The WTS makes claim to being "the spirit directed organisation" and requires new members to take an oath of allegiance at baptism to the WTS as that "spirit-directed organisation".
How does the Holy Spirit direct this organisation? This becomes all the more difficult a question to answer for dubs do not believe in the personality of the Holy Spirit, but hold that it's simply the active force of God (whatever that is).
So how does this "force" direct the senior officers of the WTS?
How did the Holy Spirit direct the early Christian congregation?
Luke records some episodes in the Acts of the Apostles that illuminate its activity. He writes in Acts 20 of Paul's journeying and being "compelled" to Jerusalem. He records Paul's words:
"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spiritwarns me that prison and hardships are facing me." -Acts 20:22,23 (NIV)
Notice that the HS both "compelled" and "warned" Paul. How did "it" do that? Whenever the WTS is faced with a question like this, it will sidestep the issue by claiming that it was actually an angel that "did it"!! Or it was really Jesus! But it couldn't have been, for we note that Luke records Paul's precise words on this matter. Note that in the next verse, Paul states:
"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace". - Acts 20:24 (NIV)
Was this consistent with the record of Paul's conversion and commissioning as an apostle?
Yes, it was. We see the account in Acts chapter 9.
"As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting", he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do".
The men travelling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. " - Acts 9:3-7 (NIV)
We see that Jesus also appeared to Ananias and spoke with him, but in a vision, as recorded in verses 10-16.
The account draws a difference between Jesus and the Holy Spirit, by these words:
"Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit". - Acts 9:17 (NIV)
Returning to the text in chapter 20, we see later in Paul's same farewell speech that he is in no doubt how the "spirit direction" was to care for the congregations:
"Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood." - Acts 20:28 (NIV)
Quite clearly the "spirit direction" is much more "hands on", as it were, than with some 'electric current' that somehow inspires the imperfect men of Brooklyn and Patterson.
Cheers, OzzieEdited by - ozziepost on 17 November 2002 8:17:29