"Q. Could not an earnest, aggressive organization (or sect), built upon Scriptural lines, be the best means of spreading and publish the real good tidings?
A. We believe that a visible organization and the adopting of some particular name would tend to increase the numbers and make us appear more respectable in the estimation of the world. The natural man can see that a visibly organized body, with a definite purpose, is a thing of more or less power. But the natural man cannot understand how a company of people, with no organization which they can see, is ever going to accomplish anything." (Zion's Watch Tower, 1883, page 6.)
"In view of these facts and also of the nature of the harvest work, and the addition. In fact that each one so gathered is expected to enter into the harvest work as a reaper, and will do so to the extent of his ability and opportunity, it is plain that the forming of a visible organization of such gathered out ones would be out of harmony with the spirit of the divine plan; and, it done, would seem to indicate on the part of the Church a desire to conform to the now popular idea of organization or confederacy.” (Zion's Watch Tower, 1894, p. 384)
"Beware of 'organization.' It is wholly un-necessary. The Bible will be the only rules you need. Do not seek to bind other consciences, and do not permit others to bind yours. Believe and obey so far as you can understand God's word today, and so continue to growing in grace and knowledge day by day." (Zion's Watch Tower, Sept. 15, 1895, p. 216.)
“To the whole series or messages of truth which he gave and which he continues to gives ever since the lighting have been flashing from the temple and upon the record of his word. The expression 'the word', therefore includes every revelation of truth down to and including the book Vindication and whatsoever shall be revealed and published, by the Lord's grace , as long as the remnant is on earth.” (Watchtower, April 1, 1932 p. 101)
"The claim of any individual or religious organization to be the interpreter of Gods sacred Word is false and misleading. No creature or organization on earth can truly presume to sit as the supreme tribunal of interpretation of the holy bible...Jehovah God is therefore the only Supreme Court of Interpretation of His inspired Word.” (Watchtower, July 1, 1943, p. 202)
"The ark of salvation that we enter is not a literal ark but is God's organization." (Watchtower, June 1, 1950, p. 176)
“We should meekly go along with the Lord's theocratic organization” (Watchtower, Feb. 1, 1952, p. 79-80)
“Those desiring salvation must make for God's organization, and find entrance into it and remain there permanently.” (Watchtower, October 1, 1952, p. 603)
"We are not living today among theocratic nations where such members of our fleshly family relationship could be exterminated for apostasy from God and his theocratic organization, as was possible and was ordered in the nation of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai and in the land of Palestine. 'Thou shalt surely kill him; thy hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people. And thou shalt stone him to death with stones, because he hath sought to draw thee away from Jehovah thy God. And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness as this is in the midst of thee.' Being limited by the laws of the worldly nation in which we live and also by the laws of God through Jesus Christ, we can take action against apostates only to a certain extent, that is, consistent with both sets of laws. The law of the land and God’s law through Christ forbid us to kill apostates, even though they be members of our own flesh-and-blood family relationship. However, God’s law requires us to recognize their being disfellowshiped from his congregation, and this despite the fact that the law of the land in which we live requires us under some natural obligation to live with and have dealings with such apostates under the same roof" (Watchtower November 15, 1952 p. 703-704)
"The slave’s will is Jehovah’s will. Rebellion against the slave is rebellion against God." (Watchtower June 1, 1956 p. 346)
“Let us now unmistakably identify Jehovah's channel of communication for our day, that we may continue in his favor. It is vital that we appreciate this fact and respond to the directions of the 'slave' as we would to the voice of God.” (Watchtower; June 15, 1957; p. 370)
"Whom has God actually used as his prophet?....Jehovah's witnesses are deeply grateful today that the plain facts show that God has been pleased to use them....Jehovah thrust out his hand of power and touched their lips and put his words in their mouths." (Watchtower, January 15, 1959, p. 40-41)
“To hold to the headship of Christ, it is therefore necessary to obey the organization that he is personally directing. Doing what the organization says is to do what he says. Resisting the organization is to resist him.” (Watchtower, May 1, 1959, p. 269)
"Make haste to identify the visible theocratic organization of God that represents his king, Jesus Christ. It is essential for life. Doing so, be complete in accepting its every aspect. We cannot claim to love God, yet deny his Word and channel of communication." (Watchtower October 1, 1967 p. 591-92)
"If you have a tendency towards 'apostasy', get a hobby and keep yourself busy to keep your mind off of it. Stay away from deep Bible study." (GB Member Karl Klein, Address to WT, April, 30, 1980)
"From time to time, there have arisen from among the ranks of Jehovah's people those, who, like the original Satan, have adopted an independent, faultfinding attitude...They say that it is sufficient to read the Bible exclusively, either alone or in small groups at home. But, strangely, through such 'Bible reading,' they have reverted right back to the apostate doctrines that commentaries by Christendom's clergy were teaching 100 years ago." (Watchtower, August 15, 1981, p. 28)
"Jehovah is using only one organization today to accomplish his will. To receive everlasting life in the earthly Paradise we must identify that organization and serve God as part of it." (Watchtower, February 15, 1983, p. 12)
"Jehovah God caused the Bible to be written in such a way that one needs to come in touch with His human channel before one can fully and accurately understand it. True, we need the help of God's holy spirit, but help comes to us primarily by association with the channel Jehovah God sees fit to use." (Watchtower, February 15, 1983 p.17)
“Bible students need to get acquainted with the organization of the "one flock" Jesus spoke about at John 10:16. They must appreciate that identifying themselves with Jehovah's organization is essential to their salvation. (Rev. 7:9, 10, 15) Therefore, we should start directing our Bible students to the organization as soon as a Bible study is established.” (Our Kingdom Ministry, November 1990, p. 1)
“A mature Christian must be in unity and full harmony with fellow believers as far as faith and knowledge are concerned. He does not advocate or insist on personal opinions or harbor private ideas when it comes to Bible understanding. Rather, he has complete confidence in the truth as it is revealed by Jehovah God through his Son, Jesus Christ, and ‘the faithful and discreet slave.’” (Watchtower, August 1, 2001, p. 14)
"By submitting to the slave class, God’s people also show their subjection to the Master, Jesus Christ." (Watchtower, October 1, 2002, p. 19)
“Since Jehovah God and Jesus Christ completely trust the faithful and discreet slave, should we not do the same? After all, the slave has shown itself to be faithful in doing its assigned work. . .The faithful slave is also discreet in that it neither acts immodestly, running ahead of Jehovah, nor lags behind when God's direction on a matter is clear. . .The slave is able to provide wise and timely warnings because Jehovah God and Jesus Christ are blessing it. The slave thus deserves our complete trust.” (Watchtower, February 15, 2009)
"If the Society told me that this book is black instead of green, I would say, `Y'know, I could have sworn that it was green, but if the Society says it's black, then it's black!'” (Brother Bart Thomson, District Overseer)
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