"The Governing Body is neither inspired nor infallible. Therefore, it can err in doctrinal matters or in organizational direction." -- Feb 2017 Watchtower

by cognisonance 34 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

• 

  wifibandit

  Now compare that public information to S-312-tk18-E_11. This is an outline that CO's will share in private with Pioneers and others in special full-time service around the time of the circuit assembly.

  No. 11 Spiritual Persons Support “the Faithful and Discreet Slave” (Circuit overseer)

  Note to the speaker: This talk includes audience participation. Emphasize that Satan and his world love the spirit of independence, whereas a spiritual person finds joy in following divine direction supplied through the channel that Jehovah and Jesus are using. At the conclusion of the talk, invite all to sing song number 126, and then conclude with prayer

  WHy we support “The Faithful and Discreet Slave” (2 min.)
  Jehovah has appointed his Son as the head of the congregation
  Jesus, in turn, has appointed “the faithful and discreet slave,” the Governing Body, to provide direction and spiritual nourishment for the “domestics” (w13 7/15 22 ¶10) [Read Matthew 24:45]
  Jehovah blesses and directs the slave with his holy spirit (Ac 1:8)
  We can have full confidence in the Scriptural insight, understanding, and guidance that we receive from the Governing Body (Ps 32:8)
  As a result of following the guidance of the faithful slave, we enjoy a spiritual paradise!
  Give WHolehearted Support to the Channel Jesus USes (6 min.)
  Simply obeying theocratic direction is not the same as supporting it wholeheartedly (Col 3:23, 24) [Read 2 Chronicles 16:9a]
  It is vital that what we learn reaches our heart, not just our ears. A Chinese proverb says: “Teaching that enters the ears but not the heart is like dinner eaten in a dream”
  Questions: If Jehovah and Jesus guide “the faithful and discreet slave,” why are changes necessary in our Bible understanding and organization? How can we give our wholehearted support to these changes? [After entertaining a few comments, read and explain Proverbs 4:18] (w17.02 26 ¶12)
  Questions: What doctrinal or procedural changes have you witnessed or read about? Why have these changes been beneficial? [As time allows, mention examples from God’s Kingdom Rules!, sections 1-3, and the “Beliefs Clarified” heading in the Watch Tower Publications Index]
  Maintain and Promote a positive attitude toward changes (4 min.)
  Jesus appointed “the faithful and discreet slave” to ensure that his genuine followers would have a steady supply of timely spiritual food throughout the last days
  The Governing Body appreciates our prayers asking that God grant them “a spirit of wisdom” (Eph 1:16, 17; w17.02 28 ¶16)
  Be determined to continue giving loyal support to the anointed brothers who make up that “faithful and discreet slave” [Read Hebrews 13:7, 17]
  The congregation looks to you as exemplary spiritual men and women
  Never let them down by displaying a negative spirit or by making negative comments about new direction or adjustments in Scriptural understanding
  Remain on the path of ever increasing light (3 min.)
  [Read 2 Samuel 23:3, 4] The light on the pathway of Jehovah’s servants from earliest times to the present has kept on increasing (w06 2/15 26 ¶2)
  Light from God’s Word has flashed forth, like the sunshine on “a morning without clouds,” to illuminate ever more clearly the pathway that Jehovah’s servants must walk
  Regarding adjustments of understanding he had witnessed throughout the years, Brother A. H. Macmillan said: “The fundamental truths we learned from the Scriptures remained the same. So I learned that we should admit our mistakes and continue searching God’s Word for more enlightenment. No matter what adjustments we would have to make from time to time in our views, that would not change the gracious provision of the ransom and God’s promise of eternal life”
  As full-time servants, let us prove our spirituality by wholeheartedly supporting the channel that Jehovah and Jesus are using to direct and nourish us and by encouraging others to display the same spirit
  S-312-tk18-E No. 11 6/17 TO BE COVERED IN 15 MINUTES
• 

  DesirousOfChange

  So why then would any JW abide by harmful doctrines setup by the Governing body (blood, shunning, the two-witness rule, etc)?

  Because they are held hostage by the threat of losing association with all of their friends and JW family members.

  Let's review: It's a Cult!
  
• 

  DesirousOfChange

  My take home message: If they're 'neither inspired nor infallible so can err on doctrinal matters and organizational direction' they are exactly the same as anyone else and cannot ethically claim authority over others. ~ Steve

  
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  Xanthippe

  If they're neither inspired nor infallible how the heck can they be the FDS? Why would anyone be disfellowshipped for not believing they're god's representatives? Everyone that has doubts gets the loyalty question but if they don't know what their God is thinking why should anyone follow them?
• 

  steve2

  Regarding adjustments of understanding he had witnessed throughout the years, Brother A. H. Macmillan said: “The fundamental truths we learned from the Scriptures remained the same. So I learned that we should admit our mistakes and continue searching God’s Word for more enlightenment. No matter what adjustments we would have to make from time to time in our views, that would not change the gracious provision of the ransom and God’s promise of eternal life”

  Macmillan wrote the book "Faith on the March" in the early 1950 which gave a self-congratulatory and sanitized background to the Rutherford "takeover" during World War One. Notice he uses the plural "...we should admit our mistakes and continue searching God's Word for more enlightenment."

  What he should have said was, "The Governing Body should continue searching God's Word for more enlightenment and the rank and file obey".

  That was over 60 years ago. He is now long dead.

  Some things never change.
  
  
• 

  stuckinarut2

  It certainly is mind-blowing to see just how easily the GB / Society manages to take control of witnesses "thinking abilities"

  The bible makes it clear that it is up to individuals to use our "thinking abilities, and our power of reason" to weigh up all information. NOT to just blindly follow what we are told to!

  Here is an awake article from 2011 (1/11)

  The Bible’s Viewpoint

  Are Faith and Reason Incompatible?

  “FAITH is a negation of reason,” writes British philosopher A. C. Grayling. His words sum up the feelings of countless writers and philosophers who over the centuries have claimed that faith and reason are incompatible.

  Some religious beliefs do fly in the face of all reason. But consider this: Many strongly held scientific beliefs have proved to be wrong. Does that mean that all scientific beliefs are wrong or are not based on reason? Why view religious beliefs any differently? In fact, the faith described in the Bible does not exist without knowledge but is, instead, solidly based on knowledge and sound reason. As you review the evidence, see how true faith and reason are compatible.

  Faith Firmly Based on Reason

  The Bible says, for example, that if your worship is to be “acceptable to God,” it must be “a sacred service with your power of reason.” In other words, you must worship God “in a way that is worthy of thinking beings.” (Romans 12:1; The Jerusalem Bible) So the faith described in the Bible is not something blind and irrational, or a leap of faith, as some have called it. And it is not credulity. Rather, it is something you have thought through carefully—resulting in trust in God and his Word, which is firmly based on reason.

  Of course, if you are to reason properly, you need accurate information. Even the most powerful computer programs designed on solid principles of logic will come up with some very strange conclusions if they are fed inaccurate data. Likewise, the quality of your faith will depend greatly on what you hear or on how dependable the information you feed your mind proves to be. Appropriately, the Bible says that “faith follows the thing heard.”—Romans 10:17.

  A fundamental requirement for faith is “an accurate knowledge of truth.” (1 Timothy 2:4) Only “the truth,” says the Bible, “will set you free,” free from misleading beliefs, whether they are scientific or religious. (John 8:32) The Bible warns you not to put faith “in every word.” (Proverbs 14:15) Rather, it says that you should “make sure of all things”—or test out the things you hear before believing them. (1 Thessalonians 5:21) Why should you do research and test out your beliefs? Because faith based on falsehood is only a delusion. Some noble-minded people from the ancient city of Beroea set a fine example in acquiring proper faith. Even though these individuals really wanted to believe what Christian missionaries taught them, they made a point of “carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.”—Acts 17:11.
• 

  jaydee

  If only .......

  
  
• 

  Tenacious

  The leaders published that garbage about them not being infallible and imperfect so they can later use the same quote, just like the use Proverbs 4:18, when their scripture interpretation turns out wrong.

  The governing body cockroaches know full well they cannot drop their "guided by Jehovah and Jesus" act, otherwise members will plainly stop listening to them. They need to keep their stupid "spirit-led" performance so as to not look like the true imbeciles that they are.
  
  
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  LongHairGal

  COGNISONANCE:

  ""Therefore"" why listen to a word they say?

  They are masters at insulting people's intelligence.

  Here, they are admitting they don't have any real knowledge. They are playing it by ear, in my opinion, and are expecting their gullible followers to play a game of follow the leader.
• 

  BluesBrother

  It takes considerable doublethink to accept that the FDS are both spirit-directed and yet prone to human error in their teachings.

  We all know that Bilbe characters like Moses and Peter could make human mistakes. The difference is that when they spoke in God's name, it was always right. Not so these charletons in New York!