Post by ResLight on Dec 9, 2023 21:48:39 GMT -5
Are We Really Bible Students?
Brother Bob Carnegie presented a discourse regarding this at the 2011 Grand Rapid Bbile Students Convention. I do not agree with all of what he states, but much that he presents is similar to what I have been saying for many years. You may listen to this discourse: Are We Really Bible Students?
Brother Russell himself endeavored to separate his conclusions, his "interpretations" -- especially as related to Bible chronology and Bible prophecies -- from what the Bible actually says. He spoke of the scriptures as "evidence" for his conclusions, but he did not place his conclusions as being equal to or above what is presented in the Bible. He also admitted that he could be wrong in some of his conclusions. Sadly, many have actually accepted Russell's conclusions -- although selectively -- as being the same thing as what the Bible says. Over the years, I heard statements such as "How dare one think that he knows more than Brother Russell"; "If Brother Russell said it, I believe it," "We should not seek beyond what Brother Russell tuaght", etc.
I personally believe that Brother Russell, probably due to his illnesses, more or less allowed others to run the Watch Tower Society for a few years before his death. Thus, the idea that the Watch Tower Society was God's sole channel of communication appears to, at least once, appeared in the pages of the Watch Tower. The Watch Tower Society at that time, at least in the eyes of most Bible Students, was synonymous with Brother Russell, so that, in effect, it was being claimed that Brother Russell himself was "the channel of truth". Some statements made by Russell, however, during these years seem to indicate that he did not believe such. Nevertheless, for many Bible Students, this had become the central doctrine upon which they centered their faith, and not only that, fellow servants of Christ were being judged according to whether they accepted the WTS (Brother Russell) as being the only channel of truth. Although scriptures were quoted to allegedly support the "one channel" doctrine, the reality is that the Bible never makes such a claim, except that Jesus himself might be considered that channel.
A side point: Regarding 1914, Brother Carnegie does not mention that ever since 1904, Brother Russell was no longer expecting the end of the time of trouble, but rather that the time of trouble was to begin in 1914 and end some at some unknown time after 1914.
For quotes from Russell concening this, see the study: Russell, 1914, Time of Trouble and End of the World
In 1911, Brother Russell, in effect, stated that he did not find himself in the Bible, and requested others to not preach Brother Russell. This was ignored by many, and the final result has been the sectarian attitudes that many Bible Students have advocated.
See the study:
Russell, Russellites, Russellism and Following Russell
Russell himself consistently refused to accept any special authority over fellow believers.
See links to studies that present many quotes from Russell regarding this at:
ransomforall.blogspot.com/p/authority.html
Brother Bob Carnegie presented a discourse regarding this at the 2011 Grand Rapid Bbile Students Convention. I do not agree with all of what he states, but much that he presents is similar to what I have been saying for many years. You may listen to this discourse: Are We Really Bible Students?
Brother Russell himself endeavored to separate his conclusions, his "interpretations" -- especially as related to Bible chronology and Bible prophecies -- from what the Bible actually says. He spoke of the scriptures as "evidence" for his conclusions, but he did not place his conclusions as being equal to or above what is presented in the Bible. He also admitted that he could be wrong in some of his conclusions. Sadly, many have actually accepted Russell's conclusions -- although selectively -- as being the same thing as what the Bible says. Over the years, I heard statements such as "How dare one think that he knows more than Brother Russell"; "If Brother Russell said it, I believe it," "We should not seek beyond what Brother Russell tuaght", etc.
I personally believe that Brother Russell, probably due to his illnesses, more or less allowed others to run the Watch Tower Society for a few years before his death. Thus, the idea that the Watch Tower Society was God's sole channel of communication appears to, at least once, appeared in the pages of the Watch Tower. The Watch Tower Society at that time, at least in the eyes of most Bible Students, was synonymous with Brother Russell, so that, in effect, it was being claimed that Brother Russell himself was "the channel of truth". Some statements made by Russell, however, during these years seem to indicate that he did not believe such. Nevertheless, for many Bible Students, this had become the central doctrine upon which they centered their faith, and not only that, fellow servants of Christ were being judged according to whether they accepted the WTS (Brother Russell) as being the only channel of truth. Although scriptures were quoted to allegedly support the "one channel" doctrine, the reality is that the Bible never makes such a claim, except that Jesus himself might be considered that channel.
A side point: Regarding 1914, Brother Carnegie does not mention that ever since 1904, Brother Russell was no longer expecting the end of the time of trouble, but rather that the time of trouble was to begin in 1914 and end some at some unknown time after 1914.
For quotes from Russell concening this, see the study: Russell, 1914, Time of Trouble and End of the World
In 1911, Brother Russell, in effect, stated that he did not find himself in the Bible, and requested others to not preach Brother Russell. This was ignored by many, and the final result has been the sectarian attitudes that many Bible Students have advocated.
See the study:
Russell, Russellites, Russellism and Following Russell
Russell himself consistently refused to accept any special authority over fellow believers.
See links to studies that present many quotes from Russell regarding this at:
ransomforall.blogspot.com/p/authority.html
