by minimus 15 Replies latest jw friends
"If the I.B.S.A. can be shown to be a section of Babylon, we all ought to get out of it . . .
I guess now they?re sure glad that they hadn?t wrote ?. . . a section of Babylon or the UN?! Wouldn?t that have been quite the dirty feather in their cap!
?SAHS
Naaaaah.....Babylon the Great is in reality...."Babble on the Great".....the scriptures.....that's why it says, "Bank up the 'way' "....cause ppl think the 'way' to heaven is thru the written words in the scriptures.....so "bank" or store up the 'way'......because we need to get out of there....believe it....the word of God is Leviathan and can turn on yall in a heartbeat....and become something you can't control....it's the "flaming sword" (words/word + s/s+word) between ppl and paradise, which is living to be all that you can be...IMHO.
Frannie B (of the "been there, done that" class)
I wish someone could locate that booklet.
I think this is the book "What Pastor Russell said" that is still being published by the Bible Students, isn't it?
RR would know.
Pgs. 350-3 of "What Pastor Russell Said"
I.B.S.A.
? True Definition of Babylon.QUESTION (1915)
?2? If the I.B.S.A. headquarters should promulgate methods not understood orapproved by us are we to apply
Rev. 18:4 , "Come out or her, My people," and if so, how?ANSWER.
?I think if the I.B.S.A. can be shown to be a section of Babylon, we all ought to get out of it. Ifwe all get out on the same side, where shall we be then? I think we shall be pretty close together if all get out on
the same side.
The word "Babylon" signifies "confusion," and in
Rev. 18:4 , it is used in reference to mixing the things of Godand of men. There was a time when, throughout Europe, the kingdoms came very much under the influence of the
Roman Catholic Church. To some extent those kingdoms came under the influence of Christianity?to the extent
that there was Christianity in the Roman Catholic Church.
It is well to emphasize that there was a time when the Roman Catholic Church was the only church in the
world, and when the people knew no better than to be in it and of it. Where would they have been otherwise? Then
there came a time when the church officials, those who were high in the church management, succeeded in coming
into affiliation with the Roman Empire; and the Roman Church became its successor. Then the Church of Rome
began to sway the nations and to tell the people of this or that principality, "Your king is not in harmony with us.
You can select another one." Then there would be a revolution. The Pope and the Catholic Church were back of
these changes. That is the way it began. There is where the illicit marriage of the nominal church and the world
took place.
In many European nations this has now been gradually changed. In some the church and the state are
completely separated. But this change has not been made in Austro-Hungary. The people are strictly under the
control of the Roman Catholic Church. The church has to do with everything. In Great Britain, the representatives
of the church of England sit in Parliament, as part of the government. The church bishops are members of the
House of Lords. In Germany and Sweden, it is very much the same. Their government and God?s government are
linked together in the minds of the people.
This state of things God calls Babylon?the professed Church of Christ being married to worldly governments.
These have been called Christian governments by mistake. They are not Christian. Look at the present conditions
in Europe. The governments at war are not manifesting the Spirit of Christ. There are Christians in all these
governments, but the governments themselves are not Christian. The nominal church has been responsible for this
state of things. The situation has so warped men?s minds that they think their present course the right one. They
think that Christ is now reigning. In their minds the reigning kings and the parliament represent God on earth. The
Lord would have us separate from all this.
There is another way in which the spirit of Babylon manifests itself; as, for instance, in the Protestant
churches-Methodist, Baptist, Presbyterian, etc. They pander to the worldly spirit. They take note of the rich, trying
to work in with the rich and get the rich into positions in the church. Thus they recognize money above spirituality.
In many cases money runs the church. That is not the basis under which the true Church operates. There is a
system in connection with all of them, even in the Baptist church, the most liberal of all.
The Baptists will say, "We are in no bondage; we have no ecclesiastical control at all." They do not realize
that the spirit of Babylon has gotten into the church. Suppose we have here a congregation of Baptists. As a
congregation they call their own minister and attend to their own affairs. A certain minister, then, Brother A., is
called to serve them. But he must be ordained as pastor of this congregation. So they send for some other Baptist
ministers?say Brother B., Brother C., and Brother D. to ordain him. But Brother A. does not stand in very well
with the ministers called to do the ordaining. So they say, "We will not ordain Brother A.; he is irregular." And the
congregation ask, "You cannot ordain him?" Then they reply, "We have nothing at all against Brother A., but we
will not ordain him." So you see the preachers have the rule, and the people do not know it.
The Baptists will tell you the preachers have no authority at all. But the Baptists cannot do a thing without the
consent of the preachers; this they do not seem to know. The preachers hold a power that God did not repose
there. God never authorized any men to go and ordain another men to preach the Gospel. God does the ordaining;
and it is for the church to decide, according to its best judgment, whom the Lord ordains or calls as a pastor. All
this ordination by men is Babylonish, a species of machinery to manage the people. It is all worked just like
politics.
Nevertheless, the Baptists are the nearest free, of all so-called "orthodox" sects. The people in the Methodist
church have almost no liberty, except the privilege of giving money. That is the principal liberty they enjoy. The
bishops rule in co-operation with the presiding elders. At each annual conference the presiding elder and the
bishop have it fixed what minister is to go here and what one there. The minister that does not stand by the
presiding elder will go to the country place which pays only $400; while the one who does stand by him, though no
more capable, will be sent to a place that pays $1,000 or more. I have had several Methodist ministers tell me this.
They complain about it, but do not want to get out of a job altogether. That is not the liberty wherewith Christ
makes free. I realize that this is a system. Let me show you what a system it is. The bishops control the presiding
elders, and under them the presiding elders control the preachers; and so it is all the way down to the class leaders
They have their head or chief amongst them. They have a human head. The General Conference is the highest
authority.
So the Presbyterian church has a head in the way of a General Assembly which has the deciding of matters.
All this is according to the course of this world. The simplicity of Christ is not generally observed, except amongst
the friends of the International Bible Students? Association. There it is very general, and the Word of God is
observed. They learn to take notice when things are going wrong. The simplicity of the matter is evident to all.
On one occasion I was called upon by a minister of the Reformed church. He wanted to know how I managed
my church I said to him, "Brother?, I have no church." He said, "You know what I mean." I answered, "I want you
to know what I mean, too. We claim that there is only one Church. If you belong to that Church, you belong to
our Church." He looked at me in surprise. Then he said, "You have an organization; how many members are
there?" I replied, "I cannot tell; we do not keep any membership rolls." "You do not keep any list of the
membership?" "No. We do not keep any list; their names are written in heaven." He asked, "How do you have
your election?" I said, "We announce an election; and any or all of God?s people, who are consecrated and are
accustomed to meet with this company, or congregation, may have the privilege of expressing their judgment of
who would be the Lord?s preference for elders and deacons of the congregation." "Well," he said, "that is
simplicity itself." I then added, "We pay no salaries; there is nothing to make people quarrel. We never take up a
collection." "How do you get the money?" he asked. I replied, "Now, Dr.? , if I tell you what is the simplest truth
you will hardy be able to believe it. When people get interested in this way, they find no basket placed under their
nose. But they see there are expenses. They say to themselves, ?This hall costs something, and I see that free lunch
is served between meetings, for those living at some distance. How can I get a little money into this thing,
anyway?? " He looked at me as if he thought "What do you take me for?a greenhorn?" I said, "Now, Dr.?, I am
telling you the plain truth. They do ask me this very question, ?How can I get a little money into this cause?? When
one gets a blessing and has any means, he wants to use it for the Lord. If he has no means, why should we prod
him for it?"
There would be nothing to come out of, as an organization, if one is an International Bible Student. You cannot
get out of anything you have not gone into. If anyone can tell me how he got into Babylon by getting interested in
the affairs of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, let him show me how he will jump out, and I will jump
with him.
This reference shows the evolution of Russell and his B.S. They started to view everyone as against God, but themselves.
