take it upon themselves to set up God’s kingdom and bring in a new order is abortive and ends in miscarriage, to the disappointment of all those who put their hope in it. Let all who truly love righteousness hear what God says in his Word, the Bible, and learn of his kingdom and the stability and permanence of his new order based, not on an uncertain, uncomfortable coexistence, but on real righteousness. Let them forsake all image worship and dedicate themselves to Jehovah God through Jesus Christ and have their names written in Jehovah’s scroll of life.

Avoid the Snare of “Saving Face”

If you were told to redeem your honor by committing harakiri, how would you respond? Of course, you would not go along with the idea. And yet, it is not so long since this ‘face-saving’ practice was an everyday occurrence in the Orient. This kind of suicide may be out of fashion nowadays, but “saving face” continues to be practiced extensively in many ways, both in the Orient and in Western countries. It is ungodly and unscriptural, and, if practiced in the Christian congregation, it brings disturbance, disunity and, in the case of the individual, even spiritual suicide.

According to Webster’s New International Dictionary, “to save one’s face” means “to conceal one’s defeat, discomfiture, or loss of prestige, by some pretense.” It therefore amounts to a lie. Its basis is pride, a fear of having one’s ego hurt. It refuses to acknowledge a fault or to face up to an issue. It denies the need for correction or discipline. Self is right, no matter what the circumstances. ‘Face saving’ is rooted in emotion, not principle, and it often causes its victim to withdraw into himself or to shun association with the very friends who could really help in the hour of need. How may we avoid this snare of “saving face”?

“DO NOT CONTINUE RUNNING WITH THEM”

To Christians who had turned from the thoughts and way of life of their pagan neighbors, the apostle Peter wrote: “Because you do not continue running with them in this course to the same low sink of debauchery, they are puzzled and go on speaking abusively of you.” (1 Pet. 4:4) ‘Running with the crowd’ is the custom today, also, and many will go to any dishonest ends in order to maintain an outward appearance of respectability in the community. They must “save face” and “keep face” with their neighbors at all costs.

However, what of the Christian who has been delivered “from the present wicked system of things”? He should have put away “the old personality,” which conforms to his former course of conduct. And now he is to live, think and act according to “the new personality which was created according to God’s will in true righteousness and loyalty.” (Gal. 1:4; Eph. 4:22-24) Note those words, “true righteousness and loyalty.” Jehovah’s righteousness​—not self-righteousness—​and loyally doing God’s will are what count with him now.​—Rom. 12:1, 2.

What does he do, then, when it is the local practice to “save face” and go along with the crowd? For example, does he have to maintain “respectability” by running into debt? Does he have to conform to the community in its showy celebration of weddings, special feast days, children’s days and religious holidays? Does he have to “save face” with relatives by participating in pagan wedding ceremonies, or even consenting to taking an unbelieving mate? Certainly not! And likewise, “true righteousness and loyalty” will preclude his absenting himself from the Christian congregation, or even quitting altogether, when faced with problems that could actually be solved through the understanding help of his Christian brothers.

ACKNOWLEDGING AND COMBATING “SIN”

Prideful ‘face-saving’ often arises from a failure to recognize and cope with the problem of “sin.” Many today refuse to acknowledge “sin” as such. They square themselves off in their own minds. They cloud over issues, or try to throw blame on others. As they keep justifying themselves, their minds become seared as by a branding iron, so that they are no longer able to discern between right and wrong.​—1 Tim. 4:2.

All of us are prone to sin. “We all stumble many times. If anyone does not stumble in word, this one is a perfect man, able to bridle also his whole body.” (Jas. 3:2) What, then, if we commit some sin? Should we seek the course of self-justification, glossing it over or trying to cover up? Rather than try to “save face,” we do better to follow James’ further advice: “Therefore openly confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may get healed.” (Jas. 5:16) And having been healed, what need is there for further torments of conscience? That sin is in the past. Stretch forward, now, to the things ahead.​—Phil. 3:13.

Let us face up to the fact that, as long as we live in this imperfect flesh, we will commit sin. “If we make the statement: ‘We have no sin,’ we are misleading ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous so as to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:8–2:2) If we are to be honest with our God, with our brothers and with ourselves, we will acknowledge our sins and shortcomings. Never should we “save face” by pretending that we do not sin.

UNEXPECTED SITUATIONS

A Christian may be suddenly caught in some circumstances that test his integrity. For example, he may be at a gathering where someone calls for a “toast”​—a practice that he knows to be of pagan origin. Or at a funeral all in attendance may fall in line to offer incense or bow toward the picture of the dead person​—pagan practices tied in with the false belief that the soul is immortal. Or there may be the situation in a crowd where all rise to the playing of the national anthem​—whereas the Christian has declared undivided allegiance to God’s kingdom. It is best to avoid situations that could lead to compromise. However, if “caught on the spot,” as it were, the mature Christian will show himself to be an integrity keeper in the same way that Jesus Christ, the three Hebrew youths, Daniel and others kept integrity under trial.​—Matt. 4:1-11; Dan. 3:14-18; 6:6-11.