of godly devotion that he set you can walk with him as a Christian or follower. “Christ suffered for you, leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely.” (1 Pet. 2:21) You cannot follow his steps closely if you have companionship with people who have corrupt minds or who lack love and respect for God’s Word. Instead of following Christ’s steps you will find yourself following their steps.

²⁴ Aside from his example and the written record about him, there is another means by which you can have association with him. That is by means of the Christian congregation. He said: “Where there are two or three met together in my name, there I am in their midst.” (Matt. 18:20) Close association with the congregation brings you into close association with Christ.

25-27. (a) How was the Christian congregation of the first century united, and why was association with it wholesome? (b) Where are right associations found today, and why can they not be found in Christendom?

²⁵ The beginning of the Christian congregation was at Pentecost when God’s spirit was poured out upon Jesus’ 120 disciples. They were united by their common interest in God and his Son and were bound together by a common love for righteousness and a desire to walk with God by obeying his commandments. By means of holy spirit that Jesus poured out upon them after his ascension, Jesus was in their midst. He was with them, and they were at unity with him. They formed a Christian community that possessed high moral standards, respect for God’s commandments and a firm determination to keep its worship undefiled.

²⁶ Association with this unique community was wholesome. It was good. It was the way to life. Three thousand people realized this on Pentecost and joined themselves with that newly formed organization. “They continued devoting themselves to the teaching of the apostles and to association together, to taking of meals and to prayers.” (Acts 2:42) They pooled their money so all could extend their stay in Jerusalem after Pentecost so as to learn as much as possible from Jesus’ disciples. When they finally returned to their home towns, they followed Jesus’ example by preaching to others, and thus added to the growth of the Christian congregation.

²⁷ The same Christian congregation today provides right association for people who love righteousness. It is not found in the religions of Christendom, for they have followed the footsteps of Caesar and not the footsteps of Christ. Especially from the time of Constantine, religious Christendom has been the bosom companion of the rulers of this wicked world. Like clay she has been molded to be like the companions she has kept. Therefore it should not be surprising to read about her frightful inquisitions and the blood she has shed to further her selfish ambitions. Despite her outward appearance of piety, religious Christendom is exposed by her fruits and bad associations as being an enemy of God. “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself keeps transforming himself into an angel of light. It is therefore nothing great if his ministers also keep transforming themselves into ministers of righteousness.” (2 Cor. 11:13-15) Her masquerade as the Christian church or congregation makes her a deceitful worker that leads people away from God rather than into friendship with him.

28. Where can a community be found today that loves righteousness, and what are the prospects for those residing in it?

²⁸ The Christian congregation is found today closely connected with the New World society of Jehovah’s modern-day witnesses and not with Christendom. That society is inseparably united with it. Here is where you will find a community that loves righteousness and that respects God’s commandments as the first-century Christians did. Here is a community that walks closely in Jesus’ footsteps by keeping separate from the world as he did, by preaching publicly as he did, and by seeking first the kingdom of God as he did. Here is a community that walks with God while living in a corrupt world. This growing, international society consists of the righteous, many of whom will be preserved through the end of the present system of things to inherit the earth. “The righteous themselves will possess the earth, and they will reside forever upon it.” (Ps. 37:29) With them you will find the right associations that lead to eternal life.

Watch Your Associations in the Time of the End

“Bad associations spoil useful habits.”—1 Cor. 15:33.

1. What do Christians find in this modern world that is hard to deal with?

OUR modern world has reached the climactic period in human history that was foretold long ago to be the end of this worldly system of things. This is the time the apostle Paul spoke about when he said: “Know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here.” (2 Tim. 3:1) What Christians have found to be especially hard to deal with has been the increasingly bad influence that permeates modern society. That which is degraded, degenerate, criminal violent are the things constantly highlighted in popular literature, plays, movies, TV and radio. The general thinking of the people as revealed by their daily conversation and jokes is only bad all the time. The influence of such thinking does not help a Christian walk in the way that has God’s approval.

2. How do people of the world act, and why do Christians appear peculiar to them?

² Ignoring the good principles of the scriptures that teach love for neighbor, the people of this world act like wolves as they fight among themselves to get all they can at the expense of others. Their selfish