"Thichi" asked in my previous post about some of the 'Anointed' experiences I alluded to, especially those that I mentioned that were somewhat painful. Here is one such event that I have relayed before in shorter comments:
I was an Elder at the time, visiting in Pennsylvania on business. I lived on the west coast. I had made several business trips for both general Electric and Bechtel to do consulting engineering work for Philadelphia Electric. While there I would attend a local Kingdom Hall, and a certain couple took to me, and we went out in Service together, and enjoyed many good times ... and of course, in time, they learned from me that I was Anointed when the topic came up.
One year, circa 1984-1985: I visited on business during the Memorial. That week I attended a Book Study with the couple. A Ministerial Servant was conducting the study in place of the Elder normally assigned. near the end of the Study, he brought up the Memorial, knowing that I was there and would be partaking of the emblems. He took special note of the Circuit Overseer's comments that the Society believes that only about 2,500 to 3,000 are turly Anointed, and the other 5,000 to 6,000 are fake Anointed. His reason?
The Circuit Overseer had stated to the Elders and Ministerial Servants in his meeting that a member of the Governing Body (unnamed of course) told him that the Governing Body believed that 98% of the Anointed were already in heaven in their royal positions, and that many JWs claiming to be Anointed were not truly Anointed.
The CO took the 98% literally, and figured that only 2% of 144,000 (or 2,880) were truly Anointed, and took it upon himself to start announcing to Elders and others during his visits that the rest of the over 8,600 JW Anointed were fake, and not to accept their anointing. The MS then looked at me in a strange way, as though he felt I was one of the "Fake" Anointed.
The Couple warns me: After that meeting, the JW couple took me aside and stated that the MS relayed that during Book Study for my benefit, because several in the congregation felt that I should not be partaking. I was about 33 or 34 at the time. They said that the Elders will likely be talking to me before the Memorial. Normally, as an Elder, I would be giving the Memorial Talk. But given that I was a visiting Elder, the CO decided to step in and give the talk, since I was an "unknown."
Phone rings in my hotel room: "Hello, Brother Amazing, this is the PO. We understand that you 'profess' to be Anointed and plan on partaking at the Memorial." Yes, that is true. Then he asked, "Would you mind meeting with us tomorrow night with a couple of Elders to discuss your situation?" I agreed, and let it go.
Meeting with the Elders: There were three (3) Elders, and suddenly this felt like shades of a Judicial Committee. They opened with prayer, and then asked for my west coast references to Elders there who could confirm that; 1) I was really a JW, 2) I was an Elder, and 3) that I was of the Anointed for many years. I gave them all they wanted. They called the PO in my congregation and he confirmed that I was a good guy, a JW, Elder, and Anointed. So they felt better. Then we discussed the recent claims by the CO. The Elders said that they didn't want go through this, and trusted me, but that they were heading an issue off at the pass ... doing their job before the CO confronted them. I thanked them and let it go.
My hotel phone rings again the next night: "Hello, Brother Amazing, this is CO 'W'. I will be giving the Memorial Talk at so-and-so congregation this year. I understand that you 'profess' to be Anointed. Are really planning to partake this year?" I don't know why, but this 'profess' thing was getting old, so here is the gist of what I told him. "Yes, I am Anointed. I understand that you 'profess' to be of the Great Crowd. Nice to hear from you."
He asked how long I had known, to which I told him about 15 years, and had been partaking all that time. I mentioned that I was an Elder in a west coast congregation. He said he knew, and had also had me checked out there. I think he was likely referring to the call the local Elders made with me the night before.
Trick Question to smoke me out: He then said he had a question for me about my 'profession.' He asked if I "Discerned the Body". I asked him what he was talking about. He said that if I were really an Anointed, I would understand the question. I said that in all the years I have been a JW and partaking, I have never been asked such a question, and I was merely being careful to make sure I understood where he was coming from.
He then asked me to describe what the Body is: I told his the Body of Christ is the Christian Congregation of Anointed made up of 144,000, to which I am a member. He then said I was partly correct, but there is another part that I also need to answer about "Discerning the Body." CLUE: Not about how I knew I was Anointed, but rather something about the BODY. I was a little fuzzy about what he was driving at, and then suddenly the light came on, and I gave the correct response. But, he was still not totally satisfied. ... Why? ... because I hesitated in my response to the second part of the "Trick" answer I was supposed to give. I told him I thought he was straining issues, and that I didn't see why my slight hesitation would bother him.
Then the Demand: He stated that I should NOT partake at the Memorial this year. I said that I have no doubts about my hope, to which he said that his concern is not my assurance, but rather, that I would not have hesitated in the second part of my response. I said that was unfair. And he again strongly asserted that I should not partake. he then went into the 98% of the Anointed are in heaven, and how this means most Anointed are not truly of that Class. I disagreed. He said that unless the Society says otherwise, I really should not partake ... sooooo ...
Phone rings at the Service Desk in Brooklyn, NY: Hello, this is Brother Amazing. I am from so and so congregation on the west coast, visiting so-andso congregation in Pennsylvania. I am an Elder and have been an Anointed about 15 years, and partaking all that time. Brother W, a visiting CO says that only 2,880 that profess to be Anointed are truly Anointed.
The Society then put some other Bethel Elder on the phone. I had to repeat everything so he could make notes. Well, he then asked who the GB member was who made this "ABSURD" claim. I did not know, but the CO supposedly knew. They took down his information and then the Society (Bethel Elder) said, "You should feel free to partake, as no one can or should discourage you. However, we wnat to know which GB member is making that claim, and whether the CO embellished it or the GB member is saying things he should not say. You tell CO "W" to call us if he has a problem with you and we will set him straight."
Note: The Bethel Elder, by the way, was able to confirm that I was both an Elder and the notation on my file with the Society that I was an Anointed. The Society records of Elders states whether they are Anointed (A) or Other Sheep (OS) on their appointment recommendations sent in by the CO. So, I was good to go. I called the CO back and relayed this information. I understand that the Society was looking to talk to him to trace down who the GB member was that supposedly made this 98% statements.
The Second Part to my response to the CO: Above I allude to the second part to the response, but did not say what it was. I did answer correctly and satisfied the CO and the Society. BUT ...
ANOINTED SECRET RESPONSE: Do those of you who are claiming, or have claimed to be JW Anointed, do you know the correct answer to the question about Discerning the Body? If you do not know, then if you are ever questioned in the way that I was by a CO or DO, you will need to know the answer, without hesitation, or they will view you as a FAKE Anointed. Do you know the answer?
Why sad?:[/b] This was a sad experience because I felt that my years of service, loyalty, and appointed position all meant nothing. I felt the Anointed label was being turned into a secret club, and that anything of joy or hope was set aside and replaced with idiotic organizational suspecions and legalism. I felt that whatever sense of a good spiritual experience was turned into something cold and unfeeling. I went ahead and partook on that ocassion, and enjoyed keeping company with the nice couple who befriended me ...but, I never returned there again.
You responses will be appreciated, especially those who know the correct secret response about Discerning the Body.