Jah-son
Well-known member
Yes, it is very arrogant and part of their "visable presence" agenda IMO. Someone else mentioned that humans naturally seek out visable leaders (hence the Israelites request for a human king, which Jehovah condemned). The GB knows this all too well. In the past, they (the org) have been careful to humbly direct attention to Jesus and Jehovah as our leaders. I think many of us appreciated that and were actually drawn to the organization because of this humility and direction to give honor only to Jehovah and his Christ.It occurs to me that the voices of the governing body are the readers of the 2014 NWT Audio. I listen to it a lot, and did not realize until recently that I have been listening to the governing body the whole time, for years. They are certainly not the voice of strangers if they are speaking the actual word of God to me every day... they are very well known to me. Yet I am not fooled by their lies even though they are not at all strangers by the sound of their voice.
I wonder if most JWs realize that they have the governing body in their ear all the time? It is a subtle way to manipulate people when the people know your voice and associate it with the word of God. Sure makes deception easier, I think.
When I first studied, I knew of Russell and Rutherford but that's about it. I didn't really know who the current GB were and didn't really care to know. When the "proclaimers" book was released, I was reluctant to read it for the very reason of not wanting to give undue attention to men and their accomplishments. I understand that Jehovah uses men to accomplish his will but glory should always be directed to Jehovah for this. I get very uncomfortable when any person or persons begin to be highlighted over others. This move toward an increasingly visable GB began in the early 2000's as I recall and has been progressing ever since. Used to be one had to search to find out who the GB members were. Now it is unmistakable. They are in our faces as much as possible. I knew right away who the voices were in the reading of the audio Bible. Almost every mid-week meeting now, there they are, in some video presentation. Broadcasts, Updates, Giliad graduation, morning worship talks, annual meetings. My question is, where is Jesus Christ?! He's been relegated to some invisible presence working from behind the spiritual "curtain" while the GB have taken center stage, providing all of your wonderful spiritual food for you. Who needs Christ?
And where are the other co-rulers here on earth? Where is their recognition? Where is their contribution? Christ said, you are all brothers. No one should be elevated. All should be able to have input and contribute. Remember when all of the anointed as a whole body were considered to be the FFDS? Now it's just 8 men! How did that happen? Who approved that change? Why didn't the other anointed protest?
This is what they have done, progressively elevating themselves as Christ fades into the background as some mythical figure.