Q: Dear brother, do you think that some sheep or anointed in the writing department are writing these wonderful articles on staying close to Jehovah by obeying, applying his word in our lives, as with Psalms 83 last meeting [Sunday, Dec. 21/08], and the minor prophets book has some wonderful, encouraging articles. Jehovah must still be using some to give this scriptural food. I enjoy most WT studies, and love the book study articles. How could the man of lawlessness write such scriptural wonderful praises to Jehovah and helpful loving articles for us to be strengthened by?
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A: I'm glad you still find encouragement at the meetings. That's how it ought to be. I have devoted my website and time to encourage our brothers and sisters to continue to stick close with what we call God's "organization," and what the Bible calls God's "household," "the congregation of the living God." (1 Tim. 3:15) I have endeavored to explain, on my site, from the Scriptures why we have the present troubling developments that are causing so many of our dear brothers and sisters to stumble, including ones who used to be zealous proclaimers of the good news.

The seemingly small errors taught back in the time of Judge Rutherford, to bolster the claim that they as God's anointed had already been judged and appointed over all of the Master's belongings as a "faithful and discreet slave," and their manipulating the Scriptures to say what they wanted it to say in support of their self-exalting claims, has led to the present developments that is severely testing the faith of many within God's household. Our leaders have "planted the wind and will harvest the whirlwind." (Hosea 8:7, Amp) Jesus said that "the person faithful in what is least is faithful also in much, and the person unrighteous in what is least is unrighteous also in much." (Luke 16:10) It is unavoidable: if we deviate from Jehovah's Word even in minor things we can be sure that it will have serious consequences in due time. That is why it is so important for us to listen to Jehovah by sticking closely to his Word and refusing to go beyond the things that are written in it. (1 Cor. 4:6) It takes a lot of faith on our part to take the course that Jehovah's way is always the best way, even when we don't understand why. (Isa. 48:17)

Jehovah has not rejected or abandoned his household, and neither is he going to, simply because there are "wicked men" and bad shepherds in our midst, especially at the very top where we find the "man of lawlessness." (Jer. 5:26-31; 23:1-4; 2 Thes. 2:1-12) For our protection and to help us endure he long ago foretold the present developments, and has promised to remove any wicked ones from the midst of his people. (Ezek. 13:9,10; Matt. 13:39-42) Of course, we have not been expecting these negative prophecies to apply to us because we have been taught by those whom Jehovah especially singles out as being reprehensible, that they apply to "antitypical Jerusalem," Christendom (an expression not even found in the Bible). It is becoming obvious to more and more of our brothers and sisters that when Jehovah addresses "my people" he is really talking to us. And we better pay attention!

Yes, Jehovah is still blessing those who are worshiping him with a clean heart and conscience. (1 Tim. 1:5) He still has those who are loyal to their responsibility of feeding the members of his household with "food at the proper time." These will be identified at the Master's arrival as having been "faithful and discreet." We can get an idea who they are by their sticking close to God's Word in everything they teach, and the genuine love and concern they show for God's inheritance. They do not elevate themselves above the sheep they are feeding, "lording it over" them so to speak, nor do they draw attention to themselves demanding absolute obedience, claiming that obeying them is the same as obeying Jehovah. And so God's sheep find refreshment and encouragement from them, indeed nourishment at the proper time. (Matt. 24:45-47; 1 Peter 5:2,3)

Jesus allowed that there would be an "evil slave" who would show no such concern for those under their care. He said that he would find this wicked slave actually in the act of beating the sheep, considering them to be in lowly subjection to them at the time of his arrival. He, as their Master will identify such ones and swiftly deal with them, punishing such ones "with the greatest severity," assigning them their part with the hypocrites, "the unfaithful ones." That time is near at hand. (Matt. 24:48-51; Luke 12:45,46)

As you can see, we still have both slaves among us: the ones who will be identified as having been faithful in their assignment and who will at the Master's arrival be acknowledged as such and rewarded accordingly; and the wicked slave who will be condemned and lose out on any reward.

That is why, as you appreciatively note, we still have some "wonderful, encouraging articles" written by loving shepherds, while at the same time we also get articles written by an evil slave whose primary concern is to promote and exalt himself within God's temple, his household, producing such articles as appears in the Watchtower of February 15, 2009, where they once again remind Jehovah's sheep: "Since Jehovah God and Jesus Christ completely trust the faithful and discreet slave, should we not do the same? After all, the slave has shown itself to be faithful in doing its assigned work. . .The faithful slave is also discreet in that it neither acts immodestly, running ahead of Jehovah, nor lags behind when God's direction on a matter is clear. . .The slave is able to provide wise and timely warnings because Jehovah God and Jesus Christ are blessing it. The slave thus deserves our complete trust."

Is it true that Jehovah and Jesus "completely trust the faithful and discreet slave"? Paul answers, "let God be found true, though every man be found a liar." He included himself for as the apostle John adds, "If we make the statement: 'We have no sin,' we are misleading ourselves and the truth is not in us." The truth is, as James notes, that no matter who we are "we all stumble many times. If anyone does not stumble in word, this one is a perfect man." (Rom. 3:4; Phil. 3:12,13; 1 John 1:8, 10; James 3:2) Rather than boasting about how Jehovah and Jesus have complete trust in them they ought to be humbly acknowledging the many errors they have been teaching over the decades that have caused many of Jehovah's precious sheep to wander and disperse. Indeed, those who have suffered the most have been the ones who trusted them the most. (Ezek. 34:1-6) That is why James adds, "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we shall receive heavier judgment."

When they keep insisting that the slave "deserves our complete trust," they as much as tell us to disregard Jehovah's clearly stated command: "Do not put your trust in nobles, Nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs. . . Happy is the one who has the God of Jacob for his help, Whose hope is in Jehovah his God." (Psalms 146:3,5) That does not mean, however, that everything they write is wrong or self-centered. Their self-assumed position of authority is dependent on them at least giving the appearance that they represent Jehovah. It is very much like the way it was in Jesus day, when he said regarding the religious leaders: "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because you resemble whitewashed graves, which outwardly indeed appear beautiful but inside are full of dead men's bones and of every sort of uncleanness. In that way you also, outwardly indeed, appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness." (Matt. 23:27,28)

While it is now time for the "man of lawlessness" to be revealed as sitting in the place of a self-exalted Governing Body, exercising absolute authority over God's people, at the same time Jehovah also has those whom he has chosen to care for his precious sheep, and who are doing a faithful work. That explains why we get both kinds of information in the publications, the sort that encourages us and helps us to endure; and the other kind that is written entirely for the purpose of exalting the man of lawlessness, diverting our love and obedience away from Jehovah and Jesus to them. When we idolize the ones who are teaching us, are we still worshiping Jehovah who exacts exclusive devotion? (Ezek. 5:13)

At our meeting last Sunday the brother who concluded the meeting with prayer thanked Jehovah twice for the "faithful and discreet slave," who is "teaching" us. By "faithful and discreet slave" they of course always have in mind the Governing Body. Can you see how the Governing Body has succeeded in replacing the holy spirit in the minds of the brothers as the ones teaching us? Yet Paul writes: "For it is to us God has revealed [his wisdom] through his spirit, for the spirit searches into all things, even the deep things of God. . . no one has come to know the things of God, except the spirit of God. Now, we received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that have been kindly given us by God. These things we also speak, not with words taught by human wisdom, but with those taught by the spirit, as we combine spiritual matters with spiritual words." (1 Cor. 2:10-13) Also, Jesus said that it would be "the holy spirit" that would be our "helper" that the Father would send to teach us all things. (John 14:26; Luke 12:10,12) Jehovah has given certain ones the responsibility to "feed" his sheep by presenting them with what is contained in his Word the Bible, but it is his holy spirit that actually teaches us and helps us to understand his Word of truth. How many times in your congregation do the brothers acknowledge the "faithful and discreet slave" compared to Jehovah's holy spirit? Is this not evidence of "resisting the holy spirit"? (Acts 7:51)

As was true at the end of the first Century, when Jesus acknowledged only two congregations as being faithful (Smyrna, Philadelphia) out of the Seven he addressed letters to (the other five being Ephesus, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Laodicea), so today also, there may only be two out of seven congregations where you will find the love that Jesus said would identify his true disciples. (John 13:35; Rev. 2:1-3:22) Happy you are if you are in one of those congregations where there are still loving shepherds. Even if we belong to one of the other five, we can be encouraged to know that Jesus takes note of all faithful ones, and he will help such ones endure to the end. (Rev. 3:4; Matt. 24:13)

 

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