In my personal experience of 40 years of “being in” I worked with and met a variety of different CO’s. The minority were hard working men who along with their wives were self-sacrificing and giving. I met some really sincere, genuine, down to earth CO’s who truly displayed a “Christ like” spirit, disposition and personality.
Having said that, my involvement first as a Ministerial Servant and then as an Elder for many years was thoroughly disappointing. I discovered that the vast majority of these CO’s were pompous, arrogant, self-serving men.
I never had a problem that they were “Company Men” because that was their ultimate employer, if you will. They had to uphold and enforce the principles and ideals that the Branch demanded, if they wanted to retain their position. They were doing what they were told “or else.”
Many thought that they were demi-gods when they walked in to the congregation. I remember many BOE’s that actually became anxious and nervous when some of these characters were scheduled for a visit. At the elders meeting, the CO would sit at the front, at a small table and pull out their all-important binders with all the spirit-directed WTS rules and regulations. Most evident was the fact that they hated anyone that would try to challenge them on procedure or decisions. Most CO’s also offered up far too many personal opinions on most subjects, such as, that person, those young ones, his or her job, this couple, etc.
They liked to judge an individual’s “motives.” Why are they buying a house and not pioneering? Why is this brother not an MS yet? Why is the congregation average so low? Etc. Etc. on and on!
Over the years they spent hundreds of hours promoting Bethel service, Gilead school, regular pioneering, working with the RBC, or going to MTS. They even encouraged young brothers to reach out for the unique privilege of becoming a travelling overseer in imitation of the Apostle Paul. There was no greater career in this “dying wicked system of things.” Use your youth and vigor to serve your Creator fulltime. After all here was God’s inspired promise:
(Psalm 37:25) A young man I used to be, I have also grown old, And yet I have not seen anyone righteous left entirely, Nor his offspring looking for bread.
(Matthew 6:33) “Keep on, then, seeking first the Kingdom and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you.
Their continued teaching for decades was not to worry about your future, or getting an education, or a good job, or even getting old. If you were serving wholeheartedly in Jehovah’s organization its loving arms of support and appreciation would be guaranteed to be there for you.
I can’t imagine the Apostle Paul being put out to pasture at any time, and retired, at a specific age by the so-called 1 st century Governing Body!! This has all become a sick joke!!
If this letter or information is legit the good and honest hearted CO’s we all fondly remember and were touched by, are truly being shafted. The other pompous, pieces of trash deserve whatever they get!! A good rule to follow over recent and future WTS changes no matter what “spin” they put on it is, “Follow The Money.” That is the real reason all of this is happening!!