WHAT DO THE SCRIPTURES SAY?
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6
“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” - Romans 10:13
“That by the name of Christ ... salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” - Acts 4:12
HOW DOES THE WATCHTOWER ORGANIZATION OF TODAY ANSWER THIS QUESTION?
“The anointed and their other sheep companions recognize that by following the lead of the modern-day Governing Body, they are in fact following their Leader, Christ.” Watchtower 2010 Sep 15 p.23
“A mature Christian must be in unity and full harmony with fellow believers as far as faith and knowledge are concerned. He does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding. Rather, he has complete confidence in the truth as it is revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and the faithful and discreet slave.” (Watchtower, August 1, 2001, p. 14).
“By submitting to the slave class, Gods people also show their subjection to the Master, Jesus Christ.”(Watchtower 2002 10/1 p. 19)
“This governing body is the administrative part of a ‘faithful and discreet slave’ or ‘steward’ class concerning which Jesus promised: ‘His master . . . will appoint him over all his belongings.’ (Matt. 24:45-47; Luke 12:42-44) So, recognition of that governing body and its place in Gods theocratic arrangement of things is necessary for submission to the headship of Gods Son.” (w72 12/15 p. 755)
Therefore, when we loyally submit to the direction of the faithful slave and its Governing Body, we are submitting to Christ, the slave’s Master. – (W 4-1-2007, p.24. par.12)
Bible students need to get acquainted with the organization of the “one flock” Jesus spoke about at John 10:16. They must appreciate that identifying themselves with Jehovah’s organization is essential to their salvation. (Rev. 7:9, 10, 15) Therefore, we should start directing our Bible students to the organization as soon as a Bible study is established. (KM 11/1990, par.1)
Those desiring salvation must make for God’s organization, and find entrance into it and remain there permanently (W 10-1-1952, p.603)
We need to obey the faithful and discreet slave to have Jehovah’s approval” (W 7-15-13, p.24, simplified version) It’s the highlighted box on the upper left hand column, p.24. Also on page 21 of the same issue: 17 But we are acting against Jehovah’s purpose if we do not obey the faithful and discreet slave
But if we were to draw away from Jehovah’s organization, there would be no place else to go for salvation and true joy. (Compare John 6:66-69.)—
July, 2013 study issue: “2 The timely spiritual food we receive is proof that Jesus, the Head of the congregation, is keeping his promise to feed us. Through whom is he doing so? When giving the sign of his presence, Jesus said that he would use “the faithful and discreet slave” to give “food at the proper time” to his domestics. * (Read Matthew 24:45-47.) That faithful slave is the channel through which Jesus is feeding his true followers in this time of the end. It is vital that we recognize the faithful slave. Our spiritual health and our relationship with God depend on this channel.—Matt. 4:4; John 17:3.” <w93 9/15 p. 22 They Compassionately Shepherd the Little Sheep>
WHAT DID CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL, THE FOUNDER OF THE WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT ORGANIZATION?
Beware of ‘organization.’ It is wholly un-necessary. The Bible will be the only rules you need. Do not seek to bind other consciences, and do not permit others to bind yours. Believe and obey so far as you can understand God’s word today, and so continue to growing in grace and knowledge day by day. (Zion’s Watch Tower, Sept. 15, 1895, p. 216.)
Q. Could not an earnest, aggressive organization (or sect), built upon Scriptural lines, be the best means of spreading and publish the real good tidings?
A. We believe that a visible organization and the adopting of some particular name would tend to increase the numbers and make us appear more respectable in the estimation of the world. The natural man can see that a visibly organized body, with a definite purpose, is a thing of more or less power. But the natural man cannot understand how a company of people, with no organization which they can see, is ever going to accomplish anything. (Zion’s Watch Tower, 1883, page 6.)
It is plain that the forming of a visible organization of such gathered out ones would be out of harmony with the spirit of the divine plan; and, it done, would seem to indicate on the part of the Church a desire to conform to the now popular idea of organization or confederacy. (Zion’s Watch Tower, 1894, p. 384)
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” - John 14:6
“For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” - Romans 10:13
“That by the name of Christ ... salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” - Acts 4:12
HOW DOES THE WATCHTOWER ORGANIZATION OF TODAY ANSWER THIS QUESTION?
“The anointed and their other sheep companions recognize that by following the lead of the modern-day Governing Body, they are in fact following their Leader, Christ.” Watchtower 2010 Sep 15 p.23
“A mature Christian must be in unity and full harmony with fellow believers as far as faith and knowledge are concerned. He does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding. Rather, he has complete confidence in the truth as it is revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and the faithful and discreet slave.” (Watchtower, August 1, 2001, p. 14).
“By submitting to the slave class, Gods people also show their subjection to the Master, Jesus Christ.”(Watchtower 2002 10/1 p. 19)
“This governing body is the administrative part of a ‘faithful and discreet slave’ or ‘steward’ class concerning which Jesus promised: ‘His master . . . will appoint him over all his belongings.’ (Matt. 24:45-47; Luke 12:42-44) So, recognition of that governing body and its place in Gods theocratic arrangement of things is necessary for submission to the headship of Gods Son.” (w72 12/15 p. 755)
Therefore, when we loyally submit to the direction of the faithful slave and its Governing Body, we are submitting to Christ, the slave’s Master. – (W 4-1-2007, p.24. par.12)
Bible students need to get acquainted with the organization of the “one flock” Jesus spoke about at John 10:16. They must appreciate that identifying themselves with Jehovah’s organization is essential to their salvation. (Rev. 7:9, 10, 15) Therefore, we should start directing our Bible students to the organization as soon as a Bible study is established. (KM 11/1990, par.1)
Those desiring salvation must make for God’s organization, and find entrance into it and remain there permanently (W 10-1-1952, p.603)
We need to obey the faithful and discreet slave to have Jehovah’s approval” (W 7-15-13, p.24, simplified version) It’s the highlighted box on the upper left hand column, p.24. Also on page 21 of the same issue: 17 But we are acting against Jehovah’s purpose if we do not obey the faithful and discreet slave
But if we were to draw away from Jehovah’s organization, there would be no place else to go for salvation and true joy. (Compare John 6:66-69.)—
July, 2013 study issue: “2 The timely spiritual food we receive is proof that Jesus, the Head of the congregation, is keeping his promise to feed us. Through whom is he doing so? When giving the sign of his presence, Jesus said that he would use “the faithful and discreet slave” to give “food at the proper time” to his domestics. * (Read Matthew 24:45-47.) That faithful slave is the channel through which Jesus is feeding his true followers in this time of the end. It is vital that we recognize the faithful slave. Our spiritual health and our relationship with God depend on this channel.—Matt. 4:4; John 17:3.” <w93 9/15 p. 22 They Compassionately Shepherd the Little Sheep>
WHAT DID CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL, THE FOUNDER OF THE WATCH TOWER BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY HAVE TO SAY ABOUT ORGANIZATION?
Beware of ‘organization.’ It is wholly un-necessary. The Bible will be the only rules you need. Do not seek to bind other consciences, and do not permit others to bind yours. Believe and obey so far as you can understand God’s word today, and so continue to growing in grace and knowledge day by day. (Zion’s Watch Tower, Sept. 15, 1895, p. 216.)
Q. Could not an earnest, aggressive organization (or sect), built upon Scriptural lines, be the best means of spreading and publish the real good tidings?
A. We believe that a visible organization and the adopting of some particular name would tend to increase the numbers and make us appear more respectable in the estimation of the world. The natural man can see that a visibly organized body, with a definite purpose, is a thing of more or less power. But the natural man cannot understand how a company of people, with no organization which they can see, is ever going to accomplish anything. (Zion’s Watch Tower, 1883, page 6.)
It is plain that the forming of a visible organization of such gathered out ones would be out of harmony with the spirit of the divine plan; and, it done, would seem to indicate on the part of the Church a desire to conform to the now popular idea of organization or confederacy. (Zion’s Watch Tower, 1894, p. 384)
