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Do Christians Have Human Leaders?

On the Mount of Olives, Jesus asked a question that to Jehovah’s Witnesses has profound meaning: “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave

whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time?” (Mat 24:45) Upon this one passage, the central doctrine

of the Jehovah’s Witnesses’ faith hangs. This is the sole evidence presented by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of its authority over

(currently) more than 7 million Jehovah’s Witnesses. In their understanding, Jesus goes on to assure them in verse 27, “Truly I say to YOU, He will

appoint him over all his belongings.” In the congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses, that is an open-and-shut case permitting humans to lead other

humans in Christ’s congregation. All other doctrines of Jehovah’s Witnesses hang on this one, because all Jehovah’s Witnesses are required to obey

and follow all doctrine and counsel from this source as if God himself spoke it.

We also have “the faithful and discreet slave,” appointed by Jesus to provide spiritual “food at the proper time.” (Matthew 24:45-47) Thus, God is still

speaking. But are we listening? For example, how do we respond to counsel about dress and grooming or choice of entertainment and music? Do

we “listen,” that is, pay attention to and obey what is being heard? - Watchtower 7/15/1998 p.12

To act consistently with our baptism for life and into the Greater Noah we must submit to and cooperate with that slave and its legal instrument, the

Watch Tower Society. - Watchtower 10/1/1959 p.583

All in the congregation submit to the arrangement that Jesus made for “the faithful and discreet slave” to provide spiritual food at the proper time. -

Watchtower 3/15/2008 p.4

We need to obey the faithful and discreet slave to have Jehovah’s approval - Watchtower - Simplified English Edition 7/15/2011

There are many other examples, but they pretty much all say variations of the same thing. So, whom do Jehovah’s Witnesses identify as this “faithful

and discreet slave”? Actually, that’s a rather confusing subject, even for active, long-time, well-versed Jehovah’s Witnesses. One would think they’d

be readily able to identify this “slave” if they are to obey and follow it. Perhaps the Watchtower – the main source of doctrine and information for

Jehovah’s Witnesses – will shed some light on this.

How, then, can we be friends of Christ? One way is to obey the direction provided by the faithful and discreet slave class, which consists of Jesus’

spirit-anointed brothers still alive on earth. - Watchtower 10/15/2009 p.15

Anyone familiar with Jehovah’s Witness doctrine will understand this refers to the “144,000” referred to in Revelation chapters 7 and 14. It is believed

most of this total number have already died, but the few thousand remaining constitute “the faithful and discreet slave”. They are anointed by God to

a Heavenly calling to be kings and priests (Rev 5:10, 20:4-6) over a new earth (2Pet 3:13). In 2010, over 11,000 Jehovah’s Witnesses proclaimed

their status as belonging to this group by partaking of the emblems at the annual Memorial of Christ’s evening meal. Some interesting things are said

about this group, in the Bible.

And as for YOU, the anointing that YOU received from him remains in YOU, and YOU do not need anyone to be teaching YOU – 1John 2:27

But YOU, do not YOU be called Rabbi, for one is YOUR teacher, whereas all YOU are brothers. Moreover, do not call anyone YOUR father on earth,

for one is YOUR Father, the heavenly One. Neither be called ‘leaders,’ for YOUR Leader is one, the Christ. – Mat 23:8-10

It would seem that Jehovah’s Witnesses who are of the “anointed” answer solely to Christ and are imbued miraculously with spiritual knowledge,

while the average Jehovah’s Witness is relegated to a secondary “companion” status to these, “Christ’s brothers”. If that is the case then, what do

these mean?

The anointed and their other sheep companions recognize that by following the lead of the modern-day Governing Body, they are in fact following

their Leader, Christ. - Watchtower 9/15/2010 p.23

They do not believe that their being of the anointed gives them special insights beyond what even some experienced members of the “great crowd”

may have. - Watchtower 6/15/2009 p.23

If the “anointed” and “the faithful and discreet slave” are one and the same, then why do they have teachers and leaders? Jesus told his apostles

they were all brothers and when they jockeyed for position above one another, Christ counseled them.

YOU, though, are not to be that way. But let him that is the greatest among YOU become as the youngest, and the one acting as chief as the one

ministering. – Luke 22:26

But, these men are “the faithful and discreet slave”, right? Jesus said he’d put them in charge, right? Well, what else did Jesus say?

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But if ever that evil slave should say in his heart, ‘My master is delaying,’ and should start to beat his fellow slaves and should eat and drink with the

confirmed drunkards, the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect and in an hour that he does not know, and will punish him

with the greatest severity and will assign him his part with the hypocrites. There is where [his] weeping and the gnashing of [his] teeth will be. – Mat

24:48-51

Jehovah’s Witnesses have a long history of setting dates for the end of the world and those dates passing without event. At first, back when they

were still called “Bible Students”, they believed Christ had returned invisibly in 1874 and all Christians would be whisked to Heaven by 1914. That

didn’t happen. They gave Jesus 31⁄2 more years, to reflect his earthly ministry, expecting their eternal reward to come in 1918. That didn’t happen

either. Similar end-time dates of 1920, 1925, and 1975 – among many other dates and timeframes – were calculated and preached, but all fell flat.

Has a portion of the “slave” begun to feel “My master is delaying” and begun to “beat” the rest, in a display of self-assumed greatness?

But who is “the faithful and discreet slave”, if it obviously isn’t the 7 (as of the creation of this paper) men who make up the Governing Body of the

Watchtower Bible and Tract Society? Does Jesus ever identify them? Not clearly. In fact, many things happen in Matthew chapter 24 before this

“faithful and discreet slave” is even mentioned in verses 45-47. How did we get to this point without seeing these things transpire?

for then there will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again. – Mat 24:21

Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, and the stars will fall from heaven, and

the powers of the heavens will be shaken. – Mat 24:29

Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken along and the other be abandoned; two women will be grinding at the hand mill: one will be taken

along and the other be abandoned. – Mat 24:40-41

Does it even make sense to believe the 7 men in charge of the Watchtower printing empire, described by the following Watchtower quotes, an

honest representation of God’s plan for Christ’s followers?

Jehovah poured out his spirit upon them and assigned them the responsibility of serving as his sole visible channel, through whom alone spiritual

instruction was to come. Those who recognize Jehovah's visible theocratic organization, therefore, must recognize and accept this appointment of

the "faithful and discreet slave" and be submissive to it. – Watchtower 10/1/1967 p.590

Through this agency he is having carried out prophesying on an intensified and unparalleled scale. All this activity is not an accident. Jehovah is the

one behind all of it. The abundance of spiritual food and the amazing details of Jehovah's purposes that have been revealed to Jehovah's anointed

witnesses are clear evidence that they are the ones mentioned by Jesus when he foretold a "faithful and discreet slave" class – Watchtower

6/15/1964 p.365

The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ own writings declare only the Governing Body is in charge. The other 11,000+ “anointed” are of no consequence in

making doctrine or demanding obedience. All authority and right of Bible interpretation is in the hands of a tiny minority of men who claim leadership.

Are all these anointed ones throughout the earth part of a global network that is somehow involved in revealing new spiritual truths? No. ... a limited

number of anointed men have the responsibility of representing the slave class. They make up the Governing Body of Jehovah’s Witnesses. –

Watchtower 6/15/2009 p.24

Repeatedly the Scriptures warn against human leadership, so would it make sense that Jesus would put a group of men in a position of authority that

is to be blindly obeyed, unquestioned, and treated as prophets of God? What is God’s opinion of humans leading humans?

Do not put YOUR trust in nobles, Nor in the son of earthling man, to whom no salvation belongs. – Psa 146:3

For YOUR own sakes, hold off from the earthling man, whose breath is in his nostrils, for on what basis is he himself to be taken into account? – Isa

2:22

It is better to take refuge in Jehovah Than to trust in earthling man. – Psa 118:8

This is what Jehovah has said: “Cursed is the able-bodied man who puts his trust in earthling man and actually makes flesh his arm, and whose

heart turns away from Jehovah himself. – Jer 15:5

The Bible clearly identifies Christ Jesus as the leader of Christians (1Cor 11:3, Eph 5:23-24). There were other times when God had instituted a

leader for his people and humans rejected it, in favor of their own selfish desires. One of these times was early in the Jewish nation. Before they had

even settled, and were still wandering around in the wilderness after leaving Egypt, Moses had been appointed by God as prophet and to lead Israel

to the Promised Land. In Numbers, chapter 16, we read of about 250 rebels who rose up and confronted Moses. They didn’t believe one prophet

should lead them, but insisted he share his position with them. At this time, Jehovah was very hands-on with his people and these men were