Hi MDS,
I can understand where you are coming from with your belief re. the FDS. You believe that such a slave class has not yet been appointed and with reasonable grounds. Those who have claimed the title have not ‘delivered the goods’ so to speak.
The question I raised at the beginning still remains – Do we need a FDS? For the Christian you have God’s Word, prayer and the example of Jesus. Do we need anyone else to tell us what to do? In the first century God showed his approval to people who accepted the Good News by pouring out his holy spirit on them. There was not another agency involved.
Jesus appeared to summarise the extent of organisation in that he described himself in middle of 7 congregations. There was not a FDS in the middle of the congregations, for example. Same would indicate there is not a major role for the FDS in this setup. In actual fact I do not think we need a FDS.
*** Rbi8 Revelation 1:12-13 ***
12 And I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me, and, having turned, I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and in the midst of the lampstands someone like a son of man, clothed with a garment that reached down to the feet, and girded at the breasts with a golden girdle.
*** Rbi8 Revelation 1:20 ***
20 As for the sacred secret of the seven stars that you saw upon my right hand, and [of] the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars mean [the] angels of the seven congregations, and the seven lampstands mean seven congregations.
Further evidence of the lack of involvement of the FDS is when counsel is given to the congregations. The admonition/praise is given directly to the congregations. It is not given to a GB or FDS to pass onto the congregations that need it or to congregations that don’t need it as often happens today. It also appears that the congregations operated with some independence and hence with responsibility for the own actions or inaction. At least one tolerated a female teacher which would not be norm in WT world. One had become lukewarm. These congregations give the impression that they were self governing and therefore it was Jesus who put them right and no one else. I don’t think any could argue with Jesus ability and position in directing affairs. It appears it his intention to leave matters and then offer direct counsel and admonition when he considers appropriate. There does not seem to be any point in having a FDS.
So far as the JW’s today are concerned you made a number of statements regarding apostasy etc. I am not going to deal with the references but suffice it to say all the congregations have to do is operate in an independent manner with reference to the GB/FDS and ‘Let God Be True’. It starts with the individuals that make up the congregations. There was a recent article on it. It dealt with 'Authority' figures and IMO the GB/FDS would be included.
1/12/00 WT ‘ Must You Believe It?’ These quotes are all from the article.
‘1 John 4.1. [ test the inspired expressions etc.] not to believe too quickly everything you hear, even when it appears to come from an authoritative source.’
‘But neither should you be ‘quickly shaken from your reason’ in the face of pressure from someone who claims to have great knowledge or authority.’
‘In contrast with the confusing opinions of men, God’s inspired Word provides a solid foundation on which we can base our beliefs…..Without it we are left in the impossible situation of trying to build something solid on the shifting sands of human theories and philosophies.’
‘The apostle Paul encouraged his fellow Christians to make full use of their ‘power of reason’ to prove to [themselves] the good and acceptable and perfect will of God’.- Romans 12:1,2.’
‘Whatever authority people may arrogate to themselves, you do not have to accept their conclusions if they contradict God, ignore his Word, and violate common sense. In the final analysis, the wise course is always to ‘let God be found true, though every man be found a liar.’’
ISP