# ******Awake! 12/8/99

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Posted by AF [AF] on October 28, 1999 at 11:24:51 {BrTq3yWfsYDjRmAxB/kMdaOt1gg/Zk}:

In Reply to: *****Awake! 12/8/99 posted by Friend on October 28, 1999 at 09:51:13:

:: But the Society, claiming to be the one and only true channel, has not stated things regarding Jesus' Return with the impression that the statement was "what they think to be true to the best of their ability" as my first post shows

: I disagree with your reading of the Society’s statements in this regard. I do not believe the Society has ever maintained that its ideas on the Bible are infallible. …

No, not explicitly. But certainly implicitly. Russell’s statement that anyone who leaves off reading Studies in the Scriptures for more than two years goes off into spiritual darkness is an early indication of their attitude which persists today.

The Society’s attitude is two-faced: “Even though we’re not infallible you’d better listen to us because we speak for God and if you disagree we’ll smear your name and maybe even disfellowship you for apostasy because apostasy means disagreeing with God and we’re God’s anointed spokesmen!”

: It is certainly true that the Society (FDS) represents itself as the only “true channel”. In my opinion, that has more to do with its extreme confidence and perception of experiences than it does some sort of direct inspiration from God.

For some reason you don’t believe that what the Society writes in The Watchtower represents its true position. Obviously you’re in deep denial.

The Watchtower Society most certainly teaches that Jehovah and Jesus provide active direction for JW leaders. This is not the kind of meaningless “active/passive” direction that you claim that anyone can get merely by reading and applying the Bible. The Society’s notion of active direction means exactly that – Jehovah and Jesus actively and today put information in the minds of JW leaders, information that they could not have gotten by reading the Bible. That is inspiration, pure and simple.

To prove that this is what the Society claims, and that most JWs believe it, note this post from Witnesses.net concerning the new GB appointments:

> BrianMe

> posted 10-04-99 09:34 AM EST (US)
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> This is exciting news.
> The Society has discussed the effect of the personality of each brother who's served as the President of the legal instrument of the Society, and each one has contributed something positive to Jehovah's organization. Yet, it's well for us to keep in mind the point of the Watchtower articles "Christ Actively Leads His Congregation" and "Christ's Active Leadership Today" in the August 1, 1987 issue.

> The following is the concluding paragraph of the second study article mentioned above:

> quote:
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Thus, when we read in the Bible that Christ "is the head of the body, the congregation," we are convinced that he is not a mere titular Head. (Colossians 1:18) We know, from experience, that he is a real, active Head. When we read the book of Acts and see how Christ directed matters among the early Christians, we can observe that he is using the same means today. We see evidence of Christ's use of the holy spirit, angels, and "the faithful and discreet slave" and its Governing Body, to appoint spiritually qualified elders. Confident in Christ's active direction of things, we are determined to go on "speaking the truth" and growing up by love "in all things into him who is the head, Christ."-Ephesians 4:15.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

> ------------------
> Brian Mellor

If you claim that the above words don’t mean exactly what they say, then you’re claiming that language itself is meaningless.

I’d just love to see you get on Witnesses.net and explain why The Watchtower doesn’t really mean what Brother Brian Mellor thinks it does.

AF

Follow Ups:

- *******Awake! 12/8/99 Friend 15:38:02 10/28/99 (6)
  - ********Awake! 12/8/99 AF 19:44:02 10/28/99 (5)
    - *********Awake! 12/8/99 Friend 19:54:22 10/28/99 (4)
      - **********Awake! 12/8/99 AF 20:15:05 10/28/99 (3)
        - ***********Awake! 12/8/99 Friend 20:30:35 10/28/99 (2)
          - ************Awake! 12/8/99 AF 14:20:06 10/29/99 (1)
            - *************Awake! 12/8/99 Gedanken 14:37:06 10/29/99 (0)
- *******Awake! 12/8/99 Luis 13:09:43 10/28/99 (0)
- *******Awake! 12/8/99 Farkel 11:44:03 10/28/99 (2)
  - ********Awake! 12/8/99 FRED HALL 12:07:29 10/28/99 (1)
    - *********Awake! 12/8/99 Farkel 15:50:22 10/28/99 (0)

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