Who is the "Faithful and Discreet Slave"?
The following is a study of the MAIN doctrine used by the Watchtower Bible
& Tract Society as their foundation for teaching that they have the authority on
earth as God's representative!
For Jehovah's Witnesses, the only spiritual authority on earth is the so-called
Faithful and discreet Slave (Faithful and Wise Servant) "class" and it's
governing body. The Witnesses are taught that this FDS and its GB has been
distributing spiritual food since the beginning of the Christian congregation
A.D. 33. To be a JW, one must believe this.
JWs must also believe that this FDS class was actively doing work when
Jesus came invisibly to establish His kingdom in the year 1915. They are
taught that the Lord examined the teachings of this FDS class in 1919;
they passed this doctrinal test and therefore were appointed over all His
belongings.
IN OTHER WORDS, THE VERY AUTHORITY THAT THE
LEADERSHIP CLAIMS IS BASED ON THE HISTORICAL
CLAIMS THAT THEY MAKE ABOUT THEIR AUTHORITY.
Our study will prove that these claims are false. What was happening in
1914? In 1919? The JWs were involved in the creature
worship of their singular leader, one Charles Taze Russell.
was no FDS class. There was no GB. There was only C.T.
Russell-who claimed the FDS was an individual. THE
SOCIETY'S OWN BASIS FOR SPIRITUAL
AUTHORITY IS DESTROYED WHEN ONE EXAMINES
ITS HISTORY.
The Society claims Charles T. Russell always denied
("disavowed") being That Servant because he believed it was a class, not an
individual. IF IT CAN BE PROVEN that he came to believe That Servant
was indeed an individual, not a class,this would show he claimed ("avowed")
to be That Servant.
Since it can be proven Russell believed That Servant is an individual, and
therefore himself, the PRESENT DAY WATCHTOWER SOCIETY, and
especially the governing body, is lying to JWs about their history. No
truth-lover will accept the spiritual authority of a liar!
1. WHO is Jehovah using as His representative today?
CLAIM A: The only true representative of Christ throughout
Christian history is the faithful and discreet slave "class".
". . . in the first century there were not two or more Christian
organizations. God dealt with just one. There was just the
"one Lord, one faith, one baptism." (Ephesians 4:5) Likewise
in our day Jesus Christ foretold that there would be only one
source of spiritual instruction of God's people."
CLAIM B: This "class" was found faithfully providing spiritual
food WHEN Jesus returned (in 1914).
. . . in the year 1914, did Christ find a "faithful and discreet slave"
class providing spiritual "food," or information> Yes, he found such
a "slave" made up of the remaining ones on earth of his 144,000
"brothers."
CLAIM C: The spokesman for the faithful and discreet class is
called the "governing body."
"This governing body is made up of members of "the faithful and
discreet." It serves as a spokesman for that faithful "slave."
2.
Should we be interested in the history of the faithful and discreet
slave as explained in the literature of JWs?
CLAIM A: We should be interested in doing research in the
publications of JWs, including older literature.
"It means reading the footnotes in Watchtower articles, some
of which refer the reader to an older publication that provides a
fuller explanation of a certain passage or prophecy. It requires
digging deeper, putting forth effort to locate that older publication
and then studying the pages referred to.CLAIM B: Knowledge
of the history of JWs is beneficial."
"History also points to the existence of modern Christians who
"keep on the watch," are "no part of the world," and put
God's Kingdom first. (John 17:16) This information has helped
many people to identify Jesus' true followers today. . .A
certain amount of knowledge about religious history has been
of benefit to these Kingdom proclaimers too."
3. How do we know the faithful and discreet slave gives progressive
spiritual food throughout Christian history?
CLAIM: Jesus has always given the spiritual food for the faithful
discreet slave class to distribute.
". . . their "master" appointed a collective "faithful steward" class,
the body of anointed Christians on the earth since Pentecost 33 C.E.
Since the "master" found the remaining ones of this body faithfully and
discreetly giving out "food supplies" when he arrived for inspection in
1919, he appointed them "over all his belongings."
"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."
4. Are JWs a "sect"?
CLAIM A: No. JWs do not honor a man.
". . . many of the groups and movements we read about can indeed
be called sects. . . Many of these can rightly be considered cults, since
they idolize certain charismatic leaders and follow their teachings
instead of God's Word, the Bible.
"
CLAIM B: JWs submit to a "governing body."
"Jehovah's Christian witnesses know and assert that this is no
one-man religious organization, but that it has a governing
body of spirit-anointed Christians."
5. How do we know the FDS with its GB is active in modern times?
CLAIM A: The GB has been in place in the modern organization.
established the Watchtower Society in 1884.
"Supplying information on the development of the modern-day
Governing Body, the December 15, 1971 issue of The
Watchtower explained: Five years later [in 1884] Zions's Watch
Tower Society was incorporated. . . They aided in the feeding
and directing of the slave class, and thus a governing body made it's
appearance."
For years, the visible Governing Body came to be identified with the
seven member board of directors.
CLAIM B: The FDS and its GB passed a doctrinal test by
serving the "right sort of food" since 1919.
"he wanted to make sure that his domestic affairs were in the right
condition. Had his appointed slave done as he was assigned to do,
namely, give to the "domestics" their "food at the proper time"? The
master needed to make an inspection. The serving of food, the right
sort of food, at the proper time was the issue. It had to be according
to this that a decision must be rendered by the returned master. . .
Down to 1919 C.E. they had endeavored to give "food at the proper
time" to the "household of faith" or the "domestics" of the heavenly . .
Not only was the regularity in serving the spiritual food a problem,
but the quality of the food itself was to be considered. In this respect
the body of hated, persecuted Christians, who always sought to be
faithful slaves of Jesus Christ, met the test."
6. Can we find the identity of the FDS by reading the modern
history of JWs?
CLAIM A: It is easy to find the FDS in modern times.
". . . it is not going to be difficult to find this faithful, happy,
responsible "slave" in modern times."
CLAIM B: Its identity was clear in 1914.
"Especially has the identity of this "slave" become clear at the time
of Christ's return or presence. The "slave" is identifiable by it's
watchfulness and by the fact that it is faithfully and discreetly providing
spiritual food as needed by all in the Christian congregation. ."
TRUTH: C.T. Russell, the president and founder of the Watchtower
Society, long before 1914, (and after it) taught the FDS is an "individual"
not a class.
". . . our Lord, the great Servant of his people, will make choice
of one channel for dispensing the meat in due season, though other
channels or "fellow-servants" will be used in bringing the food to the
"household.". . . Faithfulness on the part of the said steward (both to
the "Master" and to his fellow servants" and "the household") will be
rewarded by his continuance as steward;- so long as he serves
faithfully, he may continue. . ."
"In course of time this view was lost sight of, and attention was
focused more upon an individual man. The view generally held,
that Pastor Russell himself was the "faithful and wise servant" of
Matthew 25:45-47."
"3:14. And [unto] BY the angel.-The special messenger to the last
Age of the Church was Charles T. Russell, born February 16, 1852.
He has privately admitted his belief that he was chosen for his great
work from before his birth."
7. After Russell died, who taught that he was the FDS?
CLAIM A: Those who worshiped him as the FDS left the
movement. They became the "evil slave" class.
". . . this tendency toward the formation among his faithful followers
was displeasing to the one "who holds the seven stars in his right
hand." Under his guidance this tendency toward the founding of a
religious sect like the sects of Christendom out of which they had
come was fought against by those who hate unchristian
sectarianism.Those who chose to follow a dead man left the ranks.
Those who believed that the light of Bible truth did not stop advancing
with the death of the first president of the Watch Tower Bible & Tract
Society held to God's visible organization and continued searching
the Holy Scriptures in the advancing light."
"The "evil servant" class rejects present truth. . . These claim to be
feeding upon food which God provided prior to 1917, and they
claim that no food has been furnished since that date."
CLAIM B: In 1918, these failed the test of Christ for teaching
correct doctrine.
"By zeal and loyalty through tribulation and persecution this servant
(a class) must prove himself to be the "faithful and wise servant"
under Christ Jesus the Head and must be prepared for the witness
work after the Lord's calling to the temple in 1918. . . From 1914 to
1919 a most desperate attack was made by worldly governments
and by the "evil servant" class, headed by several self-styled leaders
who formed corporations and associations, each such group
claiming to be the "little flock" of Christ. In 1918, when Christ Jesus
came to the temple for judgment, he found such ones to be following
a man who was dead." . .
CLAIM C: After Russell's death in 1916, the "John class" stood
against those who were involved in sectarianism (creature worship).
"The John class, however, emerged from the tumultuous days of
the first world war with a love for Jehovah and for the truth that
impelled them to serve him with flaming zeal. They resisted those
who tried to introduce sectarianism through practically idolizing
the first president of the Watch Tower Society. Charles T. Russell,
following his death in 1916."
CLAIM D: In 1918, J.F. Rutherford, the Society's second
president, denied Russell was the FDS and declared he would
rid the organization of creature worship.
"Since Russell had been so prominent in the work from the
beginning, it was easy for many in the organization at that time
to look to him as an individual, rather that as a representative
of the entire organization. Rutherford recognized this fact and
realized that the president of the Society was merely an instrument
to be used to maintain the entire organization as a servant of God."
"Why, brother, if I ever get out of here, by God's grace I'll crush
all this business of creature worship if I have to get kicked out
for doing it."
CLAIM E: The Society claims a personality cult" was formed
around Russell. After 1917 things changed.
"Some were exalting creatures, indulging in a personality cult that
focused on Charles T. Russell, the first president of the
Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society. . . Then, in 1917, shortly
after the Watch Tower Society published a commentary
on Revelation under the title The Finished Mystery."
CLAIM F: In 1917 a book entitled The Finished Mystery was
published. It promoted Russell as the world's most
prominent "creature". This was sectarianism (creature worship).
"This book was called "The Finished Mystery" and furnished a
commentary. . . On it's Publishers page the book was called the
"Posthumous Work of Pastor Russell." Such a book and religious
attitude tended to establish a religious sect centered around a man.
The earthly creature made prominent therein above all others is the
messenger of the Laodicean Church-"that wise and faithful servant
of the Lord"-CHARLES TAZE RUSSELL."
CLAIM G: The Peoples Pulpit Association was responsible for
the publication of the Finished Mystery.
". . . and discreet slave." This view was prominently featured in
the book published in July of 1917 by Peoples Pulpit Association
of Brooklyn, New York. This book was called "The Finished
Mystery".
THE CLAIMS OF A-G ARE COVERUPS OF THE TRUTH:
(A) Those who stayed in the Watchtower movement after Russell's
death, worshiped him.(See quotes under claim F above).
(B) The Society and it's followers failed their own doctrinal purity
test in 1918 because they were creature worshipers.(see above).
(C) The "John class"(the Watchtower Society, called the People's
Pulpit, and it's followers) DID NOT stand against
sectarianism.To the contrary, they promoted it by publishing .
"Today those remaining of this anointed remnant are known world
wide as Jehovah's Witnesses. They were also his witnesses back
there in 1918. They are the ones designated in Revelation 11:3 as
"my two witnesses."
(D) Rutherford DID NOT deny Russell was that Servant in 1918.
To the contrary, he promoted Russell as that Servant.
There is no evidence of him attempting to rid the organization
of creature worship at that time.
(E) The "personality cult" around Russell was spearheaded by
the Watchtower Society.
"God had a channel for communicating Revelation. . . In his
great prophecy concerning the conclusion of the system of
things, Jesus identified the earthly part of this channel as "the faithful
and discreet slave. . . He uses this john class in unlocking the
meaning of the prophecy."
(F) The admission that The Finished Mystery promoted sectarianism
(unwittingly) the admission that the Society promoted creature
worship.
(G) The mention of the Peoples Pulpit Association as the publisher
of the Finished Mystery is an attempt to confuse the issue. Many
JWs have never heard of the People's Pulpit Association and often
confuse it with a group which broke off from the Watchtower
movement after Russell died. Yet, it is the former name of the
Watchtower Society of N.Y. If one know this fact, one knows
the Society promoted sectarianism.
8. Are the following CLAIMS examples of "sectarianism"?
YES. The documents in which these points are made promoted
the creature worship of C.T. Russell:
A. The truth came to the Bible Students (JWs) only through Russell.
"Present truth came to us through Pastor Russell as
heavenly seed."
B. The FDS was an individual.
"Clearly, then, the Lord foretold an office that would be filled by
a man. We believe that almost all if not quite all, the readers of The
Watch Tower will agree that the man whom the Lord chose to fill
that office was that modest, humble, and faithful servant, Brother
Russell. If we agree to this, then we should likewise unanimously
reach the conclusion that the Lord directed and overruled the work
performed by Brother Russell."
C. If we don't believe Russell=the FDS, we repudiate the Lord.
"To abandon or repudiate the Lord's chosen instrument means to
abandon or repudiate the Lord himself, upon the principle that he
who rejects the servant sent by the Master thereby rejects the
Master. . . Brother Russell was the Lord's servant. Then to repudiate
him and his work is equivalent to a repudiation of the Lord."
D. Satan will attempt to persuade us that Russell is not the Servant.
"Satan would have such cast away much that the Lord has
provided for his people and has brought forth upon his table
through his wise and faithful steward. . . But no true child of God
will thus be deceived."
E. We are deceivers if we say Russell is not the Servant.
"God gave Brother Russell to the church to be as a mouthpiece
for him; and those who claim to have learned the truth apart from
Brother Russell and his writings have been manifested by the Lord
as deceivers.."
F. Only Russell is our "pastor."
"As to the use of the term "pastor," that properly applied to Brother
Russell because he occupied the office of special servant of the
to the church. But it hardly seems proper to apply that term to other
brethren."
G.We all believe Russell is the Servant.
"No one in present truth for a moment doubts that Brother Russell
filled the office of the "faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath
made ruler over his household to give them meat in due season."
H. Russell did a greater work than any other man.
". . . and in practically every home of the United States and Canada
Pastor Russell is known. He did a greater work for the cause of
Messiah's kingdom than did any other man that ever lived on the
earth."
For more information on the subject complete with photocopies,
please see the book, Who is the Faithful & Discreet Slave. Magnani 1992
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