn’s most loved example of the fate that befalls the “rebellious” ones. The paragraph above is of course a badly masked kick to people like Bill Bowen and others who has revealed the reality of the sick Watchtower system.
But Jehovah and Jesus don’t give us much hope for the future either. Apparently we are stuck with these incompetent idiots for eternity:
How vividly these examples teach us to listen to the counsel of those whom Jehovah uses in positions of responsibility and to respect them!
13. Who would not want to benefit from the grand arrangement of oversight that our Leader has instituted in the Christian congregation? The prophet Isaiah foretold its blessings, saying: "Look! A king will reign for righteousness itself; and as respects princes, they will rule as princes for justice itself. And each one must prove to be like a hiding place from the wind and a place of concealment from the rainstorm, like streams of water in a waterless country, like the shadow of a heavy crag in an exhausted land." (Isaiah 32:1, 2) Each one of the elders is to be such "a place" of protection and safety. Even if submitting to authority is difficult for us, let us prayerfully apply ourselves to being obedient and submissive to the divinely constituted authority within the congregation. Watchtower March 15, 2002.
Yes folks, blind obedience of the kind Hitler, Stalin and Pol Pot demanded are the solution to everything, see no evil, hear no evil, keep you mouth shut no matter what.
If nothing else a pig headed denial to see reality in the face will get you through anything.
Norm