the Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society, organized in 1884, which they use to represent them.

³⁴ An official mouthpiece for this “slave” class is the Watchtower magazine, now in its seventy-sixth year of publication. This magazine makes no claim of inspiration but is guided by the inspired principles and prophecies recorded in the sacred Bible due for progressive fulfillment today. By means of this singular channel of reliable spiritual guidance all sincere, honest persons who love righteousness are being directed toward the “perfect day” in the post-Armageddon new world. You are invited to advance along with the anointed remnant from one God-directed progressive spiritual position to another in fulfillment of the promise: “The path of the righteous is as the dawning light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.”—Prov. 4:18, AS.

See that you do not implore him not to speak. For if they did not escape who implored him not to give divine warning upon earth, much more shall we not if we turn away from him who speaks from the heavens. At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, saying: “Yet once more I will set not only the earth but also the heaven in commotion.”—Heb. 12:25, 26, NW.

Did Jesus and Paul Harp on Money Matters?

MISREPRESENTATION seems to be the stock in trade of some clergymen. Thus Malcom Watson of the Lake Park Presbyterian Church of Orlando, Florida, when asked by the budget committee of his congregation to speak on money matters accused both Jesus and Paul of harping on money matters. Naming the collection plate “the proper result of religion,” he went on to say:

“‘After building on the resurrection of Christ, the resurrection of the believer and the glorified life in heaven,’ Paul went straight on to the next point with: ‘Now, concerning the collection.’ ‘Don’t ever divide them. They belong together. . . . Jesus must have bored His listeners stiff much of the time. Listen, you can still hear their echo . . . “He ought to be talking about religion and here He is mentioning money again.”’”—Orlando Evening Star, November 15, 1954.

However, in spite of what Watson may claim there is not a shred of evidence that Jesus ever uttered a single word about taking up collections, about needing money to support his ministry. As for Paul’s reference to collections, first of all note that Paul concluded his argument on the resurrection, not with an appeal for money, but for unselfish service: “Consequently, my beloved brothers, become steadfast, unmovable, always having plenty to do in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in connection with the Lord.”—1 Cor. 15:58, NW.

Then, clearly beginning a new subject, he wrote, “Now concerning the collection.” So, in the first place, Paul did not tie in the subject of taking collections with the resurrection. And secondly, this was not a collection taken in the congregation but each one was to lay aside something on the first day of the week in his own home. And thirdly, it was not for Paul’s salary or for the salary of others or for upkeep of the congregation but for the needy congregations at Jerusalem and in Judea, which were in dire straits because of persecution.—1 Cor. 16:1-3, NW.

Obviously the pastor of the Lake Park Presbyterian Church has misrepresented both Jesus and Paul, it being a case of greed and dishonesty going hand in hand. It might also be observed that it does not speak favorably for the religious literacy of his congregation when he can dare to foist such glaring misrepresentations upon them.