Hmmmmm ... Watchtower deception

[PK]

No we don't trace the line, we follow the same pattern as it is stated in the Bible. As the congregations in the first century recognized the governing body in Jerusalem, so today the congregations.Acts 15:2-30; 16:4, 5.

We believe what we wish to believe. 

The Bible does not support any such concept as a Governing Body.

Outside the temporary existence of the 12 Apostles, there is no evidence of any kind of a core of leaders.

PK

[victormr]

Acts 15:2-30; 16:4, 5.

[Dupin]

It always amazes me,

How you continuously cite scriptures which don't really support your theory Vic.  What you are relying on are declarations by the governing body that they do.  When we take all the scriptures which bear on the matter, as Russell taught, Your governing body's thesis just doesn't stand up.  For instance, Paul directly relates the story firsthand in the first couple of chapter of his letter to the Galatians.  Paul certainly didn't recognize them as having authority over him.  He doesn't even seem to have had that much respect for some of them referring to some as "those who seemed to be something." (Gal 2:6)  So The scriptures do not support the claim of an all powerful and authoritative "governing body" in Jerusalem.

I would like to point out that shortly before the "governing body" took authority away from Franz and Knorr in the 1970s coup, Fred Franz gave a lecture to a graduating class of Gilead where he used the very section of the Bible I just pointed to to debunk the very idea you champion.  And he was the best mind the society ever had behind Russell himself.  You're proving nothing.

Dupin

[martyd]

the leading brothers in the 1st century gathered and met in jerusalem to resolve many issues because for many  it was a transition from the old law covenant into the new christian church.after they met-they returned to their assignments in the lord.they did not remain and dictate and micromanage the congregations like the  governing body of jehovahs witnesses do today.

[victormr]

(Acts 15:1-2) “15 And certain men came down from Ju·de′a and began to teach the brothers: “Unless YOU get circumcised according to the custom of Moses, YOU cannot be saved.” 2 But when there had occurred no little dissension and disputing by Paul and Bar′na·bas with them, they arranged for Paul and Bar′na·bas and some others of them to go up to the apostles and older men in Jerusalem regarding this dispute.”


*** w07 4/1 p. 23 par. 10 Loyal to Christ and His Faithful Slave ***

The decisions of this first-century governing body were transmitted to the congregations by means of letters and traveling representatives. The early Christians were happy to receive this clear direction, and their willing cooperation with the governing body promoted peace and unity.—Acts 15:22-31; 16:4, 5; Philippians 2:2.


Scriptually supported.

[Dupin]

Scriptually supported.

Only if you ignore the rest of the scriptures which bear on the subject, such as those I pointed out.  And the chapters from Galatians is not the only place one can point to Vic.  Until you address my points directly you've done nothing but parrot the party line Vic.

What you have done is listed certain scriptures over and over again like a broken record as if they alone prove your point.  Then you finally cite the Watchtower as if its pronunciation on the subject is the last word on the subject and gives you all you need.  You still haven't made your case Vic.

Dupin

[martyd]

Scriptually supported.

Only if you ignore the rest of the scriptures which bear on the subject, such as those I pointed out.  And the chapters from Galatians is not the only place one can point to Vic.  Until you address my points directly you've done nothing but parrot the party line Vic.

What you have done is listed certain scriptures over and over again like a broken record as if they alone prove your point.  Then you finally cite the Watchtower as if its pronunciation on the subject is the last word on the subject and gives you all you need.  You still haven't made your case Vic.

Dupin

sort of like president obama telling us the new budget is going to cut the defecit,create jobs and lower taxes.

[Dupin]

sort of like president obama telling us the new budget is going to cut the defecit,create jobs and lower taxes.

 

[blondie60644]

Usually they put in a disclaimer like this which is still inaccurate.  When I was a jw, I thought that the Bible Students had been absorbed into the WTS in 1931 and there were no separate groups.  Not until 2002 did I find out different.  My grandparents had been Bible Students in the 20's and early 30's but left with this name change.  My grandfather disliked Rutherford.  But the rest joined in with the name change and my grandparents were alone in their beliefs.

*** w07 1/1 p. 12 Right Choices Led to Lifelong Blessings ***
During the winter of 1925, one of the Bible Students, as Jehovah’s Witnesses were then known, visited us.

----------------
I remember this quote but it made no impression on me then:

*** ka chap. 13 pp. 250-252 pars. 24-25 Settling Accounts with the Slaves of Today ***24 However, even among those in contact with the faithful “slaves” of the returned, reigning King Jesus Christ there has appeared a class of anointed Christians who fit the picture of the “wicked and sluggish slave.” Evidently this class is referred to in the third paragraph of the Resolution entitled “A New Name,” that was adopted Sunday afternoon, July 26, 1931, at the international convention held in Columbus, Ohio, under the auspices of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. This paragraph we now quote:

WHEREAS shortly following the death of Charles T. Russell a division arose between those associated with him in such work, resulting in a number of such withdrawing from the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, and who have since refused to cooperate with said Society and its work and who decline to concur in the truth as published by the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society in The Watch Tower and the other recent publications of the said above-named corporations, and have opposed and do now oppose the work of said Society in declaring the present message of God’s kingdom and the day of the vengeance of our God against all parts of Satan’s organization; and said opposing ones have formed themselves into divers and numerous companies and have taken and now bear such names as, to wit, “Bible Students,” “Associated Bible Students,” “Russellites teaching the truth as expounded by Pastor Russell,” “Stand-Fasters,” and like names, all of which tends to cause confusion and misunderstanding . . . ”

25 Factually, those uncooperative and even opposing ones mentioned above did not embrace that “new name,” Jehovah’s witnesses, and become known as the Christian witnesses of Jehovah. They have shared neither in the terrible sufferings that the bearers of the “new name” have experienced since then nor in the work of announcing Jehovah’s established kingdom in the hands of his Messiah in all parts of the earth. For these reasons they have not shared in the marvelous expanding of the field for the cultivating and producing of disciples of Christ, to include at present 208 lands and islands or island groups, and requiring the publication of the Kingdom message in more than 160 languages. Despite vicious persecution in various lands, this cultivating of the field (which is the world of mankind) for the bringing forth of additional disciples of Christ moves forward to its culmination! It is presently being carried on under the supervision of the ninety-five branch organizations of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania.

[Florida]

Welcome and blessings to you Blondie. 

Thank you so much for posting this information.   

Contrary to the statements of that wts document,  bible students do spread the word of Christ throughout all parts of the earth.  Their work is done without fanfare and self-aggrandizing horn tooting.   They have been active in announcing the coming Kingdom.

"The world knoweth you not."         The world at large knows nothing about the bible students because they move quienty and unobstrusively through this evil world. 

Linda 

[sister1977]

Yes I knew nothing of the biblestudents except through an old Jw book "proclamation" then I researched who C.T.Russell was & found out groups of biblestudents exist today thanks to the Wika online ecycopidia (sorry for spelling grammer) Anyhow only after I contacted someone from the website & then they contacted a local brethern did I fully know who they were & I've been with them ever since (august 2009...baptistd October2010)  We do talk with people & hand out booklets or pamphlets or drop them off, but unlike the JW & their WT/Awake litriture  we donot leave it on doorsteps, & I personally donot go to their door unless I speak to them first & then get invited over.  If they truly want to learn the truth they will reply on the postcards left.