Here are a few more claiming Apostolic Authority;
Just a note that while the Governing Body rejects the Catholic view of "Apostalic succession" it has self assinged itself apostalic power and authority. It asks its members to view it as if holding a similar position.
Coming from the June 1, 1982 Watchtower on page 17, article entitled "Loyally submitting to Theocratic Order"
*** w82 6/1 17 Loyally Submitting to Theocratic Order ***
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Because of his loyal submission to theocratic rule, even to the death, Jesus was rewarded with immortal heavenly life. Additionally, he was given “all authority . . . in heaven and on the earth.” (Matthew 28:18) In turn, he entrusted “all his belongings” on earth (earthly interests of his Kingdom) to faithful anointed Christians. These ones Jesus called a “faithful and discreet slave.” (Matthew 24:45-47) Their reward is someday to share heavenly rule with Christ as “priests” and “kings” in his kingdom. (Revelation 14:1, 4; 20:6) Today, a remnant of this ‘faithful slave’ is still alive on earth. Their duties include receiving and passing on to all of Jehovah’s earthly servants spiritual food at the proper time. They occupy a position similar to that of Paul and his colaborers when that apostle said of the wonderful truths God gives to his people: “It is to us God has revealed them through his spirit.” (1 Corinthians 2:9, 10)
Actually if you look at that whole article they are asking everyone to take their word as Gods and dare not question. Here are a few more examples of this reasoning from that very article;
*** w82 6/1 17 Loyally Submitting to Theocratic Order ***
As part of doing God’s will, he was very careful to teach God’s thoughts, not his own.
“What I teach is not mine, but belongs to him that sent me,” Jesus said. (John 7:16) What a fine attitude for all of God’s servants to imitate!
Since when is 1874, 1914, 1925, 1935, 1975, 607 bce, blood policies, UN membership, the inability to ask ardent earnest questions to make sure of all things, and many other non biblical based teachings carry the wieght of coming from God? This is a dishonest and very manipulative comment coming straight from the Governing Body, and is in great contrast to the real outlook that God gives in his bible.
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Yet, firmly Jehovah insists on peace and unity on the part of all his devoted children. (1 Corinthians 1:10) And
these good results come by God’s servants loyally submitting to theocratic order. What does that mean? Since God’s rulership is called a theocracy (God rule), submitting to theocratic order means being obedient to the laws, rules and principles issuing from God.—Isaiah 33:22.
What good results can be found other then the occasional experience in the awake? Rather we find alienated ones shunned by their former friends, ones who have dies unessesarlly in flip flop teachings(organ transplants, vaccines, blood,etc.), ones who have been imprisoned or killed while yet in another country a whole other contrary practice is allowded(malawi and mexico, alternative sevice), being entangled with the so called wild beast(United Nations), generation of 1914, broken familys, stained relations, even anger and hate toword former members, and the list goes on. Since when have all these ever changing time dated, wishy washy flip flops ever issued from God? But yet one would be forced to accept them with the weight and authority equivelent to God's Word the bible or face excommunication as they have clearly put their own reasoning on the same scale as Gods.
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How vital it is for everyone in God’s family to submit loyally to the teachings and arrangements of the Great Theocrat, Jehovah, and his King-Son, Christ Jesus, as transmitted through the ‘faithful slave’ on earth! Since theocratic order begins with Jehovah himself and extends downward, never would we want to imitate Satan the Devil by becoming independent of theocratic rule. Recall the sorry results that came to Eve when she listened to Satan’s deceptive urging for her not to submit to theocratic order.
In effect(
buzzword meaning they are assuming and they are adding to the account),
he said to her: ‘Be independent of God. Do your own thinking. Decide for yourself what is right and wrong. Then you’ll be like God. You positively will not die.’ (Genesis 3:1-5) That may have sounded appealing, but it was a lie. (John 8:44) When her husband joined her in abandoning submission to theocratic order, they were expelled from the garden of Eden and from God’s family of loyal ones. In time, just as Jehovah had warned, the
death sentence(note the dire consequence they attempt to portray befalling thoese who dare question the Governing Body's teachings) was executed on both of them.—Genesis 2:17.
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Likewise today, any among Jehovah’s people who indulge in independent and contrary teaching imitate, not God, but Satan the Devil. However, Jehovah sees what is happening among his family and takes account. (Proverbs 15:3) He will not tolerate wolflike persons who would devour his sheeplike ones, but at the proper time he takes decisive action. (Matthew 7:15-23) Like a loving father, he protects the spiritual well-being of his family.—Ezekiel 34:11-16.
The problem with this reasoning is while Adam and Eve disobeyed they had disobeyed God, not some manmade reasonings that have added to bible accounts in a feeble attempt to gain authority over fellow christians. They attempt to show Eves independant spirit and in a subconscience manner equate this too any who dare question the Governing Body. Since when is following clear biblical knowledge being independant of God when a Organization attempts to intercept itself into a relationship between God, Christ, and the Christian. When one fails to see the logic in the Societys reasoning and failed time dates, and even showing clear biblical reasoning that is evident the Society is in error, they in effect are asking that one put aside God's word and rather accept man's reasoning or a Societys reasoning as more authoritive. They have basically made the bible innefective and powerless against their human reasoning. They even go as far as making threats of eternal damnnation upon ones who would dare question, then they further attack such ones as being wolf like. Who really is wolf like when such a situation arrises? When one has serious inquiries as to the reasoning of certian shaky teachings is one met with a loving responce? Rather I think they need to correctly place the wolf like charactor where it is most fitting, that being applied not to ones with sincere question but rather to themselves, as they demonstrate on a continuous basis. I cannot fathom how so many people can swallow this type of reasoning and not see the clear contrast with the message found in God's word.
I may hope these quotes help and if any feel need to clarify upon them please do so as I have not alot of time this morning to reflect fully upon them.
Ticker
