The Watchtower, March 15, 1955
Download: PDF — The Watchtower, March 15, 1955
"YOU ARE MY WITNESSES," SAYS JEHOVAH.—Isa. 43:12
The WATCHTOWER
Announcing
JEHOVAH'S
KINGDOM
MARCH 15, 1955
Semimonthly
MAINTAINING HAPPINESS
BY DISPELLING COMPLAINT
PURSUE THE THINGS
THAT ARE UPBUILDING
“HAVING A FORM
OF GODLY DEVOTION”
WHY USE ILLUSTRATIONS?
WHAT IS APPLIED CHRISTIANITY?
©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".
২
PUBLISHED BY THE WATCH TOWER BIBLE & TRACT SOCIETY
117 Adams Street
Brooklyn 1, N. Y., U. S. A.
N. H. KNORR, President
GRANT SUITER, Secretary
"They will all be taught by Jehovah."—John 6:45, NW; Isaiah 54:13
CONTENTS
What Is Applied Christianity?
“Having a Form of Godly Devotion”
Negative Thinking Has Power
Why Use Illustrations?
Modern History of Jehovah’s Witnesses
Part 6: 1914 Date Verified
Maintaining Happiness
by Dispelling Complaint
Pursue the Things That Are Upbuilding
Truly Out of This World in Barotseland
Questions from Readers
Announcements
Check Your Memory
<tr><th>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 Translation
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
Semimonthly
Monthly
Afrikaans
Indonesian
Arabic
Portuguese
Cebu-Visayan
Italian
Cibemba
Russian
Cinyanja
Japanese
Cishona
Sesotho
Danish
Norwegian
Greek
Slamese
English
Pangasinan
Ibo
Siloai
Finnish
Slovenian
Kanarese
Slovak
French
Spanish
Korean
Ukrainian
German
Swedish
Malayalam
Urdu
Hiligaynon-Visayan
Tagalog
Polish
Yoruba
Hollandish
Twi
Iocane
Zulu
Watch Tower Society offices Yearly subscription rate
America, U.S., 117 Adams St., Brooklyn 1, N.Y. $1
Australia, 11 Beresford Rd., Strathfield, N.S.W. 8/-
Canada, 40 Irwin Ave., Toronto 5, Ontario $1
England, 34 Craven Terrace, London, W. 2 7/-
Jamaica, 151 King St., Kingston 7/-
New Zealand, G.P.O. Box 30, Wellington, C. 1 7/-
South Africa, Private Bag, P.O. Elandsfontein, Transvaal 7/-
Trinidad, 21 Taylor St., Woodbrook, Port of Spain $1.72
Remittances should be sent to office in your country in compliance with regulations to guarantee safe delivery of money. Remittances are accepted at Brooklyn from countries where no office is located, by international money order only. Notice of expiration (with renewal blank) is sent at least two issues before subscription expires. Change of address when sent to our office may be expected effective within one month. Send your old as well as new address.
Entered as second-class matter at Brooklyn, N. Y.,
Act of March 3, 1879. Printed in U. S. A.
What is applied Christianity?
THIS book teaches applied Christianity." That is the claim made for the book The Power of Positive Thinking, written by Dr. N. V. Peale, pastor of Marble Collegiate church of New York city. In the past two years more than 750,000 copies of this book have been sold, and it has been listed in the New York Times as a best seller for over two years.
The Power of Positive Thinking claims that by following its suggestions "you can have peace of mind, improved health, and a never-ceasing flow of energy," that "obstacles are simply not permitted to destroy your happiness and wellbeing," and that "your relations with other people will improve. You will become a more popular, esteemed and well-liked individual." To overcome your inferiority complex it prescribes: "Believe in yourself! Have faith in yourself!" If you think success, you will be successful. Apply to your personal problems such Bible texts as "If you have faith . . . nothing shall be impossible unto you."
We are further told by Dr. Peale that peace of mind can be gained by repeating and trying to visualize words suggesting peace, such as "tranquillity," and that "it is also helpful to use lines of poetry or passages from the Bible." True, Bible reading and prayer may be good for the nerves, may cure insomnia, etc., but is that "applied Christianity" or merely applied psychology?
We are also assured that Bible reading will supply us with dynamic physical energy. Yes, "you don't have to get tired. Get interested in something. Get enthralled in something. Throw yourself into it with abandon. Get out of yourself. Be somebody. Do something." But what? Work for God or work for oneself?
"Prayer power is a manifestation of energy," the chapter on prayer tells us, and there are scientific methods for the release of prayer power just as there are for the release of atomic energy. "The formula is: (1) Prayerize, (2) Picturize, (3) Actualize." "Many competent and successful businessmen are finding that one of the greatest of all efficiency methods is prayer power." But is God interested in "famous industrialists" getting their technical problems solved?
Successful men in many walks of life are quoted to show that all things are possible if we have faith. But are the world's greatest successes those with the greatest faith? We are told that "If God be for me who can be against me?" and so I can make a success of selling vacuum cleaners. "Applied Christianity" makes the slumping sales executive a "ball of fire."
Faith can cure all manner of diseases, even malignant tumors, for "there is a sound message of health in Christianity," the reader is further assured. Religion will improve your appearance, for "God runs a beauty
parlor." "Applied Christianity" will help you to live longer.
There is no question about the "power of positive thinking." By taking a defeatist attitude, by worrying, by having inferiority feelings, by fuming and fretting, by being
merely incidental. So today, following certain Scriptural principles for psychological reasons is not Christianity and will not assure one of salvation, of everlasting life at God's hands.
The apostle Paul spoke of some "men corrupted in mind and despoiled of the
Can the use of the Bible's sound psychological principles for health and success in business be termed "applied Christianity"? And how can we tell whether or not we are deceiving ourselves by our forms of godly devotion? For answers on these questions in the light of current facts and the Bible read this and the succeeding article.
tense and by nursing grudges we do hamstring our efforts. Counseling against all such is good psychology and it can be found in the sayings of Lao-tse, ancient and modern philosophers and psychologists and other wise men of the world, all of whom are freely quoted. And since the Creator understands man perfectly it is to be expected that His Word should evince a remarkable understanding of what is best for man psychosomatically. By capitalizing on the Bible's popularity and wisdom, Dr. Peale has produced a best seller. But his philosophy is not true Christianity.
To illustrate: Many of the laws of Moses had good physical effects; one day of rest in seven is good for man and beast; forbidding marriage of close relatives is good eugenics; forbidding of certain meats, good dietetics, etc., but the mere following of these rules because of the physical benefits received would not have made any nation God's chosen people nor assured them of Jehovah's protection against their enemies. Such physical benefits were
truth, thinking that godly devotion is a means of gain." This exactly describes the philosophy of The Power of Positive Thinking, for it quotes with approval: "The maintenance of a sound spiritual life is important to enjoying energy and personality force." All such reasoning is selfish to the core and the very opposite of true Christianity, which is the essence of unselfishness. Instead of making God our partner and making him work for us, as the book repeatedly suggests, His Word tells us that we are his slaves and that "we are God's fellow workers."—1 Tim. 6:5; 1 Cor. 3:9, NW.
The purpose of Christianity is not the enjoyment of energy and personality force. Pure worship of God as taught by Christ places its emphasis not on what we can get out of it but on the vindication of the name of Jehovah, doing what is right and showing love to one's neighbor. As Jesus himself said, "There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving."—Acts 20:35, NW.
All worldly religion, philosophy and psychology are primarily concerned with the immediate present, with that which seems desirable to the flesh, health, prosperity, success, popularity, etc. But true Christianity has its mind on higher things.
Its prime concern is for God's approval and so it seeks his kingdom and his righteousness, confident that all other necessary things will be added. Jesus did not hold out the rich young ruler as a symbol of success, but said: "How difficult a thing it will be for those with money to make their way into the kingdom of God!" And instead of showing us how to become rich in this world's goods Jesus showed us how to become rich toward God.-Luke 18:24; 12:21, NW.
Rather than to gather riches on earth Christians are to lay up treasures in heaven. Said Jesus to his disciples: "If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself and pick up his torture stake and follow me continually. For whoever wants to save his soul will lose it; but whoever loses his soul for my sake will find it. For what benefit will it be to a man if he gains the whole world but forfeits his soul?"—Matt. 16:24-26, NW.
Those words of Jesus must have a strange ring to many professing to be Christians in view of their religious leaders' teaching them just the opposite, namely, that by applying the principles of Christianity to one's personal problems one can expect to realize the material good things of this life.
And finally, in view of the fact that Jesus' great prophecy, recorded at Matthew, chapter 24, shows that we are living in the last days, comparable with Noah's days, applied Christianity requires that we heed his instructions to flee with precipitous haste from this old system of things to the mountains, God's new-born "land"; that we take refuge in the modern "ark," the new system of things, and associate with its inmates, the New World society. What folly, therefore, for Christians to be concerned with popularity and success in a world doomed by God!
"Having a form of Godly Devotion"
WHAT motive prompts our religion, our form of worship? Is it love for God, for what he is and what he has done for us? Is it
done because we want to praise and honor him? Or is it based on what we hope to get out of it, because of some material benefits we hope to receive, such as being thought well of by others? Are we worshiping God
with spirit and truth, or are we having only "a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power"?—2 Tim. 3:5, NW.
To deceive ourselves along this line is very easy because, as the prophet Jeremiah expressed it, "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt; who can understand it?" Why should this be the case? Because original sin has caused the heart of man to be bad from his youth. That is why we are told that "folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him."
We can deceive ourselves, and many do, and we can deceive others, which many also do, but let us not deceive ourselves into thinking that we can deceive our Creator, Jehovah God, for "there is not a creation that is not manifest to his sight, but all things are naked and openly exposed to the eyes of him with whom we have an accounting."—Jer. 17:9; Prov. 22:15, RS; Heb. 4:13, NW.
And, as if it were not enough that we have this tendency within us to go the wrong way, we have to contend with one who would abet us in our wrongdoing, none other than Satan the Devil. Why should he be interested in having us take a foolish course? Because he would rival the Creator Jehovah God by drawing all men away from God through appeals to selfishness. He being extremely selfish himself, it is inconceivable to him that others act from unselfish motives. That is why he not only impugned the motives of Job but did all he could to weaken Job, to prove himself right. If he cannot cause creatures to refrain from worshiping Jehovah God, he seeks to vitiate their worship by having it deteriorate into only a form of godly devotion. So well has he succeeded that the Bible states he has misled the entire inhabited earth.
Having to contend with both inherent selfishness as well as with Satan the Devil and his willing agents, no wonder the prophet of God prayed: "O Jehovah, I know that the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps." Because of this God in his loving-kindness provided man with his Word, the Bible, to serve as a lamp to our feet and a light to our paths. By taking counsel from His Word we shall not be overreached by Satan nor come to grief
because of our inherent weaknesses.—Jer. 10:23, AS.
SCRIPTURAL EXAMPLES
Cain might be said to have been the first one who manifested a form of godly devotion but proved false to its power. Had his offering been made in good faith he would have imitated his brother when he found God did not accept a vegetable sacrifice, and also would have offered a sacrifice requiring the shedding of blood. But his form of godly devotion being not genuine, he murdered his brother who did have Jehovah's approval.
The nation of Israel furnishes another striking example of having a form of godly devotion while proving false to its power. With the passing years they drifted farther and farther away from God's righteous principles of justice, love and mercy while continuing to make sacrifices, offer prayers and celebrate festivals. No wonder Jehovah said to them: "I have had enough of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed beasts; . Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you."—Isa. 1:11, 14, 15, RS.
The religious leaders of Jesus' day fell into this same snare. They deceived themselves and many others but they did not deceive God or his Son, Christ Jesus. They made a "good thing," that is, a profitable thing of their religion. Jesus tore off their masks, showing that all the works they did were done to win the approval of men; that outwardly they appeared righteous but inside they were full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. They showed many forms of godly devotion but proved false to its power, or they would never have murdered the Son of God.
MODERN EXAMPLES
Since the apostle Paul stated that "having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power" was one of the signs marking the last days, and since Bible prophecy shows we are living in the last days, it should not surprise us that today we see this condition more widespread than ever before. For example, consider a certain "prophet" of Detroit, Michigan, who claims to be a Christian minister and healer. Now Jesus told his followers not to lay up treasures on earth but in heaven and "stop being anxious . . . about your bodies as to what you will wear." (Matt. 6:25, NW) But the Detroit "prophet" has amassed a fortune as a result of his claimed following of Jesus, including such things as a $12,900 mink coat, 400 suits of clothing, countless jewels and luxury automobiles. Obviously he has a "form of godly devotion," but where is the power of unselfish service?
Another example is the manufacture and sale of religious articles. Thus Time, November 15, 1954, under the heading "Devotions by the Dozen," had the following to say: "A salesman carrying his sample case arrived at the gift shop of a Roman Catholic shrine and demonstrated 'the hottest item this year': a picture of Jesus in a small plastic frame. By slightly moving the picture, the salesman explained, the bearded face of Jesus could be transformed into the beardless face of Our Lady." Among other items were "a $100 medal of a veiled woman, praying, with a race horse and jockey 'immortalized' below. The inscription reads: 'Saint Anita, make me a winner.' Luminous Sacred Hearts that glow in the dark. 'So comforting for the sick,' says the manufacturer's circular. 'Hot traffic builder—always in demand.'" Clearly the gift shops that handle such items, as well as those who supply them and those who patronize
them, are concerned only with the 'forms of godly devotion.' And what forms!
The same is also true of the Hollywood motion-picture industry. It also has found the 'forms of godly devotion' to be a "good thing." It grinds out one religious spectacle after another, not because of its interest in religion or in the peoples' morals, but because of the "box office magic of the Christian tradition." Its lack of any sincerity is apparent from the way these pictures glamorize "the spectacular fleshpots and cruelties in the Roman background of early Christianity."
Popular clergymen and particularly evangelists betray their worship is only a form of godly devotion by the praise they heap on successful businessmen and nations, such as one evangelist's lauding Germany's rapid economic recovery, to compare with France's lagging economy, as though Germany were a more godly nation than is France.
Religious organizations that finance themselves by gambling devices such as bingo furnish another example of having a form of godliness but proving false to its power. For material gain they encourage laziness and dishonesty in their members and strengthen the power of underworld racketeers and corrupt government officials. Proof for all this was strikingly presented in the article "Is Bingo Getting Too Big?" in Collier's, December 10, 1954.
Dr. Frank Crane, one of the foremost psychologists of the United States, highlighted this glaring inconsistency, saying, among other things: "What did Jesus do when He entered the ancient Hebrew temple and found the money changers running a somewhat similar 'gyp' racket on the worshipers? The Bible says he drove the money changers out of the temple and even upset their tables." "If the churches don't offer our youth a different code of ethics than the taverns or race tracks, how can they hope to appeal to eager idealistic youth?"
A current aspect of having only "a form of godly devotion" is the stress placed on the practical aspects of prayer. Parade, a U.S. national weekly, October 10, 1954, told about "Today's Big Religious Story: Prayer at Work. America's hard-headed businessmen and practical politicians are asking God's help to solve problems in the H-bomb age."
It told of President Eisenhower's beginning his secret cabinet meetings with a minute of silent prayer, and of one of his cabinet members' starting each day's session with his top staff members with prayer. Congress now has a "prayer room" and "a dozen religious breakfast groups now meet regularly in Washington-one for Senators, another for Congressmen," etc., and we are told that this is also taking place in big business, in fact, "all over America today," and that a thousand times over.
However, in spite of all this trend toward religion in business and politics the fact remains that never has the United States seen so much political corruption,so much sexual immorality and such a lack of integrity in business. The National Council of Churches of Christ admits the facts:
"When we consider how little it costs to be counted among church members in our country today, we are troubled. The average church member is not conspicuously different from the non-member. . Our crime rate appears to rise alongside our membership increase."
Obviously it is a case of having "a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power," or such bad fruit would not be produced, and constitutes one of the signs that we are living in the last days.
Men deceive themselves when they read the Bible, when they pray, when they go to church, for psychological reasons, for success in business and in society, and think that is applied Christianity. By viewing gain as godliness they show themselves to be men of corrupt minds. And men are also deceiving themselves when they go through the outward forms of godly devotion and by their actions show that they lack the true power of godly devotion. Such is, in fact, nothing less than hypocrisy.
Applied Christianity and genuine godly devotion are free from both desire for selfish gain and hypocrisy, being concerned only with the gaining of Jehovah's approval. Yes, "God is a Spirit, and those worshiping him must worship with spirit and truth."—John 4:24, NW.
Negative Thinking Has Power
Writing in the Christian Century of January 5, Simeon Stylites sought to temper the enthusiasm for positive thinking, saying that when it "is identified with a psychological pep talk to oneself, the best things of life and of true growth of mind and heart are left out." Rather than exuding superconfidence all the time, one might very well let a little modesty and humility seep through also, though any such display of self-depreciation might be viewed as negative thinking. The writer concludes his column with these words: "The power of negative thinking is beautifully and profoundly pictured in the words of the returning Prodigal to his father: 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no more worthy to be called your son.' That is about as negative as a person can get. And such self-awareness and consciousness of failure is the gateway to power. Humility is the first step in learning. Such a feeling is very different from the kind of 'positive thinking' to which many today are painfully aspiring, the kind that says, 'Watch me, boys! I'm going places.' That mood may be the beginning of becoming a Big, Booming Success. It is not the door to the life which is Life indeed."
Illustrations
WHY is it you speak to them by the use of illustrations?" the disciples asked Jesus. His answer was: "To you it is granted to understand the sacred secrets of the kingdom of the heavens, but to those people it is not granted. For whoever has, more will be given him and he will be made to abound; but whoever
does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. This is why I speak to them by the use of illustrations, because, looking, they look in vain, and hearing, they hear in vain, neither do they get the sense of it; and toward them the prophecy of Isaiah is having fulfillment which says: 'By hearing, you will hear but by no means get the sense of it; and, looking, you will look but by no means see. For the heart of this people has grown thick, and with their ears they have heard with annoyance, and they have shut their eyes; that they might never see with their eyes and hear with their ears and get the sense of it with their hearts and turn back, and I heal them.' However, happy are your eyes because they behold, and your ears because they hear."—Matt. 13:10-16, NW.
Many with good physical powers of seeing and hearing do not have mental perception and deep understanding. Because they do not comprehend the underlying significance of what they see and hear they are spoken of as having eyes that do not see and ears that do not hear. They are spiritually blind and deaf. They have eyes in their head but not in their heart. Because of the vital importance of the gift of this vision Paul prayed that his fellow disciples
at Ephesus might be enriched with it by Jehovah, and it is also a suitable prayer for us today: "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the accurate knowledge of him, the eyes of your heart having been enlightened, that you may know what is the hope." (Eph. 1:17, 18, NW) As Isaiah had foretold, when Jesus came the majority of Israelites heard him with annoyance and closed their minds to his message and their hearts had grown thick and fatty, not able to be reached or touched by the truths Jesus spoke. They were proud, haughty, selfish and unworthy of being converted and spiritually healed. They did not have eyes of the heart or understanding.
The message of salvation was not for such. It was not granted to them to understand the sacred secrets. So Jesus spoke to the multitudes in illustrations so that these unworthy ones would not be healed. The spiritual healing was for those who had eyes of the heart, and they would abound in more knowledge and understanding, in more enlightenment for the eyes of their heart. How did the use of illustrations effect this? It is shown by this instance recorded at Matthew chapter 13.
Jesus had given the illustration of the sower who had sown seed on varying soils and had noted the different results that followed. To the majority of listeners it was just a nice little story, interesting and colorful, but worth no further thought. They departed without getting the deeper meaning, without mentally perceiving and understanding the figurative language. In other words, they were not interested. But some were interested, were humble and meek and wanted to be enlightened concerning the deeper meaning. So they tarried and made inquiry, and Jesus fully explained the illustration and the eyes of their humble hearts were further enlightened. This method of teaching had the advantage of weeding out those not interested enough for Jesus to spend time with. It eliminated from his audience the indifferent ones who only wanted their ears tickled with vivid little tales, and left behind those who were spiritually hungry and on whom he could then concentrate.
But Jesus' use of illustrations accomplished more than to weed out the unworthy ones. They were invaluable in instructing the meek disciples. When his followers would get the hidden meaning it would be more clear and forceful and vivid because of the illustration associated with it, and they would remember the truths longer because of being able to visualize the illustration. Even at times the enemies of Jesus got the point of the illustrations he used. For instance, one religious leader in Israel, when told to love his neighbor, asked who really was his neighbor. He wanted to prove himself righteous, not really craving enlightenment. By the illustration of the good Samaritan Jesus made him acknowledge a broader definition of neighbor than he preferred to put on the term. On another occasion Jesus spoke to the hypocritical religious leaders and by a series of illustrations exposed them, and
they got the sharp point of these illustrations and were stung by them and wanted to seize Jesus, but they feared the crowds. Luke 10:25-37; Matt. 21:28-46.
ILLUSTRATIONS USEFUL IN PRESENT PREACHING
Hence Jesus' use of illustrations to hide truth from unworthy ones was only one use he put them to. Jehovah's witnesses have used figurative language for the same purpose in this generation. For example, in years past the Yearbook of Jehovah's witnesses in giving reports on the progress of the work in lands where it is banned quoted letters from the countries that spoke of the number of plants, their care and cultivation and the yield from them. In this illustrative way the report gets through the censors, its true meaning, the number of congregations and their increase, being hidden to them but discerned by the followers of Christ.
Illustrations are also valuable to instruct. Reasoning in the abstract is hard for many persons, and to use illustrations helps greatly to clarify the point. It makes it possible to visualize, and to this visualization the abstract truth is attached. It becomes more concrete in the mind of the learner, and certainly it is remembered longer because of the vivid illustration. Also, by illustration sometimes a point can be tactfully presented that would otherwise offend or close the mind of the listener. For example, the subject of Christmas is a sentimental one with millions and they do not like to learn that it is based entirely on pagan practices, that it is not the date of Christ's birth at all. To start them thinking on the subject one might use this illustration. Suppose a large crowd comes to a man's home to celebrate his birthday. He does not favor the celebration of birthdays. He does not like to see anyone become drunk or gluttonous, nor does he approve of revelry.
Yet they come to his home, they get drunk, they overeat, they get loud and noisy, some of them commit immoralities, and they bring presents for everyone there except him! Imagine that! At this birthday celebration everyone gets gifts except the one whose birthday is being celebrated! And on top of all of that, these supposed friends do not even come on the right day, but instead pick a day that is the birthday of an enemy of his and practice the customs established for this enemy's birthday celebration! Would that not be repulsive to this fine man? Exactly like that is the attempted celebration of Christ's birthday by Christendom.
Perhaps one of the outstanding uses of illustrations is to side-step bias or prejudice or partiality. We are usually biased in our own favor. We tend to protect ourselves, our opinions, our actions, our cherished beliefs, and if anyone criticizes them we automatically defend them. Pride makes it hard for us to admit we are wrong. If it was a matter of conduct we make excuses or think of extenuating circumstances. It is not just a matter of logic, of reasoning on the situation. It is a question of emotion also. And emotion is not always reasonable. Oftentimes it wins the tug of war with logic. But if we can reason on the same situation without knowing we are involved, logic and reasoning can do their work unhindered by personal feelings. Here is where the illustration comes into play. It will side-step prejudice, sever the person from the event, put him in the position of an impartial observer with no personal stake involved, and will let him decide purely on the basis of right principles. Illustrations divorce our personal emotions from influencing our thinking and enable us to reach honest and logical conclusions. Then, with the principle established, it can be applied to our own case.
Thus illustrations can make us face facts our emotions would blind us to.
The Bible gives us an illustration of this use of illustrations. It is found at 2 Samuel 12:1-9, 13 (AS): "And Jehovah sent Nathan unto David. And he came unto him, and said unto him, There were two men in one city; the one rich, and the other poor. The rich man had exceeding many flocks and herds; but the poor man had nothing, save one little ewe lamb, which he had bought and nourished up: and it grew up together with him, and with his children; it did eat of his own morsel, and drank of his own cup, and lay in his bosom, and was unto him as a daughter. And there came a traveller unto the rich man, and he spared to take of his own flock and of his own herd, to dress for the wayfaring man that was come unto him, but took the poor man's lamb, and dressed it for the man that was come to him. And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As Jehovah liveth, the man that hath done this is worthy to die: and he shall restore the lamb fourfold, because he did this thing, and because he had no pity. And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. Thus saith Jehovah, the God of Israel, I anointed thee king over Israel, and I delivered thee out of the hand of Saul; and I gave thee thy master's house, and thy master's wives into thy bosom, and gave thee the house of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have added unto thee such and such things. Wherefore hast thou despised the word of Jehovah, to do that which is evil in his sight? thou hast smitten Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against Jehovah."
If Nathan had initially called attention to David's actions David might have tried to defend himself or make excuses or think of extenuating circumstances.
We automatically search for a defense. Instead, Nathan used an illustration. He chose a good one, involving a pet lamb. David had been a shepherd boy and loved his sheep so much he fought a lion and a bear to protect them. He would feel keenly the injustice of the rich man's cruel act. He passed judgment as an impartial person, not being personally involved. Or so he thought. Then, after he had rendered an incensed and impartial decision, he learned he was the guilty man. What could he say? He had already gone on record. He could only acknowledge the greatness of his sin, and Jehovah made him suffer keenly for it.
Today as we preach we bump into much prejudice. People have pet doctrines and their pride is keenly hurt to have to say they have been wrong for years. Prejudice keeps them from facing the Scriptural facts. Illustrations can be useful here. Here is one that may be used. You hear of a father that has a son who misbehaved. The boy's wrong was serious; it must be punished. So you are told the father held the boy's hand against a red-hot stove, actually cooking it. What do you think of that? Is that the act of a loving father, or of a fiend? Are you not nauseated by such horrible injustice? But later you learn that the father never did that at all. The one who told you he did lied to you. Are you not indignant with the liar? And how do
you think the loving father will feel toward the liar who is blaspheming him, and even toward you if you continue to believe he is so fiendish? So it is with those who teach that Jehovah torments people in a place of hell-fire. He is not less loving than human fathers, but more so. He corrects, but does not fiendishly torture. And how do you think he feels toward those who lie about him, saying he is such a fiend? And toward those who believe the liars, even after the truth is presented to them?
From the foregoing it is clear that illustrations are useful in preaching today. They make truths clearer, easily visualized, remembered, and enable us to present sensitive issues tactfully and dodge the personal prejudices that blind our listeners. The illustrations will not convert the unworthy ones, but they will make the meek listen and inquire further. We know the questions that frequently arise, the objections that are often raised when presenting the truth at the doors. Anticipate them. Think of illustrations to answer them. Use illustrations in back-call discussions, planned in advance. Use them in service talks and public lectures. But use them in moderation. Be selective. Use only a few, and keep them pointed. Overworked, they will become commonplace and lose their force and make the presentation seem jerky. A few fine ones are better than many mediocre ones. The Bible is exemplary in its use of illustrations. Copy it.
She Wanted Bread, She Was Given a Stone
A Catholic priest in Nassau visited one of his flock and found her reading the book "New Heavens and a New Earth". He told her that it was "poisonous and pernicious stuff," and that she was an infidel for reading it. If it was reading matter she wanted, he could provide all that for her. So he brought her a novel based on the supposed love life of Mary Magdalene. This, however, did not satisfy her, as she was hungry for truth and not for fiction. After reading more Watch Tower publications this sheeplike one has come to see that the teachings of Jehovah's witnesses are indeed the truth. In view of the tactics used by the priest is it any wonder that today there is a "famine in the land" regarding the "hearing the words of Jehovah"?—Amos 8:11, AS.
MODERN HISTORY of Jehovah's Witnesses
DURING the first few months of 1914 the clergy and others poured considerable ridicule upon C. T. Russell and the Watch Tower Society for failing to see anything happening to the Gentile nations. But all this ridicule stopped when nation after nation and kingdom after kingdom began cascading into what now is called the first world war. From July 27 onward into August of that year was a time of worldshaking surprises. A typical public-press reaction to the situation was published August 30, 1914, by a leading New York city newspaper, The World. "End of All Kingdoms in 1914" was the arresting headline of a long feature article in that journal's Sunday magazine section (pages 4 and 17), from which we quote:
"According to the Calculations of Rev. Russell's 'International Bible Students,' This Is the Time of Trouble' Spoken of by the Prophet
Daniel, the Year 1914 Predicted in the Book 'The Time Is at Hand,' of which Four Million Copies Have Been Sold, as the Date of the Downfall of the Kingdoms of Earth.
"The terrific war outbreak in Europe has fulfilled an extraordinary prophecy. For a quarter of a century past, through preachers and through press, the 'International Bible Students', best known as 'Millennial Dawners,' have been proclaiming to the world that the Day of Wrath prophesied in the Bible would dawn in 1914. Look out for 1914!" has been
the cry of the hundreds of travelling evangelists who, representing this strange creed, have gone up and down the country enunciating the doctrine that 'the Kingdom of God is at hand.' . . . Although millions of people must have listened to these evangelists, . . . and although their propaganda has been carried on through religious publications and a secular press service involving hundreds of country newspapers, as well as through lectures, debates, study classes, and even moving pictures, the average man does not know that such a movement as the 'Millennial Dawn' exists. . . Rev. Charles T. Russell is the man who has been propounding this interpretation of the Scriptures since 1874. . . 'In view of this strong Bible evidence,' Rev. Russell wrote in 1889, 'we consider it an established truth that the final end of the kingdoms of this world and the full establishment of the Kingdom of God will be accomplished by the end of A.D. 1914.' . . . But to say that the trouble must culminate in 1914—that was peculiar. For some strange reason, perhaps because Rev. Russell has a very calm, higher-mathematics style of writing instead of flamboyant soap box
manners, the world in general has scarcely taken him into account. The students over in his 'Brooklyn Tabernacle' say that this was to be expected, that the world never did listen to divine warnings and never will, until after the day of trouble is past. . . And in 1914 comes war, the war which everybody dreaded but which everybody thought could not really happen. Rev. Russell is not saying 'I told you so'; and he is not revising the prophecies to suit the current history. He and his students are content to wait—to wait until October, which they figure to be the real end of 1914."
And so it proved to be that about October 1, 1914, the 2,520 years of divine tolerance of the Gentile nations' assumed sovereignty over the earth came to a legal end, as we now know so well Scripturally and factually. a This then made possible the greatest event in universal history, the birth of the long-promised "male child," the kingdom in heaven with Christ Jesus now enthroned as King, with his heavenly government empowered with divine sovereignty to rule amidst his enemies. All this that the earth may finally be rid of wickedness and be made a fit place for man to live on in a restored paradise with praise to his loving Creator, Jehovah God. (Dan. 7:13, 14; Ps. 2:6-9; Rev. 12:5, 10, NW) The Watch Tower Society of witnesses for Jehovah was right in its thirty-year public campaign of warning the Gentile nations of the fateful year 1914. b
Individually, however, some who had shared in giving that warning were disappointed in that they incorrectly thought of themselves as due to go to heaven in 1914 to become part of the invisible Kingdom organization,
yet much work to be done by the anointed Christians on the earth. Glorious days of still greater witnessing lay ahead in accordance with Jehovah's further purposes to prepare a great crowd of "other sheep" to survive the real Armageddon when it finally would come upon the earth. Truly Jehovah's majestic ways and purposes are always best and work out for the greatest of happiness.
As we look back over the record of the Watch Tower Society's publishing activities for the thirty years prior to 1914 we see that a remarkably extensive public warning was given to the nations. The adjoined table of figures gleaned from the Society's annual reports, usually published in the December 15 issue of The Watch Tower during each of those years, bears eloquent testimony to the zeal, hard work, devotion to duty and determination of Jehovah's witnesses to undertake and faithfully perform the 1914 warning task.
WORLD-WIDE DISTRIBUTION REPORTc
little realizing that it was not until 1918 that it would become possible for any of the dead Kingdom heirs to be joined with Jehovah's enthroned Christ in heaven, at which latter time the "first resurrection" was due to begin. Many also inaccurately thought that the world war which began in 1914 would merge into the "battle of the great day of God Almighty," Armageddon, and thus cleanse the earth of all opposition to righteousness. However, Jehovah's leading indicated that there was
<tr><th>Years
Tracts & Pamphlets
Bound Books
Published report in
22,838,164
710,992
W 1909, p. 374; W 1910, pp. 67-71
27,025,180
711,410
W 1910, p. 388; W 1911, pp. 7-9, 21
22,838,282
538,783
W 1911, pp. 452, 453
49,151,244
812,046
W 1912, p. 386; W 1913, pp. 38-42
49,065,189
864,510
W 1913, p. 372, 3; W 1914, pp. 41-43
71,285,037
992,845
W 1914, p. 374; W 1915, pp. 27-31
55,149,578
661,789
W 1915, p. 373; W 1916, pp. 8-11
30,547,172
452,713
W 1916, p. 387; W 1917, pp. 101-104
33,890,664
836,417
W 1917, pp. 374-377
C. T. Russell and his associates gave all of their strength and fortunes in prosecuting as vigorous a campaign as was possible in their time under the guidance of Jehovah's holy active force. The years 1915 and 1916 saw a decline in their publishing activities d due to the period of witnessing amidst growing opposition, ridicule and world-wide disruption. This decline was in
Years
Tracts and Pamphlets
Bound Books
1870-1878
50,000
1879-1893
3,859,609
205,916
1894-1901
15,740,357
588,402
1902-1908
37,687,694
2,518,233
fulfillment of the God-given prophecy: "I will cause my two witnesses to prophesy a thousand two hundred and sixty days dressed in sackcloth."
(Rev. 11:3, NW) Toward the end of 1916 Russell began to fail rapidly; and finally, on a return speaking trip from California, he died aboard a train near Pampa, Texas, October 31. e By the fruits he brought forth in his multitude of labors as a minister of the gospel, Brother Russell surely proved to be a faithful witness of Jehovah. He had fought valiantly in defending Bible truth to the extent of the enlightenment then available. During his 32 years as the Society's president his many devoted Christian associates supported him to perform a phenomenal work under the leadership of the foremost Faithful Witness, Christ Jesus, to the praise of their Creator. f
Following Brother Russell's death, years of crisis set in, producing within the organization the pressures of opposition, judgment and cleansing. Satan and his seed were ready to wield, in addition, external blows which were destined to strike down the Society in such weakened state to a sudden deathlike condition. After such a gigantic build-up of warning witness which had occurred with respect to that prophetic date of 1914, many of the associates became weary of well-doing. Rebelliousness among congregation elders came to the surface, and unhealthy spiritual conditions in general set in, to put many of the anointed witnesses to the test as to their real love and loyalty to their invisibly present King, Christ Jesus.g (Revelation, chapters 2 and 3) For three and a half years (1,260 literal days) they carried on their preaching in this critical period from the fall of 1914 to the spring of 1918 in a
"sackcloth" condition of mourning and reproach. Finally, in 1918, "when they have finished their witnessing, the wild beast [collective earthly ruling powers] that ascends out of the abyss [the symbolic deep sea of men raging against God] will make war with them and conquer them and kill them. And after the three and a half days spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet, and great fear fell upon those beholding them." Here we have the prophetic description of those years of crisis, and the historic record here reviewed shows the prophecy's fulfillment by the facts.—Rev. 11:3,4,7,11,NW.
For the two months of November and December, 1916, a transitional administration of the Society was in the hands of an Executive Committee of three, VicePresident Ritchie, Secretary-Treasurer Van Amburgh and legal adviser Rutherford. h In connection with a Watch Tower corporation meeting a convention was called to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, January 6 and 7, 1917. The chief business of that meeting was election of a president and other officials to succeed the Russell administration. Six hundred attended the business meeting on Saturday, January 6, where approximately 150,000 votes, i represented in person or by proxy, were unanimously cast for J. F. Rutherford for president and W. E. Van Amburgh for secretary-treasurer, and a majority for A. N. Pierson for vice-president. j The next day, Sunday, the newly elected president, J. F. Rutherford, addressed 1,500 at the convention. Thus commenced a new administration for the Society, which Rutherford was to supervise for twenty-five years.
A brief biographical sketch is in order as to the Society's second president, Joseph Franklin Rutherford. k He was born November 8, 1869, in Boonville, Missouri, of parents who were Baptists. He was 16 years old when his father consented to his attending college to study law, provided he would earn his own way, since his father was merely a farmer and could not afford to assist him. After completing his academy education, he spent two years under the tutorship of Judge E. L. Edwards and finally at the age of twenty became the official reporter for the courts of the Fourteenth Judicial Circuit in Missouri. At 22 he was admitted to the bar and began to practice law at Boonville, becoming a trial lawyer for the law firm of Draffen and Wright. Later he served four years as public prosecutor for Boonville, and still later, as Special Judge in the same Fourteenth Judicial District of Missouri. m For 15 years he practiced law in Missouri.
In 1894 he came in touch with Watch Tower Society representatives and twelve years later, in 1906, dedicated his life to Almighty God, thus becoming ordained for the Christian ministry. n In 1907 he
became the Watch Tower Society's legal counselor at the Pittsburgh headquarters, to handle its court cases, and at the same time he was sent out to give public talks as a pilgrim representative of the Society. o In 1909 he was admitted to the New York bar as a recognized lawyer for that state; in the same year (May 24, 1909) he also was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States at Washington, D.C. He traveled widely as a public Bible lecturer in the United States, speaking at many colleges and universities by special request and before packed-out public audiences in this country and throughout Europe. He also visited Egypt and Palestine. In 1913, accompanied by his wife, he visited Germany, where he spoke to audiences totaling 18,000. p In 1915 he won a series of Bible debates in Los Angeles, California, against the "Rev." J. H. Troy, q a Baptist, representing the clergy of southern California. In 1916 Rutherford was chosen to deliver the funeral talk at the death of his long-time, warm friend C. T. Russell. r
(To be continued)
St. Charalampus Punished for Neglect!
Many are the superstitious peasants who take their "saints" very seriously. However, seldom do they take them so seriously as did a certain Cretan, according to the following press dispatch: "HERAKLEION (Candia), Crete 24 (Our Correspondent's Dispatch) Geo. Emm. Tsaggarakis, a resident of Jerapetra (Crete) went to the nearby village Murnies and, having entered Saint Charalampus church there, gathered together behind the outer gate the various church books, the leaves of three inner doors and many other effects, and then set a fire to them, causing serious damage to the church. Being arrested and examined, he admitting starting the fire and stated that he did so because . . . although he had prayed to Saint Charalampus for two years to heal him, he had noticed no improvement in his health. His illness is said to be of a nervous nature."—Eleftheria, Athens, Greece, May 25, 1954.
MAINTAINING HAPPINESS
DISPELLING COMPLAINT
EHOVAH is the happy God. (1 Tim. 1:11, NW) His happiness comes from
"Happy are those hearing the word of God and keeping it!" Luke 11:28, NW.
being completely devoted to righteousness and to bringing happiness to his creatures in his loving way. Unselfishly he has made full provision for men to live in happiness on earth and to that end he gives them what they require. To acquire genuine happiness man has only to heed the instruction God gives him and live his life according to it.
2 Who can deny that the present system of things on earth is filled with unhappiness and sorrow? In it there is plenty to complain about. It has come about in fulfillment of Revelation 12:12 (NW): "Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing he has a short period of time." The prophecy has proved true: "But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here." (2 Tim. 3:1, NW) Some politicians may boast that the people never had it so good; but to a great extent they are miserable and troubled by the threat of global catastrophe in a nuclear war, the alarming increase in crime and delinquency, the upswing of dread diseases in spite of latest scientific discoveries, and general insecurity. Their countenances reflect the spirit
of discontent that pervades the whole system of things.
3 Jehovah, unselfish
in his happiness, provides for people to hear the glorious good news. It is being preached throughout the inhabited earth for the purpose of a witness. (Matt. 24:14, NW) Some, described in Ezekiel 9:4 (AS) as "men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done," hear this message and come out of the afflicted old system of things. They begin to make their minds over and undergo a change of personality to God's happy state. (Rom. 12:2; Eph. 4:24, 31, 32) Thus when a person comes to understand and appreciate the truth of God's Word, his viewpoint on life completely changes. He becomes very joyful. He now has new associates, Jehovah's witnesses, a society of happy people. They are spiritually prosperous and growing. Continually they learn more and more about the principles of New World living, which they strive to apply in their lives. They radiate optimism and enthusiasm. Certainly they have every reason to be happy!
4 The provisions Jehovah has made for such ones to gain endless happiness in his new world indeed are a "happy hope." (Titus 2:13, NW) The woeful conditions of these last days, attended by sickness, sorrow and death, which were brought upon humanity by its first parents, Adam and Eve, are no longer considered as any reason to complain.
How happy they are that God has provided the way out! The prospects of everlasting happy life give them every reason to rejoice. Appreciation of God's goodness causes gratitude to well up in their hearts. It brings realization that something is owing to God; it is worship of him. Heartfelt gratitude impels such ones to dedicate themselves to the service of Jehovah. They become 'doers of the work' and 'happy in their doing it.' Because they have heard the Word of God and are determined to keep it, their prospects of happiness stretch out endlessly. Jas. 1:25, NW.
Unfortunately, not all who dedicate themselves to Jehovah continue to live and serve Jehovah in their assignments happily forever. For a time the pleasure of learning new truths about God's Word and purposes and the added thrill of passing these good things to others claim all their interest. Sometimes, then, in the lives of these newly dedicated ones strange things seem to happen. Conditions appear to change. It is seen that a life of service to Jehovah as one of his witnesses is not a bed of roses. Hardships may befall one, or even severe persecution springs up to deprive one of his new-found joy. Even the daily service of Jehovah God becomes burdensome. Preaching day after day grows more rigorous and exacting. The people encountered in their homes in the missionary field are indifferent and apathetic toward the message of the Kingdom. And preaching brings with it many difficult problems. It involves considerable work with what seems to be endless details demanding careful attention. Or in the life of our new witness perhaps a domestic problem has arisen as the result of his new
way of worship. It brings along with it a very severe strain on the family ties, which threatens dire consequences and even a breach in the family circle. Pressure is brought to bear on one's devotion to Jehovah and his dedication vows so recently made.
Then again, our new witness of Jehovah is filled with zeal. He is ambitious to get ahead in the service and be on with the work. When he looks around himself, perhaps in a small congregation, it appears that very little progress is being made. Obviously, he concludes, it is because things are just not being run right. He sees that there are some careless and indifferent ones associated with the congregation. Not much progress is being made with the preaching work. He feels that something must be done and that quickly; so he begins to disapprove and criticize. Shortly he realizes that he is not happy as at the start. His joy in serving God is fading away.
Our new brother may fail to recognize it at first but he is undergoing a radical change of attitude. He finds himself disagreeing emphatically with arrangements made in the congregation for worship and service. He criticizes those who serve with him. Instead of serving Jehovah with joy and gladness he is now found to be demanding and complaining about arrangements. He wants things to be more convenient and easy. He resents the work, bother and inconvenience that the mistakes and carelessness of others bring upon him. He says to himself or even in the hearing of others: "If they would only do things the right way, it would be so much easier!" In the meanwhile the happiness experienced at first has totally disappeared.
It is not always apparent just how and why it happened, but this is certain, he just does not feel pleased about it. His happiness and joy are gone. Back he has gone to the grumbling, murmuring way of the old world. He habitually disapproves of the arrangements Jehovah has made. He says to himself: "Jehovah and his organization owe me something better than this." He doubts the wisdom of decisions and arrangements and wants to do things his own way. Not anxious to carry out Jehovah's will expressed through his organization, he complains. He even stops preaching and is miserable. He feels depressed and walks about with a sour countenance. So quickly he has lost the joy of his association with Jehovah and his New World society.
Who would deliberately choose to be unhappy? Then why complain, which always brings unhappiness? The complainer has brought it on himself; he has permitted selfishness to enter in. He wholly fails to understand why the tests come upon him. No longer does he have the right outlook on the burdens, hardships and persecution that have befallen him. He has forgotten what Peter wrote: "Beloved ones, do not be puzzled at the burning among you which is happening to you for a trial, as though a strange thing were befalling you. On the contrary, go on rejoicing forasmuch as you are sharers in the sufferings of the Christ, that you may rejoice and be overjoyed also during the revelation of his glory. If you are being reproached for the name of Christ, you are happy, because the spirit of glory, even the spirit of God, is resting upon you." (1 Pet. 4:12-14, NW) Here is laid down the fundamental reason and necessity for Christians to keep integrity with the right mental outlook. Consequently a struggle to keep integrity must be expected. Job 1:6-12.
9 Jesus Christ warned too of what his followers must expect: "I have spoken these things to you that you may not be stumbled. Men will expel you from the congregation. In fact, the hour is coming when everyone that kills you will imagine he has rendered a sacred service to God. But they will do these things because they have not come to know either the Father or me. Nevertheless, I have spoken these things to you that, when the hour for them arrives, you may remember I told them to you." (John 16:1-4, NW) Let none become so self-centered, unreasonable or forgetful about the reasons for keeping integrity to Jehovah as to complain or even go to the extreme of rebelling against burdens and hardships. Rather, pause to reason about the matter: when you dedicated yourself to a life of service to Jehovah did you expect a life of luxury, ease and idleness? One who wishes a vacation does not seek employment. Nor does one who enlists in any army expect a furlough. And Christians have volunteered for spiritual warfare.—2 Cor. 10:3, 4; Eph. 6:13.
10 Jehovah's witnesses need not pity their lot as sharers in the sufferings of Christ. Complainers are always unhappy. It is Jehovah's promise that those who worship him will be happy, and he has not lied. What if we must endure hardships, overcome difficult problems, bear up under persecution? Does suffering hardship mean loss of happiness? Experience has demonstrated beyond argument the answer is an emphatic no! Have you attended one of the assemblies of Jehovah's witnesses recently? They are held regularly, locally and on a national and international scale.
…