The Watchtower, June 15, 1954
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"YOU ARE MY WITNESSES," SAYS JEHOVAH.—Isa. 43:12
The WATCHTOWER
Announcing
JEHOVAH'S
KINGDOM
JUNE 15, 1954
Semimonthly
THE REVELATION OF
JESUS CHRIST
MAINTAINING THE WAY OF FAVOR
ANCESTOR WORSHIP—ITS FOLLY
THE BEST OF MANNERS
CAN CHRISTIANS CHANGE THE WORLD?
©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".
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
<tr><th>CONTENTS
Can Christians Change the World?
The Best of Manners
Ancestor Worship—Its Folly
“Holy Horrors” and “Pious Junk”
Big Brazil Sees Expansion
‘What You Sow You Will Reap’
“A Relaxed Holiday Crowd”
The Revelation of Jesus Christ
Maintaining the Way of Favor
Brazil’s Religious Crisis
Who Converted?
Questions from Readers
Announcements
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CAN CHRISTIANS CHANGE THE WORLD?
MOST professed Christians are convinced that Christ's followers must try to change this old world, must try 'to make it a fit place for Christ to come to.' In all earnestness they feel that it is up to them to bring about the fulfillment of Jesus' prayer for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. To this end they try to bring God and Christ into worldly governments, seek to make wars less devastating and deadly or to eliminate them altogether, and endeavor to convert all the pagans to Christendom.
Such are not at all dismayed at the magnitude of the task that lies before them but insist that theirs is a practical, realistic approach to overcoming present inequalities. They consider Jehovah's witnesses, who refuse to take part in such efforts to change this old world, as defeatists, as quitters, and their activity as impractical and unrealistic.
But with Jehovah's witnesses it is not a matter of quitting, it is not a case of defeatism. They never did try to change this old world, and so cannot be charged with quitting from that task. Nor are they defeatists, merely refusing to undertake it because of its magnitude. Jehovah's servants are accustomed to assignments of great magnitude. What a task Noah undertook, to build an ark or chest large enough to accommodate eight persons and hundreds of animals for a whole year! What a job Moses essayed, to lead two million
slaves out of Egypt and to the Promised Land! What an assignment the handful of Jesus' followers were given, to make disciples of people of all nations and to have the good news of God's kingdom preached in all the world!
But to change this old world—Jehovah's servants of today will not take on that task. Why not? Because, in the first place, nowhere in the Scriptures do they find such a commission given them. Importunity and persistency can help them to win only if their efforts are in line with God's purposes. Only for a God-given assignment can they expect God to give them the needed wisdom, strength and protection to carry it out. Christians are not commanded to change the world, but merely to make disciples of people of all nations and to preach in all the world for the purpose of a witness.—Matt. 24:14; 28:19, 20.
Secondly, Jehovah's witnesses do not try to change this old world, because it is under the control of Satan the Devil. He is the god of this system of things and it lies in his power. They know they cannot change him nor can they oust him from that control. (2 Cor. 4:4;1 John 5:19) To try to do so would be most unrealistic.
A third reason why Jehovah's witnesses do not try to change this old world is that it cannot be reformed. It is honeycombed with corruption, even as was the world of Noah's day. It is like an old moth-eaten garment upon which no new patch can hold.
It loves pleasure more than God and can no more change its bad habits than an Ethiopian can change his skin or a leopard his spots. To endeavor to do so would be most impractical.-Matt. 9:16; Jer. 13:23.
Since this old world cannot be reformed God has doomed it to destruction, a fourth reason why Christians should not try to change it. Its heavens and earth are "stored up for fire and are being reserved to the day of judgment and of destruction of the ungodly men." "For Jehovah hath indignation against all the nations, and wrath against all their host."—2 Pet. 3:7, NW; Isa. 34:2, AS.
To try to reform or patch up this old system of things would be to presume that God's judgments against it were not just, that we should cause him to change them. Such an attitude, although it may be as well meant as was Abraham's effort to turn God from destroying Sodom and Gomorrah, will no more succeed than did his. That is why all lovers of righteousness who appreciate the gift of everlasting life are commanded to flee from this old world: "Get out of her, my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins, and if you do not want to receive part of her plagues." To stay with this old system of things is to condone its wickedness, and so deserve the destruction coming upon it. Such would be a most unrealistic course. Rev. 18:4, NW; Gen. 18:26-32.
Yes, what folly would it have been for Noah to interest himself in trying to change that antediluvian world instead of concentrating on building his boat while sounding God's warning! Had he done that he would have perished in the Flood and we would not be here today! The same is true regarding Lot. Had he insisted on trying to get those Sodomites to turn from their wicked ways and delayed his flight he would have been "swept away in the
iniquity of the city"! Jesus drew a parallel between the days of Noah and Lot and our day and stressed the need of urgency in separating ourselves from this old system of things.—Matt. 24:15-20; Luke 17:26-30.
Further, let it be noted that even if all the efforts of all well-meaning people of all nations were to succeed, bringing about honest government and peace between nations, such could not even begin to compare with that which God's kingdom can and will bring. That kingdom not only assures eternal peace and the end of all oppression, but it will also bring about the end of pain, sorrow, sickness and death, will bring back loved ones from the tomb, and, above all, will succeed in uniting all those that live in the worship of the one true God, Jehovah. Surely all such is infinitely beyond the power and wisdom of men to realize by their own efforts!—Psalm 72; Isa.11:9; Acts 24:15; Rev. 21:4.
What, then, is more practical and realistic than the message being brought to the people concerning this wonderful kingdom and the need of taking your stand with it before it is too late? Those who take their stand enjoy even now a foretaste of the blessings of that new world, for by becoming part of the New World society they associate with an organization of people that is free from selfish ambition and corruption, that knows no division because of race, color or language, and that obviously has God's blessing upon it.
God has not commissioned Christians to change this old world, but merely to witness to it; we can no more change it than we can change the Devil, and because it cannot reform, God has doomed it to destruction. Our only safety lies in separating from its schemes and placing our hope in God's new world of righteousness, which new world will be as far superior to anything that man can accomplish as the heavens are higher than the earth.
BEST OF MANNERS
CHRISTIANS should have the best of manners. Their genuine love for God and man
prompts their gentle, courteous and kind behavior. As Christians they are ambassadors for God and Christ and thus hold the highest station there is in life. This should be reason enough to stimulate them to proper courtesy. But it has pleased God to make of them "a theatrical spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men." He has put them on exhibition. Therefore, their lives, with their every action, are under constant observation and criticism. They are living examples to the honor or dishonor of God.
Knowing this the apostle Paul reminds them: "Only behave in a manner worthy of the good news about the Christ"; "doing nothing out of contentiousness or out of egotism, but with lowliness of mind considering that the others are superior to you, keeping an eye, not in personal interest upon just your own matters, but also in personal interest upon those of the others." Peter tells why Christians must so behave: "Maintain your conduct right among the nations, that, in the thing in which they are speaking against you as evildoers, they may as a result of your right works of which they are eyewitnesses glorify God in the day for his inspection. For the Lord's sake subject yourselves to every human creation." This proper behavior is, in essence, good manners. It is the art of knowing how to live with one another in peace. It is that politeness that stems from a love of God and neighbor.—Phil. 1:27; 2:3, 4; 1 Pet. 2:12, 13, NW.
Jesus was the perfect gentleman. Not once did he err in his manners. He practiced perfectly the divine rule of 'do to others as you would have them do to you.' Those who watched him, listened to him, heard his words of wisdom, and saw his mighty acts and graceful manner were filled with astonishment. His good manners did not come from rules laid down in etiquette books written by men, but sprang from a sincere heart and by his cultivating and putting into practice from youth the righteous principles of Almighty God, especially His law of love.—Matt. 13:54-56, NW.
Good manners find their roots in the love of God and the love of man. They cost nothing and are worth everything. Manners, strangely enough, are oftentimes timely words fitly spoken. To say the right thing at the proper moment is an art. It must be natural, from the heart, to be beautiful. It must be spontaneous and sincere if it is to be accepted. Otherwise, it will sound flat, insincere, and it will most likely be considered flattery, which is an insult and not a compliment.
"A beautiful behavior is better than a beautiful form; it gives a higher pleasure than statues and pictures; it is the finest of fine arts." Just as it is possible to be wise without possessing the wisdom of this world, so, too, it is quite possible to be well mannered with little or no knowledge of those rules and forms of worldly books on etiquette, which are at best only a substitute for common sense. Rules of etiquette may change like fashions and are different in almost every nation, yet good manners are the same throughout the world.
SOURCE OF BAD MANNERS
Vanity, a sour disposition, a longing for sympathy, and a want of good common sense are the chief sources from which bad manners spring. Vain people want others to think highly of them, yet they seldom think of others. Their thoughts are always on themselves. Vanity leads to self-consciousness. We must think of others if we are to please Jehovah. To be thoughtful of others, to give attention to their feelings, is the essence of politeness. But an ill-mannered person is often loud, boastful and proud in the praises of himself and his family. Also, ill-mannered is he who boasts of his achievements in business, looks down upon people who are less fortunate than he, and, as a rule, cannot refrain from having his joke at the expense of another's reputation.
Words are dangerous tools. And Jesus warned his disciples to be careful as to the use of them: "Whoever addresses his brother with an unspeakable word of contempt will be accountable to the Supreme Court; whereas whoever says, 'You despicable fool!' will be liable to the fiery Gehenna." He further added that "the good man out of his good treasure sends out good things, whereas the wicked man out of his wicked treasure sends out wicked things. I tell you that every unprofitable saying that men speak, they will render an account concerning it on Judgment Day; for by your words you will be vindicated, and by your words you will be condemned." (Matt. 5:22; 12:35-37, NW) A Christian who is well mannered will not call his brother a fool, or stupid, or other uncomplimentary names.
Some think themselves so well-born, so clever, or so rich, as to be above caring
what others say and think of them. They take their position as a license for rudeness. They are an insult to themselves and those who associate with them. There are others who show contempt for their neighbor in various impolite ways: for example, by not being properly dressed in their presence, by not being clean in body and mind, or by indulging in repulsive habits. Paul warns Christians not to associate with such, because "bad associations spoil useful habits."
It is difficult to judge the quality of an egg by its outward appearance. So too, it is not wise to judge people too much by their external manner. Many men have little to wear, others have ill health, some are oppressed and depressed. Nevertheless, we cannot expect people in general to take time to see whether we are what we seem to be. Everyone can be clean. We can speak right things from the heart. We can be friendly, hospitable, kind and courteous. We can be ourselves. We can be honest and polite. These things do not cost anything. They are free. They are for everyone to have—the rich and the poor alike. It is foolish for one to "freeze up" or to roll himself into a prickly ball on the approach of strangers. A Christian must be a conversationalist. He is a talker. He loves people.
GOOD MANNERS TOWARD ALL
A well-mannered man is courteous to all kinds of men and under all conditions. He is respectful to his "inferiors" (children, mentally ill, less fortunate, etc.), as well as to his equals (his brothers) and those he regards as his "superiors" (servants in special capacity, rulers, kings and governors). His good manners are not reserved for the few who can pay for them, or who make themselves feared. Like the warm summer sun his kindness and courtesy are for all alike.—1 Pet. 2:13-20.
While it is common practice to treat strangers with more courtesy than friends or family, surely they do not deserve any more in the way of good treatment than those whom we love, do they? Our family and our associates should be even more entitled to considerate treatment than outsiders. Some think good manners are a coat that you put on when you go out to visit with people. But a truly well-mannered person is one who behaves properly all the time.
The place to teach and to learn the best of manners is in the Christian home. A family is a delicate machine whose parts are in intimate contact with one another. Only expert lubrication can keep it in smooth running order. Knowing how to be helpful and courteous, pleasant and polite will go a long way to make a happy home. Learning how to say the accepted, everyday expressions of courtesy and consideration will do much to eliminate destructive friction in our associations. These are little words with big meanings. Everyone can say them properly. They cost us nothing, but with them we buy friends. If we practice good manners daily they will not leave us when we need them most, that is, when we are away from home in public.
For example, during a recent assembly of Jehovah's witnesses a somewhat antagonistic stranger milling through the crowds bumped into a witness. The witness, regaining his balance from the jar, smiled and apologized. The stranger was dum-founded, for he knew it was his fault; yet it was the witness that apologized. The stranger later remarked that it was this courtesy that caused him to think and consider the truth of God's Word. He is now one of Jehovah's witnesses himself.
Another case reported, illustrating the need for being kind and courteous, came from a stranger. Jehovah's witnesses were
in the vicinity for an international convention and traffic congestion was great. This stranger was trying to cross the main highway but the solid line of cars would not let him through. Seeing a car approaching with a sign identifying its owner as one of Jehovah's witnesses, he said to himself, 'I wonder if these people are as kind as it is said they are. Will he let me by?' To his pleasant surprise, the car stopped and let him through. There is a great need for such kindness in this old world and our politeness is not overlooked by it.
Said the Dunellen (N.J.) Weekly Call, July 23,1953: "We are going to miss those Jehovah's witnesses when they are gone. . . Those folks seem to be the cream of the country when it comes to politeness, courtesy, and a few other things that most of us neglect these days. . . Those folks are just as polite when they are back of a steering wheel as we are when we are in a hotel lobby, and that is something." An editorial in The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.), July 28, 1953, had this to say about them: "They are a splendid people who are growing in numbers and influence. And wherever they go they are welcome. By their behavior they create such goodly opinion that they are urged to return." A Christian's behavior is either a credit or a discredit to the good name he bears. It honors or dishonors God and Christ.
AT MEALTIME
A sure test of one's good manners is when he eats. Does he know when to begin? How to begin? What to say and how to say it? How to eat in accord with the custom of his country, in the way that is accepted there as polite? When to stop? A Christian's mealtime is a time of joy, a time of association; it is a happy occasion. It is not bound by a long list of ridiculous rules, nor is it disorderly. It is a cheerful time when all are helpful and considerate of one another.
After the prayer is said, the food is to be eaten. No one grabs for the food. They politely help themselves when their turn comes. The amount of food to be taken does not depend on the size of one's appetite, but the size of the family and the amount of food on hand. A very ill-mannered and greedy person will take more than he can eat or take a large portion and leave others with little or nothing to eat. Eating in a way offensive to others, disregarding rules of proper eating customs of the country you live in—all these violations done in the privacy of one's own home cause one to commit errors when in company and evoke such remarks as, "He has poor manners for a Christian." A Christian must stand above reproach.
IN APPEARANCE AND SPEECH
It is courteous to try always to look neat. If you are well groomed and always tidy, you speak well of yourself and of your associates. You are showing love and consideration for others. A person observing you may have no opportunity to speak to you, but he will never forget that you were (if you were) pleasing to the eye. A friendly greeting, whether it be a handshake or an embrace or some other customary greeting, and a smile go well with any style of dress that we might wear.
Profanity does not add to one's Christian growth, nor do slang expressions. Vulgar expressions are becoming common. Words once used only by degenerates are now used by some persons in all grades of society. Christians must guard against such Paul counsels: "Let fornication and uncleanness of every kind or greediness not even be mentioned among you, just as it befits holy people, neither shameful conduct nor foolish talking nor obscene jesting, things which are not becoming, but
rather the giving of thanks."—Eph. 5:3,4 NW; Col. 3:8.
IN THE CONGREGATION
When attending a congregational meeting, it is ill-mannered to come late. By being courteous we shall be considerate of the speaker and the congregation. Mothers with children will find it more convenient to sit toward the rear of the hall and near the aisle, so that when the children may find it necessary to leave it will not be so distracting to the speaker or those in attendance. At no time should favoritism be shown to those who may be rich or influential in the world. There must be no partiality because of race, color or nationality. Whispering or giggling during a lecture is distracting to your neighbors. A congregational meeting is where people come to learn, to worship and to serve Here of all places manners should be at their very best.
In this world starved for kindness, for a little courtesy and politeness, let Christians be found generously casting their deeds of hospitality and good manners upon the waters, because so much of it does return. And the casting in itself is so pleasant and easy and inexpensive. It is so easy to smile and to be agreeable, and even to do the small, kindly things, that there is no excuse for not doing them. And, besides, it is these little kindly things we do each day for one another that promote the beauty of living for everyone.
It must be remembered too that in different lands there are different customs for the people and whatever is polite and becoming is always acceptable. We are not narrow-minded in these comments nor do we mean to say that the way of living in one country must be followed by all Christians in other countries. If all use the spirit of a sound mind they will be kind in their actions to all persons.
ncestor Worship
ITS FOLLY
WHEN God created man he endowed
man with the instinct or faculty of worship. This accounts for the fact that man, at all times and in all lands, has practiced and continues to practice some form of religion. To direct this faculty or instinct God revealed his will to man. But, as the apostle Paul observes, men, "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 the lower animals and "exchanged the truth of God for the lie and venerated and rendered sacred service to the creation rather than the One who created, who is blessed forever. Amen."—Rom. 1:21-23, 25, NW.
Turning from the true worship man embraced naturism, the worship of the objects of nature; then again he attributed an indwelling spirit to all the things about him, known as animism. Taking still another turn his religious instincts caused him to conceive his gods as having human form, attributes and affections, a type of religion known as anthropomorphism (Greek, "man-form"). In a sense, ancestor worship may be said to be a form of anthropomorphism, and is based on the belief in "the persistence of the human personality beyond the present life." Practiced by American natives and European peoples in times past it still continues in Asia, Africa and Australia.
Ancestor worship is either communal, as was that practiced by the ancient Romans,
or is of individuals, as is still being practiced in Africa, and
in which the degree of respect given the ancestor depends upon his prominence when alive. Among the notions held are that the dead ancestors cannot feed themselves, that they are more powerful than when they were alive, that they return and are reborn (reincarnated) and that some of them become gods.
The Chaldeans and Assyrians had altars at the heads of their tombs on which they placed food, drinks and precious offerings, indicating ancestor worship. The Egyptian mummies also give evidence of the same. The Greeks, before the time of Homer, worshiped their ancestors. The ancient Romans had their ma'nes or worship of "good ones," the spirits of the dead whom they still considered as part of their households and for which two festivals were held annually. Paradoxically, at one of these the ma'nes were dispelled from the home by a nocturnal rite, and at the other the ma'nes were made welcome to their homes, and food and flowers were carried to the tombs to make peace with the ma'nes and retain them as guardians.
Before Japan succumbed to Western "civilization" it had an elaborate annual festival, Bon, in honor of the dead ancestors, who were welcomed to return to their homes by many decorations and food dainties. Today ancestor worship is still more or less practiced in Japan. China, perhaps more than any other country, has been devoted to the worship of ancestors. There it is claimed to go back some two thousand years before Christ.
Among the characteristics of their festivals in honor of the dead were fasting and meditating on the traits and appearances of one's ancestors. Confucius, in spite of his reputed wisdom, was a strong advocate of ancestor worship.
The 1954 Yearbook of Jehovah's Witnesses tells about ancestor worship in Basutoland, Africa: "About sixty per cent of the population of nearly 600,000 are 'Christianized,' but that does not stop them from being ancestor worshipers. Sacrifices are made to pacify the dead chiefs and forefathers. Clergymen play a big part in these ceremonies and the witch doctors an even larger part. The people are assured that their deceased parents can really help them against their enemies."
Ancestors were worshiped for various reasons: to keep them from becoming angry because of neglect, to win their favor and have them act as guardians of the home, to have them cause it to rain and ensure good crops, to cure illness or give advice by means of dreams, to make one be fruitful, to have offspring and to intercede with the "gods."
WHY ANCESTOR WORSHIP IS FOLLY
Why may ancestor worship be included in the foolish things mentioned by Paul at Romans 1:21-25? Because, first of all, only Jehovah God is to be worshiped and feared. "It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service." And he brooks no rivals, for he "is a God exacting exclusive devotion." For him to tolerate rivals would be for him to deny his supremacy, which he cannot do.-Matt. 4:10; Deut. 6:14, 15; 2 Tim. 2:13, NW.
In ancestor worship the parents are considered as always being right. But according to God's Word God comes first and when an issue arises between God and ancestor we must obey God rather than men. In fact, Jesus warned of the division that his message of truth would bring between parents and children among his followers. To go contrary to God's law is folly.—Matt. 10:35; Acts 5:29.
Further, ancestor worship is folly because not only do ancestors not constitute a sure guide, but, being out of existence, they are in no position either to help or to harm. The Bible's testimony is unequivocal on this point, beliefs of Christendom to the contrary notwithstanding. It plainly tells us that upon creation "man came to be a living soul," not that he received a soul separate and distinct from his body; and that "the soul that sins shall die." (Gen. 2:7, NW; Ezek. 18:4, RS) It assures us that in the very day that a man dies his thoughts perish and that in Sheol, gravedom, the location of the dead, "there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom."—Eccl. 9:5, 10, RS; Ps. 146:3, 4.
But does not the Bible state that at death "the spirit returns to God who gave it"? Yes, it does, at Ecclesiastes 12:7 (RS), but that spirit is not the soul, but the breath, the power of life. How do we know? Because nothing is said about the spirit as having been good, but merely that the dust returns to the earth and, by contrast, the spirit or breath, representing here the power of life, returns to God who gave it. To God who gave it? Yes, because he gave it to man in the first place in Eden when he blew into man's nostrils this breath of life. This is the spirit to which Jesus referred when he said, as he hung on the torture stake: "Father, into your hands I entrust my spirit."—Luke 23:46, NW; Gen. 2:7.
There are some who hold that 'ancestor worship is the oldest form of religious emotion and the foundation of all civilized religion.' But in view of the foregoing it is apparent that such could be true only of non-Biblical religions. That is why historians themselves are obliged to make an exception, stating that "the worship of the Semitic peoples, the Hebrews and the Arabs, as history knows them, is remarkably free from ancestor deification," although these profess to detect a similarity between the law of Moses and ancestor worship, much as the evolutionist professes to see a similarity between the simians and man.
The Jewish Encyclopedia lists the arguments for and against the modernist view that ancestor worship was the predecessor of the law of Moses, and, while holding that the Bible does not settle the question (which it does, as we have seen above), states that it is a matter for anthropology and that its evidence is against ancestor worship as being the primitive form of religion.
As regards ancestor worship as being folly it might not be amiss to observe that it has also done much harm in a material way. For example, consider China. Why does it present the paradox of having one of the oldest civilizations and yet being one of the most backward of countries? Simply because of the blight of ancestor worship, a curse affecting its arts, economics and politics. It might therefore be stated that the onus for the war in Indo-China and for China's being Communist can be laid squarely upon this form of religion. And the role that Japan played in World War II
can likewise be blamed squarely on ancestor worship, for it is the very soul and basis of Shinto. And is not the caste system with which India is afflicted simply another form of ancestor worship?
Incidentally, let us note that in avoiding the folly of ancestor worship we need not go to the other extreme, so marked in Western lands, particularly the United States, where the public press almost daily tells of youths' not only being disobedient to their parents but of their beating, robbing and even murdering them. "Honor your father and mother" is still one of God's laws, and so long as children and youths are dependent upon their parents they should obey them, provided, of course, the commands of the parents are in harmony with God's will.Eph. 6:1,2,NW.
What we have seen regarding ancestor worship certainly bears out the accuracy of Paul's words that when man turned away from the worship of the true God Jehovah 'he became empty-headed in his reasoning and his foolish heart became darkened.' In striking contrast with the folly of ancestor worship is the fear and knowledge of Jehovah, which is the beginning of wisdom and which wisdom is demonstrated by the members of the New World society throughout the earth in both word and action.—Ps. 111:10, AS.
"HOLY HORRORS" AND "PIOUS JUNK" BIG
BRAZIL
SEES
EXPANSION
ria, where more than 400 brothers ate their meals on wooden tables and benches. After breakfast the front seats in the hall were reserved for the ones being baptized. There 115 persons who were to be baptized in the bay not far away heard the talk made directly to them. Of these, 40 were men and 75 were women. All conventioners were encouraged to see so many people from their midst dedicating them-
mercial activity for the two southernmost states of Brazil, received its first visit by a president of the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society when, on January 3, N. H. Knorr and a director of the Society, M. G. Henschel, arrived. This southern point of the country is very much like Uruguay and Argentina and has the same cowboys or gauchos. Many of these countryfolk traveled by train and bus for as many as 600 miles to the assembly that was opened on January 2. Brothers Knorr and Henschel arrived Sunday at 3:00 p.m.,
selves to the new-world ministry work.
In the evening 445 brothers and people of good will stayed for the climax of the assembly when Brother Henschel first spoke for two hours through his interpreter followed by Brother Knorr in like manner. These brothers in the south were very glad and bade these representatives to return as soon as possible.
The ten banners strung up all the way across the streets in most cases received many comments. Groups of people gathered at some points to discuss the word
about an hour after an all-morning cloudburst which thoroughly soaked the earth and many of the conventioners who were not so fortunate as to get a taxi. The rain brought such a cold spell that the baptism scheduled for 9:00 a.m. had to be moved over to Monday, the last day of the assembly, when Brothers Knorr and Henschel were to speak to the brothers.
But it did clear up for the Sunday public lecture "After Armageddon—God's New World," and a local brother gave it to 645 gathered in assembly in the Exposition Pavilion of the Ministry of Agricul-
Armageddon in the title, and the meaning of the word itself aroused one storekeeper to take off part of this Sunday to come to hear the lecture out of curiosity over the meaning of the word. When the brothers came to take the sign down the following Tuesday he said he heard that lecture and he would like to live in God's new world. Maybe he will if he follows through on his wish. At any rate some of the brothers arranged to call back on him. Many show windows in the center of town received the window cards offered by the
ture. Just two years ago an assembly was held in the same place with an attendance of half that number.
When Monday morning dawned the sun was bright and the heat it generated licked up the remaining puddles and dried up the grounds around the palm-thatched cafete-
brothers and over a thousand were placed in that manner.
Local newspapers all over those two states, dozens of them, carried articles announcing the assembly and during the assembly many of the local city papers published articles. One published pictures of the baptism. In most cases they accepted the write-ups and a good witness was given through an explanation of Bible doctrine
ance. It was all in keeping with the theo cratic expansion.
During the visit to Brazil in March, 1945, Brother Knorr found 354 publishers which number rose to 1,900 at the last visit during April, 1949. This time he was pleased to find that the number of ministers has now risen to 6,429. The tireless efforts of the many missionaries and local publishers of the good news produced
Brothers Knorr and Henschel, accompanied by the branch servant, were up bright and early on the sixth of January so as to catch their airplane for Rio de Janeiro, center of the federal government, and also where the branch home and factory are located. At 1:30 p.m. the picturesque harbor of Rio de Janeiro, Guanabara Bay, hove into sight. One of the busiest ports in the world, Rio showed the travelers what seemed like hundreds of steamships from all corners of the earth waiting for their chance to tie up at the docks. For the
publishers of the good news produced much fruit.
The two visiting brothers spent the rest of that day, Wednesday, and Thursday going over the branch records and working out the problems of expansion in the vast territory, even greater than that of the United States.
In the meantime, the final preparations for the greatest assembly in the history of Jehovah's witnesses in Brazil were being carried to a successful climax. Although difficulty in finding an adequate place was encountered, arrangements had been made
third time Brother Knorr was seeing the famous Sugar Loaf Mountain from the air. Then down went the plane to land at Aeroporto Santos Dumont, situated right in the heart of the city on some land that extends out into the bay. And yes, there in the ultramodern terminal building was a whole group of happy Gilead graduates and native brothers waiting to give warm greetings to the world travelers from headquarters.
After exchanging greetings Brothers Knorr and Henschel were off in the Soto use a large enclosed area, a sports playground, the Praça de Esportes da Associação dos Servidores Civís.
Brothers from all over the country had heard the call to come to Rio and on Wednesday afternoon a special plane came in from Salvador to the north with fifty brothers aboard. It was a trip of over 700 miles. Especially moving was the fact that some of the elderly brothers and sisters that came had hardly ever traveled outside their own city by bus and had never been in an airplane before. Others from the north came in by train a week ahead of
ciety's station wagon to get their first view of the new two-story factory and office building constructed in 1953 and another view of the Bethel home which had been remodeled since their last visit to the country in 1949. This time instead of an iron picket fence there was a white wall in the form of a watchtower and parapet, giving the building a very striking appear-
time. It was a long and arduous journey of six days and nights on train with facilities more like the days of the wild west of the nineteenth century: the trains still burn wood in Brazil and are narrow gauge. It took one pioneer a month and a half to get to the convention, stopping in cities along the way to give a witness. Two special trains brought 1500 conventioners from the big capital of São Paulo and one special train brought about 250 brothers and people of good will down from the mountainous mining state of Minas Gerais.
Others came by special bus and private car. So it was not surprising to find 2,625 present for the opening talk. Above the entrance to the field a large banner saying, "Welcome to the New World Society Assembly," greeted every visitor. To reach the platform one walked through an aisle of giant "fico" trees that gave refreshing respite from the hot sun of the tropical summer. The weather was ideal for an outdoor assembly.
Already the newspapers, seven radio stations, 300 signs in buses, along with 1,800 window signs, were calling the public's attention to the gathering of Jehovah's people.
The day's program went well with informative talks setting the theme of living according to principles of the New World society. The climax of the first day arrived with Brother Henschel's talk "Lies Lead to Loss of Life." Underneath the giant trees that stretched their arms toward the heavens, 3,243 persons gave attentive ear to the mature Christian counsel on controlling the tongue to speak only the truth and on dealing truthfully with one another. Happily content with much more information to give them a solid basis for confidence in the theocratic organization, they sang the final song underneath starry tropical skies.
Saturday would be the big day of the baptism. The assembly grounds were within walking distance of the Atlantic Ocean. There near Copacabana, under the brilliant morning sun, 457 brothers and sisters walked across the stretch of white sand beach to take their turn of being immersed in the blue-green waters. Brazil has a mixture of peoples, so there were peoples of many races in the group.
Brother Knorr had invited all the Gilead graduates to a luncheon in the Bethel home, and after an hour of happy fellowship all of them considered together the expansion of the work and what could be done by them to push out into other fields. It was decided to break down the larger eight- and nine-member groups now present in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo into smaller groups and go out into the cities of the interior with the aim in mind of starting new congregations. Everyone felt as though this was a big step forward in reaching the sixty million people in Brazilian territory. After being in the same place for some time the missionaries expressed their willingness to be on the move again to new fields of theocratic expansion.
The time passed so rapidly that the circuit servant and the two visiting brothers had to be hustled off in the station wagon to the assembly grounds in time for the meeting with all the circuit servants at 4:30 p.m.
Using an interpreter Brother Knorr explained the necessity for more attention to the work in the field. Arrangements were made to have a short two-day meeting with all the circuit servants in the branch office, to bring all to the same meeting of the mind, thus leading to greater unification of the work in the field. The possibilities of teaching the congregations reading and writing and of establishing schools were discussed and found a necessity. In some sections in the north of Brazil not all have educational opportunities. Sometimes 75 per cent do not read or write, and this is a handicap. Arrangements were discussed for bringing on more special pioneers and mature ones to take up special service with the Society. Brother Knorr showed the necessity of pushing ahead the preaching of the good news on a greater scale than ever before. There will now be fifteen circuits in Brazil in order to cover the circuit itineraries once every four months, each servant having ten congregations along with many isolated people to visit.
Finished with this special meeting, Brother Knorr went to the microphone with his interpreter to give a forcefully appealing discourse on "Make Your Advancement Manifest to All Persons." It appealed to the individual publisher and to the individual person of good will, and was based on 1 Timothy 4:15, 16. The New World society is advancing, so all should get into it and stay there, progressing with it. Many times the Brazilian brothers and all present expressed their appreciation for the Scriptural admonition by applauding. They understood the points made. This was the first time that the majority had the opportunity to hear the president of the Watch Tower Society speak and it seemed that the information given was just the thing needed. It transmitted the very spirit of the theocratic expansion program to have every person desiring life in the new world manifest his progress by works, within the congregation and publicly.
As always seems the case the last day of the assembly came too soon. The assembly grounds were replete with thousands of theocratic publishers and their friends. Jehovah must have looked down with pleasure on that center of theocratic activity. Brother Henschel's talk on "The Day for Salvation" strengthened the brothers for the future burning tests of integrity at the hands of the Devil's organization. Brother Knorr followed up by forcefully proving that "Love Is Practical." Then, seeing that the two North American visitors were going to leave later that same day, the Brazilian brothers and people of good will said good-by to Brother Knorr, and when he asked whether to take their love to the Brooklyn Bethel family and to all others along the way he was greeted
with a resounding burst of applause. He commended the wonderful progress shown by the organization but also showed the necessity of greater distribution of the Watchtower magazine, each publisher distributing at least a hundred copies a year. Invitations were given to enter the special pioneer service. On announcing that the Society was buying a new linotype machine and that Awake! in Portuguese would be larger, equal in size to The Watchtower, the audience clapped with happiness. The theme was expansion. With the new machinery some of the present Bethel force could enter the circuit or special pioneer work. As soon as the barriers on importation of literature could be raised, more bound books would be sent to Brazil. The audience regretted hearing Brother Knorr say his last word. They showed their appreciation for his coming, hoping that he would return again soon.
The weather continued to be dry and hot and the climax of the New World Society Assembly in Rio arrived with 5,443 present to hear a Brazilian brother deliver the talk "After Armageddon—God's New World." This combined with the attendance of 645 in Porto Alegre brought the total audience to 6,088, giving a grand opening to 1954, remembering too the total of 572 that were baptized.
It can be said with certainty that this was the best and the biggest theocratic assembly ever held in the country and was well recognized by the press, television, radio and magazines.
The manager of the sports field, who had been a little nervous and irritable about the whole affair the first day, told the brothers after the cleanup of the assembly grounds: "You people can come here every three months if you want to. Why, the two football teams of just 22 men practicing give me more work than thousands of you witnesses." So, that night, January 10, the thousands who had come to meet together in Jehovah's name and to bless it went back to their more than sixty cities, carrying with them the satisfying hope of the new world and a much clearer vision of what it means to live as a New World society.
At the same time Brothers Knorr and Henschel were waiting for their airliner at the Galeao International airport, outside of Rio, to carry them on the next leg of their journey, over the vast reaches of the South American continent to another theocratic outpost on the island of Trinidad.
'What You Sow You Will Reap'
IN THE December 7,1953, Des Moines, Iowa, Tribune appeared the results of a survey made among clergymen regarding what was their biggest problem. Among the answers were: "Spiritual drowsiness of the congregation." "Indifference." "Apathy toward church work." "Lukewarm Christianity which leads to all kinds of problems." "Getting church folk to do personal evangelization work. So many are timid, afraid." "The larger the church, the less zeal and activity usually is shown." And so on.
And under the heading, "Churches Held Failing to Fulfill Purposes," The Daily Times Herald, Dallas, Texas, February 3, 1954, reported on the remarks made by Boston University president, Harold C. Case, at the Southern Methodist University's 19th annual Ministers' Week. Mr. Case warned clergymen against becoming so absorbed in the development of their church as an institution that they overlooked its real purpose. "Budgets
may receive more attention than the Bible and competition for 'a place in the sun' may be more captivating than co-operation or fulfilling the condition of the Kingdom of God on earth." He further observed that "people expect [the clergymen] to be religious and to pose and use great words without rigorous self-examination. Ministers, in some cases, are losing sight of their objective by overinterest in their salaries, positions and advancements."
Can it be that there is a cause and effect relationship between the clergy's being engrossed in such matters as salaries, position and advancement and their parishioners' apathy, drowsiness, indifference and lukewarmness? Can it be that in stressing their budgets more than their Bibles the very clergy who complain about their parishioners' condition are merely seeing in their congregation a reflection of themselves, are merely reaping what they have sown?—Gal. 6:7.
"A Relaxed Holiday Crowd"
Christendom's churches have become so self-satisfied that nothing short of a "spiritual atomic bomb" will shatter the "complacency." This was the recent statement of Dr. John Sutherland Bonnell, pastor of New York's Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. Revealingly, the pastor declared that "in a time of world-shaking revolution, the church's membership acts as though the whole world were basking in ease and safety. We still sing 'like a mighty army moves the church of God,' but the discipline and urgency pictured by these words is wholly lacking." Then the pastor exclaimed: "The church today resembles a relaxed holiday crowd much more than an army on the march." (New York Times, March 1, 1954) True, but soon the holiday will be over. Armageddon comes on apace and will catch these so-called "Christians" sleepily relaxing, as Christ's apostle foretold.—1 Thess. 5:2, 6.
The Revelation of Jesus Christ
"Brace up your minds for activity, keep completely balanced and set your hope upon the undeserved kindness that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
FOR many centuries sincere and honest-hearted persons have longed for the return of Christ. Just how he would come and
1 Pet. 1:13, NW.
exactly what would occur at that time have not been too clear to many, but the prospect of realizing the promised blessings has filled them with hope. Although it has been spoken of as a time of judgment and of the end of the world, their hope has not been misplaced, because it is also foretold as a time of deliverance. But this salvation will not come automatically as a result of "good behavior." Neither will the presence of that day be so easily recognized that all will know judgment is in progress. An accurate study of the Scriptures discloses that when the revelation of Jesus Christ comes it will catch most of the world unaware.
derstanding, however, is purely human reasoning and not based on an accurate knowledge of God's Word.
2 Why is this so? Was the only warning man was to receive sounded when Jesus was on earth? Did he indicate that at the end of the world he would suddenly appear unannounced and immediately hold all people accountable? Some religious-minded persons insist that Christ will not have arrived until he visibly appears out of the clouds with his angels and subjects all people to a fiery judgment. These same persons believe that judgment will be entered on the basis of moral behavior or on the acceptance of the preaching of "Christ crucified" or of "Jesus, and the resurrection." (1 Cor. 1:23; Acts 17:18) Such unclearly that before anyone would be brought to complete responsibility a way of preparation would be made before the Lord. Only when those earnestly seeking the Lord would have an opportunity to recognize that he is present in his kingdom would he suddenly appear to hold an accounting. The Scriptures show further that this first responsibility would not be with the nations but rather with the "house of God." (1 Pet. 4:17; Mal. 3:1-5) Then, Jesus pointed out, a full and complete warning would be given in all the inhabited earth. And what does he say will be preached? Not primarily his "crucifixion" or staking, and not primarily his resurrection. While these are important doctrines of the Bible and have a definite bearing on the climax of God's purpose and judgment today, nevertheless the resurrection of Jesus was given as a sign of Christ's first presence and has been preached ever since then. Now he says: "And this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for the purpose of a witness to all the nations, and then the accomplished end will come." (Matt. 24:14, NW) It is the good news that this kingdom has been established that Paul speaks of in his second letter to the Thessalonians. There he is discussing "the
3 The Bibleshows revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with his powerful angels in a flaming fire, as he brings due punishment upon those who do not know God and those who do not obey the good news about our Lord Jesus."
(2 Thess. 1:7,8,NW) Responsibility at the revelation of Jesus Christ, therefore, depends on whether one accepts or rejects the good news of the presence of the Kingdom that Jesus said would be preached world-wide.
4 Why, then, do the nations not realize and accept the approach of this climax of judgment? It is because they have not heeded the world-wide advertising of Christ's return and his second presence. Since long before World War I Jehovah's witnesses pointed to 1914 as the time for this great event to occur. And since 1914 physical evidences establishing this truth have been pointed to repeatedly in the columns of The Watchtower. The nations continue to ignore this sign and refuse to recognize that a time of judgment is even now in progress. They cannot see that Christ appeared in the temple in 1918 and judgment has already been entered against two classes of lawless ones whom he found there. (Matt.24:48-51;2 Thess.2:8) They have not observed since then a division going on among the people—a separation that is being made before their very eyes. (Matt.25:31-33) They willfully close their ears to the warning message that a climax of judgment is fast approaching when Jesus Christ will be so completely revealed to the world that his presence will be indisputable. It is this indisputable evidence of his presence that brings destruction, because he reveals himself in the execution of adverse judgment through the war of Armageddon. That is why Peter admonishes: "Hence brace up your minds for activity, keep completely balanced and set
your hope upon the undeserved kindness that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ." (1 Pet. 1:13, NW) With our eternal destinies in the balance the course of wisdom would dictate gaining all the knowledge possible about this promised return visit of Jehovah's righteous representative before he is revealed in execution of judgment. Acting upon that right kind of knowledge is the only sure way of defense.—Eccl. 7:12.
DEMONSTRATING THE PATTERN
5 Jehovah never judges anyone guilty without a fair trial. He clearly points out his will to man and gives man full opportunity to show a good and right heart by adhering to it. He even makes repeated warnings to those who are prone to ignore him. But his judgments are sure and swift when guilt has been established. Throughout the history of his dealings with mankind in judgment this same pattern presents itself. Two examples which are given as types of Christ's second presence should serve to demonstrate this pattern.—2 Pet. 2:5, 6.
It should be noted in this connection that there are three distinct phases or aspects to any visitation or advent of a righteous representative of Jehovah in time of judgment. The entire period of the advent is referred to as the presence. Then there is a time when the purpose of the presence becomes clearly manifest. It is a time for judgment to begin on all Christians. Finally there is a climax of the purpose of the presence, which is the execution of judgment. This is a time of revelation because the purpose of the visit is now clearly seen in the deliverance of those favorably judged and in the destruction of those found unworthy of salvation.
First consider the presence of Noah in the period before the flood. The earth had become filled with violence so that it was ruined in God's sight and he purposed to destroy it. The history of Noah's sons recorded at Genesis chapter 6 and beginning with verse 9 (NW) says: "Noah was a righteous man. He proved himself faultless among his contemporaries. Noah walked with God." While the very presence of righteous Noah condemned the generation in which he lived, Jehovah mercifully gave warning of his purpose to destroy that world and showed a way of escape through his representative that he was sending. "After that God said to Noah: 'The end of all flesh has come before me, because the earth is full of violence as a result of them, and here I am bringing them to ruin together with the earth. Make for yourself an ark.'" (Gen. 6:13, 14, NW) This giving of advance notice to Noah would mark the beginning of "the days of Noah" or the time of Noah's presence during which period Noah served as a "preacher of righteousness." (2 Pet. 2:5) The people of that time certainly knew Noah was there and that he was preaching, but they paid no attention.
Then the day arrived when Jehovah God took Noah, his family and all the animals into the ark. This was certainly a manifestation of divine favor but still not recognized by any of those scoffers who had consistently ignored the advance warning. During the time of this manifestation and Noah's going into the ark the way was still open—but not for long. "After that Jehovah shut the door behind him." (Gen. 7:16, NW) The judgment of all in the earth at that time was now sealed. Jehovah had given evidence of his favor to
Noah and now proceeded to give evidence of wrath against all who had not recognized Noah's righteous presence. The flood was an unmistakable climax of the truthfulness of Noah's preaching and a revelation to the wicked world in which he lived. So it will be at Christ's second presence.
9 Lot also stands out in judgment against a people. Peter has this to say about Lot, who was a temporary resident in Sodom: "[God] delivered righteous Lot, who was greatly distressed by the indulgence of the law-defying people in loose conduct—for that righteous man by what he saw and heard while dwelling among them from day to day was tormenting his righteous soul by reason of their lawless deeds." (2 Pet. 2:7, 8, NW) Because of the wickedness of the men of Sodom and Gomorrah Jehovah sent his angels to bring a judgment of condemnation against them. Lot made an attempt to persuade the Sodomites to adhere to the righteousness of God, but they scorned him with the words, "This lone man came here to reside awhile and yet he would actually play the judge." Lot then tried to persuade his prospective sons-in-law to flee with him for protection. "He kept on saying: 'Get up! Get out of this place, because Jehovah is destroying the city!" But in the eyes of his sons-in-law he seemed like a man who was joking." Gen. 19:9, 14, NW.
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