by The Searcher 14 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
1. JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES HAVE A CLERGY.
2. THAT CLERGY CONSISTS OF 8 MEN IN BROOKLYN, N.Y.
3. THOSE 8 MEN DECIDE WHAT EVERY WITNESS MUST BELIEVE IN.
4. ANY WITNESSES WHO OPENLY DISAGREES WITH ANY OF THE TEACHINGS, FACES EXPULSION & SHUNNING BY EVERY FELLOW WITNESS - RELATIVES INCLUDED.
Welcome to the spiritual paradise!
Here's one from me Searcher.
In the Flock Book, which I have a copy of now, it says being Brazen, is a disfellowshipable offence. If I had read that before I converted, I would have never have got baptised in the first place. After all it goes without say, I like to speak my mind.
Kate xx
Elders are clergy, too aren't they? CO's, COBE too.
I agree about the elders. Some are caring and nice, other brwon nose who they can and relish in their power-Kate xx
@ JGNAT - C.O.s, D.O.s, ELDERS, etc. are no different to the R & F - we all have to listen & OBEY the teachings of the 8 clergy in Brooklyn; everyone else is under compulsion to preach the doctrines dreamed up by these 8 men - we are all merely ministers of their teachings, not of the Bible's!
Any difference of opinion by any elder will be met with the fullest of force by those who don't wish to lose their positions within the cong!
The truth never changes except we can't decide whats true and whats not.
We don't really use the bible very much during our bible study.
After you have removed every holiday out of your life, stopped being friendly with wordly people, devoted 20 to 30 hours a week to study, FS and meetings and avoid critical thinking and higher education you will start to recieve God's blessing and that other fellow's.... his son.
Searcher I agree to some extent, but most of the good elders step down, or stop brown nosing and genuinely help, the sheep. I do agree that elders have their minds controlled by the GB just like the next JW. But there are the liars and fake Christian elders too Searcher, they would be the ones jgnat is referring to IMO.
Sorry for being brazen on your thread.....it just my veiw though-Kate xx
Searcher:
Speaking of "truths" which all Bible studies should be told . . .
It is interesting that you will hear at the meetings that your relationship with God is entirely dependent on accepting the F&DS. Yet the Bible Teach book makes no mention of such a group. Type in "faithful slave" or "slave" into the WT Library (w/o the quotation marks) and look under books for the returns and you won't find the Bible Teach book listed.
I tried it also with "govern*" (w/o the quotes, but including the asterisk) and all the returns were references to 'human' or 'kingdom' goverments or humans inability to "govern." No mention of the GB.
The first mention of the F&DS in a Bible study's line of study is p.76 of the "Draw Close to Jehovah" book. And even in that book there is no detailed description of how they arrive at this idea. Merely an assertion that such a class has been established by God and Christ.
At any rate, they are consistant.
Take Care
Excellent point bobcat.
In ch18 Baptism it states
This will enable you to get better acquainted with some Christian elders, who shepherd the flock of God. ( Acts 20:28 ; 1 Peter 5:2, 3 ) If these elders see that you understand and believe basic Bible teachings, are living in harmony with God’s principles, and truly want to be one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, they will let you know that you qualify to share in the public ministry as an unbaptized publisher of the good news.
No actual mention of Gods arrangement and the organisation book, well spotted!
Then it later states
However, baptism is not a mere bath. It is a symbol of something very important. Going beneath the water symbolizes that you have died to your former life course. Being raised up out of the water indicates that you are now alive to do the will of God. Remember, too, that you have made a dedication to Jehovah God himself, not to a work, a cause, other humans, or an organization . Your dedication and baptism are the beginning of a very close friendship with God—an intimate relationship with him.— Psalm 25:14 .
Yes well thats the blatant lie, right there. Good one Bobcat- Kate xx
Ummm, I don't think "clergy" is a dirty word. I go to a regular church. We have elders who oversee the finances, hire the pastor and that sort of thing, but they are not doing the same things that elders are doing in the local Kingdom Hall. Elders in the KH can disfellowship people, they hear confessions of sins and mete out relative punishments. On paper at least, they also handle shepherding calls. How is that different than the paid clergy in a regular church?
