Appointed / Elected / Selected - GB, Elders and others

[Srecko Sostar]

Part 1.  In this part we will meet few quotes in article from one WT magazine which describes administrative functions in WTJWorg past. Many of them stayed till today. 

Please be free to comment. 

 

Following Faithful Shepherds with Life in View - https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1967723

This means we must prove our faith by our course of action, by the things we do. It means that righteous requirements of the King Jesus Christ must be met.......Therefore, in submitting to Jehovah’s visible theocratic organization, we must be in full and complete agreement with every feature of its apostolic procedure and requirements.

UNITY MAINTAINED BY SUBMISSION

...In this way today too the governing body of the Christian congregation serves the entire organization. Solutions to problems arising in one locality are widely circulated so that the unity and oneness of the entire organization might be maintained...In submitting yourself to Jehovah’s visible organization as administered by such servants, you are still not required or expected to follow men..... It is the faith of these men that is to be imitated and their course of conduct that is to be observed....These men too, though occupying responsible positions of oversight themselves, recognize and submit to the superior appointment of the “faithful and discreet slave.”....The account says: “In those days there was no king in Israel.” (Judg. 21:25) So it was in the earlier days of the modern theocratic organization. Jehovah’s administration of righteousness took a pronounced forward step with the return of the Christian congregation to apostolic teachings. But before the King, Jesus Christ, was enthroned in 1914 C.E. the organization was loosely administered. Each “ecclesia” or congregation was self-governed by elected “elders” and “deacons.” But in 1914 Jehovah enthroned his King Jesus Christ, and from 1919 onward the time became due for Jeremiah’s prophecy to be fulfilled: “‘And I myself shall collect together the remnant of my sheep out of all the lands to which I had dispersed them, and I will bring them back to their pasture ground, and they will certainly be fruitful and become many. And I will raise up over them shepherds who will actually shepherd them; and they will be afraid no more, neither will they be struck with any terror, and none will be missing,’ is the utterance of Jehovah.”—Jer. 23:3, 4.

¹² This benefit of theocratic administration did not come all at once. In 1932 the “elective elders” were replaced in the congregation by an appointed “service director,” who was assisted by a group of mature members of the congregation democratically elected to their positions. But not until 1938 did the final change to strictly theocratic order take place. In that year, through the columns of The Watchtower, it was revealed from the Scriptures that the power of appointment of servants in congregations rightfully rests with the governing body of the “faithful and discreet slave” as directed by Jesus Christ from Jehovah’s temple.* This important step in the restoration of theocratic order assured Jehovah’s “sheep” that they would not again be separated into independent “flocks” by unscrupulous “shepherds.” The shepherds that Jehovah promised through Jeremiah would be those fully in agreement with Jesus’ words that “they will become one flock, one shepherd.”—John 10:16.

14 In 1942 the change came. In the throes of World War II, with the change in administrations of the second and third presidents of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society,...The years since 1942 have told their tale regarding the exploits of the anointed Elisha class, accompanied by an ever-increasing number of the “great crowd.”—Rev. 7:9-17.

On February 1, 1943, the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead was set up for training missionaries and special representatives of the Watch Tower Society to serve in all parts of the earth. That same year, 1943, a new training program, the Theocratic Ministry School, began in the congregations of Jehovah’s witnesses. At first only male students were enrolled in these schools, but in 1958 provision was made for the women of the congregations to enroll and participate.

20 Such a theocratic view of matters will enable you always to keep pace with the organization, neither running ahead nor lagging dangerously behind. You will encounter trying circumstances. Do not be overcome by them. Wait on Jehovah and put your hope in him. (Ps. 37:34; 27:14) It might even be that reproof will be necessary on occasion. Do not become offended. If you do, you are undoubtedly taking yourself too seriously, failing to see the point of the reproof. Nor should you persuade yourself that you are of no use to the organization and quit simply because some mistake may be drawn to your attention. Rather, “my son, do not belittle the discipline from Jehovah, neither give out when you are corrected by him; for whom Jehovah loves he disciplines; in fact, he scourges every one whom he receives as a son.”—Heb. 12:5, 6.

21 On the other hand, it may be that your advancement will be rapid. Guard against an attitude of super-faithfulness. It might ensnare you. Do not feel that others in the congregation are slow and backward. You might even become impatient with the organization. Consider instead the example of Moses, who pleaded with Jehovah to spare his typical theocratic nation when some faithless ones in the organization sinned against Jehovah and brought his anger down upon the entire congregation. (Ex. 32:1-14) Neither should you wait constantly to be directed as to the theocratic activity assigned. Eagerly assume individual responsibility and seek ways of advancing the Kingdom interests in harmony with the program currently outlined by the “faithful and discreet slave.”

22. Why, then, should we stick loyally to Jehovah’s visible organization?

22 The Bible sets forth every inducement and encouragement to place the theocratic organization ahead of oneself, to accept it in all its features and stick to it loyally. The theocratic pace of activity is still increasing. What Jehovah will yet require of his faithful servants on earth before Armageddon he will reveal in due time. Staying close to his visible theocratic organization is the only way to find out. Having identified that organization and God’s righteous requirements expressed through his channel, never let it go. Follow Jehovah’s faithful shepherds so that, “just as sin ruled as king with death, likewise also undeserved kindness might rule as king through righteousness with everlasting life in view through Jesus Christ our Lord.”—Rom. 5:21.

[Srecko Sostar]

Part 2.  In this part we will examine nature and meaning of terminology used in WT publications. Here we have main thing, head of problem/answer to understand governing model in WTJWorg. Expression in WT magazine said: the superior appointment of the “faithful and discreet slave. Did you ever before noticed such terminology? FDS aka GB got superior appointment. They have, they are holders of inviolable status. Based on 1919 premise how Jesus and God declared, in heaven, in invisible manner, that Rutherford and people gathered in Bible Students movement, incorporated in WTS are chosen one, are appointed. 

What is meaning of the words appointment/appointed?  

- to assign officially, as for a position, responsibility, etc to establish by agreement or decree; to nominate (a person)

- assigned, appointed, elected, commissioned, selected, elected, installed, delegated, nominated

Well, procedure and process about it is quit interesting. GB explained "the 1919 process" in manner how Jesus came invisible to Earth and found Russell (of the deceased), Rutherford and Bible Students as only worth to be appointed by Him, because the WTS organization was the only one to teach the truth. Of course, this "Jesus' declaration" is without any evidence and proof. In sense, how only Rutherford and few other in WTS were in position "to hear Jesus' voice" about this.

Today, we only have Bible Students history, and with our examination of their teachings in those days, we are also able to establish some facts about their past and present claims and their "position before Jesus and God". But also have some interesting explanatory sentences, here and there, about issue. And with this little details we are able to see how questionable are such claims made by individuals and collective in WTJWorg. For example this below:  

And although Jesus—“the head of every man”—is in heaven, there are still on earth “the remaining ones” of his anointed brothers, who have the hope of ruling with him in the heavens. (Revelation 12:17; 20:6) These make up the composite “faithful and discreet slave.” Christians show their submission to Jesus, and therefore to Jesus’ head, Jehovah, by accepting the oversight of that “slave.” (Matthew 24:45-47; 25:40) -https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1998643

I put in bold this two things in their paragraph. Let me paraphrase :

Because they are people who have the hope of ruling with him in the heavens it is obvious how  These make up the composite “faithful and discreet slave.  

Another thing is important question; If by any chance Jesus chose someone in 1919, is that Jesus' appointment inherited, transitions from one member to a new one? Or would it be logical for each new person to be appointed in new appointment process? And that to be made by Jesus, again, and not from some earthly member of the earthly organization?

In WTJWorg process how to put them (candidate for elder, MS, etc) in some position are same, in fact with similar process in all democratic societies. And that is; appointed / elected / selected ....through process of elections and voting. Those process can be open voting and closed voting. WTJWorg Administration, elders and congregational members participate in such system.

 

[Srecko Sostar]

@César Chávez is this your best to offer? No comments, but emoticons aka emotional reaction? :))

[Srecko Sostar]

Part 3. Here we will try to figure out what is best way to find individuals that would be best choice to "govern" the congregation. WT magazine said this:

Each “ecclesia” or congregation was self-governed by elected “elders” and “deacons.” But in 1914 Jehovah enthroned his King Jesus Christ, and from 1919 onward the time became due for Jeremiah’s prophecy to be fulfilled:...

¹² This benefit of theocratic administration did not come all at once. In 1932 the “elective elders” were replaced in the congregation by an appointed “service director,” who was assisted by a group of mature members of the congregation democratically elected to their positions. But not until 1938 did the final change to strictly theocratic order take place.

We learns here how elders and deacons was elected. By whom? By congregants of each congregation. Do you feel as something is wrong with this mode? Have in mind how "voting" is still model in WTJWorg for many things. Voting is used to decide whether something is to be bought or sold, whether money is to be used for this or that. Voting is used to install a male member aka "brother" in one of the positions in the hierarchical structure of management, leadership. According to WTJWorg administrative practice, it seems how voting is not "pagan" practice, neither "devil" tool. But if JW members living under "theocracy" in own "spiritual paradise", it is not quit clear how this "democratic way for management and decision making" is in harmony with the·oc·ra·cy ?

Few significant examples in Bible text, when "divine guidance was involved" have nothing with voting we know today. Maybe with dice. Urim and Thumimm. In Jesus example, when he choosing his apostles, nobody participate in any sort of voting for such noble and important service, position or how ever you want to call that. Jesus never told his apostle that they need to apply "voting" as model how to choose another person for some service. After Jesus death apostles replaced the vacant position of apostle instead of Judas with: Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles. - Act 1 26

All positions in WTJWorg management/office, from past to nowadays, was/are always under "unscriptural" procedure. The payment of a certain amount (money) made it possible to be in the management structure of organization. Existing of "shareholders" in WTJWorg spiritual paradise aka Organization can also "unscriptural" practice. Past and present method of "choosing" elders and MS is pure "secular, worldly" practice. 

From WT magazines is visible how "voting" is practice that is not for "true Christians" aka JW's. -https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1999807

But all procedures inside "Organization" working by system/model/method that includes human influenced selection, choice, appointing and vote. 

[Srecko Sostar]

Part 4. Here we will briefly analyze some of the quotations from this WT passage.

22 The Bible sets forth every inducement and encouragement to place the theocratic organization ahead of oneself, to accept it in all its features and stick to it loyally. The theocratic pace of activity is still increasing. What Jehovah will yet require of his faithful servants on earth before Armageddon he will reveal in due time. Staying close to his visible theocratic organization is the only way to find out. Having identified that organization and God’s righteous requirements expressed through his channel, never let it go. Follow Jehovah’s faithful shepherds so that, “just as sin ruled as king with death, likewise also undeserved kindness might rule as king through righteousness with everlasting life in view through Jesus Christ our Lord.”—Rom. 5:21.

Let's break down this WTJWorg statement/quote: The Bible sets forth every inducement and encouragement to place the theocratic organization ahead of oneself, to accept it in all its features and stick to it loyally.

Let’s use first, often WTJWorg logic in proving how something is not “biblical”. The word organization or even more theocratic organization does not exist in the Bible! So, invoking an “organization” which have legality and legitimate for authority over members, that arises from that kind of hierarchy, does not have enough power to be the foundation for the superiority of some Religious Organization aka Charity Entity/Company that have tax free status in 19/20/21st  century.

Next part of this statement make claim that individual, the believer should/must put the “legal body” aka the organization above all else, and before his own interests. And how "all features" of organization need to become part of their own identity as a member.

But, let's ask ourselves, what is the "biblical" basis for that? If JWs respect the Bible above all else (and above organization, ??!! haha), then these two statements of Jesus will completely disintegrate the WTJWorg thesis and dogma.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. .................“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Well, first Jesus call speaking about "deny themselves" in favor, on behalf of ... WTJWorg??? NO! For nothing/nobody else but for Jesus.

In second verse, Jesus made claim how ... WTJWorg is the way, the truth and the life/salvation??? NO! Jesus is.

So we conclude; Who invites people to join the human organization for salvation?  WTJWorg! Who demand full loyalty in all features of WTJWorg Organization instead in Jesus? WTJWorg!

Because of just these two things (not to mention other false teachings and interpretations) WTJWorg becomes a “disgusting thing in a holy place”, a counterfeit of God's Kingdom.  False spiritual paradise. An imitation of God's Kingdom on Earth.

GB or WTJWorg's FDS or "Chanel" today, standing in this position because their predecessors in 19th century "expressed hope" in heavenly life as Jesus' Kings and Rulers. And because of their HOPE, their WISH to be in Heaven, they interpreted how they are responsible to form an Organization with its features.

Similar is with people today who participate in taking Bread and Wine at Memorial. GB said how some or many of them are mentally or emotionally unbalanced or are under influence of wrong beliefs. Well, in light of this claims what we can conclude about all such people in past and today, especially if they are in Governing position?

Who can prove that 19th/20th/21st century BS/JW members were not/are not mentally and emotionally unbalanced and have faith in wrong beliefs about own "HOPE"?  

 

PS 18/12/2020 6.46 AM

You did not choose Me, but I chose you. John 15. In GB WTJWorg case, perhaps GB did make first move and made self-selection.