01-25-2009, 07:39 AM
The Watchtower-society believes that a Governing Body is need to maintain unity within Jehovah's witnesses and that through them Jehovah God will guide his people into "all the truth".
Of course it is good to have unity among christians and congregations. But if this is achieved in a wrong way, it will not bring joy. Stalin maintained unity in Soviet Union by oppressing freedom of speach and thought. But who wants a similar rule?
In what way was it meant that christians would come to unity and be "guided into all the truth"? Was it through a Governing Body?
No, but it should be through the congregation. Ephesians 3:10: [This was] to the end that now to the governments and the authorities in the heavenly places there might be made known through the congregation the greatly diversified wisdom of God.
But how would the congregations be guided into "all the truth"?
Jesus the Head of the congregation said: However, when that one arrives, the spirit of the truth, he will guide YOU into all the truth, for he will not speak of his own impulse, but what things he hears he will speak, and he will declare to YOU the things coming.
Would this apply only on the apostles? Or could every chistian be guided into all the truth by holy spirit?
Apostle Paul believed that and he wrote: I continue mentioning YOU in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give YOU a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the accurate knowledge of him; -Ephesians 1:16,17
Is there then any need to teach in the congregation if the holy spirit would guide into all the truth? Surely if you have been taught by holy spirit you are eager to share with what you have learned. This will speed up the growth of accurate knowledge of your friends. And it is also very rewarding to hear from your friends what they have been taught by holy spirit, especially when it is just the same that you have got from the holy spirit.
The Watchtower-society of course fears that if you let each congregation independently decide for their beliefs, the unity between congregations would be lost. But you should believe that the spirit of the truth can be in every congregation and that Jesus is the head of every congregation. But of course some would fall of from some truths. It is inevitable and it was promised to happen. But in this case every congregation and every messenger of the congregation and even every member is himself accountable before the Head of the congregation.
So those who take the lead in the congregations should seek the guidance of the holy spirit and study the teachings of the apostles and in that way all would be "guided into all the truth". There is no need for futher apostles or a substitute for apostles, like a Governing Body, because we already have the teaching of Jesus Our Lord and of the apostles written in the Bible. The unity and the truth will come in this way.
I fully support what apostle Paul wrote:
14 On account of this I bend my knees to the Father, 15 to whom every family in heaven and on earth owes its name, 16 to the end that he may grant YOU according to the riches of his glory to be made mighty in the man YOU are inside with power through his spirit, 17 to have the Christ dwell through [YOUR] faith in YOUR hearts with love; that YOU may be rooted and established on the foundation, 18 in order that YOU may be thoroughly able to grasp mentally with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of the Christ which surpasses knowledge, that YOU may be filled with all the fullness that God gives.
20 Now to the one who can, according to his power which is operating in us, do more than superabundantly beyond all the things we ask or conceive, 21 to him be the glory by means of the congregation and by means of Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Much brotherly love to you all
Jan
Of course it is good to have unity among christians and congregations. But if this is achieved in a wrong way, it will not bring joy. Stalin maintained unity in Soviet Union by oppressing freedom of speach and thought. But who wants a similar rule?
In what way was it meant that christians would come to unity and be "guided into all the truth"? Was it through a Governing Body?
No, but it should be through the congregation. Ephesians 3:10: [This was] to the end that now to the governments and the authorities in the heavenly places there might be made known through the congregation the greatly diversified wisdom of God.
But how would the congregations be guided into "all the truth"?
Jesus the Head of the congregation said: However, when that one arrives, the spirit of the truth, he will guide YOU into all the truth, for he will not speak of his own impulse, but what things he hears he will speak, and he will declare to YOU the things coming.
Would this apply only on the apostles? Or could every chistian be guided into all the truth by holy spirit?
Apostle Paul believed that and he wrote: I continue mentioning YOU in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give YOU a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the accurate knowledge of him; -Ephesians 1:16,17
Is there then any need to teach in the congregation if the holy spirit would guide into all the truth? Surely if you have been taught by holy spirit you are eager to share with what you have learned. This will speed up the growth of accurate knowledge of your friends. And it is also very rewarding to hear from your friends what they have been taught by holy spirit, especially when it is just the same that you have got from the holy spirit.
The Watchtower-society of course fears that if you let each congregation independently decide for their beliefs, the unity between congregations would be lost. But you should believe that the spirit of the truth can be in every congregation and that Jesus is the head of every congregation. But of course some would fall of from some truths. It is inevitable and it was promised to happen. But in this case every congregation and every messenger of the congregation and even every member is himself accountable before the Head of the congregation.
So those who take the lead in the congregations should seek the guidance of the holy spirit and study the teachings of the apostles and in that way all would be "guided into all the truth". There is no need for futher apostles or a substitute for apostles, like a Governing Body, because we already have the teaching of Jesus Our Lord and of the apostles written in the Bible. The unity and the truth will come in this way.
I fully support what apostle Paul wrote:
14 On account of this I bend my knees to the Father, 15 to whom every family in heaven and on earth owes its name, 16 to the end that he may grant YOU according to the riches of his glory to be made mighty in the man YOU are inside with power through his spirit, 17 to have the Christ dwell through [YOUR] faith in YOUR hearts with love; that YOU may be rooted and established on the foundation, 18 in order that YOU may be thoroughly able to grasp mentally with all the holy ones what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of the Christ which surpasses knowledge, that YOU may be filled with all the fullness that God gives.
20 Now to the one who can, according to his power which is operating in us, do more than superabundantly beyond all the things we ask or conceive, 21 to him be the glory by means of the congregation and by means of Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.
Much brotherly love to you all
Jan