The mediator doctrine is a perfect example of the differences between The Watch Tower Publishing Corporation's printed teachings, what Jehovah's Witnesses believe, and what is practiced.
I firmly believe most Witnesses don't know Witness beliefs.
old light on mediating...
by lost_sheep 14 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
-
garybuss
-
AuldSoul
In that all people were going to be parties of the upward calling, pre-"Jonadab Class", technically, yes. However, they have always held that the mediatorship of Jesus applied to spiritual Israel on much the same basis as they hold to the teaching today.
This isn't a doctrine you will hear discussed frequently, but has quite a lot of longevity compared with many of their other doctrines.
Unfortuntely, they ignore the obvious reality that Moses did mediate the covenant for all mankind. Anyone could become a proselyte, under that same covenant with the same obligations and benefits. The only real distinction was that proselytes could not be priests, but that was true of the 12 tribes who weren't Levites as well.
Respectfully,
AuldSoul -
AuldSoul
Kudra,
You are pointing to the loophole, the "by extension" part that applies to those who are not of the 144,000. The Bible doesn't teach anything about certain Christians that have "this kind" of relationship with the Father and Christ and these other Christians who have "a different" relationship with the Father and Christ. But the Governing Body dogma is full of examples. This is one of them.
Worldwide Security Under the "Prince of Peace" (1986) p. 10
16 Just as the ancient nation of Israel was in a covenant relationship with Jehovah God through the mediator Moses, so the nation of spiritual Israel, “the Israel of God,” has a covenant relationship through a mediator. (Galatians 6:16) It is as the apostle Paul wrote to his Christian fellow worker: “There is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5) Was Moses the mediator between Jehovah God and mankind in general? No, he was the mediator between the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and the nation of their fleshly descendants. Likewise, the Greater Moses, Jesus Christ, is not the Mediator between Jehovah God and all mankind. He is the Mediator between his heavenly Father, Jehovah God, and the nation of spiritual Israel, which is limited to only 144,000 members. This spiritual nation is like a little flock of Jehovah’s sheeplike ones.—Romans 9:6; Revelation 7:4.This is current doctrine. Reinforced directly in Watchtower August 15, 1989 p. 30 Questions From Readers. Referenced indirectly as lately as 2001.
Respectfully,
AuldSoul -
Kudra
That is so lame.
I don't know why I am so interested in finding out just exactly what the down low is on this particular issue but it just seems so COMPLETELY REDICULOUS that I actually want to know what the exact "letter of the law" is that the JWs follow.
Maybe this will come in handy for talking to my mom later...
-K -
Jerry1
Hi lostsheep here are some quotes
the first is from the Watchtower Oct 1 1900 page 2709 when Russell taught his definition of the "Christ" to be "Christ head and body" which meant of course that Jesus ( head ) and Russell & associates ( body) constitute the mediator, other words they are the mediator.
The Law Covenant, of which Moses was the Mediator, and which was given at Mount Sinai amid the thunderings and
Iightnings and voices, etc., was typical of the New Covenant of which Christ (Head and body) is the Mediator, and which
Is to be introduced to the world of mankind after the whole bodv of Christ has shed its blood and been completed and
glorified. Acts 3 :22 ; Col. 1 :24.
The following is from the book "Salvation" by Rutherford page 197 where he felt it necessary to "correct" an aspect of the Christ head and body doctrine. Here he says that
the body did not actually shed its blood for mankind only the head ( Jesus alone ) performed that function of the Mediator. If you were to search the literature from 1800 to about 1920 you see that phrase over and over "Christ head and body". The Catholic church also uses the phrase but of course the "body" is a different group of folks.
Today the WT never says that the 144k are the Christ, they say they are anointed...........same thing
It has been repeatedly said that the church, that is, the glorified members of the body of
Christ, by reason of their sacrifice, have a part the sin offering.; and in support of that theory
the following scripture is offered: "Then shall kill the goat of the sin offering, that is for
the people, and bring his blood within the vail, and do with that blood as he did with the blood
the bullock, and sprinkle it upon the mercy seat, and before the mercy seat."-Leviticus16 : 15.
Neither the foregoing nor any other scripture sustains the conclusion that the body mem-
bers of Christ have any part in the sin offering.It is the lifeblood of the man Jesus alone that
that is the valuable thing, the purchase price and which is presented and paid over as a sin
offering.