In this study, I will show that the members of the Governing Body are not always honest, and their trait is that they often speak with forked tongues.
The members of the Governing Body say that they are not inspired by God. But the expressions they use when they speak about how the light gets brighter, show that they claim divine inspiration, and therefore they double-speak.
One of their members said that a new understanding “is communicated from heaven to earth by means of the holy spirit.” This means that God gives information directly to the minds of the members of the Governing Body. This is the same as divine inspiration.
THE GOVERNING BODY’S FALSIFICATION OF HISTORY
The previous article discussed the claim that the nine members of the Governing Body are “the faithful and discreet slave”. I have shown that this view is pure fiction and has no support in the Bible. Now, I will discuss the Governing Body, focusing on the claim that God has inspired the members to give spiritual food at the proper time. I will show that this is pure fiction as well.
Chapter 3 in my book My Beloved Religion — And The Governing Body has a detailed analysis of the different sides of the Governing Body. It shows that contrary to the claim, there was no Governing Body in the first century CE, and it shows that there is no basis in the Bible that there would be a governing body — a government for Jehovah’s Witnesses — in our time. Before I discuss the claim that the members of the Governing Body are inspired by God, I will make some comments on the roots of the present Governing Body.
As I show in my book, the Governing Body was formed for the first time in 1971, and there was no Governing Body before that time. The members of the Governing Body have tried to support their own legacy by claiming that they have roots back to 1919.
A “lie” is defined as saying something that is false when you know it is false. I am inclined to give any person who seems to say something that is false the benefit of the doubt — he or she may not know that it is false.
Therefore, I only use the word “lie” when I know that a person says something that he or she knows is false. In connection with the roots of the Governing Body, I say that the members of the Governing Body are lying to their readers. In his talk «How does the light get brighter» on JW Broadcasting, Jeffrey Winder said that when a subject is discussed by the members of the Governing Body, a committee has submitted to the Governing Body everything that the Watchtower literature has said about the subject from the year 1879. Therefore, the members of the Governing Body know that what they have written about the roots of the Governing Body is false. This means that they are guilty of a conscious falsification of history.
Regarding the claims of the members of the Governing Body I quote from The Watchtower of March 15, 1990, page, 14 (above) and The Watchtower of February 2017, page 25 (below):
21 In 1918, when Jesus Christ inspected those claiming to be his slaves, he found an international group of Christians publishing Bible truths for use both inside the congregation and outside in the preaching work. In 1919 it truly turned out to be as Christ had foretold: “Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so. Truly I say to you, He will appoint him over all his belongings.” (Matthew 24:46, 47) These true Christians entered into the joy of their Master. Having shown themselves “faithful over a few things,” they were appointed by the Master to be “over many things.” (Matthew 25:21) The faithful slave and its Governing Body were in place, ready for a widened assignment. How glad we should be that this was so, for loyal Christians are richly benefiting from the devoted work of the faithful slave and its Governing Body.
In 1919, three years after Brother Russell’s death, Jesus appointed “the faithful and discreet slave.” For what purpose? To give his domestics “food at the proper time.” (Matt. 24:45) Even in those early years, a small group of anointed brothers who served at headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, prepared and distributed spiritual food to Jesus’ followers.
It is simply not true that there was a Governing Body — a group of anointed brothers who worked together to govern the Bible students and distribute spiritual food in 1919. The leading brothers were released from prison in March 1919. In his book Faith on the March, A. H. Macmillan shows that the situation was fluid for the rest of the year 1919. As a test of whether the work before their imprisonment should continue, on May 4, 1919, in Los Angeles, J. F. Rutherford gave the public talk entitled “The Hope for Distressed Humanity,” and 7,000 attended. This was taken as a sign that the work should continue. The Bethel office first started to function in October 1919. Rutherford took the lead, but there was certainly not a group of anointed brothers who were in the leadership.
Neither was there a group of anointed brothers who functioned as the Governing Body and gave spiritual food to the other Christians after 1919. President J.F. Rutherford made most of the decisions and wrote all the books and booklets, as well as many articles in The Watchtower. From 1942 on, president N.H. Knorr made most of the decisions, and vice president F.W. Franz wrote or directed the writing of the literature.
The Watchtower of September 15, 1950, pages 315, 316, shows that it was the president who started the work with a new Bible translation and not a governing body. When the manuscript was finished, he informed the board of directors of the project.
Particularly since 1946 the president of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society has been in quest of such a translation [a clear and accurate translation] of the Christian Greek Scriptures.On September 3, 1949, at 8 a.m., at the Brooklyn headquarters (Bethel) the Society’s president convened a joint meeting of the boards of directors of the Pennsylvania and New York corporations, only one director being absent. After the meeting was opened with prayer the president announced to these eight fellow directors the existence of a “New World Bible Translation Committee” and that it had completed a translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures. This it had turned over to the possession and control of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract Society, Pennsylvania corporation just the preceding day.
Supporting the fact that the board of directors was not a Governing Body is the Walsh case in Scotland in 1954, where the following exchange occurred between F.W. Franz (F) and the judge (J):
J: In matters spiritual has each member of the Board of Directors an equally valid voice?
F: The president is the mouthpiece. He pronounces the speeches that show advancement of the understanding of the Scriptures. Then he may appoint other members of the headquarters temporarily to give other speeches that set forth any part of the Bible upon which further light has been thrown.
J: Tell me; are these advances, as you put it, voted upon by the Directors?
F: No.
J: How do they become pronouncements?
F: They go through the editorial committee, and I give my O.K. after Scriptural examination. Then I pass them on to President Knorr, and President Knorr has the final O.K.
J: Does it not go before the Board of Directors at all?
F: No.
It is clear that there was no Governing Body in 1954. Included in the new understanding that the Governing Body is the “faithful and discreet slave” is the view that no one man on the Governing Body is ‘the slave,’ but only when they make collective unanimous decisions as a group do they act in that capacity. In keeping with this, by no stretch of the imagination can such a definition of ‘the slave’ be retro-applied prior to the institution of the Governing Body in 1971, where from 1919 until 1971 only one man, the president of the Watchtower society, had the final say in all decisions. Indeed, a Governing Body in the sense of a group of equals who discuss different issues, and as a body make decisions, was first established in 1971. Therefore, logically, the faithful and discreet slave could not have been appointed in 1919, when there was no Governing Body and no group of anointed acting as a collective person or entity who distributed spiritual food.
| The history of Jehovah’s Witnesses shows without any doubt that there was no group of anointed brothers who functioned as a Governing Body and gave spiritual food to the Christians between 1919 and 1971.
When the members of the Governing Body claim the opposite and say that the Governing Body and the faithful and discreet slave were appointed by Jehovah in 1919, this is a lie, a conscious attempt of history falsification. |
THE GOVERNING BODY’S CLAIM OF DIVINE INSPIRATION
The nine members of the Governing Body claim that they are the only ones that can interpret the Bible correctly. All Jehovah’s Witnesses are obliged to accept everything the members of the Governing Body say and write, and those who disagree with the Governing Body will be removed from the congregation. The basis for this claim is Matthew 24:45-47:
45 “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? 46 Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so. 47 Truly I say to YOU, He will appoint him over all his belongings.
In the article “The Sign 5: ‘The faithful and discreet slave’ Matthew 24.45,” I showed that verses 45-47 are part of an illustration, and the food mentioned is literal food that the slave who is responsible for his master’s household gives the other slaves. The allegorical interpretation of the members of the Governing Body that the verses are a prophecy about them must be rejected.
But I will now go deeper into the issue of “food at the proper time,” and I quote The Watchtower of October 1, 2000, page 21:
12 Note the expression “at the proper time.” At the right moment, our “Grand Instructor,” Jehovah, by means of his Son and the slave class, has guided his people in matters of doctrine and conduct. It has been as if we collectively have heard a voice saying to us: “‘This is the way. Walk in it, you people,’ in case you people should go to the right or in case you should go to the left.” (Isaiah 30:20, 21) Moreover, when individuals attentively read the Bible and all the Bible publications, they frequently have the feeling that thoughts expressed therein are directed specially to them. Yes, godly counsel and direction will come at the proper time for us, enabling us to resist temptation or make a wise decision.
The words of the quotation put the members of the Governing Body in the same position as the prophets of old, who were Jehovah’s mouthpieces and were inspired by him.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INSPIRATION AND DIRECTION
I wonder if the members of the Governing Body have thought through what is the meaning of the phrase “has guided his people” means and have made a thorough analysis of it. Or whether it is just an empty saying that covers vague and undefined thoughts. The claims of the quotation are found in the box:
| The words “at the proper time” mean that not occasionally, but perpetually, all the time, the interpretations of the Governing Body are guided by God and are what God’s servants need and the spiritual food God wants the members of the Governing Body to give to these servants. |
The real issue, then, is how God will give the members of the Governing Body the knowledge they need so they can pass this knowledge on to other Christians who need it at particular times.
Contrary to what most people may think, the answer to this question is very simple: Either God will use inspiration or he will use direction. What is the difference?
THE NATURE OF INSPIRATION
The Bible shows there are three kinds of inspiration that God has used:
- The prophets of God were directly given the words they should speak, and therefore they could say: “Thus, says Jehovah.”
- In the first century, before all the Christian Greek Scriptures were written, the spirit of God miraculously gave some Christians knowledge and wisdom that was not based on their own study. Others received the gift of prophesying. (1 Corinthians 12:8-10)
- The secretaries of God who wrote the different books of the Hebrew Scriptures and the Christian Greek Scripture were given an outline or picture of different situations. They should write down their message with their own words under the guidance of holy spirit. (2 Peter 1:20, 21)
Inspiration, therefore, is when God’s spirit clearly and directly gives human beings a particular message.
THE NATURE OF DIRECTION
There is only one kind of direction that is mentioned in the Bible. God causes or allows a situation to develop, and Christians with a spiritual mind will draw certain conclusions based on this situation. One good example of this is the situation with Peter and Cornelius that we find in Acts 10:1-48.
The good news of the kingdom had only been preached to Jews and Samaritans. But now the time had come to preach to the people of the nations as well. But Peter could not dream of preaching to the people of the nations who were unclean in his view. Let us now see how God directed Peter to change his mind.
Peter got the vision of a linen sheet with all kinds of unclean animals. He was ordered to eat, but he refused. (Verses 10-16) Peter was greatly perplexed and did not understand the meaning of this. Messengers from Cornelius came to Peter and said that an angel had said to Cornelius that Peter would come to him. On the basis of the vision of the unclean animals and the words about the angel — these special situations — he drew the conclusion that he had to do something that he had never thought he would do, namely to enter the house of an unclean man of the nations. (Verses 17-29)
Then came the next step that Peter had viewed as impossible. Cornelius explained the situation, and he said that he wanted to “to hear all the things you have been commanded by Jehovah to say.” (Verses 30-33) But Jehovah had not commanded Peter to say anything. However, because of this special situation that Jehovah had done the unprecedented thing of leading him to Cornelius, he drew the conclusion that he should do something that never had done before, namely, to preach the good news of Jesus and the kingdom of God to people of the nations. (verses 34-43) While Peter was speaking, the holy spirit fell on the people of the nations, and they spoke in tongues, and because of this special situation Peter drew the conclusion that these people had to be baptized. (Verses 44-48)
The action God directed Peter to do was unprecedented. But because of the situations that God miraculously provided, Peter drew the only conclusion a spiritual-minded Christion could draw: People of the nations had to become a part of the people of God.
GOD’S DIRECTION IN THE TIME OF THE END
In our time, the Bible is complete, and there is no longer any need for inspiration. This means that the only thing God will use to guide his people today is direction. We can never know with certainly whether a particular situation is based on God’s direction. But there are situations where it is very likely that God has directed his people. But God’s direction has occurred in a way different from what the members of the Governing Body claim. I will give some examples.
THE PRESENCE OF JESUS
In the 1870s, C.T. Russel and his co-workers started a thorough study of the Bible to find God’s truth. But none of them knew the original languages of the Bible. So, they were dependent on the King James Bible that was translated in the year 1611. This Bible translated the Greek word parousia with “coming” in Matthew 24:3 and elsewhere. This clouded the very important doctrine that Jesus should return as a king and be invisibly present.
However, in 1864, Benjamin Wilson made a translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures with the name The Emphatic Diaglott. In this translation, parousia is translated by “presence.” When the Bible students became aware of this translation, they used the rendering “presence” as a basis for their study of the return of Jesus, and they realized correctly that he should have an invisible presence.
Because The Emphatic Diaglott laid the basis for the understanding of one of the most important doctrines of the Bible, it is natural to think that it was Jehovah who directed the attention of the Bible students to The Emphatic Diaglott.
THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE BOOK OF DANIEL
Regarding the understanding of God’s purpose, I quote Matthew 11:25 (above) and Daniel 12:9 (below):
At that time Jesus said in response: I publicly praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intellectual ones and have revealed them to babes.
And he went on to say: “Go, Daniel, because the words are made secret and sealed up until the time of [the] end.
The meaning of the text of the Bible was purposely hidden by God, and it should first be understood in the time of the end, as the quote from Daniel 12:9 shows. There are four keys that are necessary to understand the book of Daniel, 1) the identification of the people of God, 2) the understanding when the time of the end is, 3) the understanding of the invisible presence of Jesus, and 4) knowing the history of the time of the end and world history. All these keys are necessary to understand the book of Daniel and other books in the Bible.
The time of the end runs parallel with the presence of Jesus. To identify the time of the end is based on the understanding of the presence of Jesus. This means that when the attention of the Bible students was directed toward The Emphatic Diaglott, they understood the presence of Jesus. And this understanding was one of the keys for the understanding the book of Daniel.
When Daniel showed that his book should be sealed until the time of the end, but then be understood, this means that in a time when inspiration no longer exists, God had to use direction to help his people, and the mentioned situation with the understanding of the presence of Jesus, most like was God’s direction.
THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE GREAT CROWD
Revelation 7:9-17 mentions a great crowd standing before the throne of God. For a long time, God’s anointed servants had asked the question that we find in Revelation 7:13; “Those who are dressed in the white robes, who are they and where did they come from?” The view of the Bible students was that the great crowd was a secondary heavenly class.
In 1923, The Watchtower discussed the illustration of the “sheep” and the “goats” in Matthew 25:31-46, and it was argued that the “sheep” were separated from the goats at present and that the “sheep” would live in the paradise earth. While the heavenly calling was still the focus, several articles in The Watchtower spoke about the earthly hope as well. In the 12 years after 1923, more and more servants of God spoke about the coming paradise on this earth.
And in 1935, at the assembly in Washington D.C., a great number of those who attended they assembly, indicated that they looked forward to life in the paradise earth. 840 persons were baptized at this assembly, most of whom expressed these earthly sentiments. This means that Jehovah at this assembly had answered the question of the anointed servants of God. He directed the attention of his anointed servants toward these persons with an earthly hope. And when all these with an earthly hope appeared, the anointed servants drew the only possible conclusion: Here is the great crowd! This was a clear example of God’s direction.
GOD’S NAME IN THE NEW WORLD TRANSLATION OF THE CHRISTIAN GREEK SCRIPTURES
In the first part of the twentieth century, some new Bible translations were made. But all of them contained many inaccurate renderings that supported different unbiblical dogmas of different Christian Religions. Because of this, the leaders of Jehovah’s Witnesses saw the need to make a new literal Bible translation that was not dependent on different religious dogma.
In the last part of the 1940s, persons connected with The Watchtower and Bible Society who knew Greek, Hebrew, and Aramaic, started the work of a new translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures. There was one pressing question. All the old extant Greek manuscripts had the abbreviations ks and ths instead of the name yhwh. So, should they use the name Jehovah in the Christian Greek Scriptures?
Something happened that gave the translators reasons to include God’s name in the Christian Greek Scriptures. In 1944, W.G. Waddell wrote an article where he reported of the find of Septuagint manuscripts in Egypt with the name yhwh. This caught the attention of the Bible translators, and two missionaries of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Egypt were asked to collate the manuscripts. They did that and they photographed the fragments of these manuscripts with the name Fouad 266. Now, the translators had linguistic and philological reasons to include God’s name Jehovah into the text of the Christian Greek Scriptures.[1]
It is very likely that it was Jehovah who directly or indirectly caused the finding of Fouad 266 at this crucial moment for the translators of NWT1950.
THE SCARLET-COLORED WILD BEAST IN REVELATION 17
God’s direction can also be that he fulfills his prophecies, and his spiritually-minded servants observe and recognize that fact. One example is the prophecy of Revelation 17:3, 7-11. Seven kings or world powers are mentioned. God’s direction is seen in two areas. Daniel chapters 7 and 8 describe different world powers. By studying these chapters, the identity of the seven kings can be understood. So, one aspect of God’s direction here is that one part of the Bible interprets another part.
When John wrote Revelation, the five world powers, Egypt, Assyria, Babylonia, Persia, and Greece, had fallen. John says that “one is [in existence],” which was the Roman Empire in his day. One king “has not yet arrived,” and this would be the Anglo-American Empire. After these, the wild beast, which is an eight king that “springs from the seven,” will arrive.
After World War I, the Bible students identified The League of Nations as the eighth king and the scarlet-colored wild beast. This wild beast “was and is not, yet it is about to ascend out of the abyss.” How would that occur?
In the lecture “Peace can it Last” at the New World Theocratic Assembly in 1942, N.H. Knorr pointed out that the war, then in progress, would end with a period of peace following, and the League of Nations would come to life again.[2] When Knorr spoke correctly about the future, he was not inspired. But this was the view of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
During World War II, the League of Nations was in the abyss because it no longer functioned. But after the war, it ascended out of the abyss as The United Nations. When this happened, the prophecy had been fulfilled, and this represented the second aspect of God’s direction in this matter. By seeing the fulfillment of the prophecy, God’s spiritually-minded servants were directed by God to know that their previous understanding was correct.
I have already mentioned that we cannot know when God is directing his people. But all the five situations that I have discussed above are both special and important. And these situations could hardly have been discovered and understood by the natural power and knowledge of the people of God. Therefore, it is very likely that each of the situations is the result of the direction of Jehovah God.
| The direction of the people of God in the time of the end has occurred in the following way:
Jehovah has, at important junctures, directly or indirectly caused or allowed particular situations to occur or materialize. The nature of these situations has been of the kind that when the attention of spiritual-minded servants of God has been directed toward these situations, they have drawn the conclusions that God wanted. |
[1]. https://academic.oup.com/jts/article-abstract/os-XLV/179-180/158/1675638?redirectedFrom=fulltext&login=false. See Foreword of the New World Translation of the Greek Scriptures (1950).
[2]. See Revelation Its Grand Climax At Hand!, pages 246-248.
WHAT DOES “TO GIVE FOOD AT THE PROPER TIME” MEAN?
As I have shown above, inspiration means that persons get direct messages from God, while direction means that God directly or indirectly causes of allows particular situations to occur, and spirit-minded persons will on the basis of these situations draw the conclusions God wants.
THE CLAIM OF INSPIRATION BY THE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY
The members of the Governing Body deny that they are inspired by God. But an analysis of their writings and actions shows that they speak with a forked tongue and, in reality, claim inspiration while simultaneously denying it. Let us see.
I quote The Watchtower of October 1, 2000, page 21, one time more:
12 Note the expression “at the proper time.” At the right moment, our “Grand Instructor,” Jehovah, by means of his Son and the slave class, has guided his people in matters of doctrine and conduct. It has been as if we collectively have heard a voice saying to us: “‘This is the way. Walk in it, you people,’ in case you people should go to the right or in case you should go to the left.” (Isaiah 30:20, 21) Moreover, when individuals attentively read the Bible and all the Bible publications, they frequently have the feeling that thoughts expressed therein are directed specially to them. Yes, godly counsel and direction will come at the proper time for us, enabling us to resist temptation or make a wise decision.
What do the members of the Governing Body claim here? Do they claim inspiration? Not overtly. But the words “to give food at the proper time” and the way they explain these words, show that they claim perpetual guidance/direction — at all times God guides the members of the Governing Body to publish articles that contain the information he wants his people to have at any time.
When the members of the Governing Body claim that God always guides them to make the spiritual food that the members of the congregations need, this means that God perpetually guides the thoughts of the members of the Governing Body, so they all the time know which kind of spiritual food God wants he servants to have.
This is a claim of inspiration!
This is so because inspiration is the meaning of the words “perpetual guidance/direction” in the quotation above. There is no example of perpetual direction of humans in the Bible. So, their claim that they give God’s people spiritual food at the proper time is the same as claiming inspiration from God — even though they at the same time deny this.
Another side of the issue was published in the Watchtower of July 15, 2010, page 23:
10 When the time comes to clarify a spiritual matter in our day, holy spirit helps responsible representatives of “the faithful and discreet slave” at world headquarters to discern deep truths that were not previously understood. (Matt. 24:45; 1 Cor. 2:13) The Governing Body as a whole considers adjusted explanations. (Acts 15:6) What they learn, they publish for the benefit of all. (Matt. 10:27) As time goes on, further clarifications may be needed, and these too are honestly explained.—See the box “How the Spirit Revealed the Meaning of the Spiritual Temple.”
These words indicate perpetual inspiration. The claim is that when God wants it the holy spirit gives the members of the Governing Body knowledge of “deep truths that were not previously understood.” The only way this can happen is that Jehovah God miraculously gives them this knowledge of “deep truths that were not previously understood.” No one can deny that this is the same as inspiration because humans do not understand deep truths by themselves.
There is a video lecture on JW Broadcasting by the Governing Body member Jeffrey Winder, entitled “How does the Light gets Brighter.”[1] In this lecture, Winder quoted the words from the Watchtower of 2010 that I quoted above. Winder says that the Governing Body is not inspired by God and can err in doctrinal and organizational matters, and this is correct. But contrary to this, time and again he makes claims which means that the members of the Governing Body are inspired. Below I quote a few of these sayings:
To whom does Jehovah reveal clarified understanding?
It is very clear how Spiritual truth, new understanding, is communicated from heaven to earth by means of the holy spirit through the channel of the faithful and discreet slave.
Jehovah reveals clarified understanding at his time when it is needed and when it will help us to carry out his will.
With this thorough process under prayer, and when there is unanimous support, the brothers see this as Jehovah’s direction.
The words “to discern deep truths that were not previously understood,” “does Jehovah reveal,” and “communicated from heaven to earth” represent claims of inspiration. The real problem for the Christian faith with these expressions is that they point to an authority beside the Bible, an authority that stands above the Bible — God’s channel, which is the nine men who are members of the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The last quoted words say that when all the nine men agree, they see this as Jehovah’s direction (= inspiration). But as I have shown above, God’s direction means that he causes, directly or indirectly, or allows, a situation to materialize. When Jehovah’s people on the earth see this situation, they understand a particular truth. This was the case when the great crowd became visible in 1935, it was the case when Septuagint manuscripts with the yhwh were discovered in 1944, and it was the case when the United Nations was formed in 1945.
But there is no example in the Bible supporting the claim that Jehovah God today communicates from heaven with nine men on the earth perpetually by inducing thoughts in their minds, to the effect that they “discern deep truths that were not previously understood.
| The Claim that God has a channel on earth of nine men, and that God perpetually communicates from heaven with these men, to the effect that they “discern deep truths that were not previously understood.” is the same as rejecting the Bible as the only source for Christian faith. The nine men of the Governing Body have given themselves a position above the Bible because they claim that no one can understand the Bible without going through them. They claim divine inspiration. |
I have already shown that there are five keys that we need to understand the Bible. Only Jehovah’s Witnesses have three of these keys. In the next article “The Sign 7: God’s administration — his channel of communication” I show that because only Jehovah’s Witnesses have these keys, it is impossible to understand the Bible without help from Jehovah’s Witnesses.
The history of Jehovah’s Witnesses gives evidence of God’d direction but not of God’s inspiration. Today, more than 90 % of the doctrines of Jehovah’s Witnesses is directly based on the Bible. The last less than 10% have been perverted and twisted by the members of the Governing Body, something I show in detail in several articles on my website. The mentioned true doctrines were known a long time before the members of the Governing Body claimed to be inspired by God, and they are not dependent on the interpretations of the members of the Governing Body. Sincere people can only learn these true doctrines by the preaching of Jehovah’s Witnesses
We must differentiate between Jehovah’s Witnesses and the Governing Body. The Christian Greek Scriptures show that there were several members of the Christian congregations in the first century CE who wanted personal power. In the beginning of the second century CE, there were some Christian elders who elevated themselves to bishops and claimed divine inspiration. But the members of the congregations continued to practice the true religion. There is a similar situation today when the nine members of the Governing Body have given themselves unlimited power and claim divine inspiration. But the members of the congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses continue to practice the true religion.
Jehovah’s Witnesses preach the good news of the kingdom worldwide. Sincere persons can learn the truth about God by the help of this preaching. The members of the Governing Body have caused much damage on the Christian religion from the inside. But they have not mamaged to destroy the only true religion.
THE DISCLAIMER OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY
Collin’s Dictionary defines “disclaimer” in the following way:
A disclaimer is a statement in which a person says that they did not know about something or that they are not responsible for something. [formal] The disclaimer asserts that the company won’t be held responsible for any inaccuracies. [2]
The members of the Governing Body have disclaimed their responsibility for the literature they publish with the words of The Watchtower of February 2017, page 26:
12 The Governing Body is neither inspired nor infallible. Therefore, it can err in doctrinal matters or in organizational direction. In fact, the Watch Tower Publications Index includes the heading “Beliefs Clarified,” which lists adjustments in our Scriptural understanding since 1870. Of course, Jesus did not tell us that his faithful slave would produce perfect spiritual food. So how can we answer Jesus’ question: “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave?” (Matt. 24:45) What evidence is there that the Governing Body is filling that role? Let us consider the same three factors that directed the governing body in the first century. (My italics.)
This quotation clearly shows that members of the Governing Body speak with forked tongues. Their use of double-talk is seen when we compare the following expressions:
Of course, Jesus did not tell us that his faithful slave would produce perfect spiritual food. (The Watchtower of February 2017)
Note the expression “at the proper time.” At the right moment, our “Grand Instructor,” Jehovah, by means of his Son and the slave class, has guided his people in matters of doctrine and conduct. (The Watchtower of October 1, 2000)
To give them their food at the proper time. (Matthew 24:45)
The phrase “not…to produce perfect spiritual food” contradicts the phrase “to give them food at the proper time” and “at the right moment…our Grand Instructor…has guided his people in matters of doctrine and conduct.”
Here, we see the double standard used by the members of the Governing Body: They demand that all Witnesses must accept everything they write and publish as truth. If anyone disagrees with the members of the Governing Body, they will be removed from the congregation. At the same time, the members of the Governing Body say that what they write and publish can contain errors in matters of doctrine and conduct. This shows that the members of the Governing Body demand absolute obedience regardless of what they do.
One example of this demand of absolute obedience is found in the Study Edition of The Watchtower of February 2022, study article 6, paragraph 15:
As the end of this system of things draws near, we need to trust in Jehovah’s way of doing things as never before. Why? During the great tribulation, we may receive instructions that seem strange, impractical, or illogical. Of course, Jehovah will not speak to us personally. He will likely provide direction through his appointed representatives. That will hardly be the time to second-guess the direction or to view it with skepticism, wondering, ‘Is this really coming from Jehovah, or are the responsible brothers acting on their own?’ How will you fare during that crucial time in human history? The answer might be indicated by how you view theocratic direction now. If you trust the direction we receive today and readily obey, you will likely do the same during the great tribulation.—Luke 16:10. (Bold script in the original)
Even if the members of the Governing Body give instructions that are “strange, illogical or impractical,” this is “Jehovah’s way of doing things,” as the second clause says. All the Witnesses must follow these instructions. This means that even when we do not understand the meaning of something the Governing Body says or writes, we must believe that it comes from Jehovah.
This is a direct claim of inspiration from God!
| The words of the quotation represent a clear claim of inspiration. They show that the members of the Governing Body put themselves of the same level, or rather above, the Holy Scriptures. This is a claim of divine inspiration!
When I became a Witness in 1961, we had only one authority, the Holy Bible. Today, Jehovah’s Witnesses have two authorities, the Holy Bible and the Governing Body. But the Governing Body stand above the Holy Bible because the members say that they are the only ones who can interpret the Holy Bible. |
The quoted words mean that the Witnesses must treat the members of the Governing Body like those who are inspired by God, like the prophets mentioned in the Hebrew Scriptures who said: “Thus, says Jehovah”. One brother who venerates the Governing Body is Kenneth Flodin, who is the overseer of the Bethel Home at Watchtower Farms. On April 24, 2023, he gave the talk entitled “Jesus’ yoke is kindly” at JW broadcasting, and he said:
The Governing body could be likened to the voice of Jesus, the head of the congregation. So, when we willingly submit to the faithful slave, we are automatically submitting to Jesus’ authority and direction.[3]
In The Watchtower of February 15, 1994, there was an article entitled “Are Jehovah’s Witness a Cult?” The article argued against this view, and it said:
It is precisely because of this close adherence to Bible teachings that the veneration and idolization of human leaders so characteristic of cults today is not to be found among Jehovah’s Witnesses. They reject the concept of a clergy-laity distinction.
I became a Witness in 1961, and I can confirm that the quoted words were true in 1994. However, during the 21st century, I have, with more and more concern, seen how the loyalty of individual Witnesses has shifted from loyalty to the Bible alone to loyalty to humans, to the members of the Governing Body. The reason for this is what I will term a concerted campaign or rather a propaganda crusade with a focus on the Governing Body and its position as God’s channel. The words “the Governing Body” and “the faithful and discreet slave” have been mentioned over and over again in the 21st century with much more frequency than it was in the 20th century. And when something is repeated many times, the readers believe it.
So, today, my experience is that the members of the Governing Body are venerated and idolized. The smallest word by a member of a congregation that question anything about the Governing Body will be met with strong adverse reactions from the other members of the congregation.
One of the biggest damage the members of the Governing Body have caused is that they have diverted the attention of the Witnesses away from the Bible as the only authority for the faith, and causing the members of the congregations to venerate and idolize themselves as an authority in addition to the Bible.
The word “cult” is ambiguous and loaded, and I will never use that word with reference to any group. The word “sect” is a loaded word as well, and neither will I use that word with reference to any group. But the principal characteristic of a sect that is found in all definitions I am aware of is that there is one leader or several leaders on the top, and he or they demand total obedience from the members.
I am not aware of any Christian religion, including the Catholic church with its Pope, with more strict demands of conformity and obedience to the leaders, than Jehovah’s Witnesses. Therefore, in the 21st century, the members of the Governing Body have given Jehovah’s Witnesses sectarian traits.
CLOUDING INSTEAD OF CLARIFYING THE BIBLE TRUTH
The paragraph with the disclaimer in The Watchtower of February 2017 refers to “Beliefs clarified” in The Watchtower Publications Index as evidence that the Governing Body is led by God’s spirit. These “clarified beliefs” show in a clear way that most of the recent spiritual food given is imperfect and bad and truths have been clouded instead of clarified.
The list of “Clarified beliefs” shows that during the 30 years from 1990 to 2020, 94 different beliefs were “clarified,” while 107 different beliefs were “clarified” during the 119 years from 1870 to 1989. The Governing Body has been particularly busy during the eight years from 2013 to 2020 because I counted 46 “clarified” beliefs during these years. In order to test the claim that these clarified beliefs show that the members of the Governing Body are guided by God, I studied each entry.
I have divided the “clarified beliefs” into three groups:
- Trivial matters: 22
- Important matters: 15
- Prophecies: 57
In my article “Analysis of the evidence to show that the Governing Body is ‘the faithful and discreet slave’,” I discuss all the 94 clarified beliefs, and I argue that more than half of them are wrong and the previous beliefs are right.
THE RANSOM SACRIFICE AND THE RESURRECTION
I will only refer to two subjects that are close to my heart, namely the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the resurrection.
I am very sad when I must say that the present members of the Governing Body no longer believe what the Bible says about the ransom sacrifice and the resurrection.
Chapter 3 in my book The Atonement Between God And Man is entitled “The Devaluation and Restriction of the Ransom Sacrifice and the Resurrection.” The chapter discusses how the view of the ransom sacrifice and the resurrection has changed 9 times in a zig-zag fashion, back and forth, from the time of the Bible students until the present. This does not show God’s guidance, but it shows how imperfect humans try to play God.
I copy two tables at the end of chapter 3 in the mentioned book:
| The true view of the ransom sacrifice:
Jesus died for all descendants of Adam and bought all those by his death. Each one must get a personal chance to accept or reject the ransom sacrifice. (The Watchtower of August 1, 1973, and Insight on the Scriptures, (1988) volume I, page 854) The false view of the ransom sacrifice: Jesus died only for those who will be saved, for “all sorts of men” and not for “all men.” (The Watchtower of July 15, 2014) |
Table 1.1 The zigzag views of the resurrection
| 1870s | Russell and the Bible Students: Jesus bought Adam and all his descendants when he died. Adam and all his descendants will get a resurrection in the millennium, and they will have the opportunity to accept or reject the ransom sacrifice. |
| 1934 | J.F. Rutherford: Jesus bought Adam and all his descendants when he died. Adam and all his descendants will get a resurrection in the millennium, and they will have the opportunity to accept or reject the ransom sacrifice. |
| 1938 | The Watchtower: The life of Jesus as a ransom sacrifice was not given for Adam and all his descendants but only for those who believe and obey him. |
| 1952 | The Watchtower: The resurrection during the millennium is limited. The words of Jesus that the inhabitants of Chorazin, Capernaum, and Bethsaida, will get a resurrection are contradicted. These people will not get a resurrection. |
| 1965 | The Watchtower: The vast majority of dead humans will get a resurrection. This includes the inhabitants of Chorazin, Capernaum, and Bethsaida. |
| 1965-2000 | The Watchtower: Jesus Christ, by presenting to God the life value of his human sacrifice, ransomed all mankind, purchased them, even without their requesting him to do so. |
| 1987 | The Watchtower: The inhabitants of Chorazin, Capernaum, and Bethsaida, will get a resurrection. |
| 1988 | The Watchtower: The inhabitants of Chorazin, Capernaum, and Bethsaida, will not get a resurrection. |
| 2014 | The Watchtower: A manipulation of the text of the Bible: Jesus did not die for “all people” but for “all sorts of people,” for those who takes the necessary steps to benefit from it. |
A detailed study of the literature published by the leaders of Jehovah’s Witnesses shows that as far as the so-called “clarified beliefs” are concerned, these are based on the considerations of humans and not on the guidance of God. So, the claim that the members of the present Governing Body give the Witnesses food at the proper time, has no basis in reality.
However, I would like to stress that more than 90 % of the doctrines of the Witnesses, most of which already were believed by the Bible Students, are directly based on the Bible. So, I believe that Jehovah’s Witnesses still are the people of God. The movement away from the text of the Bible has particularly occurred in the 21st century.
THE TREATMENT OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE CONGREGATION — 2 JOHN 10, 11
Let us make a test on the last example and the claim that God has “communicated from heaven to earth” with the nine members of the Governing Body:
Since the year 1952, it has been forbidden to say a greeting to those who have been removed from the congregation. The basis for this prohibition was the words in 2 John 10, 11. The view of this scripture was changed in The Watchtower of August 2024, page 31. The article said that the words “not receiving him into your homes or say a greeting to him” no longer should be applied to persons who had been removed from the congregation.
This is correct, but saying that John applied the words to “apostates and others who actively promote false teachings and wrong conduct” are wrong. The text continues “For example, some were teaching that Jesus was not the Christ.” This is not only an example. But the fact is that the only ones John referred to according to the context were the antichrists, those who denied that Jesus was the Christ.
By using the word “apostates” the members of the Governing Body include some of those who have been removed from the congregation as those to whom Christians should not say a greeting. If a Witness says that he disagrees with one teaching of the Governing Body and he will not change his mind, he will be termed an apostate and will be removed from the congregation. So, half of the “new light” is correct: 2 John 10, 11 does not generally refer to those who have been removed from the congregation. The other half that John refers to refers to those who have been removed from the congregation because they disagree with the teaching of the Governing Body is wrong, according to the governing Body.
If we look at the half that is correct, this conclusion has not “been communicated from heaven to earth” because:
- If we read the Greek text of 2. John and look at the context, it is perfectly clear that 2 John 10, 11 does not refer to persons who have been removed from the congregation, not even apostates. So, there is not “new light.” But the members of the Governing Body have admitted that their previous view was wrong.
- While 2 John 10, 11 in the Watchtower literature has wrongly been directly applied to disfellowshipped persons (those who have been removed from the congregation), the leaders of the Witnesses have for the last 50 years known that this was a wrong application.
The article “Divine Mercy Points the Way Back for Erring Ones,” dealing with disfellowshipped persons, in the Watchtower of August 1, 1974, page 465, shows that John does not refer to those that have been removed from the congregation but to antichrists:
Note that in 2 John verse 7, the apostle John says that “many deceivers have gone forth into the world, persons not confessing Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist.” Then John gives the warning to be on guard and not to receive such ones into one’s home, for these are active propagandists of false teachings, deceitful advocates of wrong conduct. They should be given no foothold from which to make further infiltration. One should not even greet them, so as to avoid being a sharer in their wicked works
Questions From Readers in The Watchtower of July 15, 1985, page 30, shows that the persons whom Christians should not invite into their homes and greet were the antichrists who denied Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh:
In context this counsel concerned the “many deceivers” who had gone forth, “persons not confessing Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh.” (2 John 7) The apostle John offered directions on how Christians back there should treat one who denied that Jesus had existed or that he was the Christ and Ransomer. John directed: “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, never receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him. For he that says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works.” (2 John 10, 11) But the Bible elsewhere shows that this had a wider application.
The article “What is the coming of Christ,” which has been on jw.org for several years, shows that those John referred to were the Gnostics, which never had been Christians:
Misconception; The words of 2 John 7 show that Jesus will come in the flesh.
Fact: The Bible verse states: “Many deceivers have gone out into the world, those not acknowledging Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh.” In the apostle John’s day, some denied that Jesus had come to this earth as a man. They were called Gnostics. Second John 7 was written to refute their false claim. [4]
The conclusion regarding 2. John 10, 11 which was presented in the Watchtower of August 2024, was long overdue. If this conclusion was “communicated from heaven to earth, as the Governing Body member Jeffrey Winder said regarding “new light,” God “communicated it from heaven” 50 years ago. But the members of the Governing Body have refused to accept this “communication.”[5]
THE TREATMENT OF THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM THE CONGREGATION — “NOT SOCIALIZING WITH”
When we look at the consequence of the “new light” regarding 2 John 10, 11, we see that the members of the Governing Body, as they often do, speak with forked tongues. The same is true in connection with the new way of treating those who have been removed from the congregation. The important Greek word here is synanamignymi (literally, “mixing together”). This word is used in 2 Thessalonians 3:13-15:
13 For YOUR part, brothers, do not give up in doing right. 14 But if anyone is not obedient to our word through this letter, keep this one marked, stop associating with (synanamignymi) him, that he may become ashamed. 15 And yet do not be considering him as an enemy, but continue admonishing him as a brother.
Insight on the Scriptures 1, page 200 says:
Those who desire God’s approval choose as their companions persons who are devoted to righteousness and truth. (2Ti 2:22) They also stop “associating [literally, mixing themselves up]” (my comment: synanamignymi) socially with members of the congregation whose way of life has led to official censure of their disorderly conduct. While continuing to manifest love toward such ones, they make it clear that they do not approve of their disorderly conduct. (2Th 3:6-15)
The Watchtower of August 2024, page 7, discusses 2 Thessalonians 3:14, and we read:
Did this mean that the person was treated as someone who was removed from the congregation? No, for Paul added: “Continue admonishing him as a brother.” So individual Christians would still associate with the marked one at meetings and in the ministry, but they would choose not to associate with him for social occasions or recreation. Why? “That he may become ashamed,” said Paul. As a result of the marking, the disorderly Christian might become ashamed of his conduct and change his ways.—2 Thess. 3:14, 15.
Today, if we notice a fellow Christian who shows such a disobedient spirit, we will make a personal decision not to associate with him for social occasions or recreation.
The words “stop associating with” in 2 Thessalonians 3:14 that are translated from the Greek word synanamignymi has the following applications according to the two sources quoted above:
- Not associating socially with the marked one.
- Not associate with him for social occasions and recreation.
- Associate with him at meetings.
- Associate with him in the preaching work.
This means that we speak with the person, greet him, and are admonishing him to follow Jehovah’s principles.
Let us now see how the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 5:11-13 are applied:
11 But now I am writing YOU to quit mixing in company with (synanamignymi) anyone called a brother that is a fornicator or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man. 11 For what do I have to do with judging those outside? Do YOU not judge those inside, 13 while God judges those outside? “Remove the wicked [man] from among yourselves.”
The Watchtower of August 2024, pages 15, 16, 27, says:
Read 1 Corinthians 5:13. Under divine inspiration, Paul wrote a letter directing that the unrepentant sinner be removed from the congregation. How were faithful Christians to treat him? Paul told them “to stop keeping company” with him. What did that mean? Paul explained that this command included “not even eating with such a man.” (1 Cor. 5:11) Sitting down to a meal with someone can easily lead to having further association with him. Clearly, then, Paul meant that the congregation should not socialize with that man. This would protect the congregation from his corrupting influence. (1 Cor. 5:5-7) Additionally, their avoiding close contact with the man might cause him to realize how far he had strayed from Jehovah’s ways, and he might feel shame and be moved to repent.
How, then, should we view a fellow believer who is removed from the congregation? Although we do not socialize with him, we should view him as a lost sheep, not a lost cause.
What does the phrase “socialize with” mean? Oxford Learners Dictionary (above) and Collins Dictionary (below) give the following definitions:
socialize (with somebody) to meet and spend time with people in a friendly way, in order to enjoy yourself.[6]
If you socialize, you meet other people socially, for example at parties. [7]
THE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY SPEAK WITH FORKED TONGUES:
They do not follow their own definitions of synanamignymi. But they use one definition of “not socialize with” in connection with persons they call “marked” and another definition in connection with those who have been removed from the congregation.
Table 1.2 The treatment of marked ones and removed ones
| Marked ones 2 Thessalonians 3:14 | |
| synanamignymi | |
| Not socialize with | |
| Not associate with at social or recreational events. | |
| Greet and speak with at meetings. | |
| Greet and speak with in the field service | |
| Contact with family, except at social events. | |
| Removed ones 1 Corinthians 5:11, 13 | |
| synanamignymi | |
| Not socialize with | |
| Not associate with, but total isolation. | |
| Not speak with, not answer telephone calls. | |
| No contact with family, except when absolute necessary. | |
| Can say a short greeting. |
The same Greek word (synanamignymi) is used in connection with the treatment of the marked ones and those who have been removed from the congregation. The members of the Governing Body correctly define this word as “socialize with” in both cases. The meaning of this English expression is not to have social and recreational contact with a person. In connection with marked ones the members of the Governing Body use this definition.
But the definition is very different in connection with those who have been removed from the congregation. The members of the Governing Body demand total isolation of these persons, but this is not the meaning of the Greek word synanamignymi. When the members of the Governing Body use two very different definitions of the same Greek word without and linguistic or contextual reasons, we can rightly say that they double-speak.
Why do the members of the Governing Body treat the two groups so differently? In this case, they cannot claim that this “is communicated from heaven to earth,” as they usually do when they make decisions. Because this is a linguistic issue, an issue of lexical meaning, such questions cannot be settled by heavenly intervention.
The truth is that at the beginning of the 1950s, disfellowshipping almost never occurred. And it only occurred in extreme situations. Because of this, the first article in the Watchtower literature discussing disfellowshipping (“Keeping the organization clean”) in The Watchtower of March 1, 1952, showed that disfellowshipped persons should be totally isolated. No one questioned this procedure, and since then it has been strictly followed.
The only exception was the articles “Divine Mercy Points the Way Back for Erring Ones” and “Maintaining a Balanced Viewpoint Toward Disfellowshipped Ones” in The Watchtower of August 1, 1974. These articles had many good biblical points. But these points were only partially implemented into the congregations. And after a short time, the old strict unbiblical procedures of total isolation were again followed.
Because Paul in 2 Thessalonians 3.15 says that the Greek word synanamignymi implies that a person should not be viewed as an enemy but that the members of the congregation should continue admonishing him as a brother; they should greet him and speak with him. Treating him as a brother would mean that they would treat him in a warm and friendly way, as Christians should treat all people, particularly their brothers. There was one exception, though. They should not have private social contact with him, so he should be ashamed.
The Watchtower of August 2024, page 27, says:
5 How, then, should we view a fellow believer who is removed from the congregation? Although we do not socialize with him, we should view him as a lost sheep, not a lost cause.
This is a small step in the right direction. Because the same Greek word, synanamignymi, is used both in connection with marked ones and those who have been removed from the congregation, and there is nothing in the context indicating that this word has different meanings in the two passages, the removed one should be treated in the same way as the marked one. Even though the removed one is not viewed as a brother, he should be treated as a brother. We should greet him, speak with him, show him respect, warmth, and friendliness, as we do with all people. But in order to demonstrate that he has to change his behavior, we will not socialize with him, i.e., we will not invite him to a meal or to a social gathering.
Jehovah God never uses pressure to cause sinners to repent and change their lives. But as Paul says in Romans 2:4, it is God’s goodness and kindness that lead people to repentance. When a person loses his family members who are Witnesses, and experience total isolation, this is a heartless form of pressure. When the members of the Governing Body keep up this cruel, inhuman and unbiblical treatment of those who have been removed from the congregation, they act in a way that is directly contrary to the way our loving heavenly father treats his earthly sons and daughters.
One of the biggest damage the members of the Governing Body have caused for the members of the congregations is their demand that all Witnesses must treat those who have been removed from the congregation in the cruel, inhuman way of total isolation. In the 21st century, more than 1.5 million Witnesses have been removed from their congregations. As a result, tens of thousands of lives have been ruined, and tens of thousands of families have been destroyed.
THE MEMBERS OF THE GOVERNING BODY SPEAK WITH A FORKED TONGUE:
They made a new procedure regarding a small part of the treatment of those who have been removed from the congregation. Then they pretend that they have not made this procedure. But this procedure is based on the conscience of each Witness.
The Watchtower of August 2024 gives a small relief in connection with the treatment of those who have been removed from the congregation. Previously, it was forbidden for a Witness to say a greeting to one who had been removed from the congregation. Because of the new view of 2 John 10, 11, the members of the Governing Body have now allowed the witnesses to say a greeting to a removed person. I quote from pages 30 and 31:
14 Does what we have considered mean that we would completely ignore a person who has been removed from the congregation? Not necessarily. Certainly, we would not socialize with him. But Christians can use their Bible-trained conscience in deciding whether to invite a person who was removed from the congregation—perhaps a relative or someone they were close to previously—to attend a congregation meeting. What if he attends? In the past, we would not greet such a person. Here again, each Christian needs to use his Bible-trained conscience in this matter. Some may feel comfortable with greeting or welcoming the person to the meeting. However, we would not have an extended conversation or socialize with the individual. (Bold black font in the original.)
Here we see the double-talk of the members of the Governing Body. For the first time, they have now allowed the Witnesses to invite a removed one to a meeting and greet him when he comes. But they say that this is based on the “Bible-trained conscience” of the of each Witness. But the fact is that this permission is based on the decision of the Governing Body. So, in reality, whether to invite a removed one to a meeting or not is based on the newly “Governing Body-trained” conscience of each Witness.
[1]. https://www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/VODPgmEvtAnnMtg/pub-jwb-108_9_VIDEO
[2]. https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/disclaimer#google_vignette.
[3]. https://www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/VODPgmEvtMorningWorship/pub-jwb-095_10_VIDEO
[4]. https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/jesus-coming/
[5]. For a detailed discussion of 2. John 10, 11, see my article, “Do not Say a Greeting A Discussion of 2 John 7-11” in the category, “Shunning not based on the Bible.”
[6]. https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/american_english/socialize
[7]. https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/socialize#google_vignette
CONCLUDING REMARKS
The members of the Governing Body have falsified history, when they claim that the Governing Body and the faithful and discreet slave were appointed in 1919. Historically speaking, there was no Governing Body before the year 1971, and the application of the illustration faithful and discreet slave to the nine men of the Governing Body is pure fiction.
A trait of the members of the Governing Body is that they speak with forked tongues.
- Overtly, they say they are not inspired by God — but covertly, by using other words, they say they are inspired by God.
- They disclaim responsibility of what they publish, saying that it may contain errors. At the same time they demand that all Witnesses must accept what they publish as truth, and those who do not accept this will be removed from the congregation.
- They define the Greek word synanamignymi as “socialize with” in one way for the marked ones and in another and much stricter way for those who have been removed from the congregation.
- They made a new procedure regarding the treatment of those who have been removed from the congregation — then they say that this procedure was made by the consciences of individual Witnesses.
The most important conclusion is that these nine men are neither inspired nor directed by God. They have given themselves unlimited power, and they rule in a dictatorial way. And they have put themselves on a place above the Bible. We should only follow the Governing Body when what they say and write is directly based on the Bible.
