The April, 2018, study edition of the Watchtower discussed why it was not permissible to post publications of Jehovah’s Witnesses on personal websites or social media. After an explanation of the need to protect congregants from expressing themselves on other websites, the article did say that individuals could forward electronic copies of literature, or links to the Watchtower website, through email.

The article then made the bold claim, “By directing interested people to our official websites, we are connecting them with the one true source of spiritual food, ‘the faithful and discreet slave.'”

The Governing Body Above Jesus

For those unfamiliar, the governing body of Jehovah’s Witnesses are talking about themselves as this “faithful and discreet slave,” based on Matthew 24: 45-47, “Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time? Happy is that slave if his master on coming finds him doing so! Truly I say to you, he will appoint him over all his belongings.”

There is really very little support for applying this bible illustration to the governing body of Jehovah’s Witnesses; yet, these men have presumptuously inserted themselves into this scripture, and have said that the “food” in this story refers to spiritual food, or interpretations and instructions about bible teachings.

In turn, the governing body has slowly, over the years, demanded that their followers adhere to their interpretations and teachings, saying that they have been appointed by Jesus to be this “slave,” and to dole out needed spiritual food. Following and obeying the governing body is a requirement for persons to be saved, and to have a relationship with god himself, or so they teach:

“We need to obey the faithful and discreet slave to have Jehovah’s approval.” (July 15, 2001, Watchtower simplified edition)

“But Jehovah God has also provided his visible organization, his ‘faithful and discreet slave,’ made up of spirit-anointed ones, to help Christians in all nations to understand and apply properly the Bible in their lives. Unless we are in touch with this channel of communication that God is using, we will not progress along the road to life, no matter how much Bible reading we do.” (December 1, 1981, Watchtower)

These are very interesting statements from them, as the bible says that Jesus is mankind’s mediator to god; 1 Timothy 2:5, “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, a man, Christ Jesus.”

One definition of the word mediate is to “convey (a message, gift, etc.) by or as if by an intermediary,” or to be a channel of communication between parties.

The bible does not say that any other man is needed for having this line of communication or relationship with god, or for having his approval. By making these statements, the governing body of Jehovah’s Witnesses are speaking for god himself, making the decision about what Jehovah demands and approves of, and have presumptuously added themselves into this equation of how god communicates with humans.

By ignoring the scripture that says only one man, Jesus, is the mediator between god and men, and inserting themselves into a person’s relationship with god, the governing body are elevating themselves to the same position as Jesus. Also, by saying that they are a “channel of communication” that god is using, they are actually putting themselves above Jesus, circumventing this “mediator” position he’s been assigned.

The Governing Body Above the Bible

Saying that they, the governing body or this “faithful and discreet slave,” are the “one true source of spiritual food,” also elevates this group of men above the bible itself. The bible says that it alone is all that’s needed for Christians; 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness, so that the man of God may be fully competent, completely equipped for every good work.”

This scripture makes no mention of, and leaves no room for, other men or outside literature or websites or anything else to be a source of spiritual food, much less the “one true source” of that food. Yet, the governing body of Jehovah’s Witnesses seems to be saying that the bible just isn’t enough; the bible is deficient when it comes to being a source of spiritual food, so you need their words and their literature, not just as a supplement to the food in the bible, but as a virtual replacement for that spiritual food!

Who Really is the Faithful and Discreet Slave?

If you were to consider the above illustration of the “faithful slave,” together with this scripture in Timothy, you might see how that slave could easily be Jesus, and the “master” is Jehovah. If Jesus is the mediator between god and men, that seems to imply that Jehovah has “appointed him over all his belongings,” meaning mankind. As this mediator, Jesus could very well have been the one instrumental in ensuring the bible was written, in order to provide needed “spiritual food.” By interpreting the illustration this way, it shows respect for the position of Jesus and the importance of the bible itself, without adding anything to those or other scriptures.

Yet, with absolutely no proof and apparently no understanding of the gravity of their words, the governing body of Jehovah’s Witnesses have usurped Jesus’ position as the one who mediates between god and men, and have elevated their own words above the bible as the “one true source of spiritual food.” If any Jehovah’s Witnesses still read the bible, they might seriously consider the words being said by their leaders, and how they should feel about it, in light of these words:

“However, even if we or an angel out of heaven were to declare to you as good news something beyond the good news we declared to you, let him be accursed.” (Galations 1:8)

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