Posted by Friend [Friend] on April 08, 1999 at 10:17:04 {vxsc0.TBNkBao8LWLRQ.OgnjR4Br/g}:
In Reply to: *Watching NICODEMUS Struggle posted by a.j.w. on April 08, 1999 at 05:55:53:
Andrew
As we know from the other loyal ones here, the Theocratic Org is now run from the bottom up (ie. The brothers and sisters write letters to the GB who decide what is the correct course based on weight of letters).
I believe your statement above is an allusion to some comments I�ve made on this forum. I�d like to clarify something.
Intimation of your comment is that a theocratic organization listening and reacting positively to presentations from �the bottom� is somehow inappropriate, negative or contradictory, it is not. God listened to Moses and Moses listened to Jethro. Were those negatives?
In my opinion Jehovah�s witnesses are divinely directed when they follow the Bible, either individually or collectively. Outside of God or Jesus it makes no difference whence a decision came as long it is agrees with the Bible or at least does not go contrary to the Bible.
As for who decides when changes need to be made, well, that tests whether an association really is Christian or not. Jesus wanted that his disciples be unified and act that way. In practical terms that means that they had to listen to one another; even when there were disputes. Especially in the case of disputes the thing ultimately deciding a common matter was, again, what could be supported with scripture. If the issue was not of legitimate scriptural community interest then individuals decided their own way (used their own conscience). If the issue was of legitimate scriptural community interest then the decision was based upon God�s already expressed will. In the end, yes, pressure for decisions in the direction of good can and should come from any quarter, even from �the bottom.� However, because legitimate Christian decisions should be Bible based, then God is always at the top.
Friend