Data-Dog- you reminded me to go to the laundromat and pick up the older Awake and Watchtower magazines- Jabber needs new paper in the bottom of his cage.
hishis c
Who Really is The Faithful and Discreet Slave?
by Recovery 207 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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Theocratic Sedition
It's a parable, nothing more or less. Simply a thoughtful illustration depicting the responsibility of a Christian and the blessings that one will recieve for carrying out those responsibilities. It also depicts that love and faith would be the primary components for success in accomplishing their duty as Christians. To view "who is the faithful & discreet slave" as something prophetic with a need to figure out who it is specifically applying to, as opposed to a question that is illustrative or rhetorical, would be like viewing Kennedy's question "ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" as prophetic.
I think a even better way to illustrate it would be the question commonly asked, "If someone told you to jump off a bridge, would you?" Seriously, if someone asked you that question, you wouldn't think to yourself, "I wonder what bridge he was referring to? The Golden Gate bridge? The Brooklyn Bridge?" No, it's not about a specific bridge!! It's about the thought behind the action of someone jumping off the bridge along with questions pertaining to naiveness, common sense, stupidity, intelligence, etc..
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Jeffro
If 'the faithful slave' 'must' have a 'modern fulfilment' because Jesus (allegedly) asked, "Who really is the faithful and discreet slave?"... then what is the Watch Tower Society's 'modern fulfilment' of Luke 10:29? 'Surely' Jesus 'must' have been 'identifying' a specific 'neighour' 'class' when he (allegedly) asked "Who really is my neighbor?"
Rational people realise these are stories with a principle. Anyone can be a 'neighbor' by being nice to people or a 'wise steward' by being prepared for a situation.
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RubaDub
Who Really is the Faithful and Discreet Slave?
Most bible scholars refer to him as "Myron" although the exact spelling can vary (i.e. Miron).
Rub a Dub
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moshe
KM 9/07- "Under the guidance of his holy spirit and on the basis of his Word of truth, Jehovah provides what is needed so that all of God's people may be "fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought" and remain "stabilized in the faith." (1 Cor. 1:10; Col. 2:6, 7) Surely we are grateful for Jehovah's spiritual provisions in these last days. Thus, "the faithful and discreet slave" does not endorse any literature, meetings, or Web sites that are not produced or organized under its oversight.-Matt. 24:45-47"
Sounds like real people to me, like a vote was taken, orders given, right? Except, if you called up Bethel and inquired just who the F&DS were that arrived that this decision and issued the orders, they would never give you a single name. Just who really are these people? Perhaps, they are only a literary device used by the WT Corporation to control individual JWs and nothing more. I believe a WT lawyer said as much in an Australian courtroom last year, when explaining to a Judge why no F&DS showed up to answer the subpoena that was issued to them.
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TweetieBird
"I personally call people like Pat Condell and Christopher Hitchens as "faithful and discreet slaves" because the world needs to hear what they have to say and they are saying it (providing the food). It's due season for people like them to stand up and fight against the religious masses. Matthew 24:45 is a reliable compass that generally deters from most modern day religious personalities."
I add George Carlin as a faithful and discreet slave...he told the truth. And thanks for turning me on to Pat Condell...will check out Christopher Hitchens next. Gotta love youtube.
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Emery
Hey Recovery, hope you do keep an open mind when considering my question.
The real question is -- On what evidence or basis does the Watchtower Society have the right to claim that they are the Faithful and Discreet Slaves in which Jesus gave them all his belongings? Have you examined the evidence or explanation utilized by the Society for the greatest gift in mankind's history?
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outsmartthesystem
If you can believe that this parable is actually somehow a PROPHECY that applies nearly 2,000 years later to a group of men in Brooklyn (please don't make the argument that the faithful slave is actually the "remnant of all anointed christians" because we both know that ONLY those 7 men in Brooklyn have any say whatsoever in regard to policy, rules and doctine)......then you can just as easily believe that Proverbs 4:18 is likewise....more than just a proverb. It too is a future prophecy that applies ONLY to the leadership of Jehovah's Witnesses....and it just happens to act as a handy escape hatch for any and all failed predictions made by them.
Wait......my guess is that you already do believe that.
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sabastious
I think a even better way to illustrate it would be the question commonly asked, "If someone told you to jump off a bridge, would you?" Seriously, if someone asked you that question, you wouldn't think to yourself, "I wonder what bridge he was referring to? The Golden Gate bridge? The Brooklyn Bridge?" No, it's not about a specific bridge!! It's about the thought behind the action of someone jumping off the bridge along with questions pertaining to naiveness, common sense, stupidity, intelligence, etc..
Brilliant example, miz, thanks for that!
-Sab
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sabastious
Close, but it can NEVER properly be interpreted as a prophecy. If it contained a prophetic element, it would be CALLED a prophecy, NOT a parable. You guys cannot rewrite the NT, since you've got this great prophetic interpretation in mind that is really cool....
A parable can be both a prophecy and a parable if uttered by a prophet and the contents come true. I do think that the FDS parable was pointing to a time in the distant future because of Matthew 24:14 which is in the same chapter. If Jesus is speaking about preaching his message to the entire world he is talking about the entirety of what his followers accomplish in the future. So, when he talks about the faithful slaves he is talking about charactistics of a future group and thereore could be considered a prophecy.
Prophecy: something that is declared by a prophet, especially a divinely inspired prediction, instruction, or exhortation.
A prophecy is something declared by a prophet. So the real criteria in determining whether Matthew 24 contains prophecy is in finding out who the Jesus character actually was.
de·clare
1. to make known or state clearly, especially in explicit or formal terms: to declare one's position in a controversy. 2. to announce officially; proclaim: to declare a state of emergency; to declare a winner. 3. to state emphatically: He declared that the allegation was a lie. 4. to manifest; reveal; show: Her attendance at the rally declared her political allegiance. 5. to make due statement of, especially goods for duty or income for taxation.-Sab