Callings and Ordinations in the JWs

by Cold Steel 5 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Cold Steel

  Is it true that the JWs doesn't consider itself a church?

  If so, how do they claim the authority to baptize? And if they are a church, are there any ordinations? For example, when someone becomes a member of the Governing Body, are they ordained (as were the apostles and prophets)? Jesus Himself ordained the Twelve saying, "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ORDAINED YOU." Since GB members like to compare themselves with the first century Twelve, shouldn't they, and the overseers and elders, be ordained?

  I think they also consider themselves to be the "Kingdom" mentioned by Daniel in the second chapter?

  

  
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  Julia Orwell

  They don't consider themselves a church yet do all the church things. They just do stuff under other names. They like to stand out as different. As for ordination and baptism, they believe that God gives them authority.

  They do not consider themselves to be the Kingdom of Daniel 2, rather the earthly part of something bigger. They believe that is God's heavenly kingdom mentioned in Daniel 2, and that JWs are subjects or citizens of it.

  As for the GB, I'm not sure how they get chosen. I think existing members meet and have a vote or something. But the GB are all what JWs call of the 'anointed', that is, the 144000 mentioned in Revelation. No one person anoints another as an 'anointed' one makes the claim themselves. There's no test or laying of hands or chosing or ordination of the anointed. People show they are anointed by taking bread and wine at the annual memorial. But you have to be anointed, male, and at the NY headquarters to get onto the GB.
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  Cold Steel

  Being anointed is defined as "[putting] oil on during a religious ceremony as a sign of sanctification or consecration." The term "messiah" means "anointed one," and according to scripture, there will be many false prophets and messiahs in our day. Now according to tradition, after the Messiah saves the Jews during the battle of Armageddon, he will be pass through the East Gate into the temple and be anointed by the Jews. The Muslims have even gone so far as to create a cemetery outside the front of the East Gate, supposing that the true messiah would not be able to pass through.

  

  East Gate of Jerusalem

  Jeremiah also wrote: " Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. " (Jer. 1:5). This could only be the case if Jeremiah had lived in an existence before he was born. In other words, he was preordained to be one of God's prophets.

  Is it possible that there are no ordinations because they question their own authority to do it, or they just don't think it's necessary?

  It sure would be nice to have a GB member on this board to give some "light."
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  designs

  The big question for some time has been the relationship of the Wt. and GB to appointments like Elders.
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  insearchoftruth4

  Hi Cold Steel,..it sure would be nice if a GB member on this board to give some 'light'. They have no 'light' to give. The whole 'GB/ WTS' thing is a money making shameful scam as you might already know. That's why the XJW community is exposing everything they have ever printed and exposing them ..Many advent groups (religions) have capitalized on this scam too. But "according to tradition the Messiah saves the Jews and passes thru the East Gate to be annointed by the Jews". This sounds very bizarre...even contradictory...are you referring to the (impostor)? insot4
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  Julia Orwell

  The JW/GB anointing and appointing is all bogus. They won't give any 'light' on it because their very power structure depends on secrecy. I don't know how your church operates, Cold Steel, but if they have a policy of being open about how these things work, then I understand why you would find it hard to understand how we JWs could be so in the dark...until we become exJWs and we are marginally enlightened by the fact that we now are allowed to discuss these things. As a JW, it's taboo or even apostasy to delve too deeply.