Dear friend,
There were approximately 35 POINTS OF CRITICISM from Raymond G. Jolly made against Bro. John J. Hoefle in the March 1956 PT explaining his removal.
My study shows a grave injustice was done. This an honest attempt to ascertain the Truth regarding what was done with the L.H.M.M. after Bro. Johnson left the scene vs. what was authorized.
Read Parts 1-5 here:
PART SIX: Matthew 18:15-17
To begin we read Pastor Russell's writings regarding what Jesus taught in Matthew Chapter 18 on how to treat one another properly...
::R2356 : page 251:
Our Lord gives explicit directions where there is a matter of offense between two brethren (Matt. 18:15,17): "If thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother; but if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the Church [the company of brethren who assemble together]; but if he neglect to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican." If, under the captaincy of our Head, we heed his commands, which we will do if we love him, how few will be the misunderstandings and difficulties among the brethren. And if the true brotherhood in Christ is in any degree realized, the admonition of the Apostle will be gladly heeded – "Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing on." – Heb. 10:25.
"Accusations Against Elders
Elder receive not an accusation, except at the
mouth of two or three witnesses." 1 Tim. 5: 19, R.V.
The Apostle in this statement recognizes two principles. (1)
That an Elder has already been recognized by the
congregation as possessing a good and noble character, and
as being specially earnest for the Truth, and devoted to
God.
(2) That such persons, by reason of their prominence
in the Church, would be marked by the Adversary as
special objects for his attacks—objects of envy, malice,
hatred and strife on the part of some, even as our Lord
forewarned— "Marvel not if the world hate you"; "ye know
that it hated me before it hated you"; "If they have called
the Master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall
they call them of his household!" (Matt. 10: 25; 1 Jno. 3:
13; Jno. 15: 18) The more faithful and capable the brother,
the more nearly a copy of his Master, the more proper his
choice as an Elder; and the more faithful the Elder, the
more sure he will be to have as enemies—not Satan and his
messengers only, but as many also as Satan can delude and
mislead.
These reasons should guarantee an Elder against
condemnation on the word of any one person, if otherwise
his life appeared consistent. As for hearsay or rumor, they
were not to be considered at all; because no true
yokefellow, cognizant of the Lord's rule (Matt. 18: 15),
would circulate rumors or have confidence in the word of
those who would thus disregard the Master's directions. To
be heard at all, the accusers must profess to have been
witnesses. And even if two or more witnesses made charges
there would be no other way of hearing the case than that
already defined. Any one person charging wrong against
the Elder, should, after personal conference failing, have
taken with him two or three others who would thus become
witnesses to the contumacy. ..."
PART SIX
11. Matthew 18:15-17
Raymond G. Jolly = RGJ, words in brown
John J. Hoefle = JJH, words in black and white
Regan C Balman = RcB, words in purple
[11.] [RGJ] Matt. 18: 15-18 applies to
individuals within an ecclesia and to individual ecclesias,
but not to sins that affect the entire Church. The Old
Catholic error that what applies to an individual ecclesia
applies to the General Church has crept in among Truth
people.' You should surely know better than to advocate or
pursue such an unscriptural course!"
Additionally, at
about that time we learned that J.J.H. had been seeking by
discourses, question meetings, etc., to serve some of our
Epiphany brethren independently, refusing to confirm the
service through the Bible House, though asked by them to do
so, and though he had about four weeks' time in which to do
so. Thus he refused to co-operate in the Epiphany arrangement
that "If any of the classes or individuals desire Pilgrim or
Evangelistic service, please tell them to clear the
appointments with the Bible House or our representatives in
other countries, if time permits" (P '50, p. 30).
"His writings
contain much error and many falsehoods, misrepresentations,
slanders and evil surmisings....Now that J.J.H. has openly
attacked various features of Truth, and is spreading his
errors widely among the brethren...."
JJH Responds
[JJH
quoting RGJ] re: The JW's Disfellowshippings: "...On flimsy evidence
disfellowshipment is decreed, and is enforced by refusal of even
the common amenities of life, such as an ordinary greeting, or a
friendly look, or handshake. Along this line they are copying
the Society policies – ‘avoid them.’ ‘The instruments of
cruelty are in their habitation.’ Another unscriptural
procedure of Standfastism is the use of Matt. 18:15-18 by
Conventions. Matt. 18:15-18 applies to individuals within an
ecclesia and to individual ecclesias, but not to sins that
affect the entire church. The old Catholic error that what
applies to an individual applies to the General Church has crept
in among Truth people, and is manifest in the actions of
both branches of the antitypical Gershonites and both branches
of the antitypical Merarites.
Thus, RGJ is now placing himself in a most pitiable condition as he follows in the footsteps of the Societyites and with the Mushites, and departs from the faithful teachings of the Star Members on the Scriptural conduct toward disfellowshiped brethren. And be it noted, too, that he also brought disfellowshipment proceedings against us in a Philadelphia General Convention a few years back in direct violation of the foregoing, and in direct contradiction to his own teachings of the matter in previous Present Truths – when the truth on the subject served his then present purposes. And we may note well here that in the June 1, 1970 Watch Tower, p. 351, the Societyites have this to say:
“The basic position of a faithful Christian toward a disfellowshiped one – have no fellowship at all with him, not even speaking with him.”
Compare now the truth teaching by the “wise and faithful” ‘founder’ of the Witnesses’ organization concerning a disfellowshiped person: “He should not be passed by on the street unnoticed by the brethren, but be treated courteously. The exclusion should be merely from the privileges of the assembly and from any special brotherly associations, etc., peculiar to the faithful; This is implied also in our Lord’s words, ‘Let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.’ Our Lord did not mean that we should do injury to a heathen man, nor treat either in any manner unkindly; but merely that we should not fellowship such as brethren, nor seek-their confidences, nor as New Creatures give them ours.” (Studies 6, p. 303) What a contrast between the two attitudes!"
Read the entire example of a thorough Truth response from faithful pilgrim brother John J. Hoefle
MY FINDINGS RE MATT 18:15-17
[RcB] Brother Hoefle answered the issue of Matt 18 THOROUGHLY and did not receive an adequate response from RGJ. His proper response is mainly missing. And while it appears that JJH holds similar view as RGJ, only one of them behaved according to those beliefs.
Remember, these are Jolly's flimsy excuses for disfellowshipping a brother in Christ! We prove his excuses are woefully insufficient for such a despicable act, incidentally experienced by this editor as recorded here:
How do I tell my girls about our class break-up? and here Bible Students ecclesia breaks up on a sectarian rock
We Have Seen Brother John J. Hoefle completely rout R.G. Jolly thus far!
SCORE
RGJ 0
JJH 11
NEXT: Bro. John J. Hoefle continues to prosecute R.G. Jolly on mistakes, errors and outright lies in
PART 7: "BROTHER JOHNSON'S UNPUBLISHED WRITINGS"
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Yours in The Truth,
Bro. Regan Balman
