The Faithful and Discreet Slave - A JW Myth

by 00DAD 92 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  00DAD

  Probably this topic has been dealt with before, but I'm relatively new here, so perhaps y'all will be willing to indulge me in my pursuit for clarity. Regarding the anointed, the GB recently said this:

  "We thus have no way of knowing the exact number of anointed ones on earth; nor do we need to know. The Governing Body does not keep a list of all partakers, for it does not maintain a global network of anointed ones." - Question From Readers, w2011 8/15 p. 22

  The GB publicly admits that it does not know those who profess to be of the anointed class. They do "not maintain a global network of anointed ones" which is of course also those individuals who would comprise the "Faithful and Discreet Slave" (FDS):

  "all of the anointed ones living on earth at any given time constitute 'the faithful and discreet slave'"- w07 11/1 p. 30 par. 12

  So if the GB does not know WHO they are are WHERE they are, certain questions quite naturally come to mind.

  1. How exactly does the FDS class communicate with the GB?
  2. How exactly does the FDS as a group coordinate with the GB in the providing of spiritual food?
  3. How exactly is the FDS class involved with the selection of the GB members?

  Be specific.

  To your knowledge, has the GB at anytime or anywhere even made an attempt at explaining the mechanism(s) for how any of this supposedly works and how the FDS and the GB allegedly interact?

  I look forward to your comments!

  Daniel

  PS - I already know the whole concept of the "Faithful and Discreet Slave" is a fabrication, so you don't need to convince me of that. I just want to know if the GB has ever even attempted to explain how they--the FDS and the GB--are supposed to work together. It's their organizational chart. In 25 years as a JW I can't remember a single instance, not once, where they even took a whack at explaining this one.
• 

  cantleave

  The FDS is the GB. Anyone else who claims to b e annointed is mentally imbalanced. JW's are in a cult led by 7 seven, not so very old, despotic assholes.
• 

  wobble

  They now openly identify themselves (the GB), as the only functioning part of the Anointed as far as doctrine and policy are concerned, they have let it be known that the rest of the 144,000 (+?) do not matter, perhaps Blondie or someone can give you the exact quotes.

  Two other JW myths are that there was a Governing Body in the 1st Century, and that god has always had an earthly Organization.

  Both these, and the FDS, are figments of their imagination.

  Self appointed sellers of hogwash is all they are.
• 

  cedars

  1. How exactly does the FDS class communicate with the GB?
  2. How exactly does the FDS as a group coordinate with the GB in the providing of spiritual food?
  3. How exactly is the FDS class involved with the selection of the GB members?

  Answers...

  1. They don't.
  2. They don't.
  3. They aren't.

  You're making the forgiveable mistake of relying on the expressions "representative" and "mouthpiece" as used to describe the relationship that the Governing Body has with the FDS. One of the most infuriating aspects of the Governing Body, for me, is that those words aren't just misleading - they are a downright lie. You can't describe yourself as being a representative or a mouthpiece for a group of people you never communicate with.
• 

  designs

  Sometimes when I'm driving by Power Lines I get a mixed and fuzzy signal also....
• 

  Greybeard

  So the question remains, "who really is the faithful and discrete slave?"

  The WT says it is all the anointed but all of the anointed do not provide "food at the proper time".

  The entire FDS teaching of the WT is a complete joke. This was a parable not a prophecy!
• 

  compound complex

  Greetings, OODAD:

  You may find this relevant, if tangentially so [check for a PM]:

  During the Gilead School graduation exercises, September 7, 1975, Fred Franz admitted to the students and their families that no Governing Body existed during the time of the apostles, nor one since then. He had already concluded that the doctrine of a Governing Body from the days of the apostles to the present was a false teaching. As Franz revealed the unscriptural nature of the doctrine, his audience sat in bewildered silence. The Apostle Paul, he stated, was appointed by Jesus Christ personally, not by any governing body in Jerusalem. In fact, no one in that city was aware of his appointment.

  This admission - contrary to official WT teaching of a primary belief - has never been published. Yet, in the December 15, 1975 WATCHTOWER, we read of another speech by Franz, in which he PROMOTES the doctrine of the Governing Body.

  Knorr's Attitude Toward the "Oracle"'s Getting Prophecy Right

  Upon his deathbed, Rutherford designated Knorr as the new president, whereupon Knorr let it be known to Franz that he did not want to be caught in prophecy failures as Russell and Rutherford had. It so happens that, as history unfolded and left a huge blank, Knorr was known to be disgusted with Franz over the failure of the 1975 prediction.

  There are many who feel that his disgust with the pseudo-religion caused him to strike out against his anointed brothers and their false prophecies. His being diagnosed with terminal brain cancer could well have contributed to his alienating himself from his associates of many years. He died without seeing a single prophecy come to pass.

  THE FOUR PRESIDENTS OF THE WATCH TOWER SOCIETY (JEHOVAH"S WITNESSES), Edmond C. Gruss, Editor, pp. 40, 41

  CRISIS OF CONSCIENCE, Raymond Franz, pp. 76-83

  Compound-Complex

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/126699/1/FWF-Disavows-GB-on-9-7-75
• 

  00DAD

  Thanks all for your responses so far! A couple of quick replies:

  • cedars - I agree completely with your statement "You can't describe yourself as being a representative or a mouthpiece for a group of people you never communicate with." This is the sentiment which prompted my post. Perhaps you missed my PS at the bottom of the original post (I added it a few minutes after creating this thread). Yes, I already know the whole concept of the "Faithful and Discreet Slave" is a fabrication, so you don't need to convince me of that. I just want to know if they, the GB, has ever even attempted to explain how they are supposed to work together.
  • wobble - Two other JW myths: Yes, I'm familiar with both of these:

  2. There was a Governing Body in the 1st Century, and
  3. God has always had an earthly Organization

  The WTBTS/GB has on many occasions written "justifications" for both of these doctrines. Yet it seems they've never even tried to explain how they are supposed to communicate and work in conjunction with the FDS. Hence my question.
• 

  00DAD

  compound complex: Thanks for those references. I've read CofC - very enlightening, as I know you know. I'm not familiar with the Four Presidents book, but coincidentally I just came across the name Gruss earlier today.

  Thanks,

  Daniel
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  cedars

  I just want to know if they, the GB, has ever even attempted to explain how they are supposed to work together.

  Thanks 00DAD, to my knowledge they have never even attempted to do this.