I have a favor to ask. I need to find a statement that was in one of the magazines, but I can't find it now. Can you help? (page 2)

azor

VI - Geoffrey Jackson was sissy actually very lawyer like in his reply. "It would seem presumptuous" or something along those lines.

berrygerry

Haven't found it yet, but the post about the 1959 WT seems interesting compared to this statement in March 1, 1961, p 147:

Already in 1919, with the beginning of the work to distribute The Golden Age, the Watch Tower Society, which had been serving as a form of governing body for the congregations

St George of England

Could it be the December 15, 1971 WT that had two articles dealing with the gb and fds?

Not had time to read it all through this morning though.

George

Vidiot

AndersonsInfo - "Today, the Watchtower teaches that the governing body is the faithful slave. At one time (maybe in the 1970s, 80s or 90s) the Watchtower actually published a comment about the notion that the faithful slave was comprised of prominent members of the Society..."

Honestly, I'm having trouble keeping track at this point... :smirk:

"Jesus further said that his followers would not be left in doubt and darkness with the rest of mankind, for he would “send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other”. (Matt. 24:31) Also that he would have ‘a faithful and wise servant whom he would make ruler over his goods (kingdom interests) to give his people meat in due season’. (Matt. 24:45-47) The word ruler in the above text has the thought of distributor. It is true that there is only one organization on earth today that is “announcing the kingdom of God as the hope of mankind”, and that organization is Jehovah’s faithful and wise servant associated with the Watchtower Bible Society."

7/1/1950 Watchtower

Bobcat

I think this is the one you are looking for. Notice how those who think that the 'slave' "pictures only the leading ones" are described as "objectors" and it is implied that they are deceiving themselves ("self-deception").

How ironic that the WT now teaches the very thing about the "faithful slave" that was an evidence of "self-deception" back in 1981!

*** w81 3/1 pp. 24-25 Do You Appreciate the “Faithful and Discreet Slave”? ***
“WHO REALLY IS THE FAITHFUL AND DISCREET SLAVE?”
Some state that the “slave” refers to Christian ministers, or their office of oversight, with responsibility to care for the spiritual needs of the congregation. The ‘master’s’ arrival is said to be either the second coming of Christ or the death of the individual minister. Thus it is held that the parable should motivate Christian ministers to care well for what is entrusted to them.
Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that this parable pertains to the one true congregation of Jesus Christ’s anointed followers. Beginning with Pentecost, 33 C.E., and continuing through the 19 centuries since then, this slavelike congregation has been feeding its members spiritually, doing so faithfully and discreetly. Especially has the identity of this “slave” become clear at the time of Christ’s return or presence. The “slave” is identifiable by its watchfulness and by the fact that it is faithfully and discreetly providing spiritual food as needed by all in the Christian congregation. Indeed, this “slave,” or spirit-anointed congregation, is the one approved channel representing God’s kingdom on earth in the “time of the end.” (Dan. 12:4) Witnesses of Jehovah understand that the “slave” is comprised of all anointed Christians as a group on earth at any given time during the 19 centuries since Pentecost. Accordingly, the “domestics” are these followers of Christ as individuals.
Some readers may feel that this is a rather sectarian view of matters. Or they may object to the idea that the “slave” and the “domestics” represent the same class, one as a composite body and the other as individuals. The objectors may argue that not all of Christ’s anointed disciples have a share in preparing the spiritual food, so that perhaps the “slave” pictures only the leading ones, and the “domestics” those they serve in the congregation.
There is no point in trying to force an interpretation of the parable. Self-deception is of no benefit and is spiritually damaging. Therefore, we must look to the Scriptures for an understanding. In doing this, what do we find? This “slave” is a servant of the Master Christ Jesus and his Father, Jehovah. (Compare Matthew 10:24, 25.) And a servant can be a collective group. In the past, the entire nation of Israel was Jehovah’s servant, or slave. He said to them: “You, O Israel, are my servant.” (Isa. 41:8, 9; 44:21) This one servant was composed of individuals, as Isaiah 43:10 shows in stating: “‘You are my witnesses [plural],’ is the utterance of Jehovah, ‘even my servant [singular] whom I have chosen, in order that you may know and have faith in me.’” These Israelites of ancient times were Jehovah’s “special property,” a “holy nation.” (Ex. 19:5, 6) Even though not every individual shared in administrating the nation’s affairs, all individuals made up the one people, God’s “servant.” Only a few shared in writing or copying the Holy Scriptures, yet the apostle Paul could say of the people of Israel: “They were entrusted with the sacred pronouncements of God.” (Rom. 3:1, 2) To these belonged the covenants, the Law and the promises. (Rom. 9:3-5) So the entire nation was Jehovah’s collective, or composite, “servant,” while it, at the same time, was made up of individuals, his “witnesses.”

Bobcat

OrphanCrow

somebody: ...Jesus further said that his followers would not be left in doubt and darkness

Geez, all a person has to do is read this thread and know that the WTS has *beeped* that one up big time

Lol!

AndersonsInfo

I want to thank each and everyone of you for your input. However, Bobcat nailed it:

w81 3/1 pp. 24-25 Do You Appreciate the “Faithful and Discreet Slave”? ***
“WHO REALLY IS THE FAITHFUL AND DISCREET SLAVE?”

Barbara

Brokeback Watchtower

This new batch of GBs aren't bashful about grabbing the title because it can give them more power and authority over their members. As Spane said the Governing Body loves the new understanding idea him included I would guess.

These guys a blaten narcissists and it shows.

EdenOne

marked

I have a favor to ask. I need to find a statement that was in one of the magazines, but I can't find it now. Can you help?

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