was Pastor Charles Taze Russell—was once considered the“faithful and discreet s?

Question

Jehovah’s Witnesses today deny this, but Watchtower
literature proves it. The Watchtower book The Harp of God (published in the
early 1920s) states: “Without a doubt Pastor Russell filled the office...and was
therefore that wise and faithful servant, ministering to the household of faith meat
in due season.” The Watchtower magazine (1920) likewise said: “No one in
present truth for a moment doubts that brother Russell filled the office of the ‘Faithful and Wise Servant.’” Indeed, “the Society by overwhelming majority
vote expressed its will in substance thus: Brother Russell filled the office of ‘that
Servant.’”The Watchtower Society Changes Its Story
By 1927 (slightly over a decade after Russell’s death), The Watchtower
magazine was singing to a different tune. No longer was Pastor Russell considered
the faithful and discreet slave. Following Russell’s death in 1916, there was a split
in the organization that involved the new president, Joseph F. Rutherford.
Rutherford took control of the Watchtower organization while members loyal to
Russell broke away. Those who broke away—the “Russellites”—have continued
to the present day to view Russell as God’s special servant.16 But the Watchtower
organization under Rutherford alleged that Russell never made this claim for
himself. Rather, Rutherford said, Christ’s anointed followers in the
Society—viewed as a group or an organization—is God’s collective chosen
instrument.17
Along these lines, the February 15, 1927 issue of The Watchtower magazine
proclaimed that the phrase “faithful and discreet slave” does not apply to a single

individual and certainly not to Pastor Russell. Indeed, the article notes, Russell
never claimed to be the faithful and discreet slave.18
Today, one will find multiple affirmations in Watchtower literature that
Christ’s anointed followers viewed as a group is God’s collective “faithful and
discreet slave.” For example, the book “Let God Be True” says that Matthew
24:45-47 “clearly shows that the Master would use one organization, and not a
multitude of diverse and conflicting sects, to distribute his message. The ‘faithful
and discreet slave’ is a company following the example of their Leader.”

This
“company” of anointed believers is led by the Governing Body of the Watchtower
Society in Brooklyn, New York, which may be considered the “administrative head” of the “faithful and discreet slave.”20
In keeping with all this, a 1969 issue of The Watchtower magazine informs
us that God’s faithful and discreet slave is God’s sole “channel of communication”
to His people.21 We are told that “we all need help to understand the Bible, and we
cannot find the Scriptural guidance we need outside the ‘faithful and discreet
slave’ organization.”

Now, in view of the Watchtower’s change of position as to the identity of
the “faithful and discreet slave,” you might want to ask the Jehovah’s Witness the
following questions:
• Did you know that in early Watchtower literature it was claimed that
Charles Taze Russell was God’s “faithful and discreet slave”?
• How do you explain the Watchtower Society’s change of position on
this very important issue?

Answer 1

Any so-called "change" was relatively minor (see below), and Jehovah's Witnesses certainly do not lie about the manner in which their beliefs have been refined over their 128 year modern history.

Jesus himself described the work that would be performed by 'the faithful and discreet slave' with his words at Matthew 24:45. Jesus said that "slave" would dispense spiritual "food at the proper time"; Jehovah's Witnesses in the late 1800's and early 1900's certainly recognized that Charles Taze Russell was prominent among those who wrote, published, and distributed "spiritual food" via the pages of The Watchtower and various other publications.

The connection between Russell and the term "faithful and discreet slave" is discussed frankly in several publications of Jehovah's Witnesses, including:
"God's Kingdom of a Thousand Years Has Approached" (pages 331-363)
"Jehovah's Witnesses - Proclaimers of God's Kingdom" (pages 618-641)


Jehovah's Witnesses have not abandoned their belief that Charles Taze Russell seems to have been a MEMBER of the COMPOSITE "faithful and discreet slave". Jehovah's Witnesses recognized the practical fact that a "slave" could not function throughout 2000 years of Christianity if it were a single human.

The May 15, 1995 issue of The Watchtower (page 17) should help anti-Witness critics to understand that Jehovah's Witnesses continue to identify Russell (and his associates) with 'the faithful slave':

[begin quote]
Judging by the results, there can be no doubt that Jehovah’s holy spirit was directing the endeavors of Brother Russell and those associated with him. They gave evidence of being identified with the faithful and discreet slave. Though many clergymen of the time professed to believe that the Bible was God’s inspired Word and that Jesus was the Son of God, they subscribed to false, Babylonish doctrines, such as the Trinity, the immortality of the human soul, and eternal torment. In keeping with Jesus’ promise, it truly was due to the holy spirit that the humble efforts of Brother Russell and his associates caused truth to shine forth as never before. (John 16:13) Those anointed Bible Students gave proof that they were indeed part of the faithful and discreet slave class, whose commission it is to provide spiritual food for the Master’s domestics.
[end quote]

Answer 2

Where on earth did you come across such old literature? Sorry, but you are living in the past! That may have been the view back then, but now we know better. The "faithful and discreet slave" is not viewed as an individual, but a group, because the scriptures indicate that the "slave" would dispense spiritual food till his master arrived. (Matthew 24:45-51) The master is Jesus. He died over 1900 years ago, but didn't "arrive"--start ruling as heavenly king--until relatively recently. Was Pastor Russell alive all that time? Patently, no! So who dispensed the food over all those centuries? It has to be a group, one existing over a period of time.
As to that fellow's point about anonymous translators: the Bible is God's Word, not man's. We want that fact emphasized. The translators specifically asked that their names NOT be put on the New Word Translation, so that no MAN gets the honor. Are other Bible translators as humble?
As to the point about declaring the end of the world many times: Wrong-o! We made that mistake once only, during Pastor Russell's time, and mainly because they were too eager for it to happen. Since then we've gotten a clearer understanding of scripture and "concerning that day no one knows"--Matthew 24:36.

Answer 3

Rather than adopt a rigid form of beliefs at which we hold to, Jehovah's Witnesses understand that our comprehension of God's Word is progressive. We do not hold to man-made doctrine or tradition. When, after further study of the bible, if it is determined that our beliefs are not in harmony --- we change them. That is why over the past century we have gone from celebrating Christmas, smoking, voting, amongst other things, and these do not even include the doctrinal changes that have been made.

I always find it kind of funny when people try and point out these kinds of things as if they have accomplished some kind of enormous feat --- when we have an entire publication that outlines all of the changes JW's have made over the decades.

Maybe a better question to ask is: Why is it that JW's are the only religion that makes these changes that may not be popular in order to adhere more closely to God's Word when the rest of Christendom seems to make the changes that are politically expedient such as homosexuality and nationalism, why do they seem to be going further from God's Word to appease the people? Shouldn't we be trying to appease God?

Answer 4

I would answer your last two lines of questioning with: I don't care.

C.T. Russell founded the religion I belong to. He did not found the Russellites. He had no objection to their being a new president after his death. He would be proud that with the backing of Jehovah's Holy Spirit the little group of Bible Students he associated with became a worldwide organization.

Answer 5

HITAN ( Democracy in Heaven )
--goal is to overthrow the CREATOR and install democracy in Heaven.



Jehovah Witnesses has given several dayes for Armageddon include 1914, 1918, 1925, and 1975.

By the mid-1960s the Society had apparently forgotten much of what it had learned about the hazards of setting dates. The book Life Everlasting in Freedom of the Sons of God, 1966, said on pages 26-30: (Italics added)

The time is fast drawing near for the reality that was foreshadowed by the Jubilee of liberty to be proclaimed throughout the earth to all mankind.... Most certainly the near future would be the most appropriate time for it. God's own written Word indicates that it is the appointed time for it.... In this twentieth century an independent study has been carried on that does not blindly follow some traditional chronological calculations of Christendom, and the published timetable resulting from this independent study gives the date of man's creation as 4026 B.C.E. According to this trustworthy Bible chronology six thousand years from man's creation will end in 1975, and the seventh period of a thousand years of human history will begin in the fall of 1975 C.E..... So in not many years within our own generation we are reaching what Jehovah God could view as the seventh day of man's existence.

How appropriate it would be for Jehovah God to make of this coming seventh period of a thousand years a sabbath period of rest and release, a great Jubilee sabbath for the proclaiming of liberty throughout the earth to all its inhabitants! This would be most timely for mankind. It would also be most fitting on God's part, for, remember, mankind has yet ahead of it what the last book of the Holy Bible speaks of as the reign of Jesus Christ over earth for a thousand years, the millennial reign of Christ.... It would not be by mere chance or accident but would be according to the loving purpose of Jehovah God for the reign of Jesus Christ, the "Lord of the sabbath," to run parallel with the seventh millennium of man's existence.

********* What is the groups name ( today ) that followed Russell?

Answer 6

certain. I settle for human beings are non secular and that i'm pleased with that, i do not attempt to impose my beliefs on them, telling them they should be atheist. I settle for gays and transsexuals and enormously a lot everyone extremely, see you later as they don't attempt to modify who i'm, or make out like i'm on the incorrect course. the way I see it, i'm instantly no matter if as I pronounced, i'm pleased with gay human beings, yet when a lesbian tried convincing me that I should be a lesbian, i'd probable shelter myself. If a non secular human being tries to inform me the in common words thanks to be at liberty or non violent or in spite of is via god, i am going to shelter myself. What maximum human beings do not comprehend (no longer only non secular human beings through any means, i have considered atheists attempt this too) is that 'open minded' does no longer recommend 'nevertheless searching on your course'. i'm completely chuffed how i'm, that is why i don't love it even as human beings get in my face about being 'incorrect', or why human beings accuse human beings of being closed minded.

Answer 7

it's tough when you put your trust in an organization, you tend to accept anomolies and out of place examples like this. They would be better off if they encouraged people to reaqd scripture and seek GOd, rather than fall into a trap of replacing th eword of God with the teaching of man... in principle they agree... in practice...well

even the anonymously translated New World Translation for example.... if another denomination came up with an anonymously translated Bible insisting it was the best... they would be dog meat .. but since JW trust and are comited to the organization they have a tendency to overlook the out of place ideas

face it... they predicted the world would end about half dozen times in the last century... that was hard to explain away but they do it about once every 20 years

Answer 8

Hitler was once considered a man who came from a good christian home, he didn't smoke, curse or get in juvenile trouble.


Look how he turned out. so what's your point,