The Watchtower, January 15, 1953
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The WATCHTOWER
Announcing
JEHOVAH'S
KINGDOM
JANUARY 15, 1953
Semimonthly
UNHAPPY COMPLAINERS
DISPELLING THE SPIRIT OF
COMPLAINT
MARRIAGE COPIED FROM
DIVINE PATTERNS
JAMES, THE BROTHER OF JESUS
THE MENTAL BREAKDOWN
©WTB&TS
“YOU ARE MY WITNESSES,” SAYS JEHOVAH.—Isa. 43:12 THE PURPOSE OF "THE WATCHTOWER"
Literal towers in Bible times were elevated vantage points from which watchmen could observe happenings, warn of danger, or announce good news. Our magazine figuratively occupies such a vantage point, for it is founded on the very pinnacle of wisdom, God's Word. That elevates it above racial, national and political propagandas and prejudices, frees it from selfish bias. It is not bound by any traditional creed, but its message advances as the light on God's purposes and works increases.—Habakkuk 2:1-3.
It sees things Scripturally. When it observes this generation afflicted with greed, delinquency, hypocrisy, atheism, war, famine, pestilence, perplexity and fear, and persecution of unpopular minorities, it does not parrot the old fable about history repeating itself. Informed by Bible prophecy, it sees in these things the sign of the world's time of the end. But with bright hope it also sees opening up for us just beyond these woes the portals of a new world.
Thus viewed, "The Watchtower" stands as a watchman atop a tower, alert to what is going on, awake to note signs of danger, faithful to point out the way of escape. It announces Jehovah's kingdom established by Christ's enthronement in heaven, feeds his kingdom joint-heirs with spiritual food, cheers men of good will with glorious prospects of eternal life in a paradise earth, comforts us with the resurrection promise for the dead.
It is not dogmatic, but has a confident ring in its voice, because it is based on God's Word. It does not privately interpret prophecy, but calls attention to physical facts, sets them alongside prophecy, and you see for yourself how well the two match, how accurately Jehovah interprets his own prophecy. In the interests of our salvation, it keeps sharp and faithful focus on Bible truth, and views religious news generally.
'Be watchful in these perilous times,' God admonishes. So keep on the watch by regularly reading "The Watchtower".
৩
PUBLISHED BY THE WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
117 Adams Street
Brooklyn 1, N. Y., U. S. A.
N. H. KNORR, President
GRANT SUITER, Secretary
"They will all be taught by Jehovah."—John 6:45, NW; Isaiah 54:13
CONTENTS
The Mental Breakdown
Marriage Copied from Divine Patterns
James, the Brother of Jesus
Unhappy Complainers
Dispelling the Spirit of Complaint
Words That Mean Life
Questions from Readers
Announcements
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THE MENTAL BREAKDOWN
AZINESS works untiringly because it is easy for it to work-in the mind! Just let thinking take a holiday, and it may take a permanent vacation. Just exchange reasoning and logic for emotionalism and sensual thrills and the mind is imperiled with an ominous threat: that of a mental breakdown.
"Danger, Emotion at Work" is a sign that could well be posted at every newsstand, for any careful appraisal of what is for sale graphically illustrates why a breakdown of the public mind is manifesting itself today. Look over the glamorous array of magazines. Are the majority thought-provoking? Do they call for sober thinking? Sales are stimulated by voluptuously uncovered "cover girls". Magazines and newspapers sell better if they are of the "quick" kind and contain, for the most part, pictures. Pulp magazines grind out issue after issue of sordid immoral life; fornication and sexual lusts subtly normalized! Do the pocket-size books that purvey sex, sadism, murder, vice, passion and crime, and which sell by the millions of copies, require real thinking? No, it is emotion that is at work, sweeping the reader along with jetlike propulsion and wedging an opening in the mental window frame for laziness of thinking to climb in. The public tends to demand fiction; even these "dream world" novels must be of a comparatively light nature. Works by Shakespeare, Browning, Victor
Hugo and Alexandre Dumas are losing appeal, for their writing requires the use of a dictionary!
The public mind today avoids a dictionary like a bad lobster in a dark cellar. Reading, like traveling, can acquaint one with entirely new vocabularies. Yet the mass reading of today with its strong emotional impact anesthetizes thinking so the reader believes he does not need to look up a word in the dictionary. Some people, regardless of what they are reading, will never go to the dictionary. Dictionaryphobia is part of the mental breakdown.
Mental laziness is perceived in the language of the "man on the street"—riddled with vulgarism and slang. The trend is for the mass public mind to distrust and dislike material involving an intellectual structure which must be built up through reasoning. At San Francisco recently, Governor Stevenson spoke: "I don't believe, as some say, that I've talked over anyone's head either. I don't believe I could if I tried." This criticism of the presidential candidate's style of speaking: is it really a condemnation of Stevenson or of the public mind? A letter that Stevenson received from a lady aptly answers the question: "I do not believe you talk above our heads. I am easily swayed by emotion, until I think, which I sometimes do." The public mind thinks "sometimes", but thinking "sometimes" is not sufficient for self-protection and self-realization. Thus, even in the matter of political opinion, preference for a candidate is determined only to a small extent by logical thinking based upon knowledge of social conditions and of the actual policies of the parties.
Draft rejection figures spotlight the mental breakdown. About one in every six is turned down for "mental" reasons. Yet schools and colleges are plentiful. Could it be that the mental breakdown has its inception at an early age? Youths are frequently seen at newsstands with handfuls of comic books and teen-agers stroll out of drugstores with a good supply of "Who did its?" generously spiced with lascivious living. Thus mental laziness stalks youth; minds become impervious to thought-provoking material.
Another insidious facet in the mental breakdown picture is the craze for TV. Does TV entail thinking? Does it even stimulate thinking? No! Why, adults and children who wish to improve their mind in a TV home are sometimes forced to leave the house for a private place to study. Concentration is difficult with TV. Complained one announcer: "The number of commercials is driving even me batty." The TV industry itself, subjecting its adults to stultifying time-killers, seems to assume the public has moron mentality. Mature minds viewing the present trend in TV, in journalism, in the radio, in motion pictures, in magazines, in best-selling books, in mass response to emotionalized propaganda, and in public aversion to dictionaries, wonder: Has Uncle Sam grown into a perpetually adolescent man—with a comic book always in his grasp? If so, he is not so much a man as a boy who has outgrown his breeches.
Some may contend, however, that there is good in TV blood-chillers, pocket-size "Who did its?" with their accent on sex and violence. Good, because it enables a person to get the evil intentions out
of his system "vicariously". But if one can eradicate evil tendencies by reading such abjectly perverse material, and then go out and do good, could not the opposite hold true? Read the Bible, get the good out of you, and then go out and do evil! No, such reasoning is specious, for what the mind is filled with determines the type of actions that ensue on the part of adults and children alike. Children naturally are more susceptible to the mental breakdown. Can a child who sees corpses strewn about like popcorn at a circus—via TV programs, movies, comic books, etc. understand that it is just "vicarious" for him? Hardly! In Brooklyn one six-year-old son of a policeman asked his father for real bullets because his little sister "doesn't die for real when I shoot her like they do when Hopalong Cassidy kills 'em".
The mental breakdown thus inexorably marches on alongside its sinister twin, the moral breakdown, both of which were foretold for these last days by the Bible. (2 Tim. 3:1-5) Christians must be diligent to guard against the encroachments of emotion and laziness, which work so easily in the mind. God's own Word says: "Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah." (Isa. 1:18, AS) Such reasoning means to study his Word, to ascertain God's will, and then to exercise the mind continually in good works. The mental breakdown must be avoided by Christians. Paul's advice to them is fitting today: "Whatever things are true, whatever things are of serious concern, whatever things are righteous, whatever things are chaste, whatever things are lovable, whatever things are well spoken of, whatever virtue there is and whatever praiseworthy thing there is, continue considering these things." (Phil. 4:8, NW) No one will receive the gift of everlasting life in the new world who does not use his mind now to the glory of its Creator, Jehovah.
Marriage Copied from Divine Patterns
WHEN we think of marriage it is fitting to think of Jehovah. He is the Author of marriage. He arranged for the first marriage. In Eden God saw that it was not good for the man to be alone, that he needed a helper as a complement to him: "And Yahweh God said, It is not good that the man should remain alone, I will make for him a helper as his counterpart." Jehovah filled this need when he made "a woman, and brought her in unto the man". Immediately thereafter the two are spoken of as man and wife, as being of "one flesh".—Gen. 2:18-25, Ro.
Marriage is used in a figurative way to illustrate the close ties in certain heavenly relationships, and brief consideration of these divine patterns will deepen our appreciation of the earthly marriage relationship. First, Jehovah God uses the figure of marriage to show the relationship between himself and his universal organization, referring to himself as the Husband of his womanlike organization. (Isa. 54:5) Again, the marriage relationship is used to illustrate the close bond between Christ and his church, he being spoken of as the Bridegroom and the church as his bride, and their marriage as being consummated in heaven.—2 Cor. 11:2; Rev. 19:7.
Just as in Eden the man and the woman are spoken of as being "one flesh" and also human marriage partners thereafter, so God and the chief one of the universal organization, Christ Jesus, are called one. And Christ and his bride, the church, are referred to as being one. (Matt. 19:4-6; John 14:10; 17:21-23) However, the Bible clearly shows that Jehovah and Christ are not one in any mysterious pagan trinity. Nor are Christ and the 144,000 members of the church class literally made into one; no more so than do man and wife, two persons, literally become one after marriage. In all three
cases the oneness is in aim, purpose, goal, desire and direction of effort. And these divine unions that make two or more unite as one require some sort of headship, for a head is required to give intelligent direction to the energies of those united. A headless union would lack proper directive force. On the other hand, a two-headed union would be freakish, doubtless divided against itself, and hence unable to stand. (Matt. 12:25) Everyone has a head over him, except Jehovah God. "I want you to know that the head of every man is the Christ; in turn, the head of a woman is the man; in turn, the head of the Christ is God."—1 Cor. 11:3; 15:28, NW.
EXACTING DUTIES UPON HUSBANDS
In some countries, such as the United States, where there is a strong tendency for many women to try to share or take over the family headship, loud objections rise against the divine assignment of man to be family head and the woman to be subject to him. It is viewed as oppressive and discriminatory against women, and too difficult a load for them to bear up under. However, sober reflection will disclose that it is the husband who has assigned to him the more difficult role in the marriage arrangement.
He must strive to copy the flawless examples of Jehovah God and Christ Jesus as they play their husbandlike roles in the figurative marriages.
Jehovah God, as the Creator of the universe and the Father of all living, is the supreme Head over all creation, visible and invisible. He brought all things into existence, established the laws that both animate and inanimate creations must follow to exist, and provides for their continuance. Even in his own acts Jehovah consistently follows righteous principles and conducts his headship in justice and wisdom, and, above all, in love. Jehovah's example is copied by Christ Jesus, as that one administers his headship over the church. Justice and wisdom, love and compassion are outstanding. Did not Jesus work tirelessly in the interest of his body members when he was on earth, teaching and preaching, providing the spiritual sustenance that is so much more vital than literal bread? Did he not show exemplary patience and long-suffering in dealing with his earthly disciples, making allowances for their fleshly frailties? Did he not endure persecution and torture in maintaining integrity toward God, and thus making himself a safe model for his followers? And finally did he not go the limit and lay down his life for his bride and wife, the church class?
So it is in the case of human husbands. They must try to measure up to the perfect way Jehovah plays his husbandlike role as Head of his womanlike universal organization, and the excellent way Christ Jesus enacts his headship as Husband over his wife, the church. The human husband must provide food, clothing and shelter for his wife. He must give proper direction to their united efforts by making wise decisions, shoulder the responsibilities for
these decisions and cope with any consequences that may follow in their wake. And at all times in the exercise of his headship he must show a patience and long-suffering, a mercifulness and forgiveness, and, above all, a love that are patterned after that shown by Jehovah toward his universal organization and that shown by Christ toward his Christian church organization. To measure up to such high requirements is certainly more difficult than being submissive under such upright headship.
PATTERNS FOR WIFELY SUBJECTION
The outstanding member of Jehovah's universal organization, Christ Jesus, did not find it galling to be in subjection to the great Husband and Head of that organization. He delighted to do Jehovah's will, declaring the work that God assigned to him to be as vital food for his sustenance. (Ps. 40:8; John 4:34; Heb. 10:7) His endurance of persecution and torture and death was not only a fine model for his followers, but also a dramatic testimony for Jehovah's side of the issue concerning integrity, a heavy contribution in vindication of Jehovah's name. It showed Jesus' complete subjection to Jehovah's headship. Never did he seek to seize that headship from God or try to share it as an equal of God: "Keep this mental attitude in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he was existing in God's form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God. No, but he emptied himself and took a slave's form and came to be in the likeness of men. More than that, when he found himself in fashion as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient as far as death, yes, death on a torture stake."—Phil. 2:5-8, NW.
Christian wives should have the mental attitude of Christ, and not the attitude of many worldly wives that clamor for equality with and ofttimes even dominancy over their husbands.
Christian wives will not even untheocratically consider seizing a part or all of the husband's divine assignment of headship. They will be submissive to the marriage arrangement as it has been ordered, not by any man, but by God himself. To rebel against the arrangement is to rebel, not against man, but against God. Jesus delighted to do the good will of Jehovah; Christian wives should be pleased to have the theocratic headship of their husbands. It was the covering cherub in Eden that was headstrong and felt cramped and oppressed by Jehovah's headship and thereupon rebelled and became infamous as Satan the Devil. Wives who are not submissive to their husbands are copying Satan, not Christ.
Again, there is an example for wives in the submission of the church to its Head, Christ Jesus. Taking on the obligations to preach as one of Christ's anointed body members brings upon one a certain amount of persecution and tribulation in the flesh, but the joys of serving under the loving headship of Christ far outweigh the fleshly tribulations. Submission to such an upright headship is not difficult or degrading, though heady and haughty ones down through the centuries have thought so, and in these last days such ones have made themselves into an "evil slave" class by their rebellion against Christ's headship. It is the "faithful and discreet slave" class that finds real joy by submissiveness to Christ. Rebellion brings no happiness to the "evil slave", for he lands outside with the hypocrites, and "there is where his weeping and the gnashing of his teeth will be". (Matt. 24:45-51, NW) Christian wives who are not submissive to their husbands are copying the "evil slave", not the "faithful and discreet slave".
EACH A HELP TO THE OTHER
Hence the sum of the divine patterns is, properly exercised headship is not oppressive to the one under it. The husband must strive diligently to act as a just and wise and loving family head. If he does this to the best of his ability, wifely subjection to him should not be too difficult. And if the wife meets her duties to the best of her ability, the husband's administration of proper headship will be that much easier. Both are imperfect. Both make mistakes. Both need to receive and extend patience and forgiveness, love and respect. Because of differences in mental and physical and emotional make-up, each needs the other, each can supply a lack in the other, each is made to be a complement to or counterpart for the other. But to mesh all these qualities harmoniously requires each one to play the role assigned by God. Neither can grasp at the other's duties. Remember, Adam was Eve's head, but when she ran ahead of him and ate the fruit she ducked out from under her head, and lost her life. And when Adam tolerated her rebellion and weakly tagged along the trail she blazed he discarded his role as head, and it cost him his life and the life rights of his offspring. All man's troubles are traceable to rebellion against proper headship, to the time when the covering cherub in Eden refused to submit to Jehovah's and when Eve stepped out from under Adam's.
So it is for the mutual good of both marriage partners to stick to the roles assigned them by Jehovah God. The wise family head earns wifely respect, and the submissive wife increases the husband's love. God's Word counsels: "Let wives be in subjection to their husbands as to the Lord, because a husband is head of his wife as the Christ also is head of the congregation, he being a savior of this body. In fact, as the congregation is in subjection to the Christ, so let wives also be to their husbands in everything.
Husbands continue loving your wives, just as the Christ also loved the congregation and delivered up himself for it. In this way husbands ought to be loving their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself, for no man ever hated his own flesh, but he feeds and cherishes it, as the Christ also does the congregation because we are members of his body. 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and will stick to his wife, and the two will be one flesh.' Nevertheless, also, let each one of you individually so love his wife as he does himself; on the other hand, the wife should have deep respect for her husband."—Eph. 5:22-25, 28-31, 33 NW.
Dictators rule over their subjects oppressively and to their physical and mental and spiritual hurt. The Christian husband is to be no dictator in that sense. His appointment to headship is no license to be a tyrant. He loves his flesh, provides for its needs, inflicts no deliberate injury upon it, and strives to keep it in comfort. He should show the same love for his wife, who is one flesh with him. And as the man's flesh never fights against his head but takes its direction through nerve impulses from the head, so the wife, who is part of his flesh, must show similar submission. For all this blending of two different dispositions and temperaments and personalities a high degree of love is called for. Just how great that love must be is shown at 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NW): "Love is long-suffering and obliging. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, does not get puffed up, does not behave indecently, does not look for its own interests, does not become provoked. It does not keep account of the injury. It does not rejoice over unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." Nor will a marriage founded on such love ever fail!
A MARRIAGE BRACE THAT IS THEOCRATIC
Today's matrimonial seas are cluttered with the wreckage of many marriages that have gone on the rocks. Often strange flesh outside the marital union rises up as a lure that draws the marriage to its final crash. Such marriage triangles are common in this delinquent world, and occur when the marriage is built on the shifting sands of fickle flesh. The safeguard is to build the marriage on the rock foundation of God's Word. Conform to its requirements. Let each one measure up to the divine standard, each one supplying what his or her assigned role requires. Then the marital union will stand, unwrecked by the stormy assaults that collapse so many marriages today.
No strange flesh will intrude to form a lusty triangle, for the place of a love stronger than that between man and wife will already be filled. Not by the minister or civil official that officiates at the ceremony, nor by the legal papers required by the state; though such services and documents are necessary. (Luke 20:25;1 Thess. 5:22) It will be occupied by Jehovah God. He is the real witness in the theocratic marriage ceremony. It is not just a matter of a man and woman entering into an agreement between themselves, but of the two of them entering into an agreement before God. He is witness to the theocratic marriage vows, and the real uniter of the two, since Jesus said: "What God has yoked together let no man put apart." (Matt. 19:6, NW) Hence if the married couple abide by his marriage regulations he will become the unselfish Friend in a theocratic marriage and will brace it against the worldly pressures and strains brought against it. If the man and woman reserve their greatest love for God, put him first, obey him first, give him first call on their time and energy and substance, their marriage will not become more driftwood on the matrimonial seas.
This putting of God first by married couples is shown by the apostle Paul, at 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, NW: "Moreover, this I say, brothers, the time left is reduced. Henceforth let those who have wives be as though they had none, and also those who weep be as those who do not weep, and those who rejoice as those who do not rejoice, and those who buy as those not possessing, and those making use of the world as those not using it to the full; for the scene of this world is changing." Paul is not here saying to withhold the various marital dues and responsibilities, for in this very chapter he admonishes that these should be rendered. (1 Cor. 7:3-5) What he is admonishing is that whole or chief attention should not be given over to personal, selfish matters relating to the flesh, whether these be enjoying a husband or wife, or rejoicing overmuch in pleasure pursuits, or allowing
ourselves to be swallowed up in our sorrows and griefs and even drawing an unhealthy satisfaction from self-pity, or seeking to accumulate extensive possessions by unduly entangling ourselves in worldly businesses all of which excessive caterings to the flesh are characteristic of this old world and are to pass away with it. Hence the Christian should not bury or sink himself too deeply in these things to the neglect of what is eternal, and specially so now that the "time left is reduced". Nothing should be allowed to so engross the Christian's time that he has none left for Jehovah's service. So it is within this qualified view that the married couple lives as though unmarried, always putting Jehovah first.
Only marriages meeting the foregoing divine requirements are truly successful marriages, and they have the opportunity of succeeding gloriously. They may endure on into Jehovah's new world, wherein earthly married couples will finally carry out the mandate first issued by God in Eden, to "multiply and fill the earth". Gen. 1:28, Ro.
JAMES The Brother of Jesus
JESUS, the Son of God, once stated: "A prophet is not unhonored except in his
native territory and in his own house." That he himself had this experience in regard to his immediate family is apparent from the record made by his preferred disciple John: "His brothers were, in fact, not exercising faith in him." Matthew and Mark name four brothers, James, Joseph,
Simon and Judas. (Matt. 13:55-57; Mark 6:3; John 7:5, NW) After Jesus' death and resurrection, however, at least some of his uterine brothers (having the same mother but a different father) did exercise faith in him, for we read that, pending Pentecost, the eleven apostles with one accord "were persisting in prayer, together with some women and Mary the mother of Jesus and with his brothers".—Acts 1:13, 14, NW. In view of the fact that some of our readers may object to the statement that Mary had other children besides Jesus, holding that she was "ever virgin", before considering what the Christian Greek Scriptures have to say about James, the brother of Jesus, let us briefly consider that objection.
If Mary was "ever virgin" then why did Matthew say at chapter one, verse twenty-five, that Joseph "knew her not", that is, "had no relations with her until she gave birth to a son"? (Dy; NW) And why did Luke describe Jesus as her "firstborn"? (Luke 2:7) Had Mary given birth to no other children would he not have referred to Jesus as her "only" son? Clearly Matthew and Luke did not consider that Jesus was Mary's only son or they certainly would have emphasized the point; especially if they had thought this matter as vital as some religious organizations do.
Nor can it be argued that these "brothers" were not of Jesus' immediate family, but were kinsfolk or cousins, for the word used literally means "from the same womb". (Young's Concordance) Had mere kinsfolk been meant the inspired writers doubtless would have used the Greek word translated cousin and cousins at Luke 1:36, 58. ("Cousin" and "kinsfolks" in the Douay) Neither is the position tenable that these "brothers" were his spiritual brothers or disciples, because, as we have already seen, they did not exercise faith in Jesus at the time. That these "brothers" were separate and distinct from his disciples John's record makes clear, for in it we read: "After this he [Jesus] and his mother and brothers and his disciples went down to Capernaum."—John 2:12, NW.
PROMINENT IN EARLY CONGREGATION
Of these flesh-and-blood brothers who became Jesus' disciples after his resurrection James was foremost. Evidently foreknowing the role James would play in the
early Christian congregation, Christ Jesus singled him out for special attention, for Paul, in giving proof of Jesus' resurrection, seems to refer to Jesus' brother James, when he writes: "After that he appeared to James," the only one Paul mentions by name, aside from Peter and himself, as ones to whom Jesus appeared individually.—1 Cor. 15:7, NW.
Peter likewise gives James special mention. When visiting the group of Christians assembled at the home of Mary, the mother of John Mark, after his miraculous release from prison, Peter instructed them: "Report these things to James and the brothers." (Acts 12:17, NW) And that James was not only foremost among his flesh-and-blood brothers but also prominent among his spiritual brothers seems apparent from the fact that he evidently presided at the special meeting held at Jerusalem to discuss the question of whether Gentile converts to Christianity should be circumcised or not, for he summed up the proceedings. His recommendations were adopted and instructions in keeping therewith were sent to the various Christian congregations.—Acts 15:14-21, NW.
Not only did Peter at the time of his miraculous release from prison make it a point that James should be notified, but Paul likewise specially mentions him. In telling the Galatians of his first years as a Christian minister he states: "Later I went up to Jerusalem to visit Cephas, and I stayed with him for fifteen days. But I saw no one else of the apostles, only James the brother of the Lord."—Gal. 1:18, 19, NW.
Undoubtedly James the brother of Jesus played a most prominent role in the governing body of the early Christian congregation situated at Jerusalem. He would be the logical one to write the letter bearing the name of James. The apostle James, who was the brother of John, was martyred far too early to allow his authorship of such a letter, and since of James the son of Alphaeus practically nothing is known, it is not likely that he would have written this letter and not identified himself as an apostle.
Peter and Paul repeatedly mention the fact that they are apostles, while John in his letters leaves no doubt of his being an intimate associate of Jesus. Particularly in view of the outspoken nature of the letter, had the writer been an apostle he would have so stated so as to add weight to his message, instead of merely beginning with "James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ".—Jas. 1:1, NW.
In view of the foregoing it also follows that this letter was sent out by at least A.D. 62. How so? Because, according to secular history, it was in that year that the procurator of Judea, Festus, died; and before Albinus, who was to take his place, arrived, the Jews staged an outbreak in which James, the brother of Jesus, was haled before the Sanhedrin. There, due to false charges made against him by the high priest, who, it seems, had convened this council for this very purpose, James was delivered over to be stoned to death.
It seems that by the time that James wrote this letter the early church had grown considerably, had become quite firmly established and was enjoying a measure of freedom from persecution. As a consequence some were growing careless and were allowing themselves to become spotted by the world and were seeking friendship with it. There were gossiping, yielding to selfish desires and even willful sinning. To arouse Christians to the danger of the Devil's thus corrupting them James wrote his letter.
James, throughout his letter, shows keen discernment as to the motives prompting
individuals and he counsels with the greatest directness. Beginning by telling his brothers to rejoice in trials because of the fruits that endurance of such trials brings with it, he then shows the need of wisdom which God gives liberally to all if we will but ask in confidence. He next puts his finger on the cause of temptation, showing that it does not come from God. "Each one is tried by being drawn out and enticed by his own desire." So put aside all "moral badness" and become doers of the Word, and not hearers only. And "keep oneself without spot from the world".—Jas. 1:1- 27, NW.
In the second chapter James first reproves those who judge by outward appearance, who show favoritism to the rich; such is not loving one's neighbor as oneself. Then the part which shows how practical the letter is: Faith without works to back it up is meaningless. If your brother is hungry, cold, naked, and all you say is, 'Be filled, be warm, be clothed,' how much benefit does he receive? Were not Abraham and Rahab declared righteous because they proved their faith by their works? "Indeed, . . . faith without works is dead."—Vs. 26.
Further practical admonition James gives as he discusses the use and the power of the tongue. The tongue is a tiny member but it can do immense harm, even as a great conflagration can result from just a little fire. To use our tongues to praise God on the one hand and to slander or curse men on the other simply does not make sense. Bitter jealousy, lying and such traits are earthly, animalistic and demonic. "But the wisdom from above is first of all chaste, then peaceable, reasonable, ready to obey, full of mercy and good fruits, not making partial distinctions, not hypocritical."—James, chapter 3.
Those motivated by selfish desire cause trouble in a Christian congregation, and these James next admonishes by asking them: "Adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship with the world is enmity with God?
Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is constituting himself an enemy of God." Those taking such a course of action betray high-mindedness, pride, and therefore should beware, for "'God opposes the haughty ones, but he gives undeserved kindness to the humble ones.' Subject yourselves, therefore, to God; but oppose the Devil, and he will flee from you."—James 4.
James begins his fifth chapter by giving some of the strongest condemnation of the rich to be found in the Scriptures. He censures them for their greedy and sensual course and warns that their ill-gotten gains will be a witness against them, crying out for vengeance. They have not only oppressed their workers but killed the righteous one. Next James counsels us to be patient and to consider the example of Job as regards endurance.
Some have taken James' exhortation for Christians to pray for one another to mean that we may expect divine healing, since "a righteous man's supplication when it is at work has much force". However, the context makes it clear that spiritual, not physical, sickness is what James was referring to: "Therefore openly confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may get healed." To hold that this refers to physical sickness is to accuse all those suffering from bodily infirmity of being gross sinners and implying that all those who enjoy good health are good Christians.
Truly the letter of James is a most practical one.
JAMES, THE APOSTLE AND BROTHER OF JOHN
James the son of Zebedee, together with his brother John, left his fishing business to become among the first followers of
Christ Jesus. It is generally held that of the two James was the older, not only because of his being mentioned first, but also in view of John's living to about the year A.D. 100. It has also been suggested that James and John were acquainted with Jesus before he called them to follow him. Matt. 4:21; Mark 1:19, NW.
Among his twelve apostles Jesus preferred three, and James was among these. He was therefore with Jesus on the mount of transfiguration; was with him when he raised the daughter of Jairus, and accompanied Jesus farther into the garden of Gethsemane on the night of his betrayal; the other two of this favored group being, of course, Peter and John.—Matt. 26:36- 39; Luke 8:41, 51-56; 9:28-36, NW.
James and his brother John were termed Boanerges, "sons of thunder." On one occasion when a certain city refused Jesus entry they were ready to call down fire from heaven to devour its inhabitants. They also had an ambition to be first in Jesus' kingdom, as betrayed by their mother's request.—Matt. 20:20-28; Mark 3:17; 9:33-35; 10:35-40; Luke 9:51-55, NW.
Although the book of Acts gives little information concerning James it seems reasonable to conclude that this 'son of thunder' was an outspoken minister of the good news. This would account both for his being the first of the twelve apostles to suffer martyrdom and for the Jews' being so greatly pleased at this murderous action of Herod Agrippa.
Jesus warned that his followers would be persecuted. James the disciple and brother of Jesus and James the apostle and brother of John both had the privilege of proving themselves "faithful even with the danger of death". They set a good example for all Christians living since their day.—Matt. 10:16-31; Rev. 2:10, NW. Unhappy Complainers
EHOVAH knows the mind of man. He knows that if a man does not train his mind to think correctly, he will be unhappy. The thoughts and
"Why should a living son of earth complain, let a man complain because of his sins? Let us search out our ways and examine them well, and let us return unto Yahweh."—Lam. 3:39,40, Ro.
ways of this old world are not right because they are not based on God's way of thinking as expressed in his Word. But some of the human family know why we are born in sin and shaped in iniquity, and they have looked to Jehovah for relief from the conditions in which they find themselves. They understand that "a living son of earth" should not complain, because the trouble and distress he endures is due to Adam the first human father. Jehovah's witnesses have searched the Scriptures and they know the truth about being born in sin and shaped in iniquity, but at the same time that is no license for wrongdoing now on the part of a Christian. As Christians they must look at themselves and make careful examination of the way they have lived and where it has led them up till now, and decide what they will do in the future. They have come to the conclusion: "Let us return unto Yahweh." That is why they have dedicated their lives to Jehovah's service. Knowing that sorrow, sickness and death were brought upon them by their first parents, Adam and Eve, they do not complain of their plight. Rather, there is every reason to be happy; they know the way out of this trouble, for God has made provision
for salvation. You, too, can learn the way out from Jehovah, "the happy God," and he wants his creation to be happy.
2 You as an individual can be happy. You do not have to be in a large congregation to have happiness, although many happy people coming together make up a happy congregation. Wherever throughout the world there is one of God's servants, even though he may be far away in a missionary home or in an isolated territory, he can have happiness. When an individual has the right viewpoint, he will feel like the man concerning whom the psalmist wrote. Using Rotherham's translation, which gives the name-form Yahweh instead of Jehovah, we read: "How happy the man who hath not walked in the counsel of the lawless, and in the way of sinners hath not stood, and in the seat of scoffers hath not sat; but in the law of Yahweh is his delight, and in his law doth he talk with himself day and night." (Ps. 1:1,2, Ro) How true this is! For when one seats himself with sinners, he becomes unhappy. Just look at the world and consider its condition. The people are not really content. They cannot be, because the world is filled with evil. They ignore God and his provisions for life. As a result they are not happy either individually or collectively. One who shuns the world is happy.
What does Jehovah know about man's mind, and how can man now be happy despite the world trouble?
In the midst of this world, who is the happy person, according to Psalm 1?
The psalmist says this man 'talks to himself day and night'. This is an odd expression, is it not? But it means he meditates. What does he meditate about? He meditates on the provisions God has set forth for him in the Bible, just as Joshua meditated upon God's Word. God said to him: "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth, but thou shalt meditate thereon day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success." (Josh. 1:8, AS) Joshua was to talk to himself day and night. He was to meditate on these truths that God had spoken to Moses and which were now in written form. Then, living according to them, he would be happy. Yes, happiness comes to the man who does what is right; and individual service to the Most High is right because it is the worship of God.
4 The Most High God does not restrict happiness to individuals. He will deal with a whole nation and make it a happy nation. "How happy the nation whose God is Yahweh, the people he hath chosen as his own inheritance!" (Ps. 33:12, Ro) That chosen nation was Israel. God had made a covenant with their forefathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. That nation had every reason to be happy, because its God was Jehovah, the Sovereign Ruler of all the universe. But often they turned away from following the wise counsel of their God. Instead they chose a sinful course and ignored God, and as a result the whole nation lost its felicity. We see from the Bible account of this nation that there were not too many occasions for happiness, because they were a stiff-necked race and
a faultfinding people. They did not give true worship to Jehovah; therefore God's blessing was not forthcoming. Jesus stated the matter truly when he said: "If anyone loves me, he will observe my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make our abode with him." (John 14:23, NW) Too often the Israelites did not want to make their abode with Jehovah, but their desire was to return to Egypt and to the worship of heathen gods.
Today we see Jehovah's witnesses as a nation that Jehovah has raised up, a chosen people taken out from all nations, kindreds and tongues; and they are a happy nation. Why is this? Because they have observed Jesus' words; and therefore the Father loves them and has made his abode with them. They worship their Father in heaven in spirit and in truth. They are not thinking of doing things their own way but are anxious to do the Father's will and to follow the commandments of Christ Jesus, the Son of God. They find happiness in preaching the gospel of Jehovah's kingdom in all the world for a witness. God's gift to them is a knowledge of the truth, and Jehovah's witnesses are happy to be giving this truth to others throughout the world. They are not selfish, holding it to themselves. They publish Bibles, books, booklets and magazines, distributing these far and wide in many languages throughout all the world.
Adherents of false religions of the world cannot understand why all of Jehovah's witnesses are so active; but their activity is their worship of the Most High. Jehovah's witnesses are seeking life in happiness, and they are gaining happiness as they live now. They have found the secret of being happy even in this present evil world. They have proved to themselves
In what way does such man talk with himself, and about what?
Who was the nation whose God used to be Jehovah, and why were there not too many occasions for happiness over this fact?
5, 6. Who are the happy nation now, and what contributes to their happiness?
that there is more happiness in giving the truths of God's Word which they have received so abundantly to all the nations of the world; so they give constantly of what they have received. The organization of Jehovah's witnesses is filled with a happy people. They are friendly, and they are anxious to have others join with them in their happiness and in their true worship of the Most High. That is why one finds them going from house to house, from city to city, from country to country, fulfilling Jesus' command, 'This gospel of the kingdom must be preached in all the world for a witness.' Jehovah's witnesses as a nation are happy because their God is Jehovah.
Sometimes we see one here or there in the organization who slides back into the world. Why is this? The reason is simple. It is that he has stopped preaching; he has stopped giving. There is no place for a person in God's organization unless he is worshiping God. If he stops worshiping, he takes himself out of the organization. When one stops studying the truth and forsakes Jehovah he has nothing to give to others any more. Then the truth is not in him. Study is essential to keep in Jehovah's organization. If one does not continually take in the truths and the light that shines more and more until the perfect day, he will become indifferent toward his privileges of preaching the good news of the Kingdom. He will soon begin to feel that he has nothing to tell the people. The reason for that is that he has allowed his mind to go idle. In effect he says, I do not want any more food from Jehovah's table. Then he stops using the knowledge he has; he does not give it out to others, and his happiness fades away. Happiness comes largely through giving.
TYPICAL EXAMPLES
Take a look at the children of Israel when they were in the wilderness. Consider what Jehovah had done for them in delivering them from Egypt. There they had been under an oppressive slave-driving organization, but now the God of heaven, Jehovah, had delivered them and led them into the wilderness. He had protected them by the use of his great power in guiding them through the Red sea from Egypt to the wilderness. He fed them for forty years as they wandered about this strange territory. Consider the greatness of God's love for these people in leading them to the Promised Land. But with all of this and despite their deliverance the Israelites still were not content. They lacked love. They were not giving God true worship as a nation, and they were not happy.
However, there were many individuals within the nation who had the joy of serving God and who were faithful to the instructions given them. Sometimes even such faithful individuals feel that the load is too much for them to bear when responsibility is placed upon them. In such case they lack faith in God's provisions. Moses, for example, served as mediator between God and the Israelites. But at one time he felt as though too much was required of him. The children of Israel were complaining, faultfinding and crying for flesh. They said in substance: 'This manna that God is giving us and telling us to gather every morning does not satisfy us. What we want is flesh. We want meat.' They were crying to Moses to supply it for them. They had complained often before and now were in an unhappy state of mind, and their murmurings finally got Moses in that same attitude of mind. To appreciate the full account read Numbers 11:11-15
What is the reason that some in the organization slip back into the world and lose happiness?
Despite deliverance from Egypt why did Israel not keep happy?
Why do individuals at times feel the load too heavy for them, and how did Moses illustrate this?
(AT). Here we find Moses saying: "Why hast thou been so hard on thy servant? ... Why have I not found favor with thee, that thou shouldst put the burden of all this people on me? Was it I who conceived all this people? Or was it I who gave them birth, that thou shouldst say to me, 'Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse would carry a sucking child, to the land which
thou didst promise on oath to their fathers'? Where can I get flesh to give to all this people? For they weep on my shoulder, saying, 'Give us flesh to eat.' I am not able to carry all this people by myself, because they are too heavy for me. If this is the way thou art going to deal with me, pray kill me at once, if I find any favor with
thee, and let me see no more of my trouble."
10 That was not a very happy frame of mind in which to be. Moses' faith was getting weak; his confidence in Jehovah was failing. It certainly must have been so depressing to Moses to be associated with those people that it brought him to the point where he wanted God to kill him that he might get away from them. Moses showed the wrong spirit under this heavy trial. He did not want to carry the responsibility that God had placed upon him. Then, too, he was not putting full trust in Jehovah God at that moment. Moses felt very bad; and as he looked at the great number of people, he really questioned God's power. He should have reflected on the wonderful things that God had done in times past. It would have been much better for Moses to wait upon Jehovah and to pray to him, asking, "What
shall I do? What will you do for this people?" Moses did not want to give to these people and thought no one else should either. He was not happy, that is sure.
11 God told Moses that He would give flesh to the Israelites, not one day, or two days, or five days, or ten or twenty days, but for a whole month, 'until it comes out of your very nostrils and becomes
loathesome to you-because you have spurned Jehovah who is in your midst.' (Num. 11:18-20, AT; AS) Moses said to God in effect, 'You cannot feed 600,000 footmen. You cannot supply flesh in order to feed all of these people, two million or more, including women and children. Why, there are not enough fowl in the heaven
to feed these people; there are not enough cattle in the herds to satisfy them all. You do not know them, God. I know what kind of people they are. They are the most selfish, the most stiff-necked, the most unhappy people, the greatest complainers. Oh, it would be better if I were dead.' However, Jehovah spoke to Moses in these words: 'Is Jehovah's power so limited? You shall see now whether my word will come true for you or not.' (Num. 11:23, AT; AS) Can you imagine anyone's questioning God and saying that he could not do what he said he would do? Moses questioned God's power here. It is just like someone's saying today that God cannot protect his people at the battle of Armageddon and take them through into the new world; that it is too great a task. Well, have you ever stopped to think that Jehovah did protect Noah and his family in the flood and brought them from the
Why was Moses not happy at that time of feeling so much responsibility?
How did Moses here show some lack of faith, and what like attitude would correspond with it today?
"world that then was" into this present, evil world? That is history, and it shows God's power has already been proved. Do you not believe he can do it again? Where is your faith? Moses thought that God's power was limited; but Jehovah has all power in heaven and in earth. He has even given such power to his Son.—Matt. 28:18.
12 Well, what happened in the wilderness should certainly impress us so that we may never doubt the Word of God. When we read God's Word as he sets it forth in the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures, we should accept it as absolutely true and right. He talks to us about real life as it existed many centuries ago and uses those things as examples of what is going to happen at the present time. Even though this great mediator Moses made a mistake, that is no reason why we today should doubt Jehovah and make a similar mistake. That is why these things were written beforetime, for our admonition and our learning. Anyway, later, outside the Israelite camp the quails they caught were
stacked up in great quantities. Jehovah brought them in from somewhere and gave the people all they could possibly eat. But they did not appreciate what Jehovah had done, and God became displeased by the greedy way in which the Israelites used these provisions. Here Jehovah was the giver, an abundant giver;
hovah for his goodness, then they would have had happiness in their living.—Num. 11:31-35.
but lack of appreciation was shown by the Israelites. Jehovah proved to Moses that his word was right and dependable, and he showed Moses his power. His hand was not shortened. He proved his sovereignty. If only the Israelites had given praise to Jecording to the law, she was saved from such a loathsome existence. (Num. 12:9-15) So we see that no one should complain against God because he does not do things as we want them done. Remember that Jehovah is the Sovereign Ruler of the universe. He knows how to handle his organization and his work much better
18 Then there is an account in the Bible about the complainers Miriam and Aaron, who spoke against Moses. 'Is it only through Moses alone that Jehovah has spoken?' they said. "Has he not spoken through us as well?" (Num. 12:2, AT; AS) On a previous occasion Moses had saved the life of his brother Aaron when Aaron failed to follow true worship. At Deuteronomy 9:20 (AS), Moses said: "And Jehovah was very angry with Aaron to destroy him: and I prayed for Aaron also at the same time." Now these two prominent persons among the Israelites, Moses' brother and sister, showed that they were not satisfied with God's provision to have Moses as the spokesman. They did not like God's way of handling things, and as a result of their complaining Miriam was struck with leprosy. Moses interceded with prayer for his sister, and after she was sent outside the camp to be cleansed according to the law, she was saved from such a loathsome existence. (Num. 12:9-15) So we see that no one should complain against God because he does not do things as we want them done. Remember that Jehovah is the Sovereign Ruler of the universe. He knows how to handle his organization and his work much better
than those who serve him. All should be happy where Jehovah places them in his organization and in his service. What God requires of us is integrity and faithfulness to him; and if we give him these we shall be happy.
Why did God's miracle not result in happiness to many Israelites, and what purpose should this historical example serve for us?
Why should we not be complainers, as illustrated in the case of Aaron and Miriam?
Another striking example occurred when Moses sent the twelve spies into the land of Canaan to look over the inheritance God had promised the Israelites. Moses chose one of each of the twelve tribes and sent them forth to spy out the land. Remember that God had told them: 'I am going to give it to you. It is the best land in that part of the earth, that you are inheriting.' But when the twelve returned, ten of them said, 'No, we don't want to go up there. It is a terrible country inhabited by giants. It would be better to go back to Egypt and be slaves. All that will happen is that we will be destroyed, because the people of that land are mightier than we.' It was a bad report that was given on the land that God had given to the Israelites. Out of the twelve spies only two, Joshua and Caleb, came back with a good report. They were grateful for what God had provided, and they brought back proof that it was a prosperous land. They advised: 'Let us go up right now!' But the majority said: 'Ah, no, we will stay right here. We are satisfied with things the way they are.' The Israelites and ten of the spies who looked over the land were too indifferent to work for the inheritance God had promised them. The ten spies of little faith influenced the whole nation, and as a result the older generation never got into the Promised Land. Instead it was their children who received the promise, and Caleb and Joshua accompanied them into the Promised Land because they were faithful and gave a true report.
15 Do you have faith in God's provisions today? Are you willing to go ahead under God's direction? Is it your preference to
stay in this old, dying, corrupt world? or would you rather associate with people like Caleb and Joshua, forward-looking men who are fighters for the new world? If you prefer to follow Jehovah's direction, then you will preach this gospel of the Kingdom in all the world for a witness and practice the true worship of the Most High.—Num. 13:1-33; 14:1-3.
16 Listen once more to the complaining Israelites at Kadesh in the fortieth year of their journey: "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt, to bring us to this wretched place, since it is no place for grain, or figs, or vines, or pomegranates, nor is there any water to drink?" (Num. 20:5, AT) The Israelites had not starved thus far on their journey. Their shoes had not even worn out, and they had not died of thirst. But there they were complaining again. No, they could not wait for Jehovah. The big issue was water. They wanted plenty of water, and they wanted it right away for themselves and for their cattle. And so they complained.
17 We find people like that today, even associated with God's organization. Some have been with the organization for six months, others for a year, when soon we hear them complain and begin to say: 'Nothing is happening. I thought you said Armageddon was just a little way off. Why, I have known about this for a whole year now and Armageddon has not come yet. Do you think I am going to stick with this organization all my life?' A few have the attitude that unless God runs things their way, they will not stay with it. But God has not asked us to advise him. We should be grateful to Jehovah for what he has given us. We understand his truths and appreciate his promises, and we believe them. We are happy in our worship and service and have the privilege of bring-
On the return of the twelve from spying out the Promised Land, how was lack of faith displayed, and with what consequence?
Hence what pertinent questions face us today, and how will we answer them?
How did the Israelites complain at Kadesh, and why?
How do some today a short time with the truth show a lack of faith, and why are they not happy?
ing much comfort to people of good will. Those who can see this are rejoicing in their work at the present time, whereas the novice or critical person may not have learned it yet; perhaps he has not even taken the time to study. He just wants to complain. Such ones are very much like the Israelites who were never able to wait on Jehovah. As a result they have no happiness, nor do they appreciate the provisions God made in times past and is still making. They want things their way, not God's.
18 Going back to the account of the Israelites again as they complained about the lack of water: Moses then told them they would get the water all right, but he neglected to give the praise to the One who gave him the power to produce water. Read the account in Numbers 20:10-13 (AT; AS): 'Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly in front of the rock, and he said to them, "Listen, you rebels; is it from this rock that we have to produce water for you?" And raising his hand, Moses struck the rock with his staff twice, whereupon water in abundance gushed out, and the community and their cattle drank. But Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron, "Because you did not trust me by paying me due honor in the presence of the Israelites, that is why you shall not bring this community into the land which I have given them." These are the waters of Meribah [finding fault], where the Israelites found fault with Jehovah, but where he vindicated himself among them.' For failing to sanctify Jehovah before the Israelites who complained at this time Moses did not receive the inheritance the Lord Jehovah had promised them. Neither will those who complain today about God's way of handling things and who do not give God the glory inherit the blessings
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