Once upon a time there lived a fair young maiden in a far off land.
One day her uncle gave her a copy of a letter to read. The letter was from a Great King to a fair young Princess who was betrothed to marry his son, a handsome Prince.
“This letter is written to a son who is in love with the beautiful Princess”, said the uncle.
“What will happen if I read the letter?” asked the maiden.
“You will see that the Prince and the Princess are very much in love, and the Great King wants to tell them about what will happen to them after they are married.”
“Uncle, it’s wonderful to think of a father loving his son so much”, said the maiden, “for as you know, I have no father. You have always been very good to me, so please tell me why you want me to read the copy of the King’s letter?”
“Because, my dear, when you read this letter you will also love this great King, and it will make you very happy.”
“But uncle, will the father talk about me in his letter?”
“No, my child. He will be talking about the beautiful Princess.”
“Uncle, will I be able to meet the King who you want me to love so much?” asked the maiden
“No, my child, for you cannot go to the far off land.”
“Can I not talk with him?” pleaded the maiden.
“Oh yes, my child”, replied the uncle, “but you will have to wait for the Princess to tell you what he says back to you. You will like that!”
“How will the Princess tell me what the King says for me?” entreated the maiden.
“She will send you a letter.”
Questions for Review
1. Will the fair maiden live happily ever after?
2. Will she be able to gain a close relationship with the King from his letters to the Princess?
Concluding comments from Ozzie
When Joseph Rutherford announced his flawed theology concerning the Great Crowd he paved the way for the cancelling out of a direct link between the Father and Jesus with most of humankind. The New Testament (“Christian Greek Scriptures”) was believed to be a direct communication between God and the 144,000. Only they as the Faithful & Discreet Slave could interpret the message that the scriptures contain. The Watchtower of June 15, 1974 states: “It is to the spirit-anointed Christians who will rule in that kingdom that mostof the Christian Greek Scriptures is directed, including the promises of everlasting life.” Jesus became the Mediator for the remnant of the 144,000 alone. The great crowd could only approach Jesus in association with the anointed remnant. ( Watchtower, April 1, 1979, page 31)
Thus the increasing numbers of the “great crowd” came to faith having the hope/goal of everlasting life on a paradise earth but only as granted by “Jehovah’s earthly organization”. This is what has been termed “spiritual materialism”.
Recently The Watchtower lamented the fact that “In some lands where many new disciples have been baptized, however, there has not been a corresponding increase in the number of Kingdom publishers.” (July 15, 1999, page 9) The problem they recognised was that “Could our teaching consist solely of this:’If you want to live forever in Paradise, you must study, go to meetings, and share in the preaching work’? “ Rather, they instructed, “It means making Jesus so real to them that he virtually dwells in their hearts.”
In this they are ‘between a rock and a hard place’ for they cannot allow for the great crowd to have a personal relationship with Jesus as sons. If they did, then the teachings started by Rutherford will have to be shelved.
Looking back on the legacy that Rutherford left, it seems clear that most of the men administering Jehovah’s Witnesses simply are looking to gain life in paradise. They cannot speak as sons of God because they don’t believe they are.
Is it any wonder that Rutherford’s legacy is not an organisation that reflects God’s undeserved kindness (‘grace’) with humankind? Is it any wonder why these men display such a hard attitude in their dealings with those who are suffering?
So, do you think the fair maiden will live happy ever after?
Cheers,
Ozzie
"You can know the law by heart, without knowing the heart of it"
Philip Yancey, What's So Amazing About Grace?