The Watchtower, July 1, 1953
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"YOU ARE MY WITNESSES," SAYS JEHOVAH.—Isa. 43:12
The WATCHTOWER
Announcing
JEHOVAH'S
KINGDOM
JULY 1, 1953
Semimonthly
SHADOWS OF FAMILY UNITY
HOLD FORTH PROMISE
UNITY IN NEW WORLD LIVING
A REALITY
TOO BIG FOR GOD?
ARE IMAGES AN AID
TO TRUE WORSHIP?
SHOWING APPRECIATION
AT ASSEMBLIES
©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".
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PUBLISHED BY THE WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
117 Adams Street
N. H. KNORE, President
"They will all be taught by Jehovah."—John 6:45, NW; Isaiah 54:13
<tr><th>CONTENTS
A Peace Measure?
Too Big for God?
Letter from Kyoto
Are Images an Aid to True Worship?
Religious Bird Fails to Snatch Seed
Tens of Thousands of Years Wrong!
Showing Appreciation at Assemblies
Assembling with the New World Society
Shadows of Family Unity
Hold Forth Promise
Unity in New World Living a Reality
Questions from Readers
Swiss Priest Fails to Intimidate Witness
Announcements
Abbreviations used in “The Watchtower” for the following Bible versions
AS – American Standard Version
LXX – The Septuagint Version
AT – An American Translation
Mo – James Moffatt’s version
Da – J. N. Darby’s version
NW – New World Trans. (2nd Ed.)
Dy – Catholic Douay version
Ro – J. B. Rotherham’s version
ED – The Emphatic Diaglott
RS – Revised Standard Version
Le – Isaac Leeser’s version
Yg – Robert Young’s version
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A PEACE MEASURE?
THE house-to-house ministry might be said to be the backbone of the activity of Jehovah's witnesses. That it is very effective cannot be denied. Not only have their numbers in the United States seen an increase of some 50 per cent over the past three years but even in that Roman Catholic stronghold, the province of Quebec, Jehovah's witnesses saw an increase of 17 per cent during 1952.
As to how the Catholic clergy feel about this house-to-house activity of the witnesses we learn from the Montreal Star, April 4, 1953, which quotes one Abbé Maheux, M.A., D.D., O.B.E., F.R.S., Laureat de l'Academie francaise. Under the heading of "A Peace Measure" this abbé tells of Paul's concern for young Christianity as noted in his words to Titus: "There are people who must be blamed, those who upset all the members of families, by teaching that which must not be taught, and that for gain, a shameful thing."
Applying this text (Titus 1:11) to our time the abbé says: "It is a matter of making converts and drawing profit from it. It is still seen today: doctrine peddling continues." And objecting to the house-to-house activity he continues: "I would gladly suppress all the agents and door-to-door vendors who have become a plague to family homes. In the case of religion, of ideology, this peddling is infinitely more
detestable and blamable. That we have a legally recognized temple; that we preach; that we invite the citizens by discreet advertising, well and good; freedom remains. But direct solicitation from door to door is, after all, a violation of the home, and that in the most sacred realm of the religious conscience."
That the abbé is referring to the activity of Jehovah's witnesses, although not mentioning them by name, is obvious, as they are the people in Quebec that 'peddle doctrine from door to door', to the ire of Catholic clergy. Can they be accused of preaching for selfish gain? What are the facts? True, they do leave books, containing from 300 to 400 pages each, with the people on a contribution of 50 cents; but, in view of publishing costs today, how much profit does that represent? Besides, they offer with each book to spend one hour a week for a year or more, helping the obtainer to understand it without the cost of another penny. How much profit is there in that? The facts are that even if Jehovah's witnesses received the maximum contribution for every piece of literature placed, they would be receiving six cents in contribution for every hour they spend in preaching on the streets, from house to house and in the homes of the people. But they give much literature away free, so that the actual contributions received would be more like four cents per hour, and that does not even cover the cost of the literature.
Could anything be more fantastic than to claim that Jehovah's witnesses engage in their activity from profit motives?
Nor is that all. When people come to their Kingdom Halls, they are not asked to contribute, no collection plate is passed. Nothing is said about membership dues, for there are no membership rolls. They hear nothing about bazaars, bingo games, or other gambling devices for the purpose of raising money. There is no fee, stipulated or implied, for the performance of marriages, for baptismal or funeral services. Can other religious organizations say as much? Can Abbé Maheux's church say as much?
As for the methods used by Jehovah's witnesses. Is freedom to preach to be limited to "legally recognized temples"? Legally recognized by whom? By Roman Catholic political officials? Or does the abbé mean that freedom requires that one be not molested in his home by Christian ministers? If so, then he is finding fault not only with Jehovah's witnesses but with their great and illustrious founder Christ Jesus and his immediate disciples, the apostles. Christ Jesus could not have thought calling at the homes of the people to be "infinitely more detestable and blamable" than hawking commercial wares, for the Scriptures contain more than 130 references to his preaching in the homes of the people.
And within a few days after Pentecost the apostles were busy, "every day they ceased not, in the temple and from house to house, to teach and to preach Christ Jesus." And what about the apostle Paul? Years later, he was doing exactly the same thing, as he told the overseers of the congregation at Ephesus: "I have kept back nothing that was profitable to you, but
have preached it to you, and taught you publicly, and from house to house." (Acts 5:42; 20:20, Dy) Clearly, none of the apostles thought that they should limit their preaching to "legally recognized temples".
In fact, the abbé ought to investigate his own church, for in the past year the Catholics in the diocese of San Diego engaged in a four-month house-to-house campaign, under the direction of Bishop Buddy. Our Sunday Visitor, American Catholic weekly, told of the results: 95,000 non-Catholic homes had been called upon; some 5,000 Catholics reclaimed; and almost 2,000 non-Catholics "converted", that is, enrolled in Catholic instruction classes. And we are told that this San Diego campaign "gives a striking demonstration of the effectiveness of lay workers in recruiting prospects". Actually, the Catholics of San Diego are paying Jehovah's witnesses a compliment by temporarily imitating their chief form of activity. And, Abbé Maheux, would it not be better to do that than to try to enforce "peace measures" such as banning house-to-house activity?
Every single follower of Christ Jesus is commissioned to go and "make disciples of people of all the nations", and the prophetic command tells that "this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for the purpose of a witness". Since Jehovah's word cannot return to him unfulfilled, Jehovah's witnesses will continue to preach in every possible effective manner regardless of the objections of opponents and their "peace measures" of 'mischief framed by law'. (Ps. 94:20; Isa. 55:11; Matt. 24:14; 28:19, 20, NW) That being so, let all opposers, such as Abbé Maheux, note Paul's words: "For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth."—2 Cor. 13:8, NW. Too Big for God?
THE challenging subject for an address, not too long ago, by "Reverend" M. R. Nelson of Minneapolis, was "Too Big for God". Bemoaning the sad state of affairs found in politics, the prevalence of gambling, large numbers of drunks, low morals, etc., the minister explained: "To effect the changes that we should make is too big a job for God alone...Making life better is too big a job for God alone." This address was enthusiastically received by a large gathering. Hence, it appears that there is a growing belief that Almighty God is not so almighty any more. Must God now depend on man? And is there really anything "too big for God alone"?
There was a time when God was completely alone. Yet without anyone's help he created the Logos or Word who later became Christ Jesus. As a mighty spirit creature the Logos was "the beginning of the creation by God", and "all things came into existence through him". (Rev. 3:14; John 1:3, NW) Through God's power this master workman created myriads of spirit creatures and inanimate bodies. All this he did without first creating man; in fact, God did not need man's advice in the creation of our home-town planet. Jehovah himself declared his absolute inroth in its season, and lead forth the Bear with its satellites? Can you send forth the lightnings that they may go and say to you, 'Here we are!'?"—Job 38:4, 31, 32, 35, AT.
"Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Declare, if you have insight. Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, or loosen the girdle of Orion? Can you send forth Mazzaroth in its season, and lead forth the Bear with its satellites? Can you send forth the lightnings that they may go and say to you, 'Here we are!'?"—Job 38:4, 31, 32, 35, AT.
There is no instance in the Bible where a job was ever too hard for God. Jehovah's power is supreme and unqualified. "For he spoke and it was! He commanded and it stood fast!" (Ps. 33:9, AT) Man plunges into puny insignificance whenever God demonstrates his power. The universal deluge of Noah's day overwhelmed all mankind except those who believed in Jehovah's promises and power. Supreme power was also demonstrated when, with fire and sulphur, Jehovah devastated Sodom and Gomorrah, the incorrigibly wicked inhabitants not being too big a problem for God. In fact, Jehovah sent just two angels to Sodom, they themselves declaring: "We will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxed great before Jehovah; and Jehovah hath sent us to destroy it."
(Gen. 19:1, 13, AS)
Was it a big job, then, for God to blot out Sodom? No! for only two angels were sent to do the job, and Jehovah has at his command
all the armies of heaven, numbering not less than 200,000,000!—Rev. 9:16, NW.
CHRIST VERIFIES GOD'S OMNIPOTENCE
Jehovah has repeatedly demonstrated that he will make life better for man in His due time. By means of the healing miracles that Christ Jesus performed, Jehovah gave a preview of what his power will accomplish in the new world on behalf of his people. It is interesting to know that the miracles of Christ recorded in the four Gospels are so numerous that, for example, nearly one third of the book of Mark contains descriptions of them. These miracles are woven so inextricably into the text that they cannot be removed without disrupting the continuity. Out of all the miracles that Christ worked about three fourths of them pertain to healing and health. No disease or deformity was ever too big a job for Jehovah's physician: "And they brought him all the ailing ones afflicted with various diseases and severe complaints, demon-possessed and lunatic and paralyzed persons, and he cured them." (Matt. 4:24, NW) Lunatics cured without psychiatrists! Diseases cured without penicillin! And there was no lack of power when Christ resurrected Lazarus. John 11:17, 40-44.
When he was betrayed by Judas and the mob closed in to seize him, Jesus raised a provocative question: "Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father to supply me at this moment more than twelve legions of angels?" (Matt. 26:53, NW) To rescue Jesus from the mob would have been a big job for his disciples, but it was made plainly clear to them that there was a tremendous heavenly army available should Jesus request it. Today the word "legion" may not seem so significant, but to the ancient Romans and to people under their control the word immediately conjured up catapulting and colossal
power, for it meant a body of soldiers numbering, at different times, 4,500 to 6,000. Would not Jesus' disciples understand, then, that he had an army of more than 72,000 angels at his command if he should request them from the Father? Again it should be remembered that it took only two of Jehovah's angels to annihilate Sodom and Gomorrah!
How do the holy angels themselves appraise God's power? We have the testimony of the angel Gabriel: "With God no declaration will be an impossibility." (Luke 1:37, NW) What all-embracing power that means! We have no reason to question the truthfulness of Gabriel's statement, for he said he "stands near before God"; moreover, his message to Mary of Jesus' impending virgin birth occurred exactly as stated.—Luke 1:18, 26-38; 2:1-21, NW.
And what more reliable testimony do we need than that of Christ Jesus, "he that descended from heaven"! He declared: "The things impossible with men are possible with God." (John 3:13; Luke 18:27, NW) Thus the Son of God revealed there would be jobs too big for men but never too big for God.
WHY THE "TOO BIG" THEORY?
By virtue of Jehovah's omnipotent power and infinite wisdom, he is the great timekeeper of the universe. To him time is limitless. To man time is limited, so limited that he is always saying: "I don't have time for this or that." And no wonder! "The days of our years are threescore years and ten, or even by reason of strength fourscore years." (Ps. 90:10, AS) Naturally, then, man wants things done in a hurry. Seldom does he realize that God's time schedule is run on a vastly different basis from our 24-hour-a-day one. "One day is with Jehovah as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day."
(2 Pet. 3:8, NW) Because God does everything in his time, nearsighted man is inclined to view it as a weakness, as if something were too big for God.
Take, for instance, the increase of God's visible organization, which, at one time, seemed impossible. But it was not impossible, for it had to come in God's due time. Even in 1938 there were only 47,143 publishers proclaiming world-wide the good news of God's kingdom, but by 1952 the figure had zoomed to 456,265! "The little one shall become a thousand, and the small one a strong nation: I, Jehovah, will hasten it in its time."—Isa. 60:22, AS.
Moreover, how did man's living become so degraded that its improvement presents such a formidable job? Is it not because man has failed to live by the principles set forth in God's Word, the Bible? A world deteriorating in morals and teeming with greedy, ruthless and blood-stained hands would not be the result if man had followed the excellent advice of the Master: "All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must likewise do to them; this, in fact, is what the Law and the Prophets mean." (Matt. 7:12, NW) Plagued with a wretched condition in the world, some people now say, "It's too big a job for God alone." Again man fails to listen to the Scriptural rule: "Sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily."—Eccl. 8:11, AS.
Really, then, the job is not too big for God. The trouble is that man is not big enough for the job. Man's scientific achievements have inflated his ego; now he has a "big head". But it is not big to God, no bigger than the head of a grasshopper, and that is not very big. "Have ye not known?... It is he [Jehovah] that sitteth above the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers." (Isa. 40:21, 22, AS) What does a grasshopper understand about the power
of man? And what does man know about the power of God? "Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent in power."—Job 37:23, AS.
The truth is that when man says a work is too big for God, he is impressed by his own importance. Today we have political luminaries from sixty different nations assembling at the U.N. in New York endeavoring to make the earth abound with peace and security. Said President Truman a few days before the inauguration of General Eisenhower: "If we can get peace and safety in the world under the United Nations, the developments will come so fast we will not recognize the world in which we now live." And in his inaugural address, President Eisenhower called the U.N. the "living sign of all people's hope for peace". Soon now Jehovah will thwart the combined efforts of the nations: "The LORD [Jehovah] annuls the counsel of the nations; he frustrates the plans of the peoples." "Whenever it is that they are saying, 'Peace and security!' then sudden destruction is to be instantly upon them." (Ps. 33:10, AT; 1 Thess. 5:3, NW) Armageddon's sudden destruction will leave the U.N. in smoldering ruins, and the earth littered with the bodies of the "slain of Jehovah".—Jer. 25:33, 34, AS.
Finally, the biggest job of all, the annihilation of Satan the Devil, is accomplished with great ease by Jehovah's "King of kings", Christ Jesus. Christ merely seizes the Devil and hurls him into the abyss. (Rev. 20:1-3) By that aweinspiring display of Jehovah's matchless power a new world will be ushered in for the complete betterment of mankind. (Rev. 21:1-4) Then no one will ever again say that a job is too big for God. Rather, all the living will understand the rich meaning of the Most High's words to Abraham: "Is anything too hard for Jehovah?" —Gen. 18:14, AS.
Letter from Kyoto
From seven Watchtower Society missionaries
in Kyoto, Japan
Dear Friend:
Our assignment for location is beautiful. It is a paradise completely engulfed by mountains. The city of Kyoto is a treasure in itself, filled with ancient palaces, sculptures, paintings, landscape gardens and lovely, tiny people arrayed in brilliant-colored kimonos.
The other day we had occasion to visit the world-famous flowering cherry blossom festival. Our first stop was the Imperial palace and park. Throughout this park of some 200 acres were the most gorgeous blooming cherry trees that you can imagine. We were told that there were only ten different varieties of these flowering trees and some of them are to be found only in Kyoto.
As we neared the Imperial palace we were literally swamped with hundreds of little vendors selling everything from dried squid and octopus to beautiful dolls, for which Kyoto is world-famous. This little episode reminded us of our circuses and carnivals in America. Before entering the Imperial gardens there was an arch that we had to duck under, but when we lifted our eyes we simply were spellbound, awe-struck at the most magnificent clouds of pink petals drooping to the ground. Most of the branches had to be propped with stakes to prevent them from breaking. When we finally recovered from our "ohs" and "ahs", we continued on down a blossoming lane to see the entire garden, known also for its irises. It appeared to us that the spirit of Japanese gardens was found in the way of the use of water and the unique arrangement of stones. Needless to say, we were deeply impressed by the array of beauty fixed against a background of simplicity. The surroundings were enough to leave a person speechless.
Since we were plagued with hunger, a nearby Japanese restaurant came in handy. We ordered curried rice and a cup of ocha (Japanese tea). Take it from us, these people really know their rice. They never fail. It is always very light and fluffy. We topped the meal with soft ice cream made, by the way, in an American machine.
What seemed to be (at least to us) a second dessert was the high light of the Cherry Festival where the famed Cherry Dance is performed by two companies of the most beautiful geisha (artist) girls in Japan. These young ladies are trained from childhood in the arts of dancing, singing, tea ceremony officiating and playing the harp. What amazed us was that when we entered the theater it was nearly deserted. But five minutes before curtain time people began flowing through every door, even to the balcony. That is all the time they needed, because within but a few minutes there was not a place that was not occupied.
The lights dimmed. The curtain rose very slowly, and the crowds gasped at the magnificent display of pink blooms over the heads of the lovely geishas dressed in multicolored kimonos. Their movements were unusually precise and graceful and were enhanced by the large folding fans each of them used in the dance. There were several parts of the performance that were dramatic, starring actors dressed in ancient costumes. But we missed the plot, not understanding the language.
We cannot help but say our assignment is wonderful, colorful, instructive and lots of fun. We are fascinated with the countryside and in love with the people.
ACCORDING to certain religious organizations, the use of images is a great aid to worship. Thus when a stranger visits a religious edifice such as St. Peter's basilica in Rome he is struck with the many images found therein, of popes, of saints, of the apostles, of Mary the mother of Jesus, of Moses and of others. A particularly striking
image in that basilica is the life-size black bronze statue of Peter, before which he may see several devout Catholics waiting their turn to kiss the big toe of the right foot.
Jesus said that God is looking for those to worship him who do so with spirit and with truth. (John 4:23, 24, NW) Does such reverence and worship of images aid in true worship? Does it find any support in the Scriptures? What is its origin?
When God gave his law to the Israelites at Mount Sinai he purposely revealed no likeness of himself, so that they could not even have an excuse to make an image and worship it. (Deut. 4:15-23) At that time God plainly commanded them: "Thou shalt not make unto thee a graven image, nor any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: thou shalt not bow down thyself unto them, nor serve them." And later God further commanded them: "Ye shall make you no idols, neither shall ye rear you up a graven image, or a pillar, neither shall ye place any figured stone in your land, to bow down unto it: for I am
Jehovah your God." (Ex. 20:3-5; Lev. 26:1, AS) True, God commanded the making of cherubim for the mercy seat, but these were always hidden from public view. Num. 4:5.
Nor was the use of images authorized in the new system of things inaugurated by Christ Jesus. No, but Christians were plainly told that
images were nothing and they were warned to keep themselves from idols, to flee from them.—1 Cor. 8:4-6; 10:14; 1 John 5:21, NW.
And so history records that during the first three centuries of the Christian era images were unknown to the followers of Christ. Says the Encyclopædia Britannica, Vol. XII, page 750 (1907 edition): "The early Christians were absolutely unanimous in utterly condemning all heathen image-worship and the various customs, many of them obviously immoral, with which it was associated; it is needless to multiply citations from the fathers in proof of so undisputed a fact." "In point of fact it was a common accusation brought against Christians by their enemies that they had 'no altars, no temples, no known images'; and that 'they set up no image or form of any god', and this charge was never denied."
While some would attribute this fact to such circumstances as fewness of numbers, persecution and poverty, it cannot be denied that had they venerated images they would have found a way to have at least some images. Their complete absence proves that it was principle, not circumstances, that governed this.
In fact, Christians were even accused of being atheists because of the total lack of images in their places of worship.
ORIGIN OF IMAGE WORSHIP
Image worship was the outgrowth of creature worship, concerning the origin of which the apostle Paul tells us: "Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God nor did they thank him, but they became empty-headed in their reasonings and their unintelligent heart became darkened. Although asserting they were wise, they became foolish and turned the glory of the incorruptible God into something like the image of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed creatures and creeping things." (Rom. 1:21-23, NW) Although repeatedly warned by Jehovah God not to engage in such practices of the nations round about them, the Israelites time and again fell away from the worship of the invisible God to the worship of things seen, until at last there was no remedy.—Lev. 26:28, 30; Deut. 7:16; 2 Chron. 36:15, AS.
But what about the image worship practiced today by professed Christians? Is it likewise of pagan origin? Yes, unquestionably it is. For example, Cardinal Newman, in his work, An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine, page 373, states that among the things "of pagan origin and sanctified by their adoption into the Church", that is, the Roman Catholic Church, are images.
And the Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. VII, pages 666, 667, states that the early Christians got their idea of making images and paintings from "the statues of emperors, of pagan gods and heroes as well as pagan wall paintings. In the fourth century the Christian Roman citizens in the East offered gifts, incense, even prayers to the statues of the emperor. It would be natural
that the people who bowed to, kissed, incensed the imperial eagles and the images of Caesar (with no suspicion of anything like idolatry), who paid elaborate reverence to an empty throne as his symbol, should give the same signs to the cross, the images of Christ, and the altar".
But here the argument in favor of the use of images, while clearly showing their origin, also acts as a boomerang. Christians certainly had strayed far from the pure worship, which is commanded to keep itself unspotted from the world, when with a clear conscience they could offer prayers to, bow down to and kiss the statue of the emperor, and could pay elaborate reverence to his empty throne. Those that could do such things were in fact Christians in name only; and being able to do such things, why, of course, they would find no objection to bowing down and adoring statues of Jesus, etc.Jas. 1:27,NW.
In endeavoring to justify the worship of images, the claim is made that such worship is relative, different from the worship directed to God, that the worship is merely directed through the image to the one represented by it, as a visual aid, and that God's law was not meant to forbid that. Let it be noted, however, that God commanded the Israelites not only not to serve any images but also not even to bow down to them.—Ex. 20:3-5.
IMAGES VERY REAL TO MANY
Further, it does not at all follow that all those bowing down to an image fully appreciate the fact that it is merely a symbol. According to Du Bois, one of the early Roman Catholic missionaries in India, "the common people indubitably worship the image itself".
And the same is true of the less educated in Roman Catholic lands. Regarding image worship in the eighth century A.D., we again quote from the Catholic Encyclopedia: "The way in which some people treated their holy icons [images] argues more than the merely relative honour that Catholics are taught to observe toward them...
Icons were crowned with garlands, incensed, kissed. Lamps burned before them, hymns were sung in their honor. They were applied to sick persons by contact, set in the path of a fire or flood to stop it by a sort of magic."—Vol. VII, page 668.
Note here an inconsistency. On a previous page this authority used the fact of some professed Christians' kissing, bowing to and incensing the statue of the emperor as justification for doing the same to "Christian" images, while here the doing of such things is tacitly condemned. Nor is the using of statues, as if they had magical powers, limited to Catholics of the eighth century. After twelve more centuries of instruction by the Catholic Church we still find her people doing the same.
According to a special dispatch to the Providence Sunday Journal, December 24, 1950, back in 1928 the angry villagers of Mascali left the statue of their patron saint, St. Leonard, to burn in the onrushing lava because it had failed to stop the flow of the volcano. We may feel amusement at their chagrin, but must also feel pity at such blindness. The same dispatch credited St. Andrew with stopping the flow of lava for the villagers of Milo, in 1950. In 1944 Italian peasants placed their images in the path of the flowing lava from Mount Vesuvius in a vain attempt to stop it.
The Catholic Herald, London, December 15, 1950, published a picture showing the
inhabitants of Milo carrying a statue of "Our Lady" right to the edge of the advancing avalanche of lava during a recent eruption of Mt. Etna. But all in vain; the village had to be abandoned. And to this very day the unlearned Catholic people of Mexico, Central America and South America daily place food and drink offerings before the images of their "saints", exactly the same as did the ignorant folk back there in the eighth century A.D.
According to Gregory I, "the Great," deceased A.D. 604, images "are the books of the ignorant". With only such books no wonder the ignorant of such lands have continued ignorant for more than twelve centuries! More helpful was Augustine's observation that some were looking for Christ and his apostles "on painted walls" instead of looking for them in the written Word of God.
It is unthinkable that the apostle John wanted to give an angel the worship due only to God; yet the angel would not permit John to give him even "relative" worship. Cornelius, being a devout man, likewise would not have thought of giving Peter the worship due only to God; yet Peter did not allow even a "relative" worship. If neither Peter nor an angel could be given "relative" worship, then how could we properly give it to inanimate images?—Acts 10:24-26; Rev. 19:10.
True worship bows down only to Jehovah God. It directs its prayers only to him, even as commanded by Christ Jesus. For its aid God has provided, not images, but his Word, his spirit and his organization. It walks by faith and not by sight.—Matt. 6:9; John 16:13; 2 Cor. 5:7; 2 Tim. 3:15- 17, NW. Religious Bird Fails to Snatch Seed
In his illustration of the sower Jesus told of some seed as falling by the wayside and which the birds of the air picked up, resulting in no increase. On the other hand, the seed that fell in the right kind of soil or heart yielded thirty-, sixty- and a hundredfold. The following experience shows the failure of a "bird" to take away the seed, because it had been planted in the right kind of soil, and of the increase that resulted from this seed. Luke 8:4-15.
A very devout lady living in a Flanders village went to visit her aunt in France. It so happened that this aunt had become one of Jehovah's witnesses, and so took advantage of the visit to tell her niece all about God's kingdom and what the Bible actually taught. The niece returned to her Flanders home with a copy of the Bible and some textbooks to assist her in her study. As she studied her Bible and her knowledge increased she could not help but talk about the good news to the clients of her beauty parlor. It was not long before all this came to the ears of Monsieur le Cure, the parish priest. He had not called on our friend for fifteen years, but suddenly he developed a great interest in her health and called to inquire after it. It was not long before he got around to the real purpose of his call. He said he had been informed that she was studying the Bible, and then he proceeded to explain why she should surrender to him her personal copy of the Scriptures. Said he: "You wouldn't
think of giving beefsteak to this one-year old child, would you? Well, I am your spiritual father, I can read the Bible without harm, but it is not good for you, my child." However, the lady was familiar with Jesus' words, "Do not call anyone your father on earth," and also knew that the Bible was just as much for her as for any other Godfearing person on earth. She refused to give up her copy of the Bible, but continued to study it and to talk its contents to others.
This started what we might call a "chain reaction" in this little village, for before long seventeen others had followed her example and were gaining accurate knowledge. Shortly her hairdressing parlor was converted into a meeting place for Jehovah's witnesses, and at the first public lecture 140 persons heard more of the good news from the Bible, which the parish priest had endeavored to keep from the people. Later on, a well-to-do businessman offered his home for a series of public talks. His friends exclaimed: "Do you realize what you are doing? Why, you may lose your home because of this!" His calm reply was: "Well, if I lose it, I lose it; but this is more important than my home." Well, he did not lose his home, and now he and his wife and his two sons are active witnesses of Jehovah, along with about forty other people in the little town. The truth has gained a firm foothold here in the battle against ignorance.
Tens of Thousands of Years Wrong!
From a June 30,1952, Associated Press report: "The National Capital Parks reported proudly today that there was a blossom on an Indian lotus plant at the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens here. It is no ordinary blossom. It bloomed yesterday on a plant grown from seeds that are tens of thousands of years old. The seeds from which the Indian lotus grew were found in geologic deposits in southern Manchuria two years ago by Dr. Seido Endo, paleontologist at Sendai University in Japan. Dr. Endo said the seeds were found under a layer of rocks and were at least tens of thousands of years old." Presumably the readers believed this fantastic age claim. How were they to know that this claim, which would contradict the Bible, had already been disproved by the radiocarbon clock, which had set the age of these lotus seeds at merely 1,000 years? (See "The Radiocarbon Clock", Awake! February 22, 1952.) That in itself is quite an age for seeds, and would have made an interesting news item, but the earlier, though false, age estimate was more spectacular. Apparently a few "tens of thousands of years" matters little to a "scientist" talking for publicity, or to the news service that reports his words.
Showing Appreciation at Assemblies
IF THERE is any time, place or occasion at which the dedicated servants of Jehovah in modern times really "taste and see that Jehovah is good", it is at an international assembly. At such an assembly Jehovah literally pours out so many blessings that they cannot contain them all. No wonder, then, that his servants were glad when the Watch Tower Society said to them, in effect, "Let us go unto the house of Jehovah," by arranging for another international assembly. It is to be held at Yankee Stadium, New York city, July 19 to 26, 1953.—Ps. 34:8; 122:1-3; Mal. 3:10, AS.
No question about it, Jehovah will pour out many blessings at that assembly, and knowing that, every one of us that can possibly attend will do so. But merely being present in person at Yankee Stadium during those eight days is not enough. To what extent will we be drinking in those blessings? Will our conduct be such as to show that we really appreciate them? Or will our conduct make apparent to all that we are thoughtless and indifferent regarding the assembly blessings?
To illustrate: Suppose a friend gave us tickets for an evening at the opera because he knew we were music lovers. Would we go to the opera and then spend most of the evening walking around in the lounge, visiting outside with others, or eating at the refreshment stand, and be in our seats listening to the beautiful vocal and instrumental music coming from the stage and orchestra pit only part of the time? Of course not! We would be in our seats before the orchestra began to play the overture or prelude, and if we stepped out for refreshments between the acts we would make sure to be back in our seats before the next act began; and we would stay until the final curtain fell. We would not want to miss a thing.
But suppose that we were not only music lovers, amateurs, but professionals, singers or instrumentalists whose vocation in life is music. We would have all the more reason for not wanting to miss anything. Knowing more about music we would get more out of the opera. We would note how every bar of music was being interpreted. We would be alert for ideas and effects, for greater appreciation and understanding of the music, all of which would serve us well as professional musicians. Yes, as professionals we would not only enjoy the opera more but learn a great deal from hearing it.
Now let us apply this illustration: This summer at Yankee Stadium there will be theocratic music such as never has been heard before. And we will be there, not only as music lovers, but also as professionals, as singing fighters! As such we will not only be thrilled by the beauty of the spiritual music but be alert to take note of the many fine points, the new thoughts, the practical suggestions that will be presented and which we shall be able to use as professional singing fighters when we get back to our home territory. Right?
If we have that appreciation, will we be milling around in the long passageways under the stands during the time the programs are being given? Will we be visiting with some old acquaintance or taking a nap during the programs? Will we?
SHOWING APPRECIATION AND CONSIDERATION
Or suppose a dear friend invited you to dinner, preparing for you many courses consisting of your favorite dishes. Would you come a half hour late, bolt down the food while reading a newspaper and then rush off before the dessert was served so as to listen to your favorite radio program, leaving your friend alone and not even thanking him for having been such a generous and thoughtful host? How unthinkable!
Jehovah as a generous and thoughtful host is providing a feast of fat things at the coming assembly. How many of us will come late for the various programs? How many will be munching a sandwich, sipping soda water or licking at an icecream cone during our spiritual feasts? Or be rushing away before the closing song? Will we treat our heavenly Friend and Host in a manner we would not think of treating an earthly one?
Or what would you think of a member of a family who was continually competing with his fellows for the best of everything? Who at mealtimes could not wait for the blessing to be said to grab the choicest or largest portions of food? Or who hurried through his meal so as to have the best seat in the parlor for watching the TV show? Or who rushed to get the front seat of the auto every time the family drove anywhere? How childish, how immature! you say?
Of course, we would not consciously think of acting so childishly; yes, and so
selfishly, for a child instinctively thinks only of itself; it must be taught consideration of others. But how often do we thoughtlessly act in this way when we come together as a big family at our international conventions? Do we compete for choice seats and insist on an excessive reserving of them? Do we rush off before the close of the program so as to be first in line at the cafeteria, at the refreshment stands or in obtaining a new release? Are we so concerned about not having to wait that we do not mind how long the others behind us have to wait, just so long as we are in front of them?
Then there is the matter of the rooming accommodations. What would you think of a friend whom you had invited to spend a week end with you, who, after accepting the invitation, disappointed you by not showing up? Or who came a day later than he had advised you, causing you to wait away into the night, all in vain? Or who, after coming and taking a glance at your home and guestroom, spurned your hospitality by going to a hotel instead? Would you still consider him your friend?
We have many potential friends, householders in New York who have consented to house Jehovah's witnesses during the assembly and who will have been advised by the convention committee that some of us will stay with them. Then how will they feel when we fail to show up? Or when we come a day late? Or come and then leave because of not being satisfied with the accommodations? Where is the concern about the impression we give to those on the outside? Where is the care that we do not stumble a prospective "other sheep"? Where is the doing to others as we would have them do to us? Matt. 7:12; Luke 17:1, 2; 1 Tim. 3:7, NW. SUPERVISING CONDUCT OF CHILDREN
And as regards the children. Could we imagine a school where children are allowed to amuse themselves as they please? Go and come as they please? Where they are permitted to play or quarrel with each other during the time the school teacher is trying to instruct them? Or could we imagine little Samuel acting that way when his mother brought him to the temple for service there? Or Jesus behaving in such a manner when his parents took him to Jerusalem for the annual feasts?—1 Sam. 1:23, 24; 2:11; Luke 2:46-52.
Children may not be able to grasp all the fine points made by every speaker, but that is no reason why they should not sit quietly with their parents and try to get as much benefit from the programs as possible so that it will have been worth while for their parents to bring them along. By paying attention they will become better acquainted with theocratic words and phrases. And regardless of what they may understand they can profit greatly from the sincerity, earnestness and enthusiasm manifested by the speakers. Many of our foreign brothers will not be able to understand every word, yet it will be well worth while for them to attend. Parents who appreciate these facts will exercise proper authority so that their children may receive the greatest possible good from the assembly. Ps. 34:11, AS.
Yankee Stadium, for the duration of the assembly, will be "the house of Jehovah" for Jehovah's witnesses, a mammoth Kingdom Hall. And in view of the quality and abundance of the spiritual food being provided there at that time we should show even more respect for its presentation than we do at our local Kingdom
Halls. Let us not in effect sniff at these provisions or say "the table of Jehovah is contemptible" by milling around in the passageways or by visiting with others when we should be in our seats in the stadium listening to what is being said from the platform.-Mal. 1:7, AS; 1:13, Mo.
Let us show appreciation of this spiritual treat by giving it our whole-souled attention, by being entirely absorbed in what is being presented, coming on time and remaining to the end of each program. Eph. 6:6;1 Tim.4:15,NW.
Let us be considerate of each other, being concerned not only with our own welfare but with that of others, remembering that love is long-suffering and does not look out for its own interests.1 Cor. 10:24; 13:4, 5, NW.
Let us also not overlook our obligations and privileges regarding the householder to whose rooms we have been assigned. What are a few minutes of travel or a few physical comforts compared with the opportunity of putting someone in the way of getting everlasting life? Think of the inconveniences our missionaries put up with for the sake of having opportunities to witness!
And finally, let us remember our obligation to our children. The Society is urging that we take them along, not so that they can have a good time in a worldly way, but so that they will profit spiritually. Let their attendance at Yankee Stadium be a milestone in their training for life in the new world.
So, one and all, old and young, let us keep in mind that "the kingdom of God does not mean eating and drinking, but means righteousness and peace and joy with holy spirit". Let us show appreciation for the spiritual feast by putting first things first.—Matt. 6:33; Rom.14:17,NW. Assembling with the New World Society
EHOVAH is causing a New World society to be formed today. It consists of his dedicated servants organized and drawn together by means of God's revealed truth, by means of his holy spirit or active force, and by means of his earthly instrument or channel, the "faithful and discreet slave". (Prov. 4:18; Matt. 24:45-47; Acts 20:28, NW) They are being prepared for service in Jehovah's new world of righteousness, which will function after Armageddon makes a clean sweep of this present wicked system of things.
Just as Jehovah's dedicated servants in days of old regularly came together in their three annual feasts, and as the Christians regularly assembled in the days of the apostles, so it is essential that all dedicated servants of God in our day assemble with the New World society. In fact, assembling together is even more important in our day, for Paul states: "Not forsaking the gathering of ourselves together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you behold the day drawing near." Heb. 10:25, NW.
Is that day drawing near? It certainly is. We have been living in the day of Jehovah since 1914; in the day of Christ since 1918; and even Satan knows the time is short until "the war of the great day of God the Almighty". (Rev. 16:14, NW) And why is it all the more urgent that we assemble now? Because conditions are growing ever worse; never before have there been such severe tests on the integrity of God's servants: there is increasing lawlessness; critical times hard to deal with are here; having been cast down to the earth the Devil is making a final allout attempt to corrupt the human race and to destroy God's servants.—Matt. 24:12; 2 Tim. 3:1-6; Rev. 12:12, 17, NW.
Now, just as the individual Christian finds the need of associating himself with a local congregation of Christians, and just as the individual congregations benefit greatly from meeting together in circuit and district assemblies, just so it is of great value for God's servants to come together from various lands in a great international assembly.
Just how will the attending of an international assembly benefit us? In the first place it will give us much happiness. Since all God's servants are happy, there is bound to be the greatest of happiness when so many of them come together. Secondly, such association for eight days with servants from different lands, of different races and languages, etc., getting acquainted with them and working and worshiping Jehovah together, eating at the same spiritual table, all this will have a most powerful effect of drawing them together in love, into one compact body. Third, on such occasions there is provided a sumptuous spiritual banquet of increased light and stirring admonition to increased zeal and faithfulness that will certainly strengthen each dedicated servant present for the tests of integrity that lie ahead. Finally, by each servant's making use of every opportunity to give the witness, a great testimony will be given to the honor of Jehovah's name.
That is why the Watch Tower Society urges all dedicated Christians and persons of good will who can possibly do so to attend the international assembly of the New World society held July 19-26 at Yankee Stadium, New York city.
Shadows of Family Unity Hold Forth Promise
"For a certainty I perceive that God is not partial, but in every nation the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him."—Acts 10:34, 35, NW.
NO ONE who is faithfully carrying out the righteous requirements of Jehovah need ever feel inferior or out of place in the midst of God's people. The principles of justice and impartiality that prevail in the Christian congregation were established by Christ Jesus even before the first company of Jehovah's witnesses began to operate in Jerusalem immediately after the outpouring of God's active force upon the one hundred and twenty assembled disciples, Pentecost, A.D. 33. The peoples of Christendom have in this regard, as in many others, made worship a vain thing by setting up a special class of educated clergy who claim a preferred place in the organization and who, by the example that they set, exalt certain others who may be influential and debase the majority until many sincere ones feel unwelcome and unwanted.
2 Nor is this condition limited to Christendom. All over the world divisive barriers have been erected that might seem to some to have forever disunited mankind. Family is set above family, clan above clan; classes are split into subclasses, and within the borders of some nations castes are erected that fatalistically determine one's associations and order the course of his entire life from birth. But what can be done about it, some will inquire? Certainly
there is no hope for relief within our generation! "Do not be misled: God is not one to be mocked." (Gal. 6:7, NW) Jehovah's purpose of unity and oneness of family relationship earth-wide will not fail to be carried out; and those who rely on the outworking of his purpose eagerly insist that the impartiality of recognition and equality of opportunity, which already exist within his true modern-day congregations, be guarded as zealously as they were in the early days of his people.
EARLY PROVISION IDENTIFIES PURPOSE
3 Adam and Eve, in Eden, had prospects of a family that would one day fill the entire earth. The powers of procreation given them by Jehovah, their own great Parent, were indeed an evidence of the oneness that was to exist among all this vast human family. For could not this first man truthfully say that all flesh in the earth, formed in the image and likeness of his great God and Father, would spring forth from his own body? Had not his wife and partner in this far-reaching procreation project herself been fashioned from his own rib so that she was 'bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh'? And now, the union that Jehovah God had authorized for them and for their offspring was to produce from these first parents hundreds, thousands, yes, millions of their own kind, all related to one another, all children of Adam and sons of God.—Gen. 1:28.
4 What a tragedy that before the first beautiful baby could be brought forth in honor of the Creator, Adam willfully threw away his legal right to this inheritance of eternal life from God and was literally ousted from God's great family organization! And what a mockery of Jehovah's stated purpose when Adam's first son, spawned in his bitterness, was ambitiously called Cain by his hopeful mother, for, she said, "I have gotten a man with the help of Jehovah"'! (Gen. 4:1, AS) Truly did he prove himself a son of his fleshly father, however, when he rose up after an act of faulty worship and violently ruptured what was left of Adam's family unity by foully murdering his own brother. "And for the sake of what did he slaughter him? Because his own works were wicked, but those of his brother were righteous."—1 John 3:12, NW.
However, that God's purpose to populate the earth is still to be carried out through the family arrangement, he clearly demonstrated some fifteen hundred and twenty-six years later in the days of Noah. The divine record states, "Now these are the generations of the sons of Noah, namely, of Shem, Ham, and Japheth: and unto them were sons born after the flood. Of these were the isles of the nations divided in their lands, every one after his tongue, after their families, in their nations." (Gen. 10:1, 5, AS) The procreation mandate restated to Noah in a typical way had a token fulfillment in the seventy families mentioned in this tenth chapter of Genesis and which were set up as a patriarchal society. Another eight hundred and fifty-seven years and the point was further emphasized when Jehovah organized the descendants of the family head Abraham into a nation and divided it into tribes and "declared their pedigrees after their families, by their fathers' houses". (Num. 1:18, AS) Yes, unquestionably family relationship is of God's making and he has poured out his rich blessing upon those who recognize and properly evaluate his provision for this strong bond of unity. As the psalmist declared, "Yet setteth he the needy on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock."—Ps. 107:41, AS.
But certainly, someone will object, does not this fact actually prove the validity of caste society, that God not only authorizes the family caste system but was in effect putting it into operation in these instances? And would not this division cause disunity and eventually class distinctions that would result in one family's being elevated above another through an accepted or enforced superiority? Paul, thoroughly versed in the history of God's dealings with his people, argued, No. Standing in the Areopagus with the Athenians and the many visiting foreigners before him, he tactfully but forcefully made the class-leveling observation, "And [God] made out of one man every nation of men, to dwell upon the entire surface of the earth, and he decreed the appointed seasons and the set limits of the dwelling of men, for them to seek God, if they might grope for him and really find him." (Acts 17:26, 27, NW) Nor was Paul establishing a new principle in this regard, for some fourteen years previous Peter, in recognizing the first uncircumcised Gentile Christian to be accepted by God, said, "For a certainty I perceive that God is not partial, but in every nation the man that fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him." (Acts 10:34, 35, NW) Here again, the natural Jew, Peter, under inspiration of the active force of God, was repeating what Moses, as God's mediator for the Jewish nation, had himself reminded the Jews in the beginning of their history: "For Jehovah your God, he is God of gods, ...
who regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward." (Deut. 10:17, AS) It is also noted of the faithful king Jehoshaphat that when he set judges over the nation he cautioned them, "Consider what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for Jehovah; and he is with you in the judgment...take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with Jehovah our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of bribes." (2 Chron. 19:6, 7, AS) Clearly, then, regardless of the manner he has chosen to carry out his purpose, Jehovah's principles of justice and equality, which he had established from the beginning of his dealings with mankind and which have been indelibly recorded as an integral part of his own sacred pronouncements, would not permit him to favor individuals because of family relationship, nor would they allow him to show partiality to certain elite family groups. The disunity and class distinction that afflict the world today are not the result of Jehovah's arrangement with mankind, but rather are the result of an organized effort in direct opposition to God's will and purpose.
The truthfulness of this conclusion is borne out by the Record in the account of the opposition to God's arrangement of the patriarchal society after the Flood. As we have already observed, God had made provision through Noah for the peopling of the earth in a token way by the seventy family heads, descendants of Noah. Noah, astute organizer that he was and aware of the pitfalls that beset imperfect man in his ambition, refused to exalt any family above another, or to allow anyone, including himself, to be made a king and thereby rule over his brothers. He knew that man needed no other unifying force than the recognition of Jehovah as the Supreme Sovereign and acceptance of His law as man's proper rule of action. He wisely maintained by his own course that adherence to these principles would enable all the many families and peoples that were to develop naturally from this beginning "to dwell upon the entire surface of the earth" and to do so in peace and unity. By this same token, any discriminatory class elevation would disrupt this harmonious society. What were the succeeding events that were to prove this to be true? Noah lived to see just such an attempt made in this direction.
"MASTER RACE" PROGRAMS BRING RUIN
8 From the line of his youngest son Ham arose another upstart like Cain with ambition to occupy a position of prominence. The notorious Nimrod, whose name is still linked with the wanton slaying of animals, set out upon a one-man worldbuilding program in defiance of Jehovah. Rather than adhere to the then well-established and recognized principle of family unity and to Noah's divinely instituted program of family migration to the ends of the earth, he began to work in the opposite direction and to the accomplishment of different aims. Evidently his program of exalting a centralized human government and of violent subjugation of the people was gaining momentum, for it is written of his adherents, "And they said, Come, let us build us a city, and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven, and let us make us a name; lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth."
To show that this was not his reason for making family divisions and to show his disfavor of such an attitude of "class superiority", Jehovah enforced the fulfillment of his own purpose by the simple expedient of confusing their languages. "So Jehovah scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off building the city." (Gen. 11:4, 8, AS) So ended in ignominious defeat man's first organized effort to establish a superior "caste" system in defiance of Jehovah.
9 This was by no means to be man's final attempt. Nor was this lesson so bitterly learned as to keep another nation from further and even more violent efforts to become the "master race". Spurred on by their Adamic heritage of willfulness and their insatiable desire to dominate their brothers, this time Egypt, the first world power, rose up as the champion of "race supremacy". Because of fear that the Israelites, whom they had made slaves in the land, would multiply and turn on them in time of war, they organized and set into operation a program aimed at extermination of the Israelites as a nation. "And Pharaoh charged all his people, saying, Every son that is born ye shall cast into the river, and every daughter ye shall save alive." (Ex. 1:22) By exterminating the males, they reasoned, the daughters of the Israelites would eventually be forced to marry the Egyptian men and the race would gradually become absorbed, and in the meantime the danger to the Egyptians of being overthrown would be gone. However, they reckoned without the power and purpose of Jehovah or the unshakable faith of the Israelites themselves. Jehovah
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