Exposing the Jehovah’s Witness Governing Body

I think it’s fair to say, you had a boss at some point in time, and most likely do now. Do we have to listen to the boss? If you don’t want to be fired, it’s probably a good idea. But let’s say one day, a group of men come along, claiming the boss put them in charge, just under his/her position. These men must be obeyed without question. They now issue the truth, and can re-rewrite the company handbook at anytime. They can call you at home on the weekend and vacations days, and threaten to fire you and everyone else at any moment, should you disobey their new every changing rules. What’s odd, they can’t prove the real boss put them in charge. It seems they just appointed themselves overnight, and worse, use the invented position in an oppressive manner. I don’t know about you, but I’d quit.

Now that works for jobs, but what about something you can’t quit, like say life. The truth of life is a question to end all questions. I think we all would like eternal life, escape death, and meet God one day. If there’s a paradise in the afterlife, why wouldn’t you want to go? That’s like being offered an all expense paid summer trip to Maui, and instead choose to spend it instead in a chicken house in Delaware. Therefore, most people want to get their religious faith right, so they and others may enjoy the promised eternity. If there is a God, and the Bible is true, shouldn’t quit God. Thankfully Jesus looks to be a great boss, but there are some religions who claim there is a group, just underneath the boss Jesus, who are in charge of everything.

I’m speaking of Jehovah’s Witnesses and their Governing Body. What is that? They are currently eleven men, currently leading all Jehovah’s Witnesses across the planet. Every lesson, every update, every Watchtower magazine, is approved or created by these men. For Witnesses, these eleven are God’s only channel to mankind, tasked with dispensing the spiritual food, and accurate knowledge of Bible truths.

Without them, you can’t understand the Bible on your own, receive eternal life, nor survive Armageddon. Obedience to their direction is a must for every witness, and failure to do so is apostasy. From a Christian perspective, this Governing Body concept is frankly bizarre, and appears unbiblical, but not so for Jehovah’s Witnesses. They claim, “there has always been a governing body, just look at the early church, they had a group governing the early congregation, so it’s biblical!” Is there any evidence there was a governing body in the early church? ( NOTE: I am not addressing the faithful slave, that’s another topic for another post, I’m just approaching this from, Is there any scriptural proof for a governing body. )

A Governing Body in the 1st century?

First the words “Governing Body,” and how many times they appear in the Bible. Zero. Not even in their Jehovah’s Witness own New World Translation. Not off to a good start, especially since Unicorn made it’s way into the KJV, but let’s keep going.

Now tackling verses witnesses use to claim “See, right there, governing body in the 1st century.” If you head to their website, you’ll find they attach themselves mainly to Acts 15.

If read this chapter, there should be no confusion on what’s happening in this section of Scripture. Newly converted Jews were preaching Christians must be circumcised. Paul and Barnabas take issue, so they head to Jerusalem to correct these Judaizers. Witnesses take this chapter and say, ”see, right there, men in charge, which were the governing body, issuing new directives to the congregation”. Is that right? Nope.

They assume this is the governing body, however read verse 6 it says the apostles, and elders, came together to look into the matter. If this was an example of a Governing Body issuing new commands, why were the Elders involved. That is certainty not how Elders function in today’s organization.

Also, notice in the text, those part of the church are debating and arguing. If this was a governing body that must be obeyed, why didn’t they just apostatize them? They aren’t being obedient and a no witness would ever dare debate with a governing body member.

What makes this even worse from the Jehovah’s Witness perspective; who is sending them? Read verse 3, the Church.

This is a group decision, not nine men saying, “let’s go down and demand obedience.” What ends the debate, is who is approving what Paul judged the right move. In today’s organization, the governing Body issue new light, updates, and “accurate” Bible truths, through them alone. There rule is absolute, and does not involve local congregations, or a specific body of Elders. They are the faithful slave, God’s only channel, and the only men on the planet God is using to dispense the spiritual food. Is that what is happening in the early church. No, NO! Just read, the final decision is approved by the elders and church verse 22. Notice here, apostles, elders, and the church. Therefore, this included involving members of the congregation in making big scriptural decisions.

Another topic witnesses get stuck on is on the next chapter Acts 16:4. Paul is delivering ordinances, or decrees. The Witness is trained to see this as new light, or similar to a Watchtower or governing body update. What actually is happening, the church is warning the others about the circumcision issue that had been spreading. However, again what we seen with a plain read, look at who these decrees where issued by. Apostles, and elders. This debunks their claim of a Governing Body.

Now we get to the root of this issue in Acts 15. It’s worth mentioning; there’s an argument to be made, IF Paul was issuing a new decree, such as, “From now on, we wear pink on Wednesdays.” If that were the case, you’d have some room for debate, but he isn’t. It’s the Judaizers making new rules, Paul is clear in rebuking them. He’s very direct, saying Jesus set us free from works, stop trying to add them. His letter to the Galatians repeats, warning them not to add a single work to the Gospel, even circumcision. Paul isn’t making new doctrine, he’s maintaining the message of Christ. This was something already known, and they are maintaining the faith delivered once and for all. Paul is protecting the church from poisonous heresy that was sneaking in. This is not how the Jehovah’s Witness Governing Body operates today.

Another part they’ll latch onto is verse Acts 15:19, that says it was Paul’s judgment. The assumption from the Witness is, “it’s a judgment, a degree that congregations must obey.” However, context, the entire section must be read. Paul is not making new demands, he’s only saying, “scripture is pretty clear, it’s smart if we do this.” Example, If I say, “it’s my judgment we don’t throw a lighter on the campfire.” Would anyone in their right mind respond, “It appears DH is part of a governing body. All his friends and fellow campers must obeyed everything he ordered.” Firstly, they didn’t listen, that’s why there’s a hole in the tent. Secondly, I was making a wise decree, not creating a new rule for the group, I’m maintaining an old one. Trying to justify a governing body out of this is reaching and not treating scripture honestly.

Now the Witness will jump to Hebrews 13:17. It argue, “submit and obey your leaders, therefore that’s the Governing Body.”

That’s a ridiculous leap. Hebrews 13:17 isn’t being specific, as there are a wide range of positions of leadership within the body of believers. This could be speaking of pastors, elders, or deacons in the church. Does the text say submit to the Governing Body? No! Jehovah Witness leadership is doctrine into the text. The verse is about not giving grief to those shepherding the flock. If someone is part of a church, and the pastor has plans, the church should rally around and support him, even if they disagree. However, if his demands are unbiblical, you don’t have to obey them. The same goes with the Governments. Romans 13:1-3 tells us to submit to the authorities, but if they are demanding we worship other gods, you don’t have to submit or obey. The Witness Governing Body, is unbiblical, so denying your obedience is not only right, but wise.

Speaking on why a Governing Body is unbiblical, we need look to Paul’s letters and how his direction on how congregations should be ordered. In 1 Timothy 3, this section gives a detailed list of what to look for in leaders. Notice its elders, those charged with the teaching and preaching role. 1 Timothy 5:17, deacons, those overseeing of local affairs or issues within the church. There are several leader roles, just read, 1 Corinthians 12:28 first apostles, second prophets, third teachers.

How is it, that the most important position according to Jehovah’s Witnesses, is never talked about, or even alluded to? Because it doesn’t exist. It’s been invented by the leaders to justify their importance and maintain control over their members. All high control groups do this, and Jehovah’s Witnesses are no different. You submit yourself, but in a logical manner, knowing these people are under stricter judgment from God, and at any point you can compare what they are preaching, to what Scripture teaches.

Are the Governing Body apostles?

With all that said, today’s JW governing body will attempt to point the apostles and make the comparison, but this is comparing apples to penguins. Now to be fair, they don’t directly call themselves apostles, but it’s certainly implied. But instead applying the title apostle to themselves, they’ll do the reverse and apply “Governing Body” it to the apostles, claiming they were the same. No, those were the apostles of Christ. These men were tasked with founding the church, since they were witnesses of the risen Christ, able to preform miracles, write the infallible word of God, and preaching Christ resurrected and forgiveness of sins and were all brutally murdered for their faith. I almost dare the current Witness leadership to honestly put themselves on the same level.

This biggest issue, if they claim Paul was a governing Body member, why did he leave Jerusalem after dealing with the Judaizers and circumcision, and then go to Peter, and ask if he was teaching the gospel correctly? So from the JW perspective, he’s apparently in charge, part of this governing Body, yet submitting himself to Peter? That doesn’t make sense.

Bottom line, there is no verse that talks about a governing body, or even alludes to it. The apostles were not a group of nine men who demanded absolute obedience, dispensed new doctrines, voted in new members, claimed to be God’s only channel, or ever talked about a new government on a paradise earth. No such group existed. Not even the early Witnesses had a body that operated in such a manner. It wasn’t until the 1970’s when this “essential” group was formed. This contradicts their own new light doctrine. If the apostles were a governing body, and the light get’s brighter throughout history, why did it get darker through multiple leaders like Russell, Rutherford and Knorr? This isn’t God organizing his people in due time, it’s corporate restructuring by men in New York.

The Jehovah’s Witness might ask, “well who was in charge?” Easy. Jesus. 1 Corinthians 11:3, Colossians 1:18, I can keep going. Jude 4 says we have only one master, Jesus. That doesn’t work with Witnesses as they would claim they have three. ( Jehovah, Jesus, Governing Body )

In Ephesians 5:23 notice after Paul gives a list of leaders, he makes sure everyone knows who’s in charge, Christ. How does Christ guide the church? By his spirit, the helper, who guides all into truth. Some are tasks with teaching, preaching, evangelism, or serving, but all who are in a saving faith allow, the Holy Spirit to guide them so they can guide others. Like Paul said, what you need to know, is the Gospel. 1 Corinthians 2:1-2, Paul spells out he could care less what you know, what’s important is Christ and his death, his person and his work, because knowing Christ, personally is what saves you. Not a group of men, not an organization, not association with a special anointed group, only by your repentance and trust in Jesus Christ. Eternal life comes from following Christ, not charlatans.