"Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics to give them their food at the proper time? Happy is that slave if his master on arriving finds him doing so." - Matthew 24:45-47
The Watchtower of March 1, 1981 page 24 says: "Witnesses of Jehovah understand that the “slave” is comprised of all anointed Christians as a group on earth at any given time during the 19 centuries since Pentecost. Accordingly, the “domestics” are these anointed followers of Christ as individuals." As individuals, or "domestics", these anointed or "born again" followers of Christ, are said to be represented and fed by the "slave", who represents them all as a collective body or group. The "belongings" then represent all of Christ's interests on earth, which supposedly include a non-annointed or non-"born again" earthly class of Christians, which are interpreted to be those of the "other sheep" in John 10:16 and the "great crowd" in Revelation 7:9. There is a parallel to this principle of an individual "slave" representing a group or collective body of persons at Isaiah 43:10-12, where the nation of Israel, a group, is spoken of as an individual "servant" or "slave." However, it is the Watchtower’s application of this principle applied to Matthew 24:45, where the problems arises.
Today, this "slave class" collective body is said to be composed of a remnant of the "little flock" of the 144,000 anointed or born again Jehovah's Witnesses yet alive on earth. In the 1996 yearly count of Jehovah's Witnesses, it listed somewhere around 8,200 of Jehovah's Witnesses professing to be anointed Christians, while the other 5 million witnesses professed to be of a non anointed earthly class of Christians as they interpret to be those of the "great crowd" in Revelation 7:9 and the "other sheep" in John 10:16. (Luke 12:32)
According to the Watchtower Society, this class of anointed Christians were doing a feeding work of spiritual food in an uninterrupted way since Pentecost 33 AD. Jesus had said that "Look I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things." The Watchtower January 15, 1975 says: "Apparently one generation of the "slave" class fed the succeeding generation thereof, as well as continuing to feed themselves. We see, then that Jesus Christ himself called attention to this method of feeding his people not as isolated, independent individuals, but as a close-knit body of Christians having real love and care for one another." But, what does history show ? Is there any record of a close knit body doing a spiritual feeding work down through the centuries, finally feeding Charles Taze Russell, the founder of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society.? The society itself states that individuals , such as Wycliffe, Tyndale and splinter groups such as the Lolards, Waldenses and similar groups may have been part of the anointed class. The fact that these people and groups followed doctrines, such as the trinity, hellfire, immortality of the soul, seems to be glossed over by the society. There is no evidence of a unique channel of food being supplied by a class of anointed Christians to these people or groups. In fact, the main group that Jesus had instructed was the one that eventually turned to apostasy.
Now the question arises: Where are the links of this continuous feeding channel of spiritual food to the man Charles Taze Russell, the "faithful and wise servant" ? The society has stated that Russell revived true worship. Yet why would he have done that, if there was a continuous spiritual feeding program right down to Russell's day ? Instead Russell went to various churches of "Babylon the Great" (the empire of false religion) to obtain his information and interpretations. Russell , instead independently acquired interpretations of the bible, not through some continuous feeding channel down through the centuries from Pentecost 33 AD.
According to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, Jesus Christ selected this small group of bible students in the 1914-1918 period as the "faithful and discreet slave". Yet they admittedly acknowledge that the bible students were in an unclean state. The publication Jehovah's Witnesses and The Divine Purpose on page 91 says of the uncleanness of the bible students was as following:
Supposedly it was for this, that they were brought into captivity by Babylon the Great. Yet, after their release in 1919, they kept many of these teachings for more years to come. They also were insisting that 1925 was the end of Satan's system and that anyone who did not follow the "faithful and discreet slave" on this teaching was "going against God and Christ". One has to just read the 7th volume of the "Studies in the Scriptures - The Finished Mystery" to see the manmade teachings of the spiritual food at that time period - the same period that Christ Jesus supposedly rejected all of Christendom and appointed the Watchtower Society as the "faithful and discreet slave".
What of the slave class today ? Who are they ? The men on the Governing Body, who are making the decisions of what is proper and improper for a Christian today, are composed of men, who have never had full time employment outside of the Watchtower Society. They do not really know what it is like to have to deal with mortgages, utility expenses, rent, car insurance, health insurance, medical bills, taxes, intolerant employers who demand perfection & etc. They do not have to cook their own meals, clean their own apartments and wash their own clothes, for other bethelites perform these functions. Only one member on the governing body has ever had children and yet he remained a full time servant of the Watchtower Society, never facing the responsibilities and pressures of the secular world. This is not meant as a condemnatory remark, but certainly this type of life can be considered living in an "ivory tower" or "bubble", so to speak and raises the question: Since they have a lack of experience in many of the pressures and realities of daily living in the real "world", how can they accurately "sympathize", have true balance, understanding and empathy, making the final decisions for millions of people who are working and supporting families under these pressures? (Hebrews 4:15)
The Governing Body claims to represent the anointed on earth. Do they ? According to Raymond Franz, a 40 year full time servant, who sat on the governing body in good standing for 9 years, the majority of the information obtained by the Governing Body is from letters and inquiries of non-annointed Branch Overseers, District Overseers, Circuit Overseers, and other prominent brothers, who are also full time servants, living in an "ivory tower" or "bubble" like atmosphere, having their living arrangements and expenses supplied by others, not enduring the same pressures as the average working man. The imput from these individuals is considered of greater significance then the "anointed" Christians, who are supposedly make up the "faithful and discreet slave class."
Apparently there are no inquires of the 8,000 or so anointed brothers and sisters worldwide or at Bethel to what their thoughts are. They are never interviewed on weighty matters and never invited to the secretive governing body sessions. The anointed living at Bethel, as well as worldwide are as much in the dark as any 19 year old boy in the Bethel headquarters family. Yet they are supposedly part of the "faithful and discreet slave" class to which the Master has entrusted all his goods. How can this fit the description of the Governing Body being the spokesman for all the anointed on earth ? The food is actually being supplied a non-annointed class of servants, who have their living arrangements and expenses paid by mostly others. Even the many letters, sent in to Bethel, from anointed Elders are not considered as important as the letters from those non anointed brothers, who are higher up on the organizational ladder.
Who then is the "faithful and discreet slave" ? If it is a class or group of people, all tied in together, then what about Jesus’s other illustrations of slaves ? Must they belong to some class of people or human organization ? Is there a "ten minas class" , a "five minas class", a "many strokes class", a "few strokes class" ? If so, then who are these ? The scriptures are clear that when we stand before the judgment seat of God and Christ we stand as individuals and as individuals answer for what we have done. Could not Jesus’s illustration of the "faithful and discreet slave" apply to all christians as individuals ? Could Jesus be saying, Who among you disciples will prove himself to be such a faithful and discreet steward ? The answers would depend on what each individual did, not on what he belonged to or was part of. (Romans 14:12)
Rather then a class of persons appointed as a "faithful and discreet slave", feeding others with bible literature, Apostle Peter words in 1 Peter chapter 4, verses 10 and 11, show how each individual Christian has a personal
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"In proportion as each one (each individual) has received a gift, use it in ministering (feeding) to one another as fine stewards (faithful slaves) of Gods undeserved kindness expressed in various ways. If anyone (each individual) speaks, let him speak as it were the sacred pronouncements of God; of anyone ministers (feeds), let him minister (feed) as dependent on the strength that God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ." 1 Peter 4:10, 11 |
As Apostle Paul stated "I have a stewardship entrusted to me" to feed others "declaring the good news" and to "impart some spiritual gift", providing an "interchange of encouragement" to all others both believers and nonbelievers. Apostle Peter was also appointed a stewardship, being instructed by Jesus to "Feed my sheep." For all overseers were considered to be God's "stewards" and to fulfill the qualifications of being such, acting both "faithful and discreet." This of course, did not just pertain to Paul and other elders or overseers, for all Christians were supplied a personal stewardship and responsibility to spiritually feed others with upbuilding and encouragement, as Paul stated above in 1 Peter Chapter 4 Verses 10 and 11. As Jesus stated in Matthew 20:27, "whoever wants to be first among you must be your slave" and this applies to All Christians, for we must all "slave for the master, Christ." (Col 3:24; 1 Cor 9:16-17, Romans 1:11-12, Cor 4:1, Titus 1:7, Eph 3:2, Col 1:25, John 21:15-18)
Under the Christian arrangement, "there is only one mediator between men and God, a man, Christ Jesus. This means that he is the only one that men have to go to in order to get to God. There are no other men or religious counsels, organizations or "slave classes" that men have to go through or join in order to get to God. And for this it can be said that "the head of every man is the Christ." He is the "only mediator." (1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Cor 11:3)
If a religious group does decide and teach that they are God's appointed representative and "slave class" that men have to go through to get to God, are they not diminishing Christ's role? If they teach that one must be a member of their "earthly organization" or "Jehovah's visible organization", are they not making themselves a mediator? For we are to "walk by faith and not by a 'visible organizational' sight." If Apostle Paul stated that "there is only one mediator, between God and men, a man Christ Jesus", then does that not exclude any others? For when the Watchtower Society claims they are the "slave class" that men have to go through to get to God, that would make them a second mediator. (2 Cor 5:7)
But even more crucial are Paul's words at 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12. Here Paul clearly states that any group that appoints themselves as God's representative or "slave class" and "sits down in the temple of The God, publicly showing himself to be a god" is fulfilling the role of the "man of lawlessness." True, the Catholic church fulfilled this scripture many centuries ago with the Pope and the church acting as a mediator to get to Christ and God, but certainly the Watchtower Society is doing the same thing by claiming to be God's only appointed representative and "slave class" that men must go through them in order to get to God and Christ.
The Man of Lawlessness
In the fourth century of our common era, the Catholic church was formed. They took a scripture which they interpreted to apply to Apostle Peter as the "rock", that Jesus instructed to build on. The Pope, is supposedly the appointed successor of Apostle Peter. Yet, the scripture in 1 Cor 10:4 and other scriptures, show that it is not Peter, but rather Jesus Christ, who is the "rock" and the only "foundation", the very foundation that Peter was to build on. For Jesus was the "rock that would trip them up" and the "stone that the builders rejected, who became the chief cornerstone." But with the interpretation of Peter being the "rock", the Catholic church would claim to have the unique appointment and controlling leadership of all those who follow Christ. (Matt 16:18; 1 Cor 10:4; 3:11; 1 Pet 2:6-8; Isaiah 28:16; 8:14; Psalm 118:22; Romans 9:33; Eph 2:20)
This is no different with the illustration Jesus gave of the "faithful and discreet slave." Here, in Matthew chapter 24, Jesus gave three separate parables all with the same message - keep spiritually awake and ready for his future coming. The "faithful slave" along with the "ten virgins" and the "slaves with the five talents, two talents and one talent" were all illustrations to emphasize the readiness that would be needed for Christ's second coming at judgment day. They were not literal prophecies, where meanings had to be made that simply were not there. To put modern day meanings, with character assignments of persons and groups are to "go beyond what is written" and put manmade teachings into scripture., which "make the word of God invalid." (1 Cor 4:6; Matt 15:6-9)
Here again, as with the claim of a certain man, the Pope, to be the appointed descendant of the "rock", interpreted to be Peter, a group of men take the claim of being the appointed "slave" in Jesus parable and therefore act as a mediator to get to God and Christ. With this claim, there is a central ruling body that determines organizational policies, interpretation of scriptures and a large degree of control over its members. Any meaning of scripture can change on a moments notice and it must be accepted as truth, for it is coming from the "Pope" or the "slave." However, the majority of modern day Catholicism is far removed from its original form, obeying every ruling and accepting every word and interpretation from the Pope as truth, but today many, but not all, are only following this religion due to birth, and not by study of scripture or under the subjection of their leaders. Where as all of Jehovah's Witnesses are in complete subjection to all teachings, instructions and restrictions placed on them by their leaders, men who appoint themselves as the so called "slave class." True, they do not call and label these men as their "leaders", but instead give them the title of the "slave class", with divine appointment, which makes them their "leaders" replacing the role of Christ. (Matt 23:10)
In 2 Thessalonians chapter two, Paul writes about an apostacy with the "man of lawlessness, who sits down in the temple of God and publicly shows himself to be a god." This "man of lawlessness" can refer to any group on earth that puts itself "above all" in the position of mediator ship, authority and control over others spirituality. Any group that "proclaims" to be the descendant of the "rock" Peter, the "faithful and discreet slave", the Christ, God or the only "chosen ones" with a special appointment from God above other followers of Christ, are to be regarded as deceiving persons, "from these stay away." The Watchtower Society is quick to interpret 2 Thessalonians as the entire realm of "Christendom" when ironicly it is this organization that is acting with the role of mediatorhip. This puts the organization in the "seat of God", with a divine role. This does not hold the individuals inside these many groups as "unrighteous", no it is the leaders who will be held accountable, for "each one of us will render an account himself to God." For there are many "righteous", "wheat like" persons throughout various organizations that have erroneous weed like teachings. Their endurance and "love of Christ surpasses all knowledge", whether erroneous or accurate. (Matt 13:24-30, 36-43; Luke 21:6)
In the first century, men who reached out to perform the service of leading the many house congregations, were certainly doing a fine work, as long as they served humbly with love, shepherding the flock with care and yet rebuking those who caused divisions. They were not to "lord over" their shepherding and become controlling, pushing their weight around, but rather serving others as "slaves" in a humble work. For this they were to be shown a "double honor" and congregation members were to be "obedient to those taking the lead." This type of humble service and relative obedience from congregation members was far removed from the manmade claims and self appointments of men as divine channels of communication of God's word, subjecting others to their unique interpretations, rules and regulations. (Heb 13:17; 1 Pet 5:1-4; Matt 20:27)
As Paul stated in the fourth chapter of 1 Corinthians, "Do not go beyond the things written . . . After all, what makes you so special? What did you have that you did not receive as a gift? And if in fact it was a gift, why do you boast as if it weren't." "God is the one who makes us grow", not men. As Christians, "slaves" of Christ, we are All to be found faithful, discreet and trusting our only "head", the Christ, not men, religious counsels, governing bodies or slave classes. Certainly, any men who claim to have a special favor or divine appointment as channels of communication from God and Christ, are merely self appointed and are placing themselves in a position against Christ's role as sole mediator, and fulfilling the role as the "man of lawlessness." (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; 1 Cor 4:6-8; 11:3)
True Knowledge of Scriptures
Only Revealed Through
When Jesus Christ asked his disciple Peter, who he thought he was, Peter answered "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. In response Jesus said to him: Happy you are Simon son of Jonah, because flesh and blood did not reveal it to you, but my Father who is in the heavens did." Notice here, that is was no man, group of men or "slave class" that revealed this knowledge to Peter, rather it was the "Father" who supplied it. This is why Jesus, filled with holy spirit, prayed "I thank you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you concealed these things from the sophisticated and educated, yet revealed them to ordinary people." (Matt 16:17; 11:11; Luke 10:21)
As Jesus stated it would be "the helper, the holy spirit, which the Father will send in my name, that one will teach you all things and bring back to your minds all the things I told you. The holy spirit that the father would send in Jesus name, would be necessary to understand the true knowledge of scriptures, the love of Christ and the faith needed in order to please God. After Pentecost 33 CE, when the holy spirit was poured out on all of Jesus deciples, this became the "teacher" and "helper" that would teach and anoint each individual disciple of Christ. Apostle John stated, "The anointing you received from the Father remains in you, so that you have no need for anyone to teach you. On the contrary, the anointing from him is teaching you . . .", not men or any "slave class." (1 John 2:27; John 14:14-26)
True, many persons and religious organizations have studied the scriptures extensively, with elaborate explanations and detailed chronological interpretations, yet they miss the fact that in order to be a true Christian the holy spirit must dwell inside of the person, anointing them. One can not be a true follower of Christ and not be part of his body. As Apostle Paul brings out, there are only two ways persons can walk, according to the flesh or according to the spirit. The persons who walk according to the flesh mean enmity with God and death, where those who walk according to the "spirit" are in harmony with God. The point is, one cannot walk according to the spirit unless "it truly dwells in you", "resides in you" and is "in union with you." "For anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ dwelling inside them, this one does not belong to him." This completely rules out the teaching of Christians who are not part of the body of Christ, and not anointed with the holy spirit, having it dwell inside of them, as the Watchtower Society teaches. (Romans 8:1-17; 1 Cor 3:16)
Without this holy spirit dwelling inside of persons, there is only room for the academic knowledge of scripture and detailed explanation. But lacking is the true knowledge of Christ, the "love which is beyond understanding", or "surpasses knowledge", that gives us the reconciliation and intimacy with God, calling him our "father" or "abba" and reaching our "hearts." Only when persons can be "one", in "union" with Christ, can he or she be truly taught the meaning of God's love and mercy. No "slave class" or group of men can do that for any person, for each one must have the spirit individually "reside inside them", not by simply "hanging on to the skirt of a Jew, (interpreted as the "slave class") and saying God is with you people." (Zech 8:23; Eph 3:19; John 17:20-24; Col 3:16; Eph 2:10; Romans 2:28-20; Jer 31:31-33)
As Jesus stated "Whoever does the will of God, this one is my brother, sister and mother", for all of Christ's deciples are his "brothers", who will rule with him in the kingdom, having the spirit dwell inside them. And since all of Christ's deciples are his brothers, this rules out there being only a small group of followers of Christ who are anointed with the holy spirit as the "slave class" with a divine appointment as communicator of God's word. Rather the "little flock" he instructed at the time of his ministry, were only twelve apostles and could thus be called the "little flock", nothing more and nothing less. To put a meaning into this expression is "go beyond what is written", putting manmade teachings into scripture, which "make the word of God invalid." (Mark 3:34; Luke 12:23; 1 Cor 4:6; Matt 15:6-8)
Jehovah has always been "a rock, perfect in his activity." As the "rock" that means he can always be relied on for salvation. His righteous decisions are unmovable, stable and completely dependable. But something more was needed of man, faith. This is exactly what Abraham did, "he put faith in Jehovah ; and he proceeded to count it as righteousness." For this, Abraham was blessed and would become a father to a nation of people all blessed by God. Without this faith of Abraham, he could not have pleased God, "for without faith it is impossible to please God." The point is, "for he that approaches God must believe that he is and that he becomes the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him." On the other hand, when praying, if one only hopes and somewhat doubts that God will help him, then "he is like the waves of the sea, driven by the wind and blown about." For we must "keep on asking God in faith, not doubting at all." In fact let that man not suppose anything from God, he is an indecisive man, unsteady in all his ways." (Gen 15:6; 22:15-18; Heb 11:8, 6; James 1:6-8)
To quote Zephaniah 2:3 and state that "probably" or "perhaps" you may be saved in the day of God's anger, is to mislead and deceive persons the true meaning of faith, putting persons dependent on men, the "slave class", instead of our only "head", Jesus Christ, for salvation. For faith can not be a matter of doubt and uncertainty, rather "faith is the confident assurance that something we want is going to happen. It is the certainty that what we hope for is waiting for us, even though we cannot see it up ahead." If one reads the context of Zephaniah, it can be seen that this was a call to repentance for the judgment that was to fall upon the sinful Jerusalem. They had sinned grossly and now Jehovah was going to punish them for this. So now he tells sinful Jerusalem to "seek righteousness, seek meekness and probably or perhaps you may survive and be concealed in the day of his burning anger" against Jerusalem. To quote this scripture and apply it to those putting faith in the "rock", the " foundation stone", Jesus Christ, is to misapply scripture and prevent persons from gaining true faith in Christ, which is having complete confidence and intimacy with him. Instead persons, as part of a non-annointed class of Christians, are forever dependent on the "anointed" "slave class", the supposed remnant and only true "brothers" of Christ. (Heb 11:1)
This does not mean that the faith of true anointed Christians should be over confident. For they certainly can sin and fall away, as Apostle Paul warned, "let him that thinks he is standing, beware that he does not fall." "For when people who have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become sharers in the holy spirit and tasted the goodness of God's Word and the powers of the age to come and then have fallen away --- it is impossible to renew them . . . " So over confidence and sinning results in loosing the holy spirit that dwells inside us, however a lack of faith and confidence in Christ "being the rewarder of those earnestly seeking him, makes it impossible for us to please God." Only with the power of the holy spirit dwelling inside us can we truly obtain this faith, strength and confident assurance that pleases God and be counted as righteous. (1 Cor 10:12; Heb:10:26,27; 6:4-6; Heb 11:6)
With Jesus Christ as our "rock" and "chief cornerstone" for salvation, we must exercise "faith" in him and in order to please him. To do this we need the holy spirit. The holy spirit, which gives us the "strength" and the "power beyond what is normal" must "dwell inside us." It is only then that we can pray, having the "faith" and confidence that he will answer our prayers, not doubting at all. It is only then, that we can gain the true knowledge of the scriptures and intimate relationship with Christ, knowing his love, "which is beyond all knowledge." For no man or "slave class" can teach us this and transform our personality from within ourselves except the power of the holy spirit inside of us. Only the holy spirit can transform our minds into a "new creation according to God's will in true righteousness and loyalty." This holy spirit, "residing in us" is what makes us "put on the new personality" and "become a full grown man to the measure of stature that belongs to the fullness of the Christ", "until we attain to the oneness in the faith and in knowing the Son of God." (Eph 4:20-24; Gal:15-16; Phil 4:12; 2 Cor 4:7; Eph 3:19; Romans 9:33)
The Scripture In It's Context
When reading Matthew 24:45-51, as always, the context must be read as well. If one reads the previous 6 verses, it can be clearly seen that this appointment of a "faithful slave" will occur at the end of the system of things, and not before, in the year 1918 or any other time period. Verse 36 tells of "no one knowing the day or the hour" of Christ's coming at the end of this system, not in a time period before. Verses 37-38 then states, "just as the days of Noah were, so the royal visit or presence of the son of man will be." And in the days of Noah, the flood came, arriving suddenly, bringing sudden destruction and an end to that system of things. There was no invisible presence prior to the flood, but the parousia came all at once, destroying the "heavens and earth" of Noah's day. Likewise, this is compared with Christ's coming and arrival at the end of this system and not any other time period or invisible presence before as in the year 1914. Verses 40-42 again relate to the end of the system of things and not before, speaking of the final day of judgment, where "two men will be in the field, and one will be taken away", two woman at the grinding mill and one will be taken away." Verse 43 then tells us to "keep awake" at all times, up until the day of Christ's coming, which is only at the end of the system and not before, likening this to an unexpected thief coming in the night. This then brings us up to verses 45-51, asking "who really is the faithful and discreet slave?" Clearly this applies to the coming of Christ at the end of the system of things as we know it and not some invisible presence or secret rapture happening some time before. At that time of judgment, all faithful and discreet Christians will be appointed to enter in the "kingdom of the heavens" with their master, Christ Jesus. To claim that this appointment occurs in 1918 or anytime before the end of this system of things, is to take this scripture completely out of context.
Some portions of this article have been taken or summarized from Raymond Franz’s Book entitled "In Search of Christian Freedom".
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