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What happens when the Watchtower Society makes a mistake? In 1984, Karl Klein a member of the Governing Body, addressed this issue in the October 1, 1984 Watchtower page 22. He says, "World War I was raging, and even though the most prominent brothers had been unjustly imprisoned over the war issue, the need for Christian neutrality was not fully appreciated by those taking the lead. A few who saw the issue clearly took offense and separated themselves from the Bible Students, calling themselves Standfasters. They warned me that if I stayed with the Bible Students I would lose out on being of the 'little flock' of Jesus' anointed followers." Karl Klein although he appears to have agreed with the Standfasters in principle, goes on to say, "Mother, though not yet dedicated, helped me to make the right decision. I could not see myself leaving those from whom I had learned so much, and I decided to take my chances with my Bible Student brothers. It was a test of loyalty." Did the Watchtower
organization make a mistake? Apparently so because just
prior to World War II, they adjusted their viewpoint. Their
new viewpoint was now identical to that of the Standfasters. (See
the Watchtower, Dec. 1, 1981 pg. 29.) This is a perfect
example of the Watchtower's position that it is not
important if the organization is right or wrong. What is
important is loyalty to the Watchtower Society. The fact
that faithful followers of the organization believed in a
position before the organization did, was not looked at with
favour. Apparently it was not as important who was
right but who was
loyal to the organization. Did the Watchtower Society,
realizing their error and changing their doctrine, reach out
to the Standfasters and ask them to return to the fold? The
offical history of the Society, the Proclaimers book
published in 1993 does not even mention the Standfasters.
The Society's 1930-1985 Index lists the Standfasters as an
apostate group. Apostate in what way? Apostate in that
loyalty was more important than truth. Apart from the 1984
Watchtower there appears to be only one other instance where
Society literature talks about the Standfasters. The
reference is the July 15, 1964 Watchtower pages 441-3 where
the Standfasters are portrayed in a negative light. "As if
persecution was not enough trouble, the Devil began to cause
divisions and fighting within the ranks of God's people in
an effort to disrupt the organization from within. Some
ambitious individuals in the organization began selfishly to
seek power for themselves. They claimed that those in the
headquarters of the organization, known as the Bible House,
were compromising and were too broad-minded. They called
them 'broadviews.' This, of course, led to confusion and
misunderstanding among the brothers. What were they to do?
Should they remain loyal to those in the Bible House or
leave the organization? A number of persons who had
prominent positions of oversight in the congregations left
the organization. They called themselves the 'Standfasters,'
getting their name from the Bible book of Galatians where,
in the Authorized Version of the Bible, it speaks of
standing fast in the 'liberty wherewith Christ hath made us
free.' (Gal. 5:1) The Standfasters soon began wrangling
among themselves." The nature of the "wrangling" is not
described. It is worth noting that the writer said that the
Standfasters considered the Society too compromising without
revealing the specific issue. Nor does he mention that the
Society eventually decided that it was indeed too
compromising and changed their viewpoint on Christian
neutrality. This brings to mind a quotation from the Watchtower Dec. 1, 1981 pg 30 discussing patriotism: "One patriot even expressed it this way: 'Our country! . . . may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong.'" Many Jehovah's Witnesses still in the organization say "The Watchtower Society! May she always be in the right; but I will be loyal to her right or wrong!" |
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