Hello DOT,
Well sir you have stirred the pot! :) First of all, welcome to the board and kudos for taking on a subject that no doubt you are very much "on an island", while here on this board.
I would submit to you a balanced viewpoint to consider.
It is common, for those who even as Jehovahs prophets or annointed ones of the past, to have "made mistakes. SO I am with you on that. In fact, at the end of John, a "saying went out among the brothers that John would not die". Of course Jesus did not say that. They were misinterpreting things within days of jesus death apparently. Also, Rev Ch 2-3 shows the congregations, made up entirely of annointed, were doing all kinds of crazy things. He said he would "hold it against them" if they didn't change, and it appears they did not, and the foretold apostacy comes to light then after (or during) the ECF's.
So on the surface I understand the branches explanation. They do not claim to be infallible (nor does any rational person), but they claim to be Gods mouthpiece. So you are Gods fallible mouthpiece. Do you see the contradiction?
Think about the following.
1) The people you are using to compare in this situation (Abraham, Moses), were spoken to by Gods angels in a different time when Jehovah seemed to interject himself much more directly. This is not what happens today is it? When you say they are "working with holy spirit", since there is no miraculous helper today, doesn't that mean just trying to do what we all try to do? Read the bible, pray, and attempt feebly to be Christians?
2) The bible clearly states the gifts of the spirit will "cease" at the end of the apostles. The snake priest guy who just got killed is a good example of faith healing and gifts of the spitir being bunk. But it isn't just healing and speaking in tongues that would cease. Please go back and read the scripture. The gifts of knowledge and understanding....ALSO would cease. They are mentioned right there with the rest of them. So how can the GB claim miraculous wisdom (given by God through extraordinary means), when it doesn't claim seaking in tongues.....and they were BOTH gifts?
3) What is the humble road here? In other words, if you claim no special status before God, claim you are his mouthpiece but also don't have a special relationship with the holy spirit (may 2007), and that you can be in error.....why do you then ENFORCE uniformity of belief through shunning? Why would the GB do that, when they could just be wrong about it anyways? Why not allow people to use their conscience in matters that are ambiguous or not directly stated? Like birthdays, blood, generation that will not "pass away", identity of the slave....why not allow for variance in belief? Would it harm the ministry? no. Would it cause dissent? With the current attitude yes, but I bet in the long term it would create a less stressed and more open group of people, who can discuss the bible without feeling like they have to tow the party line and suppress free expression.
4) What if they are wrong about something serious...like organs, vaccines, or blood fractions? Look up "community bloodguilt" in the insight book or index. It is an interesting thing to get their take on. I believe they have unknowingly declared themselves bloodguilty.
I think the main focus is this. You have been taught (as we all have been), that UNITY = UNIFORMITY. That simply is not true. There is such a thing as needless debates about words.....no question. But in matters of the modern era, so far removed from scripture, and without miraculous gifts of the spirit......you have to be a Boerean!
You said who are you to question them? Who are you not to! What evidence of their individual appointment do you have? When has anyone been required to blindly follow others for their salvation? Especially post jesus sacrifice? I am not saying you should not work with them, I am not saying you should hate them....who cares. What I am saying, is that you should, and are expected by Jehovah, to think for yourself.
It always amazes me that every group of people who have claimed to serve God in the bible ended up loosing his favor......but all of a sudden that has become an impossibility in peoples minds.
Study more DOT. Truth stands up. I don't agree with everyone here, and they don't all agree with me. That is free expression, and if you care for it, Christian freeedom. Dissenting information is just information you may not agree with. Discussing viewpoints scripturally that may not always coincide will not lead to mass hysteria or sect divisions. An overtly pharisaical, legalistic view of what must be adhered to even though it could be "old light" a week from now......THAT is what causes the issues.
