with no further recommendation than these blind guides’ own self-praise. At the same time he condemned the blind followers of those to come in Christendom who would not discern from God’s Word the requirements for men who lead and would not follow such for their works’ sake. This should emphasize the fact that all in Jehovah’s organization must be educated in theocratic activity and trained for positions of responsibility. That is because his organization is a theocratic society of ministers and not a hierarchy. When a vacancy occurs in one of the servant positions it is not filled by one brought in from outside the congregation, as one specially trained, but by one who has developed the necessary qualifications while serving as a regular part of the congregation and who has already demonstrated a faithfulness in discharging responsibility. For this reason each one in the organization learns theocratic procedure and seeks the position of an overseer, not by ambitiously endeavoring to secure the position of a brother faithfully performing that service, but by endeavoring to acquire through spiritual application those qualifications that would enable him to fulfill such a responsibility successfully if it fell to his lot.—Jas. 3:1; 1 Tim. 3:1-13.

17. Why is proper subjection so important to the theocratic minister?

¹⁷ One of the outstanding requirements of true overseers is humility. So it is for our individual and combined theocratic advancement that Peter wrote: “For the Lord’s sake subject yourselves to every human creation: whether to a king [that is, Christ Jesus] as being superior or to governors [that is, his visible representatives, the “princes”] as being sent by him to inflict punishment on evildoers but to praise doers of good.”—1 Pet. 2:13, 14, NW.

Trust Your Proved, Faithful Brothers

“Be obedient to those who are governing you and be submissive.”—Heb. 13:17, NW.

1. Why does love for Jehovah’s organization not ensure against the possibility of showing disrespect?

A CHILD’S home training is evidenced by his behavior. The favorable record that has been established by the New World society, then, speaks well for the excellent instruction received from the great mother organization above. Outright opposition within the New World society is almost unknown. But that is no cause for complacency. Most children really love their parents, do they not? And yet does that mean they are never disrespectful? Even the best-trained and best-mannered children will offend in small ways once in a while, and children who disobey mother must be disciplined. Can you still hear mother say, “You just wait till your father gets home, young man!”? Well, remember our proverb: “Reproofs of discipline are the way of life.” So when we are disciplined by our heavenly Father through his wifely organization it is to instruct us and help us to grow up and