Posted by jackrandom [jackrandom] on March 27, 1999 at 13:32:39 {chhM1Ft.wc9asUedIb6UMWSdrpa5PWFPA}:
I thought I might share this letter. I was asked to read it by a friend who seems to be at a real cross roads. He says he hasn't sent it yet and I'm looking for some ideas on how to help him before I talk to him about it again.
Dear Brothers,
While I am writing you, I do not expect a reply that will be meaningful. These past few years have seen me become more and more discouraged as all that I have once believed erodes away before my very fingers. I find myself disturbed by a trend that shows a surface acknowledgment to the teaching of a �faithful and discreet slave class� that is made up of those who are anointed as joint heirs with our savior Christ who remain here on earth and yet in practice belies this truth.
Why do I say this? As one who has put his faith in Jehovah God as the director of this organization, its revelations of his expressed will for us as his servants by providing us the �proper food at the right time�. We have been taught for years that the �Faithful and Discreet Slave Class� is made up of anointed ones, whose service while here on earth is to care for and take the lead in worshipping Jehovah. While not separated from the flock of worshippers here on the earth they have been chosen and merit a double honor as our future kings and priests. We have been taught that a small number of these ones are taking the lead in providing spiritual food for all as members of the Governing Body serving at Brooklyn Bethel. We know this food to take the form of information presented to us in published form as books and magazines. The outlines used for public talks and assembly parts. Yet the question continues to arise in light of the roles announced through these venues of the �Given Ones� and now the �Chieftain Class� as to who really is preparing this food and acting as the faithful and discreet slave?
While serving at Bethel some 15 years ago I learned that much of what was written was not written by anointed ones, but rather was written by members of the other sheep. This never bothered me greatly since I had been reassured that it was under the direct supervision of those who were spirit anointed. They were merely being used to assist in this work under this supervised arrangement. However, what are we looking forward to now and the years ahead? We see members of the �Other Sheep� being set up to take the reigns of this organization and the spiritual feeding of our brothers and sisters. What is so disturbing about this is that so many of the anointed remain here on earth and yet we do not see them being brought into Bethel to take on this load. Yes, it is true that a number of these ones are older but not all are. Just as not all are sisters. It seems the question arises that if the responsibility belongs first and foremost to the anointed, then it would stand to reason that these humble and spiritual men would answer the call to take up the responsibility that goes with the mantle they carry. So the question arises, Why is this not being done? Why do we see those who are not of the anointed being raised up prematurely to care for an assignment that belongs to the slave, namely that of providing spiritual food for true Christians here on the earth.
It has been commented on by some Bethel Elders who in speaking to me that these �given ones� are merely caring for the running of the day to day operations of Bethel. I have been told they are taking care of only the physical things here on the earth and not the spiritual things so I shouldn�t worry. They acknowledged that members of the Governing Body or other anointed ones serving at Bethel do not write much of what is written these days. Rather, the writing assignments are delegated out by someone who is not of the anointed, to others who frequently are not of the anointed. This of course seems to me to fly right into the face of what I had just been told that these ones are caring for the day to day operations at the house only. This means that the articles we read in the Watchtower that reflect the changes of our understanding regarding this Generation, the role of the �Faithful and Discreet Slave�, the role of �the Given Ones� and of this new �Chieftain Class� have been in all likelihood been written by these very ones who will soon take full reign of this organization. Even if these articles have been written by those who are anointed son's of God they seem to justify what they are doing by a forced application of prophecy as opposed to making an appeal to their fellow anointed brothers to assist in carrying their load. This saddens me and deeply disturbs me in such a way that I have not been able to reconcile with my life long membership to the Truth.
I have had to step aside from serving the congregation during recent times do to my inability to maintain my freedom of speech with a clear conscience over these thoughts and feelings. For how can I teach my brothers and sisters what I no longer fully believe? My trust is in Jehovah and his word and I so deeply desire to have restored to me my full trust in what I have always believed and have taught to be his visible organization here on earth. I am no longer sure this is possible, though I pray that it is. It scares me to think of what this might mean for me if I cannot do so. All it leaves me is this dread that if I cannot stop this spiral that I will lose my faith and my hope, my friends, my family, my reputation, leaving me with a lifetime of memories of what I believe has been a well spent life that will turn to bitter ashes before my eyes.
So I ask, nay beg, please if possible help me to restore my former belief and faith that this organization really is the Truth I have always believed it to be as seen from Gods word.
Love your Brother,
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