ELF Lesson 20 - GB

GB history: 
January 1st 1976, authority shifted from the President to Governing Body members

 Lesson 20: 
" the Governing Body gives direction to the global congregation.But these men are not the leaders of our organization." 
v.s.
Lesson 54

Q: where is the proof that Jesus appointed these men? 
Q: if all rules (appearance, behaviour, disfellowshiping) come from the governing body, how can they claim that they don't lead the organization? 
Q: does that mean that there is a secret, unknown leader above the governing body that makes all of the decisions? (where does all of the money go? Which lawyers will represent them in court?)

Is the Governing Body the leaders & only mouthpiece / channel to God?

NO - Watchtower 1883 Jan, page 425 - “We have not the gift of prophecy.”

NO - Watchtower 1896 Dec 15, page 306 - “Nor would we have our writings reverenced or regarded as infallible.”

NO - Watchtower 1947 May 15, page 15 - “does not mean those now serving as Jehovah’s witnesses are inspired. It does not mean that the writings in this magazine The Watchtower are inspired and infallible and without mistakes.”

NO - Watchtower 1950 August 15, page 263 - “The Watchtower does not claim to be inspired in its utterances, nor is it dogmatic.”

YES - Watchtower 1957 June 15 p.370 - "It is vital that we appreciate this fact and respond to the directions of the "slave" as we would to the voice of God, because it is His provision."

YES - Watchtower 1961 Aug 15 p.491 
"In prophetic fulfillment, Elihu pictures the governing body in Jehovah’s New World society on earth today. Through this zealous spokesman, Jehovah has brought correction and admonition to his witnesses on earth, building them up in right doctrine, cleansing them from sanctimonious religious practices and making clear their responsibility to proclaim his glorious kingdom by Christ."

YES - Watchtower 1971 Dec 15 p.749

YES - Watchtower 1987 Aug 1 p.19
"Naturally, all elders must submit to Christ's "right hand" of control, guidance, and direction, which he exercises by means of the spirit and the spirit-begotten members of the Governing Body."

NO - Jehovah's Witnesses - Unitedly Doing God's Will Worldwide p.26 "The Governing Body...are not inspired by God..."

NO - Awake March 22, 1993 - “The brothers preparing these publications are not infallible. Their writings are not inspired"

YES - Watchtower 2010 Jul 15 pp.22-23 - ""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."

YES - 2012 Annual Meeting GB alone final say over procedure and doctrine

YES & MUST BE OBEYED - Watchtower 2013 Nov 15 p.20
"At that time, the lifesaving direction that we receive from Jehovah’s organization may not appear practical from a human standpoint. All of us must be ready to obey any instructions we may receive, whether these appear sound from a strategic or human standpoint or not."

YES - Watchtower 2014 Aug 15 p.21 - "Jesus also conveys Jehovah’s voice to us as he directs the congregation through “the faithful and discreet slave.” We need to take this guidance and direction seriously, for our everlasting life depends on our obedience."

NO - 2015 Australian Royal Commission Geofery Jackson says NOT God's spokespeople on earth  “That, I think, would seem to be quite presumptuous to say that we are the only spokesperson that God is using.”

YES & MUST BE OBEYED - Watchtower 2016 Feb p.11-12 "What about us? True, God does not make such requests of us today. But he does ask us to obey him even when his commands are hard for us to comply with or we cannot comprehend the reasons for them.

NO - Watchtower 2017 Feb p.26  "The Governing Body is neither inspired nor infallible." 

YES - Watchtower 2022 Feb p.4  "The plain truth is that we cannot say that we trust in Jehovah if we do not trust in his earthly representatives—those whom Jehovah trusts. Today Jehovah leads the earthly part of his organization by means of "the faithful and discreet slave."

YES - Examining the Scriptures Daily, 2024 pp.126-127 "To obey is better than a sacrifice. If organizational changes test your loyalty, what should you do? Fully support the organizational changes".

Question:

1) The "obey even if it doesn't make sense": What if the governing body decides to wants to pull a Jonestown or Heaven's Gate? Would you drink the cool-aide?  

2) A true prophet wouldn't flip-flop, so shouldn't they be ignored as per Deut 18:15-22

3) Isn't it deceptive that in the Enjoy Life Forever book, the governing body is played down? It doesn't explain that the governing body expects witnesses to follow their direction even if it doesn't make sense. Is it honest and fair that the student is asked if they are ready to be baptized into this corporation on penalty of potential disfellowshipping before they know that they have to blindly obey these uninspired men. 


Scripture says to not be a follower of man. 
Colossians 2:8 
See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.
Matt 15:9 
In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.