hand, they consist of right conduct, keeping strict watch that how you walk is as a wise person, so that instead of bringing forth the works of the flesh you will be bringing forth the fruitage of the spirit, “love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control.” And on the other hand, these works consist of activity in fulfillment of the Christian’s preaching commission by your preaching the good news of God’s kingdom, buying out the opportune time to do so.—Gal. 5:22, 23; Eph. 5:15, 16.

During the month of July the Christian witnesses of Jehovah will have many opportunities to demonstrate their faith by faithfulness in their preaching commission, to the preserving alive of their souls. Among these will be offering Bible-study aids in preaching from house to house, even doing some of this witnessing in territories where there are no Witnesses organized into congregations. Also, for many in the United States and in Europe July will afford opportunity to attend the round-the-world convention of Jehovah’s witnesses before it moves on to the Orient. Will you be among those present?

Water-witching and ESP

AFTER reading the article “Protection from Wicked Spirit Forces,” in The Watchtower of November 15, 1962, the president of The American Society of Dowsers, Inc., wrote a letter taking exception to the conclusion reached in the article; namely, that because of the link to extrasensory perception or spiritism Christians do well to abstain from water-witching or divining for water or minerals. Nonetheless, the president of The American Society of Dowsers, Inc., does give that society’s view as to how dowsing works. He writes: “The point of the article is, perhaps, well taken. We agree with the theory that dowsing is a form of ESP and that engaging in any form of ESP can lead to ‘possession’ or the involvement with ‘wicked spirit forces’ unless proper precautions are taken. . . . We prefer the positive approach of warning people interested in dowsing of the dangers.”

Even though the American dowsing society sincerely believes that dowsers can take precautions to avoid “possession” and that much good can be accomplished through forms of ESP, the thing that Christians must keep in mind is that any form of divination or spiritism is condemned by God because of its very nature. It is not holy angels that are behind this ESP but wicked angels or evil spirit creatures whose objective is to mislead mankind. Abstaining from ESP in all its forms is not only proper Scriptural precaution but it is also obedience to God.—Rev. 21:8.

Questions From Readers

● Would it be correct to say that the “royal priesthood” refers only to the anointed Christians but that the term “general priesthood” includes both the remnant of anointed Christians and the “great crowd” of praisers to Jehovah?—V. K., United States.

The teaching concerning a “general priesthood” is a doctrine in Christendom and as such it is also called “the priesthood of all believers.” It is defined by Webster’s Third New International Dictionary as “a doctrine of the Protestant Christian Church: every individual has direct access to God without ecclesiastical mediation and each individual shares the responsibility of ministering to the other members of the community of believers.” The term basically carries the thought that every Christian should tell others about God’s Word and purposes and not leave the responsibility up to a “clergy” class. “This doctrine,” says The Interpreter’s Bible, “is a declaration not so much of right as of responsibility.” (Vol. 11, p. 619) Viewed from this standpoint—every Christian’s taking on the responsibility of preaching—it can be said that this principle, implied by the term “general priesthood,” has application to all Christians.

However, if one were to say that both the anointed remnant and the “great crowd” are in the “general priesthood,” this would not be Biblically correct. Why? Christendom’s belief is that “all Christians are priests before God.” (Theology Today, October, 1958, p. 303) Actually what the Scriptures teach is that every spirit-begotten Christian is a priest. Hence, viewed Scripturally, the terms priest and priesthood apply solely to the 144,000 members of the “holy priesthood” or “royal priesthood.”—1 Pet. 2:5, 9; Rev. 14:1-4.

To those spirit-anointed or spirit-begotten Christians of the “holy priesthood” Peter’s words about offering up “spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” particularly apply. However, since the year 1931, a “great crowd” of sheeplike worshipers of Jehovah God out of all nations and languages have associated themselves with the remnant of the “holy priesthood.” (Rev. 7:9-15) Though not of the “holy priesthood,” this “great crowd” who have earthly hopes are precious in God’s eyes and He fills his house with glory by reason of the fact that so many of these sheeplike worshipers become associated with the priestly class. (Hag. 2:7) Because of all this close contact with the priestly remnant, this “great crowd” have the same obligation that the remnant have; that is, to declare abroad the excellencies of Jehovah God. This the “great crowd” are doing. In their assisting the remnant of the “royal priesthood,” the “great crowd” are compared, not to priests or Levites, but to the Nethinim and Gibeonites who were loyal adherents to the remnant of the faithful Jews, the ancient witnesses of Jehovah. The antitypical Nethinim and Gibeonites have associated with the priestly remnant in worshiping Jehovah alone as God, willingly becoming temple assistants in support of the remnant of “living stones” of the spiritual temple.

Thus it is in the New World society of Jehovah’s witnesses, not in Christendom, that we really find the “general priesthood”—not only the successful application of what is implied by that term but also the existence of a remnant of the “royal priesthood,” whose priesthood is truly general because each and every one of them offers up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. (1 Pet. 2:5) Because the Scriptures themselves limit the words priest and priesthood to anointed Christians, it is Biblically accurate to say that the general priesthood embraces only the spirit-begotten Christians.

Announcements

FIELD MINISTRY

In their ministry during July Jehovah’s witnesses will continue to manifest faith, to the preserving alive of their souls and to the blessing of men of goodwill. To that end, they will joyfully embrace the opportunity of presenting everywhere the fine Bible-study aids “Let Your Name Be Sanctified” and “Your Will Be Done on Earth,” with two booklets, on a contribution of $1.

WHAT IS GOD’S WILL FOR YOU?

Never has God’s will for mankind been so clearly marked as in this generation. That is because God’s purpose in connection with mankind is rapidly reaching its climax. Two books that are unequaled in accurately presenting the Bible’s vital message on these significant points are “Let Your Name Be Sanctified” and “Your Will Be Done on Earth.” Send now and receive free the two timely booklets World Conquest Soon—by God’s Kingdom and “Look! I Am Making All Things New.” Send only $1.

“WATCHTOWER” STUDIES FOR THE WEEKS

August 4: Maturity, a Christian Requirement, and Seeking Maturity in the New World Society, ¶1-8. Page 396.

August 11: Seeking Maturity in the New World Society, ¶9-35. Page 402.