Russell Acknowledges Jesus as "Channel"

I am giving below some quotes from Brother Russell that shows that he believed Jesus to be the channel between God and man.

It was quite proper that these disciples did not follow the course that some are inclined to follow today, viz., to seek to learn of the Master all that he would communicate, and then go forth and pose as wise ones amongst their friends, giving them the information they had received in driblets, and avoiding the mention of Jesus as the Father's channel of communication of the truth to them. -- "We Have Found Him! Eureka!", Watch Tower, February 1, 1900.

None have life in a legal sense except those who have obtained it from God through His provided channel Christ Jesus. -- "From Death to Life in Christ", Harvest Gleanings III.

All resolutions against sin and in favor of righteous thinking and living are commendable and helpful. But I recommend a comprehensive resolution; namely, to get right with God through His appointed Channel, the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the instructions of His Word, the Bible. -- "A New Epoch Starts", Harvest Gleanings III.

God purposed to allow sin to demonstrate for six thousand years its awful fruitage, and then to bring in a great Sabbath Day, the great Millennial Sabbath of a thousand years, and in that time to do a work for mankind which they cannot do for themselves. He is to do this work through Jesus, His appointed Channel. -- "New Creatures Perfect in Holiness", Harvest Gleanings III.

Only as the Heavenly Father shall grant His blessing may fruits to our labors be expected. It is written, "As many as the Lord your God shall call," and "No man can come unto Me except the Father who sent Me draw him." (Acts 2:39; John 6:44) Hence we see that our present appreciation of Divine goodness implies three gifts: (1) The Divine provision of eternal life, (2) Christ the Channel, and (3) the knowledge by which we are enabled to appreciate both the Gift and the Channel. -- "Christ Our Propitiation", Watch Tower, December, 1882.

The channel of all of God's Mercy is Christ Jesus, who declared, "No man cometh unto the Father but by Me." Of Him also St. Peter said, "Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under Heaven given amongst men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12.)  -- "Hope for the Sodomites", Watch Tower, February 1, 1913.

If anyone finds more that could be placed here, please respond in the comments below.

Related:

Who Did Russell Believe to be the "Only Authority" of the Church?

What Did Russell Teach About "Organization" as Related to the Watch Tower Society?

Cross and Crown References

This page presents some links to the works of Charles Taze Russell which demonstrate his usage of the cross and crown symbolism. We have included excerpts for many of the links. To read the entire articles, click on the title of the articles provided. We do not necessarily agree with all of the conclusions presented.

The New Creature's Resurrection Begun

The cross represents our faith in the death of Christ and our desire to walk in His steps; the crown represents the reward of glory, honor and immortality; and the wreath around the cross and crown represents the Restitution blessings coming to the world of mankind.

The above statement is most succinct in revealing exactly what the cross and crown meant to Brother Russell. All of this is in harmony with the Bible, and very directly shows that this was used as an illustration of what appears in the Bible itself. -- Isaiah 2:2-4; 11:6-9; Matthew 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23; Acts 3:21; Romans 3:20-22; 5:6,8,10; 1 Corinthians 15:3,21,22; Galatians 2:16; Philippians 2:8; 3:9; 2 Timothy 4:8; James 1:12; 1 Peter 5:4; Revelation 2:10.

Self-Denial and Cross-Bearing Conditions

Cross-bearing is closely related to self-denial, and yet a distinction between them may be noted....  We exhort,... [that] they may learn the full meaning of self-consecration and immolation which our Lord's words signify: and that they be not content with the wearing of a cross as an ornament, but grasp fully and clearly the purport of the Master's words respecting the true cross-bearing, that in due time they may also attain to the crown-bearing promised as a reward to the faithful.

Brother Russell in the article linked to shows that he connects the cross with the Christian's bearing sufferings and reproach for Christ so that he may attain the crown, evidently referring to joint-heirship with Christ. Very few of those called will attain that prize.

Our point here is, however, that this usage of the cross and crown symbolism is simply Biblical; it symbolizes suffering with Christ if one wishes to receive the crown of joint-heirship with Christ. Such usage is not related to the Knights Templar and definitely offers no reason to imagine and assume that Russell's usage of the cross and crown has to mean that he was a member of an organization (Knights Templar) that teach almost the opposite doctrine from what Brother Russell presented. Many may not realize that in order to be a member of the Knights Templar, one has to accept the traditional trinitarian creeds. The message that Russell spent nearly his entire life preaching and defending is definitely not in harmony with those creeds.

Brother Russell's usage of the Biblical cross and crown illustration definitely has nothing at all to do with promoting heathen occultism, mysticism, spiritism, etc.

A Soldier of the Cross

Excerpt: WAS there ever a nobler soldier of the Cross than St. Paul – the Redeemer alone excepted? ... St. Paul, copying his Master, laid down his life for Jew and Gentile, bond and free, male and female, to assist in gathering the "elect" to be the Bride of Christ – that ultimately through the glorified King and his glorified Bride, all the families of the earth may receive the blessing which God waits to give to "all the families of the earth, through Abraham's Seed." – Galatian 3:29.

We should note that the Bible does not speak of being a soldier of the cross, but it does speak of being a soldier for Jesus.  -- 2 Timothy 2:3. 

Nevertheless, again, in this article, the use of the cross symbolism has nothing to do with heathenism, nor is the symbolism taken from the Freemasons or Knights Templar, but rather it is Biblical, being used as a symbol of service to God and Jesus. 

Christ Within (poem)

O WHAT, if we are Christ's,

Is earthly shame or loss?

Bright shall the crown of glory be

When we have borne the cross.

Brother Russell had this poem put in the book Poems of the Millennial Dawn, and it was also published in the pages of the Watch Tower. Evidently, he believed this to be a good use of the Biblical symbolism of the cross and crown. We do not know who wrote this poem, but it is obviously written only with the idea of bearing the suffering for Christ and finally receiving the reward of the crown, which is what the cross and crown symbolism represents.

The poem, however, shows the scriptural meaning behind that cross (bearing our cross) with the hope of obtaining the crown of glory. Again, this has nothing at all to do with the Knights Templar, except that they might have made use of similar Biblical symbolism. There usage of the Biblical cross and crown, however, offers no reason to imagine and assume that the usage of that symbolism by anyone else must mean usage of a "Knights Templar" symbol. It certainly doesn't offer reason to imagine and assume that such usage of a Biblical cross and crown means that we need to imagine and assume that anyone who makes use of such a Biblical illustration must be a member of the Knights Templar.

No Cross, No Crown (Poem)

Thou canst not hope to wear the Crown,

If thou refuse the Cross!"

The poem linked to above was written by Gertrude Woodcock Siebert.. Again, however, we find no hint in any of her poems that she used the cross and crown in any other setting than that of Biblical symbolism.

It should be obvious, however, that Brother Russell allowed this to be published in the Watch Tower, because he felt it expressed the Biblical usage of the cross and crown, not because of any similar usage by the Knights Templar.

St. Paul's Last Words

Excerpt: The crown mentioned, the Apostle had seen for many years with the eye of his faith as a part of the Lord's promise.... That crown had been his cause of rejoicing for many years, not because of pride or ambition, but because of love and benevolence. He would love to receive that crown because it would be the mark of Divine appreciation and love for him; and a mark of his faithfulness.

Again, in the article linked to, we find that the cross and symbolism is simply shown to be Biblical. Paul certainly provides an example of bearing one's cross in order to receive the crown of becoming joint-heirs with Christ. 

The New Creature's Resurrection Begun

Except: Some of us wear what is known as a Cross and Crown Pin. The cross represents our faith in the death of Christ and our desire to walk in His steps; the crown represents the reward of glory, honor and immortality; and the wreath around the cross and crown represents the Restitution blessings coming to the world of mankind.  -- Harvest Gleanings, Vol. 3, page 721.

Comments: These few words directly refer to the Biblical cross and crown symbolism, and Brother Russell gives a clear statement as to what this symbolism means, all of which is in harmony with the Bible. Nothing in it is referring to any Masonic rituals, the Knights Templar, nor any form of Satanism, heathenism, etc. 

The Refiner's Fire (Poem)

Excerpt: 

Ah, no! but He saw thro' the present cross

The bliss of eternal gain.

Indirectly, this poem also illustrates the Biblical usage of the cross and crown.

The Word Was Made Flesh  

When Crown is Ours

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The above is only a small sampling of articles and other material in Brother Russell's publications that in some way show Brother Russell's usage of the Biblical cross and crown.  Anyone truly familiar with the work of Brother Russell would know that it is simply nonsensical to think that Brother Russell made use of the Biblical cross and crown symbol because of any supposed ties with the Freemasons or the Knight Templar. From the above and many other statements in the publications of Brother Russell, it should be obvious that his usage of the cross and crown symbolism is strictly Biblical. We cannot produce all his references to the Biblical cross or crown, but the above is a small sample. Nevertheless, his usage of these Biblical symbols has nothing to do with any kind of heathen or spiritistic occultism; nor does such usage come from the Knights Templar, as many like to claim.

Other Research:

Links to our research: Cross and Crown

Ronald R. Day, Sr.