The latest Watchtower power grab, does it alienate thousands of Faithful and discreet slaves of Jehovah?

Charles Russell, who founded the Bible Students, the predecessors of today's Jehovah's Witnesses, claimed to be the 'faithful and discrete slave' that Jesus talked about but they now say that 'the evil slave class' came from amongst those who followed Russell (Watchtower 1 March 2004 - That Evil Slave). They still believe that the 'evil slave' were the original Bible Students who broke away from the organisation after Rutherford took over. Bible Students 1911 Convention Report, the Foreword - "Our reason was, we have FAITH that the Lord has returned in 1874, that HE is the CHIEF REAPER in this 'Harvest', that HE has been supervising the work, for now about thirty-seven years, and that HE has placed Pastor Russell in charge of the work this side of the veil.

We are glad therefore to recognize him as 'that servant', spoken of by the Lord." Russell himself gave detailed arguments opposing the idea of a 'composite steward' or slave-class, and argued in support of an individual being the 'faithful and wise servant' in Zion's Watch Tower 15 April 1904 (which journal he edited and published). 1921 - Studies In The Scriptures, Volume 7, page 236: “In 1878 the stewardship of the things of God, the teaching of Bible truths, was taken from the clergy, unfaithful to their age long stewardship, and given to Pastor Russell… Then, in 1881 he became God’s watchman for all Christendom, and began his gigantic work of witness.

However, in 1979 an article in the 1 March Watchtower (page 24) discredited Russell: “In this regard, however, it must be observed that this ‘faithful and discrete slave’ was never inspired, never perfect… Things published were not perfect in the days of Charles Taze Russell, first president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, nor were they perfect in the days of J.F. Rutherford, the succeeding president. The increasing light on God’s Word as well as the facts of history have repeatedly required that adjustments of one kind or another be made down to the very present time. But let us never forget the motives of this ‘slave’ were always pure, unselfish; at all times it has been well meaning.

The Society then changed focus away from 1878 and from their belief that they would be taken to heaven by 1 October 1914. They said that Jehovah had allowed them to draw a wrong conclusion about their expectations for 1914! After Charles Russell died on 31 October 1916, his successor, Joseph Franklin Rutherford wrested control away from the Board of Directors (by using a legal loophole to make them redundant) and Rutherford was appointed as second president.

He then systematically discredited Russell and managed to get rid of most of his previous false predictions about dates. Jehovah's Witnesses say that Jehovah chose their organisation as his sole channel of communication in 1919 and anything they got wrong has now been "corrected" by new light. Charles Russell, Rutherford and other leaders are known to have mistreated others, appropriated funds for their own use, committed adultery and abused alcohol.

I see Watchtower of Babel has provided you with the links. EDIT: The quotations I have given come from Watchtower Society literature, Jehovah's Witness material and are veifiable. I do not hate Jehovah's Witnesses - only the fact they have been deceived by their leaders.

I pray for them that one day the Holy Spirit will remove the scales from their eyes. Watchtower 1 March 2004 'That Evil Slave': "Yes, the “evil slave” came from the ranks of the faithful slave. How?

Before 1914, many members of the faithful slave class had high hopes of meeting with the Bridegroom in heaven that year, but their hopes were not fulfilled. As a result of this and other developments, many were disappointed and a few became embittered. Some of these turned to ‘beating’ their former brothers verbally and consorting with “confirmed drunkards,” religious groups of Christendom.

—Isaiah 28:1-3; 32:6." By 1930, 75% of the original Bible Students had left the Society. Memorial attendance for 1925 approx 90,000.

Memorial attendance for 1928 approx 20,000. Page 101-102 "The great majority of Bible Students were unable to accept or even wait for the revisions to doctrine in light of the failure of 1925 and by 1928 virtually the whole of the substantial post-war increase in numbers was lost.

This doctrine of the "faithful and discreet slave class" is puzzling both to active (if honest with themselves) and former members. Mainly because of the obvious contradictions of the simple observation of its application in the day to day life of individual members of the 'class' of anointed ones. Both my mother and father and all of their immediate Jw family members were of this "faithful and discreet slave class", in fact they lived at Bethel during the very time this class was supposedly 'sealed on earth' Both my parents acknowledged that they personally had never contributed to the teachings of Jehovah's Witnesses, nor did they know any of their immediate families who had ever done so.

The jw leadership made up of just a few select men act as this supposed 'slave'. This truth is known by some of the jw membership, but they turn a blind eye toward the reality in accepting the lie. I challenge any active jw who may personally know a professed member of this 'anointed class' who will admit that they have ever taught or even been consulted on any current or past Jw doctrine.

Now I will qualify this with a couple of exceptions any who are related to current or past 'governing body' members, Nathan Knorr, Fred Franz, Joseph F. Rutherford, Charles Taze Russell, or any of the 'anointed' members of the Writing Dept at Bethel. With the exception of my exceptions, I can positively guarantee that no member of 'the anointed faithful and discreet slave class' can point to any personal or even collective teachings that the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society has ever published or even promoted or solicited from this 'worldwide' group.

Now having said that. The question is how can you claim to to believe a doctrine, that is unsupportable by observation and practice? Just another claim that cannot be proven one iota as 'truth.

I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.