Posted by someone loyal [someoneloyal] on March 27, 1999 at 22:16:47 {/x/EuDVmHkksHN.ZoUYwMWf0hi4VK0MIQ}:
In Reply to: a letter I was asked to look @ posted by jackrandom on March 27, 1999 at 13:32:39:
Please help your friend to reason on 1Corinthians 12:27-30
There we read:
27 Now YOU are Christ's body, and members individually. 28 And God has set the respective ones in the congregation, first, apostles; second, prophets; third,
teachers; then powerful works; then gifts of healings; helpful services, abilities to direct, different tongues. 29 Not all are apostles, are they? Not all are prophets, are they? Not all are teachers, are they? Not all perform powerful
works, do they? 30 Not all have gifts of healings, do they? Not all speak in tongues, do they? Not all are translators, are they?
Paul's comment was concerning "Christ's body". Hence he was referring to anointed Christians. He was showing that in the first century not all anointed Christians filled roles of responsibility. This was true then and it is true today.
Just because someone is anointed by holy spirit does not mean that he has the 'ability to direct' and that he is qualified to serve in a position of oversight. Spirit anointing does not give one special abilities in regard to taking the lead or in understanding the Bible. But what about those anointed one outside of Bethel who my may have some experience in this regard?
Well, the Society does not need to recruit these ones and uproot them from where they are serving right now. Some are simply not cut out for the work that needs to be done or health problems and other things may limit what they can do. Really persons of the "other sheep" who are already serving there and who have considerably more experience in handling oversight of branches and traveling work are in a better position to fill many of these responsibilities.
This should not be a cause for concern. The Bible prophesied that "strangers" would actually stand up and shepherd the flock of God. Isaiah 61:5. These "strangers" should not be a cause for fear. No, Rather this situation should actually reinforce our faith in the fact that we are living deep in the conclusion of the system of things. The anointed remnant must continue to decrease as the great crowed increases.
Very soon now Babylon the Great
will be utterly destroyed and then the anointed remnant will completely pass off the earthly scene, as they are finally sealed. They will be resurrected to heaven to be with the rest of the 144,000 for the marriage of the Lamb. Revelation
7:1-3; 19:1-8 Still on earth will be the great crowd. Among them will be experienced men who will be fully prepared to take the lead as princes in the restored Paradise.