sweetscholar,
I don't mind discussing Korah with you. Who do you believe the Greater Moses is?
If you say Jesus, I agree. If you say the Governing Body, we have nothing more to discuss as far as I'm concerned. I follow the lead of Jesus Christ, as Paul did, and I will not submit for "one hour" to a yoke of Israelitic tyrrany no matter whose face it wears.
Galatians 1:6-9 — I marvel that YOU are being so quickly removed from the One who called YOU with Christ’s undeserved kindness over to another sort of good news. But it is not another; only there are certain ones who are causing YOU trouble and wanting to pervert the good news about the Christ. However, even if we or an angel out of heaven were to declare to YOU as good news something beyond what we declared to YOU as good news, let him be accursed. As we have said above, I also now say again, Whoever it is that is declaring to YOU as good news something beyond what YOU accepted, let him be accursed.
Galatians 2:1-10 Then after fourteen years I again went up to Jerusalem with Bar´na·bas, taking also Titus along with me. But I went up as a result of a revelation. And I laid before them the good news which I am preaching among the nations, privately, however, before those who were outstanding men, for fear that somehow I was running or had run in vain. Nevertheless, not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, although he was a Greek. But because of the false brothers brought in quietly, who sneaked in to spy upon our freedom which we have in union with Christ Jesus, that they might completely enslave us—to these we did not yield by way of submission, no, not for an hour, in order that the truth of the good news might continue with YOU. But on the part of those who seemed to be something—whatever sort of men they formerly were makes no difference to me—God does not go by a man’s outward appearance—to me, in fact, those outstanding men imparted nothing new. But, on the contrary, when they saw that I had entrusted to me the good news for those who are uncircumcised, just as Peter [had it] for those who are circumcised—for He who gave Peter powers necessary for an apostleship to those who are circumcised gave powers also to me for those who are of the nations; yes, when they came to know the undeserved kindness that was given me, James and Ce´phas and John, the ones who seemed to be pillars, gave me and Bar´na·bas the right hand of sharing together, that we should go to the nations, but they to those who are circumcised. Only we should keep the poor in mind. This very thing I have also earnestly endeavored to do.
See, I know you didn't read Galatians before responding to my post.
Galatians 1:6-9 is direct instruction to be on the watch for and completely reject "new light," even if it comes from an angel out of heaven. Anyone who brings such light is trying to pervert the good news about the Christ.
Galatians 2:1-10 is a trip down memory lane for Paul. He describes the meeting in Jerusalem (Acts 15) from his perspective. He didn't go up quietly for fear that he had run in vain because he thought he might be wrong. He knew he was right. He went up to tell them something, not to receive instructions from them.
Is that how the modern GB works, or would Paul, Barnabas, and Tittus have been disfellowshipped for apostasy today? We both know the answer. According to the Bible they were not acting like Korah, Dathan, and Abiram or the 250 bearing incense holders. According to the tape "Respect Jehovah's Authority" they were. According to the Bible they were acting like Jehu, Phineas, Elijah, and Daniel. They were refusing to yeild their principles in the face of unrighteousness. They kept their integrity no matter the cost.
That is considered apostasy by the organization you support. Not surprising really, considering most of their rules and regs come from the Mosaic Law (which was the POINT of the meeting described in Acts 15).
John 9:18-34 — However, the Jews did not believe concerning him that he had been blind and had gained sight, until they called the parents of the man that gained sight. And they asked them: “Is this YOUR son who YOU say was born blind? How, then, is it he sees at present?” Then in answer his parents said: “We know that this is our son and that he was born blind. But how it is he now sees we do not know, or who opened his eyes we do not know. ASK him. He is of age. He must speak for himself.” His parents said these things because they were in fear of the Jews, for the Jews had already come to an agreement that, if anyone confessed him as Christ, he should get expelled from the synagogue. This is why his parents said: “He is of age. QUESTION him.”
Therefore a second time they called the man that had been blind and said to him: “Give glory to God; we know that this man is a sinner.” In turn he answered: “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that, whereas I was blind, I see at present.” Therefore they said to him: “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” He answered them: “I told YOU already, and yet YOU did not listen. Why do YOU want to hear it again? YOU do not want to become his disciples also, do YOU?” At this they reviled him and said: “You are a disciple of that [man], but we are disciples of Moses. We know that God has spoken to Moses; but as for this [man], we do not know where he is from.” In answer the man said to them: “This certainly is a marvel, that YOU do not know where he is from, and yet he opened my eyes. We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does his will, he listens to this one. From of old it has never been heard that anyone opened the eyes of one born blind. If this [man] were not from God, he could do nothing at all.” In answer they said to him: “You were altogether born in sins, and yet are you teaching us?” And they threw him out!
You people are disciples of Moses, not Jesus Christ. I can show you how you keep the Law, and imperfectly, thus condemning yourselves as the Israelites condemned themselves by not keeping it fully. But then, maybe you know how often your organization reaches back to the Old Testament for support of its teachings. Maybe you know how strong a role the Mosaic Law plays in shaping your organization's theology. Maybe you know that "yoke of slavery" Paul spoke of in Galatians first hand.
Your organization acts like Pharsisees, not like Christ. Christ would not choose them if he came to investigate today, much less in 1919.
AuldSoul
