"Organization,
as commonly understood, and as illustrated in the various sects to-day,
we could in no sense commend; it is a bondage contrary to the spirit of
Christ and the apostles, as well as to their words. Such organization
prevents growth in knowledge, as well as hinders the rejection of errors
of wood, hay and stubble, already received. It selects by purely human
election certain men as the only authorized teachers, and so binds them
to traditions, that they can neither walk nor teach others to walk in
the path of the just, "which shineth more and more unto the perfect
day," while they remain in such organizations. Hence, such organizations
are not only not of God, but are radically opposed to God's methods." Pastor Russell Z836
In analyzing the attacks by R.G. Jolly against an innocent, brother John J. Hoefle, I didn't expect to have to comment on personal matters.
BUT NOW, my own brethren in my own ecclesia, those very ones who sent me all the documents highlighting problems in the L.H.M.M., have just recently chosen to split our ecclesia. WHY?
When I was interrogated directly if I believed in "Consecrated Epiphany Campers" I had to say
"No, I haven't seen it in the Bible myself yet, so I have to think the youthful worthy call is the only one open."
That's all it took. My entire family are cut off from them over this. Hey I know the drill, thanks to the writings of That Servant:
"As Papacy established the priesthood over the church, so Protestantism has established almost the same, and there is no opportunity for the body to edify itself, every joint taking part. True, there is a seeming show of liberty at prayer-meetings, etc., but it is only upon the surface, for the ordained pastor is to watch zealously lest anything contrary to the teachings of his church should be expressed, and if so to silence the audacious member at once, for the church creed is the rule, not the Word of God. If this is not sufficient, they must have a sort of church trial and excommunicate him ["kill him"]. The trial, by the way, gives evidence of another likeness to the beast, namely, the exaltation of the teachings of the organization above the Word of God, for all such are tried according to "the authorities" of their church. Z322
IMAGE worship is hindering hundreds from seeing the beauties of the Word of God. They may perhaps glance at it, and for a moment think for themselves, but that is all. The church discipline is so strict, and they reverence it so much, that a look or frown is sufficient to warn them that independent thought is a dangerous thing, and must not be indulged in, lest they be regarded as infidels. Would that all could see that these local organizations called churches are not THE CHURCH, but that the Church of God includes all Christians, all whose names are written in Heaven, and that when these local organizations attempt to come between them as children, and God their Father, or to put their creed instead of the Word of God, their assumed authority is not to be recognized, nor tolerated; and that it is our duty to rebuke it as sinful."
Here's just two quotes from the docs given me by the two brethren in my own ecclesia:
Dated Dec. 8, 2014, from the Executive Trustee of the L.H.M.M (yet not from the Executive Trustee?) we read:
"Some brothers find reason to continue to take a deviating course from the regulations governing the Bible Standard Ministries [LHMM] Movement. In Christian love for them I, under the guidance of our great Jehovah, have chosen to remove them from the privilege of any affiliation under the Bible Standard Ministries [LHMM].
There is only ONE publisher of God's word of Truth: The Truth Movement! These arrangements have been set forth by the great Jehovah through the vessels He has chosen to serve earthly and this practice continues to this very day!
Bible Standard Ministries must stand against anyone who knowingly and persistently agitates against any of the more important features of the Parousia and Epiphany Truth and its arrangements. The LORD has set in place the one who will properly do the representing, and who will set a proper example to the other brethren.
If one who claims to understand the Truth message and cannot see eye to eye with any of the more
important features of the Truth as presented in the P.T. and the B.S., he should first communicate with
me about it; and after he has had my reply or replies, if he still cannot see eye to eye with the pertinent arrangements or teachings the one's (sic) in error should step down from agitating against such arrangements."
In analyzing the attacks by R.G. Jolly against an innocent, brother John J. Hoefle, I didn't expect to have to comment on personal matters.
BUT NOW, my own brethren in my own ecclesia, those very ones who sent me all the documents highlighting problems in the L.H.M.M., have just recently chosen to split our ecclesia. WHY?
When I was interrogated directly if I believed in "Consecrated Epiphany Campers" I had to say
"No, I haven't seen it in the Bible myself yet, so I have to think the youthful worthy call is the only one open."
That's all it took. My entire family are cut off from them over this. Hey I know the drill, thanks to the writings of That Servant:
"As Papacy established the priesthood over the church, so Protestantism has established almost the same, and there is no opportunity for the body to edify itself, every joint taking part. True, there is a seeming show of liberty at prayer-meetings, etc., but it is only upon the surface, for the ordained pastor is to watch zealously lest anything contrary to the teachings of his church should be expressed, and if so to silence the audacious member at once, for the church creed is the rule, not the Word of God. If this is not sufficient, they must have a sort of church trial and excommunicate him ["kill him"]. The trial, by the way, gives evidence of another likeness to the beast, namely, the exaltation of the teachings of the organization above the Word of God, for all such are tried according to "the authorities" of their church. Z322
IMAGE worship is hindering hundreds from seeing the beauties of the Word of God. They may perhaps glance at it, and for a moment think for themselves, but that is all. The church discipline is so strict, and they reverence it so much, that a look or frown is sufficient to warn them that independent thought is a dangerous thing, and must not be indulged in, lest they be regarded as infidels. Would that all could see that these local organizations called churches are not THE CHURCH, but that the Church of God includes all Christians, all whose names are written in Heaven, and that when these local organizations attempt to come between them as children, and God their Father, or to put their creed instead of the Word of God, their assumed authority is not to be recognized, nor tolerated; and that it is our duty to rebuke it as sinful."
Here's just two quotes from the docs given me by the two brethren in my own ecclesia:
Dated Dec. 8, 2014, from the Executive Trustee of the L.H.M.M (yet not from the Executive Trustee?) we read:
"Some brothers find reason to continue to take a deviating course from the regulations governing the Bible Standard Ministries [LHMM] Movement. In Christian love for them I, under the guidance of our great Jehovah, have chosen to remove them from the privilege of any affiliation under the Bible Standard Ministries [LHMM].
There is only ONE publisher of God's word of Truth: The Truth Movement! These arrangements have been set forth by the great Jehovah through the vessels He has chosen to serve earthly and this practice continues to this very day!
Bible Standard Ministries must stand against anyone who knowingly and persistently agitates against any of the more important features of the Parousia and Epiphany Truth and its arrangements. The LORD has set in place the one who will properly do the representing, and who will set a proper example to the other brethren.
If one who claims to understand the Truth message and cannot see eye to eye with any of the more
important features of the Truth as presented in the P.T. and the B.S., he should first communicate with
me about it; and after he has had my reply or replies, if he still cannot see eye to eye with the pertinent arrangements or teachings the one's (sic) in error should step down from agitating against such arrangements."
This
document, which has the same spirit of the modern Watchtower which
claims to be "the channel" and "God's chosen earthly organization", also
has the same persecuting spirit of papacy.
It was signed "Bro. Leon Snyder, Executive Trustee". Meanwhile, Bro. Ralph Herzig was still the living Executive Trustee at that time, no new vote coming for well over a year.
It was signed "Bro. Leon Snyder, Executive Trustee". Meanwhile, Bro. Ralph Herzig was still the living Executive Trustee at that time, no new vote coming for well over a year.
entire public doc here: http://truth-beauty.net/dokumenty/inne/01--english--bro.Snyder's-letter-to-Polish-brethren.pdf
more:
"This letter of disappointment is issued to Thomas Matthew for continued wrong doing in the position he once held with the LHMM!! This appointment was given to Thomas Matthew with the understanding that he would continue to honor the contract he signed with Jehovah thru God’s chosen earthly Movement; the Laymen’s Home Missionary Movement.
You, Thomas Matthew have and are now displaying conduct that is not conducive to any Christian; especially one that has been invited into the deeper understandings of God’s word. As the Executive Trustee of the Bible Standard Ministries [LHMM] I remove you from any further privileges of service within this movement!!"
entire public doc here: http://truth-beauty.net/dokumenty/indie/01_Thomas_Matthew_dismiss_EN.pdf
He certainly uses a lot of exclamation points, perhaps as a helpful tool for someone who has not actually been voted in as Executive Trustee, yet who was signing letters as "Executive Trustee" months and months before there would be an election for that office.
And yet, I never complained about that, knowing of the illness involved. But they did.
Those brethren of mine who rejected me and my entire family over a non-essential doctrine lacking Scriptural support, also claim to oppose Leon Snyder, or so they said to us every time we saw them. And yet they remain in the organization.
"Let us remember that grumbling and talking against sectarianism while sticking to it, and avoiding the real issue, is not the honorable straight-forward course in the sight of our fellow men; and yet more important, such a course is not approved of God." Pastor Charles Taze Russell
Matthew 5:12 And whosoever shall exalt themselves shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble themselves shall be exalted.
It get's worse. When I sent to the Hoefle group asking for contacts of any brethren in my area who may wish to study, we were given the names of those very same two brethren who cut us off - the same two with whom I have fellowshipped, spanning three decades.
Those brethren of mine who rejected me and my entire family over a non-essential doctrine lacking Scriptural support, also claim to oppose Leon Snyder, or so they said to us every time we saw them. And yet they remain in the organization.
"Let us remember that grumbling and talking against sectarianism while sticking to it, and avoiding the real issue, is not the honorable straight-forward course in the sight of our fellow men; and yet more important, such a course is not approved of God." Pastor Charles Taze Russell
Matthew 5:12 And whosoever shall exalt themselves shall be humbled; and whosoever shall humble themselves shall be exalted.
IN THE END, HERE'S what the two brethren who sent me the documents, the same two who asked me my opinion on the errors, ultimately said to me:
"knowing your fascination with Hoefle,
We don’t see any possibility to continue to study Bible Truth together!"
It get's worse. When I sent to the Hoefle group asking for contacts of any brethren in my area who may wish to study, we were given the names of those very same two brethren who cut us off - the same two with whom I have fellowshipped, spanning three decades.
They had already contacted the Hoefle group before I did, saying they would be open to studying with whomever they could put in contact with them.
So NOW it's time for an exclamation point!
So NOW it's time for an exclamation point!
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2 comments:
What is Z836?
Zion's Watchtower, pg. 836
http://mostholyfaith.com/Beta/bible/Reprints/Z1886MAR.asp#R836
Thanks,
RcB
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