The Governing Body Admit they Might be Wrong!

There is an interesting article in the study copy of the Feb 2017 Watchtower.  In it the Governing Body claim that they are neither inspired nor infallible.  Yet they still attempt to justify the claim that they are being directed by 'perfect' Holy Spirit.  If you want to read the article in full please copy and paste this link in your URL:

https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/watchtower-study-february-2017/who-is-leading-gods-people-today/#?insight[search_id]=95313a02-507e-49c4-a154-06a2341a2ac7&insight[search_result_index]=3

The following is taken directly from the article;

Who Is Leading God’s People Today? THE WATCHTOWER (STUDY EDITION) FEBRUARY 2017

“WHO REALLY IS THE FAITHFUL AND DISCREET SLAVE?”

12 The Governing Body is neither inspired nor infallible. Therefore, it can err in doctrinal matters or in organizational direction. In fact, the Watch Tower Publications Index includes the heading “Beliefs Clarified,” which lists adjustments in our Scriptural understanding since 1870.

I would hazard a guess that all of us are well aware that the Governing Body are completely fallible and far from inspired.  It can (and frequently has) erred in both doctrinal matters and organisational direction.  Is this admittance an attempt to placate the many members who are obviously disturbed by the child abuse court cases that are rocking the organisation?  To be fair to the organisation they have made these same admissions in the past but they have also, on regular occasions, insinuated the opposite.

"We will also increase our joy if we prayerfully and diligently study God's spirit - inspired Word and Christian publications prepared under the spirit's guidance." Watchtower 1992 Mar 15 pp.21-22

"When the time comes to clarify a spiritual matter in our day, holy spirit helps responsible representatives of the faithful and discreet slave at world headquarters to discern deep truths that were not previously understood. (Matt. 24:45; 1 Cor. 2:13) The Governing Body as a whole considers adjusted explanations. (Acts 15:6) What they learn, they publish for the benefit of all." Watchtower 2010 Jul 15 pp.22-23

"It is vital that we appreciate this fact and respond to the directions of the "slave" as we would to the voice of God, because it is His provision." Watchtower 1957 Jun 15 p.370

These are just three of many articles written by the Governing Body that insinuate that they are guided by Holy Spirit, without that caveat that their interpretation may well be wrong.

In reality, the recent admission leads to the obvious question;  If you admit that you are not inspired and you are not infallible, what is the point of 'perfect Holy Spirits' guidance?  Further, how can anyone believe you have the 'Truth' as you constantly claim?

The Feb 2017 article goes on to address those questions;

What evidence is there that the Governing Body is filling that role? (The role of Faithful and Discreet Slave) Let us consider the same three factors that directed the governing body in the first century.

13 Evidence of holy spirit. The holy spirit has helped the Governing Body to grasp Scriptural truths not previously understood. For example, reflect on the list of beliefs clarified that was referred to in the preceding paragraph. Surely, no human deserves credit for discovering and explaining these “deep things of God”! 

So what is this list of clarified beliefs?  It is the list of over fifty teachings the Governing Body have had to adjust because either, the prophesy they made didn't materialise or it became blatantly obvious that it didn't make any sense.  'Millions Now Living Will Never Die' seemed like a great catchphrase in 1918 but ninety eight years later it clearly needs revising - as did their claims that the generation that saw and understood the events of 1914 would be still alive when God launched Armageddon upon the world.  The 'deep things of God' they refer to have changed in the past and are just as likely to change again in the future.  Without 'accurate knowledge' from Holy Spirit, how will anyone ever know if they have got the current interpretation right or not?

So what is the next line of evidence that they bring forward to bolster their claim that they are the Faithful and Discreet Slave?

4 Evidence of angelic assistance. The Governing Body today has the colossal task of overseeing an international preaching work involving over eight million evangelizers. Why has that work been so successful? For one, angels are involved. 

Angels?  Can they produce any solid evidence that Angels are assisting them?

In many cases, publishers have called on individuals who had just been praying for help!

* The overall growth of the preaching and disciple-making work despite fierce opposition in some lands has likewise been possible only with superhuman assistance.

Is this evidence?  Anecdotal stories of desperate people reaching out at a time in their life when they are prepared to believe anything that gives them a better life and some hope? Do the Governing Body not realise that 'missionaries' from every Christian denomination have reported similar experiences for hundreds of years?  

Superhuman assistance?  Why would angels assist this organisation in recruiting thousands of new devotees when they are losing just as many each year to apathy, loss of faith and disenchantment? Surely the emphasis would be on retaining those who have already shown so much interest that they have dedicated their lives to the religion.  Again, they are not the only religion on a recruitment drive and Born Again Christians are also growing rapidly - are the angels helping them? 

So what is the third tier of proof that the Governing Body present to demonstrate that they have Gods backing as the Faithful and Discreet Slave?

15 Reliance on God’s Word. (Read John 17:17.) Consider what occurred in 1973. The June 1 issue of The Watchtower asked the question: “Do . . . persons who have not broken their addiction to tobacco qualify for baptism?” The answer was: “The Scriptural evidence points to the conclusion that they do not.” After citing several relevant scriptures, The Watchtower explained why an unrepentant smoker should be disfellowshipped...Has any other religious organization been willing to rely fully on God’s Word, even when doing so presents a real challenge to some of its members? A recent book on religion in the United States notes: “Christian leaders have regularly revised their teachings to match the beliefs and opinions gaining support among their members and in the larger society.” If those of the Governing Body allow God’s Word rather than popular opinion to guide their decisions, who is really leading God’s people today?

So lets take this final proof to a logical conclusion.  Nowhere in the bible does in prohibit smoking because of course smoking appeared much later in human history, however the Governing Body use the principle of valuing your God given body and health to determine that smoking would be wrong in the eyes of God and therefore an addiction that precludes a person from baptism.  Sounds reasonable doesn't it?  However there is another practice that WAS around in bible times that God specifically condemned.  Gluttony is frequently condemned in the bible and is usually linked to greed but do the Governing Body demonstrate reliance on Gods Word when it comes to gluttony?   

Absolutely Not.  I have NEVER come across a case where a Witness was disfellowshipped for being a glutton or where a baptismal candidate was disqualified from baptism for gluttony.  I have however known many gluttons within the Kingdom Halls, including many elders and circuit overseers.

Despite the Governing Bodies protestations, they have failed to provide ANY credible evidence that they are the Faithful and Discreet Slave Class.  Their admission to fallibility is hardly earth shattering unless you are a brain-washed congregation member and the fact that they admit that they are not inspired by Holy Spirit simply pours cold water on their numerous other claims, including; 'Christian Publications prepared under spirits guidance'. 'Holy spirit helps responsible representatives of the faithful and discreet slave at world headquarters to discern deep truths'. And '...respond to the directions of the "slave" as we would to the voice of God, because it is His provision'.

Someone needs to educate the Governing Body that evidence is tangible and unimpeachable. What they present as evidence is pathetic.