Studies in the Scriptures, Volume 7: The Finished MysteryRussell, C. T. (Charles Taze)
Religion
Studies in the Scriptures, Volume 7: The Finished Mystery
Russell, C. T. (Charles Taze)
Bible -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.; Jehovah's witnesses -- Controversial literature
“A prominent characteristic of the Beast copied by the Image is the
honoring of a special class, the Clergy, with special honors and titles.
They are known as Revs., Divines, etc., but Jesus the Divine said: ‘Ye
call Me Lord and Master, and ye say well, for so I am.’ ‘Be not ye called
Rabbi, neither be ye called Master, for one is your Master, even Christ,
and all ye are brethren.’ (Matt. 23:8.) These titles are assumptions
fashioned after those of Papacy. When the various denominations began
their existence, more full of the spirit of Christ, they claimed no such
high‐sounding titles. The Reformers were not known as Rev., D. D., etc.,
but as John Knox, Martin Luther, etc. Unpretentious, like Jesus and the
Apostles, they were intent upon serving God, and therefore became the
servants (ministers) of the Church. But now the Clergy are far from being
servants; they are Lords. They have itching ears, loving the approval of
men. As pride and worldliness have come in, vital godliness and power have
gradually departed. For the very same reason, they are losing all power to
expound the Word of God—the gift of teaching—because ‘God abhorreth the
proud, but giveth grace (favor) to the humble.’ We find ministers of all
denominations ready to confess their ignorance of the Word. They appeal,
for their information, back to the early reformers, and thus confess that
they have less light than they. That their light should grow dim, and
their spiritual life become dwarfed, is the natural result of their
joining the Image, and subscribing to creeds made in the fifteenth
century, which, like the shoe of China, will not admit of any growth. It
is a shoe a little larger than Papacy put upon its followers, but of the
same sort.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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