Directed by Holy Spirit? or Bum-Steered by Holy Spirit?

by Scully 13 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  Scully

  *** w81 12/1 p. 27 The Path of the Righteous Does Keep Getting Brighter ***

  However, it may have seemed to some as though that path has not always gone straight forward. At times explanations given by Jehovah’s visible organization have shown adjustments, seemingly to previous points of view. But this has not actually been the case. This might be compared to what is known in navigational circles as "tacking." By maneuvering the sails the sailors can cause a ship to go from right to left, back and forth, but all the time making progress toward their destination in spite of contrary winds. And that goal in view for Jehovah’s servants is the "new heavens and a new earth" of God’s promise.—2 Pet. 3:13.

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  w01 1/15 p. 16 Overseers and Ministerial Servants Theocratically Appointed ***

  Theocratic appointments come from Jehovah through his Son and God’s visible earthly channel, "the faithful and discreet slave" and its Governing Body. (Matthew 24:45-47) The whole process of such recommendation and appointment is directed, or guided, by holy spirit. This is the case because the qualifications are set out in God’s Word, which is inspired by holy spirit, and the individual appointed gives evidence of producing the fruitage of that spirit. Therefore, the appointments are to be viewed as being made by holy spirit. Just as overseers and ministerial servants were appointed theocratically in the first century, the same is true today.

  Is it possible for the Holy Spirit™ to make an error in its direction of the Spirit Directed Organization™? Apparently not.

  So what do you think? "Directed" or "Bum-Steered"?
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  mrsjones5

  I think that if we could ask the Holy Spirit if it has been directing the society of jehovah's witnesses, the HS would reply "Who?"

  Josie
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  Finally-Free

  Does that mean Holy Spirit made no error in appointing two pedophiles, who molested a family member, as elders?

  W
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  Dismembered

  Yes and elephants can fly too!

  Scully Bum-Steered? That's too kind. I can think of another saying regarding a bum.

  Dismembered
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  BluesBrother

  Seems clear as day now, that a prophet has to speak truth, and H/S would result in an organization coming out with reliable statements, if it were there.

  But dubs don't see it that way (Perhaps we did not at one time) they giggle about the fact that Armageddon has not come for decades of expectation, and make excuses for the Org.. They accuse me of making mountains out of molehills. They seem quite happy to believe what they are told, until they are told to believe something else. I received an e mail from an old friend, quoted here.

  I wouldn't like it If, every time I made a mistake or said something wrong, a hand came out of heaven and slapped me round the face. I would like the opportunity to correct my mistake and apologize or make a gift offering to the wronged person. I would like to be given the honour to do that rather than to be cut across and not given the room and pleasure to do that. I wouldn't like that for anyone else either, including the Society. So, Jesus has allowed his Slave to make incorrect statements. Why? I don't know yet. But in view of our discussions to date, how the Holy Spirit operates on the Society is not as I would have expected. The issue of Sovereignty may preclude it from operating in any active way! The only reason in that case for the Society to claim it is directed by Holy Spirit would be because they take their view from the Bible and are organized from the principles in the Bible and this book is a product of Holy Spirit.
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  jstalin

  Theocratic appointments come from Jehovah through his Son and God’s visible earthly channel, "the faithful and discreet slave" and its Governing Body.

  Could someone explain how the GB represents the FDS?
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  james_woods

  Oh, yes - the "tacking into the wind"...

  I just loved how the illustration showed a full square-rigged china clipper running straight downwind with all sails set dead across the keel.

  I am not at all sure that those big clippers could tack into the wind at all (at least not like a modern yacht). Maybe run at some angle to the prevailing wind, but didn't they really have to travel with the seasonal trade winds to get back and forth?

  There were a lot of people in good standing who made a lot of derisive comments about "tacking into the wind". Talk about self-serving CYA drivel!

  James
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  unclebruce

  It's this antipodean bum's turn to look blanc and plead for an explaination. I've heard it often enough but can't find 'bum-steer' in my dictionary (well I didn't even bother looking that's how confident it isn't in there).

  Sorry that's all bollocks. Enlightenment just hit me like a bum steering a Texas longhorn (not unlike the bums steering the Brooklyn short horn

  Holy Spirit my bum!
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  Scully

  Apparently, this sort of thing happens a lot with money grubbing preaching types. The Holy Spirit is such a card!! Benny Hinn gets caught in Nigerian Scammer scam! Loses $4 million!

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  May 18, 2005 Holy Spirit Gives Benny Hinn a Bum Steer

  Earlier this year, televangelist Benny Hinn’s website announced that the president of Nigeria had sent two official representatives to ask the mega-rich faith healer to hold a three-day televised crusade in Nigeria, to heal their nation.
  
  The emissaries’ visit was unnecessary, however, because God himself had already instructed Hinn to go there. “Unbeknownst to the representatives,” the Hinn Ministries’ announcement continued, “exactly at 6 PM of the day they arrived in Georgia to deliver the invitation Pastor Benny was preparing for [an] Atlanta service and the Holy Spirit said, ‘Go to Nigeria!’”
  
  Understandably then, Hinn arrived in Africa on April 28 with high hopes. But apparently the Holy Spirit had given him a bum steer. According to Monday’s Daily Sun, a Nigerian newspaper, Hinn left the country in a fit of “holy anger.” It seems the turnout was nowhere near the six million Hinn expected, and his ministry lost millions in expenses, from hotel accommodations and transportation to costs related to “technical infrastructure.” The article doesn’t state how many people did attend, but says that Hinn blamed the organizers for a poor showing and accused them of financial “monkey business,” in the words of the paper.
  
  “Four million dollars down drain!” Hinn was quoted saying during the crusade—“his voice cracking with emotion.” Hinn also said that his ministry would not pay the outstanding bills generated by the crusade, saying the offering collected on two of the three days should be used instead.
  
  Now, you might think Hinn had a few choice words for the Holy Ghost, too. Like, “What the hell were you thinking, Casper?” But instead Hinn is taking the lemons God gave him and making lemonade. “I have just concluded three amazing days of ministry at our miracle crusade in Lagos, Nigeria,” he said in a report posted on his website Monday. “The Holy Spirit’s fire penetrated the hearts of millions as God’s presence descended upon the massive crowds. Precious saints who had traveled great distances praised the Lord with unbridled enthusiasm as miracles of salvation and healing took place all around."
  
  There’s no mention of the missing $4 million, though Hinn does end his report with an appeal for money: “Please: plant your most generous seed today in expectation of a worldwide harvest of souls—and expect an outpouring of the Lord’s blessing in your life!”

  Posted By John D. Spalding
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  Honesty

  At times explanations given by Jehovah’s visible organization have shown adjustments, seemingly to previous points of view. But this has not actually been the case. This might be compared to what is known in navigational circles as "tacking."

  However, in many ports-of-call it is just a bunch of drunks trying to sail out of the harbor.