Pagină:Organization-part-I-1938.djvu/10: Diferență între versiuni

170 4:12) So likewise ‘‘The Society’’ is comparatively a youthful organization, having existed as such only sinee the coming of the Lord Jesus to the temple. Yet it is not to be despised for that reason, but to act in harmony with the will of God and the Lord Jesus. 38 When the Lord Jesus came to the temple in 1918, he did not lect an individual as his representative and servant, but did select a company of faithful men and women as his servants and formed them into an organization representing his kingdom interests on earth and made that body his ‘‘faithful and wise servant’’, to which he committed all his kingdom in- terests on the earth, which interests he designates as ‘‘all his goods’’. That ‘‘faithful and wise servant’’ he built up in Zion as a part of his capital organiza- tion. (Pss. 132: 12,13; 78:68-70) Therefore as the apostle Paul did not need ‘letters of commendation’’ (2 Cor. 3: 1-3; 1:1), so likewise ‘*The Society’’, which operates legally under the name of the Watcu TowrEr Brite & Tract Society, needs no letters of recom- mendation from any man or men, because it is a part of God’s organization. Its works, together with the results thereof, by the grace of the Lord, viewed in the light of prophecy, are in themselves ‘‘letters of commcndation’’ from the Lord himself. 3° Timothy had a ‘‘gift ... by propheey’’, (1 Tim. 4:14) Whether it was a gift of prophecy to Lim or previous favorable mention of him to Paul, at least “‘The Society’? has had previous favorable mention in or been prophesied of in the Seriptures, and the Lord Jesus Christ, the Great Elder, has laid his hands upon "‘THE Society’’, even as Paul laid his hands upon Timothy (2 Tim. 1:6), and so it sets forth the truth in the fulfillment of prophecies. Also ‘‘rebukes’’ are not now the prerogative of private individuals at the pleasure or choice of such, but such reproof is the prerogative of ‘‘The Society’’ against those whio have been entrusted with duties and responsibilities and who have proved undependable and unfaithful. (1 Tim. 5:1, 2, 20) ‘‘The Society’’ acts by and through its duly constituted servants, recognizing the great. fact that ‘God hath set the members in the body as it pleaseth him’ (1 Cor. 12:18), which he does by and through his Chicf Officer, Christ Jesus. It must be conceded by all who love the Lord that the Lord has perfected and directs his own organization. 37 Christ Jesus is at the temple as and for Jcho- vah, and he is there aecompanieu by his holy angels. There he has gathered unto himself the faithful who have been resurrected and also the faithful remnant yet on the earth, and above all and over all is Jeho- vah God. Surely the-Lord Jesus Christ has his own good and sufficient way of communicating with and instructing the temple company, which he does by and through his organization on earth in the manner that he has provided. Therefore ‘‘The Society’’ takes note of those mature ones in the organization (who are in fact elders, by the grace of God) ‘‘that rule [pre- fhe WATCHTOWER. BROOKLYN, N. Y, side over] well’’ the things committed to them. (1 Tim. 5:17,18) ‘‘The Society’’ therefore is the proper in- strument uscd in the appointment of servants in the various companies, which duty does not devolve upon individuals or congregations acting independently and democratically. (1 Tim. 5:22) This is done after prayerfully and diligently seeking the will of the Lord, and by acknowledging him and receiving his direction as he has promised. (Prov. 3:5,6) ‘‘The Society’’ performs the duties laid upon it by Christ Jesus, the King and Ruler. 88 Jesus Christ, Jehovah’s great Apostle or Sent One, and who is at the temple, has ‘laid hands’ upon “The Society’’ as his ‘‘faithful and wise servant’’ and visible representative. (2 Tim. 1:6) ‘‘The So- ciety’’ has been and is a ‘‘partaker of the afflictions of the gospel’’ and is not ashamed of Londs and im- prisonment for his sake, rejoicing to have a part in the reproaches that have fallen upon God and upon Christ Jesus. (2 Tim. 1:8; Rom. 15:3) ‘‘The Society,’’ acting as the servant and representative of the Lord, commits the testimony work to the Lord’s faithful witnesses now on the earth. (2 Tim. 2:2) They too must study to properly perform and set forth the will of God for his people. (2 Tim. 2:15) The policy of ‘‘The Society”’ is true to the instructions given to Timothy, to ‘‘shun profane and vain babblings: . . foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing that they do gender strifes’’. (2 Tim. 2:16, 23) As with Timothy, ‘‘The Society’s’’ mission is to ‘‘preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine. . .. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry’’.—2 Tim, 4: 2-5. 29 As Titus was instructed and commissioned to do, so likewise is ‘‘The Society’ to appoint servants.

• • Por this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shculd-

est set in order the things that are wanting, and or- dain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee.’’ (Titus 1:5) The oncs to be appointed are first care- fully considered, seeing that they are duly qualified, as provided by the Scriptures. (Titus 1:6-9) The exercise of its power of authority is not to be dis- puted, because done at the command of the Lord. ~-Titus 2:15. «0 Tt must and does exhort those consecrated to the Lord to be subject to the ‘‘Higher Powers’’, which are ordained of Jehovah God. (Rom. 13:1-4) For that recson ‘‘The Society’? would be unfaithful to the Lord and would act in violation of his command- ment if it should advise and instruct God’s pcople to salute men or the flags of any country or nation or to do obcisance to any earthly thing, thereby im- plying that protection or salvation comes from some creature or thing, and not from the Lord. (Titus 3:1) As Titus was instructed: ‘‘Avoid foolish questions, and genealogics, and contentions, and strivings about