Fortify Yourselves for the Activity Ahead

TODAY there is much activity among Jehovah’s dedicated people, even as the annual report for the service year of 1964 in this issue shows. In many lands this activity is carried on without severe opposition.

But it will not always be that way. We know from Bible prophecies that persecution will increase and that the endurance of every dedicated Christian will be tested to the limit. What would you do if you were separated from your congregation and had to continue alone? or, while preaching underground you heard that a prominent brother had turned traitor, and available evidence indicated that it was so? How long would you go out of your way to make opportunities to exalt Jehovah’s name under such conditions? How much and how long you would serve would depend upon how well you had fortified yourself for the activity ahead. As Peter counseled: “Brace up your minds for activity, keep your senses completely.” —1 Pet. 1:13.a

How can we fortify ourselves for the activity ahead? First of all, by looking to Jehovah God and leaning upon him at all times. Also, by looking to Jesus Christ and trying to follow him rather than any imperfect fellow human. Looking to human creatures and following them does not give us God’s holy spirit; besides, there is always the danger of their falling away and our falling away with them.—Ps. 91:1-16; 1 Pet. 2:21; 1 Cor. 1:10-13.

Further, to fortify ourselves for future activity we must take advantage of all the spiritual provisions and all the opportunities for service that are available to us now. We must cultivate a keen appreciation for these so that, when adversity makes these more difficult to come by, we will not become easily discouraged but will put forth ever greater and more courageous efforts to enjoy these. In particular will zealous fearless activity now fortify us for the activity ahead. By braving ridicule to offer Bible magazines to people on the street, by continuing from house to house in all kinds of weather, by persistently making return visits, we will strengthen ourselves so as to be able to endure under adversity.

And not to be overlooked is prayer. It is one of the most important aids we have, and we should make frequent use of it. Certainly in the trying times ahead we will be resorting frequently to prayer. To pray effectively then we must learn to pray effectively now. Prayer helps us to overcome uncertainty and fear. It helps to strengthen our view of God’s Word and to apply it in our lives.—Phil. 4:6, 7.

In all such ways we can fortify ourselves for the more strenuous activity ahead as well as enjoying many blessings now.

Questions From Readers

● Does what is said about dancing, on page 154 of The Watchtower of March 1, 1964, imply that dancing is not to be done within the Christian congregation or that it is completely wrong as far as unmarried single persons are concerned?

The Watchtower, on page 154 of its March 1, 1964, issue, did not say that dancing is not to be done within the Christian congregation or that dancing is completely wrong as far as single persons are concerned. However, when it comes to single persons who are minors, their parents are in position to determine whether they, as minors, should do any dancing at all. These young persons should discuss the matter with their parents and then they should follow the advice of their parents. In doing so, they will show how much they respect God’s arrangement of things, since obedience to one’s parents is a Christian requirement.—Eph. 6:1-3.

In dancing with persons of the opposite sex there is this to remember: It is not fitting for a Christian to dance close with one of the opposite sex to whom he is not married. Single persons in dancing with those of the opposite sex should certainly not dance so close as to develop some type of sensual pleasure from the dancing. That would be grossly improper. Also, it would be well to consider the possibility that one’s partner could be stimulated improperly even though you may feel that it is not close enough for you to develop sensual pleasure from the dancing.

Of course, it would be wrong for a person to dance with someone else’s marriage mate in such a way as to become sexually aroused or to cause that to happen to the one with whom you are dancing. But there is something else that must be considered here in addition, and that is the attitude or desire of the husband. If you danced with someone’s wife, her husband might not approve, so you must take into consideration his feelings and wishes in this matter of dancing and not feel you have the right to ask a married sister to dance without consulting her husband about it. As the head of his wife, the husband has the right to determine whether she should dance with someone else, just as he has the right to determine this for his minor children.

So while we cannot arbitrarily say that under any and all circumstances it would be wrong for persons who are not married to each other to dance together, quite likely, in the majority of cases, that would be true. Close dancing or any other sexually suggestive dancing by single persons, or such dancing with a person who is someone else’s marriage mate is not suitable so far as a Christian is concerned. One who is a Christian should remember that in all things he should act in a way that will honor God.—1 Cor. 10:31.

Of course, it is possible to do group dancing in which single boys and girls are not all paired off to dance with their arms around each other, which group dancing could also be shared by married persons. Such group dancing, properly conducted, can be both enjoyable and wholesome. It would eliminate the difficulty of trying to determine what constitutes dancing too close and what is not dancing too close, especially since not all individuals will see the matter the same way.

Some who are overly concerned about this might do well to ask themselves if they would be so concerned if the custom was for men to dance only with men, and for women to dance only with women. Then there would be no question of sex involved and perhaps the desire for dancing might not be so pronounced, since there would not be any opportunity at all to put one’s arms around a member of the opposite sex in the name of dancing.

Announcements

FIELD MINISTRY

Spiritually fortified as a result of Bible study, Jehovah’s witnesses will be active during January in helping others to acquire spiritual strength. This they will do by discussing with them Bible truths and by offering them a year’s subscription for this magazine, The Watchtower, along with three Scriptural booklets, on a contribution of $1.

BEGIN EACH DAY REFRESHED

A daily period of thinking on God’s Word not only refreshes, but it builds strong faith for the future. You can make the most of ten or fifteen minutes each day by considering the Daily Text and Comments published in the 1965 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses. At the same time you will be making a valuable review of The Watchtower, because comments on the texts consist of quotations from issues of The Watchtower for 1964. Also, you will enjoy the report of worldwide preaching done by, Jehovah’s witnesses this past year. Send for the 1965 Yearbook. It is only 50c. Send also for the encouraging calendar for 1965. It is 25c.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES FOR THE WEEKS

January 31: Does Your Worship to God Come First? ¶1-31. Page 4.

February 7: Does Your Worship to God Come First? ¶32-43, and Your Final Decision Being Forced Today. Page 11.

February 14: Worship the God of Resurrection. Page 18.