Nov 11, 2009 -- 2:54PM, Idenitycrisis wrote:

That sounds like a wonderful motivational factor. I suppose any other motive would render one's worship "futile" to say the least. I  hope I didn't come across as "crass" or "tricky" as I've seen many "different opinions" about Jehovah's witnesses. I imagine at times there may be a pull toward one's own "reasoning ability,"even if it doesn't match up with the spiritual authorities of the religous structure. Thanks.

Identity - On the latter - we do not use our reasoning to be independent - granted we all inherit the desire for independence from Adam and Eve.  And our authority does not proceed from the faithful and discreet slave per se.  They are not, nor have they even claimed to be, infallible.  They are faithful to God's Word, the Bible - and it is the Bible that is infallible. 

We do use our reasoning ability, of course.  That is part of our sacred service:

(Romans 12:1-2) 12 Consequently I entreat YOU by the compassions of God, brothers, to present YOUR bodies a sacrifice living, holy, acceptable to God, a sacred service with YOUR power of reason. ²　And quit being fashioned after this system of things, but be transformed by making YOUR mind over, that YOU may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

And so, when we are baptized (we do not have infant baptism) we have already proven to ourselves what is Jehovah's will on the most important things, and our baptism is a symbol of our dedication to to Jehovah's will.

We are not baptized in the names of the governing body, but rather:

(Matthew 28:19-20) ¹⁹　Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, ²⁰　teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded YOU..　.　.

Those who take the lead among us we love and respect and all that goes with that.  For example:

(Hebrews 13:7) .　.　.Remember those who are taking the lead among YOU, who have spoken the word of God to YOU, and as YOU contemplate how [their] conduct turns out imitate [their] faith.

Note - it is speaking the Word of God that is the crucial thing - we must examine the Scriptures to determine what is or is not so:

(Acts 17:11) .　.　.Now the latter were more noble-minded than those in Thes·sa·lo·ni´ca, for they received the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily as to whether these things were so.

And Jesus confirmed that love is the most important thing:

(Mark 12:28-34) .　.　.Now one of the scribes that had come up and heard them disputing, knowing that he had answered them in a fine way, asked him: "Which commandment is first of all?" ²⁹　Jesus answered: "The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel, Jehovah our God is one Jehovah, ³⁰　and you must love Jehovah your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and with your whole mind and with your whole strength.’ ³¹　The second is this, ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these." ³²　The scribe said to him: "Teacher, you well said in line with truth, ‘He is One, and there is no other than He’; ³³　and this loving him with one’s whole heart and with one’s whole understanding and with one’s whole strength and this loving one’s neighbor as oneself is worth far more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." ³⁴　At this Jesus, discerning he had answered intelligently, said to him: "You are not far from the kingdom of God." .　.　.