(Here is an article that Russell &c wrote the year 1884 in Zion's Watchtower):
OUR NAME.
New readers in all parts of the country are constantly inquiring:
By what name do you call yourselves? Are you "Primitive
Baptists"? Are you "Missionary Baptists"? Are you
"Universalists"? Are you "Adventists"? Are you "Primitive
Methodists"? etc., etc. We have several times tried to make clear
our position, and now endeavor in a few words again to do so.
We belong to NO earthly organization; hence, if you should name
the entire list of sects, we should answer, No, to each and to all. We
adhere only to that heavenly organization--"whose names are
written in heaven." (Heb. 12:23; Luke 10:20.) All the saints now
living, or that have lived during this age, belonged to OUR
CHURCH ORGANIZATION; such are all ONE church, and there
is NO OTHER recognized by the Lord. Hence any earthly
organization which in the least interferes with this union of saints is
contrary to the teachings of Scripture and opposed to the Lord's
will--"that they may be ONE." (Jno. 17:11.)
By what name may this Church be called? We answer, By the name
of its founder and instituter--Christ. Hence it is the "Church of
Christ" or "Church of God," for God founded it on the Rock Christ
Jesus; or "Christians," as they were known in early times. (Acts.
11:26; 26:28, and 1 Pet. 4:16.) But because Paul and the other
disciples were not followers of Calvin's teachings, therefore they
were not called Calvinists; because they were not followers of
Luther's teachings and example, therefore they were not called
Lutherans; but because they followed the ONE example and
teachings of CHRIST only, therefore they gladly acknowledged it
when they were called "Christians."
What think you, do we not occupy the only ground of union?
Suppose that all man-made creeds, and forms, and prayer-books,
and liturgies, and names were laid aside, or that all Christians met
in the one name of Christ, and in earnest simplicity studied HIS
words under the direction of God's Spirit and the explanations
furnished in the Apostle's writings, would there long be serious
differences even of opinion in the Church?
Was not that old saint, John Bunyan, who lay for years a prisoner in
jail in Bedford, England, because he preached the doctrines of Jesus
and the Apostles, in opposition to certain doctrines of the Episcopal
Church, right when he said: "Since you would know by what name
I would be distinguished from others, I tell you I would be, and
hope I am, a Christian; and choose if God should count me worthy,
to be called a Christian, a believer, or other such name which is
approved by the Holy Ghost. And as for those faction (or sect) titles
of Anabaptist, Presbyterian, Independent, or the like, I conclude
that they
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came neither from Antioch, nor from Jerusalem, but from Hell and
Babylon, for they tend to divisions: you may know them by their
fruits."
But is it asked, Was not Bunyan a Baptist? We answer, yes, in the
same manner that we are Baptist. He was a "Christian" and because
in God's Word he was taught immersion, or baptism, and not
sprinkling, and because he practiced with other humble saints his,
faith, therefore by Episcopalians or the worldly such were, in
derision, termed "Baptists," &c. So some now say that we are
Baptists because we believe in the doctrine of baptism. Some
incline to call us Calvinists because we believe what we find taught
in Scripture, that the Church is elect according to the
foreknowledge of God through sanctification of spirit and belief of
the truth. (1 Pet. 1:2; 2 Thes. 2:13.) Some call us Adventists
because we find taught in the Scriptures, and therefore believe, that
the heavens received Jesus, only until the restitution of all things."
And so, by whatsoever names men may call us, it matters not to us;
we acknowledge none other name than "the only name given under
heaven and among men"--Jesus Christ. We call ourselves simply
CHRISTIANS and we raise no fence to separate from us any who
believe in the foundation stone of our building mentioned by Paul:
"That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures"; and
those for whom this is not broad enough have no right to the name
Christian. --Watchtower Feb 1884
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Yes, that heavenly organization has a representation on the earth. Accordingly we read: "Certainly, therefore, YOU are no longer strangers and alien residents, but YOU are fellow citizens of the holy ones and are members of the household of God, and YOU have been built up upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, while Christ Jesus himself is the foundation cornerstone. IN union with him the whole building, being harmoniously joined together, is growing into a holy temple for Jehovah. In union with him YOU, too, are being built up together into a place for God to inhabit by spirit." -Eph 2:19-22 Yes those ones making up the stones are still in the flesh. They are fully legally established by virtue of God's Word. They in themselves collectively become a house for Jehovah to inhabit by spirit. Thus they become the earthly manifestation of the heavenly organization called "Heavenly Jerusalem."-Heb 12:22
Concerning that 'seed of Abraham' would they ever be given an earthly inheritance or house other than what is established in the scriptures? The scriptures says that they would be alien residents. They would be given no spiritual paridise while on earth, no but they would recieve that as part of the greater covenant of Abraham. That inheritance would be in heaven. In the meantime, they would have the baptism of Christ's death. Yes they would have to suffer as him, in order to be glorified as him. They would be given, no, not a footbreadth of an inheritance on the earth. The "congregation of the firstborn" is a house in themselves, no, not an earthly house, but a spiritual one. So God's house today is that which it always has been, since pentecost 33CE, namely Heavenly Jerusalem. And those who make up the 'stones' are the earthly manifestation of that spiritual house(1Pet 2:4).
CT Russell and those with him established a means or channel for preaching. They made available 'helping hands for thinking Christians' by the printed page. Russell established himself as the president of this incorporated magazine in 1884. What they did was set up not a religious "house", but a business (although non-proffit) to send out religious material. They realized that they were not starting a religious house, but were already apart of one.......a heavenly one. They seen that to incorporate the magazine was to their benefit for legal reasons. Also colporteurs were sent out, and congregations were formed. But anyone who wanted to could become a colporteur, that was between them and Jehovah, no they were not appointed by the society, but the society would work in harmony with them by supplying literature and any other assistance that could be afforded. The society was used as a 'helping hand', not a ruling hand. Concerning the congregations that were formed, the society did not rule over them either, but they had their own body of elders that sheparded their congregations.........the societies role? to be there as a helping hand..(literature, etc.) Yes the society was made for the anointed, not the anointed for the society. The ' house of God' used the society as a channel...........the society not being 'the house of God'. Much like we can use a web site to promote the house of God.... not being that the web site IS the 'house of God'. Yes, "Which, in fact, is greater, the gold or the temple that has sanctified the gold?"-Matt 23:17
But what has happened? The society is now called "the house of God" or "the gates of God". Yes, the transgressors have made it the ruling hand, not the helping hand. Jehovah's organization is no longer the one spoken of in the bible, namely "YOU yourselves also as living stones are being built up a spiritual house for the purpose of a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."-1Pet 2:5 But now it is said "You yourselves are being built up for the purpose of a holy nation to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God only through his earthly organization!!!!!!!" Yes, those who are in charge of the society are no longer only in charge of the nessesary things to do with printing material and helping the brothers, but are now OVER their brothers. They established themselves as their brother's governors, hence the term 'Governing Body'. Therefore this thing that was created by man, is dominating over those of the true 'house of God', and thereby holding those who are of the 'house of God' captive. It makes great boasts saying that it is 'God's faithful and discreet organization' and that it itself is God's prophet. It takes away from Christ's headship, and establishes its own. If indeed Jehovah did since the days of pentecost have a house, and that house is the same as spoken above in 1Pet 2:5, then did he disown that house to establish another house? May that never happen! Who then gave breath to this other house? Many in it don't even consider the anointed as of much account at all (those of the true house) but listen to organizational procedures and regulations as the law of Jehovah. They disown the headship of Jesus, but bow to the headship of imperfect men. They put the words of the society (watchtower) over God's word.
This was something never intentioned by it's originators, CT Russell &c. They saying that they were of "the household of faith", and using that society to promote 'the household of faith'. Their goal was to establish Christ as head of the congregation, and to free thier fellow brothers from the yoke of bondage found in Christendom. Yes, they claimed as Jesus did,: "and YOU will know the truth, and the truth will set YOU free."-John 8:32 They knew that God "does not dwell in handmade temples"-acts 17:24 Yes, they knew that Jehovah is looking for people to worship him 'neither in this mountain or Jerusalem, but in SPIRIT and TRUTH(John 4:21-24). However, after CT Russel's death, it seems as though these things were thrown out the window. What happened? JF Rutherford (liked to be called 'Judge') made the helping hand the ruling hand. He made an organization (a religious one) ruler over the heavenly one. No, not overnight, but slowly and surely it happened. He established the 'Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society' as God's visible earthly organization. Further presidents of the society added to this. Now the anointed remnant are taken of as little or no account. Only those who are members of the 'Governing Body' are considered in all intent and purposes 'the faithful and discreet slave'. No longer are watchtowers coming out that say "Who will honor Jehovah?", but rather now they are saying, "Honor Jehovah's Organization." They fail to point out what the real organization is, but point to a corporation as a means of salvaition. Yes by doing so they become God dishonoring. They start to make a celebrated name for themselves. They begin to work in opposition to their head Jesus Christ. Yes, they no longer put thier trust in Jehovah, rather they put their trust in an organization (idol).