Christian Worship and Preservation of Virtue

“Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are of serious concern, whatever things are righteous, whatever things are chaste, whatever things are lovable, whatever things are well spoken of, whatever virtue there is and whatever praiseworthy thing there is, continue considering these things.”—Phil. 4:8, NW.

1. In what do lovers of righteousness now find assurance?

ON EVERY side men are confronted with evidences of Jehovah God that they cannot escape. Even though he is denied, questioned and belittled, his supremacy and righteousness stand unshaken, and constitute complete assurance for those who worship him. (Ps. 14:1; 53:1-4) Is this true even today, when the times are so critical and when men in general do not love God? Yes, this is especially true now, because the extremes of unrighteousness on every hand not only constitute a great sign of deliverance of lovers of Jehovah’s righteousness, but, additionally, make the righteousness of Jehovah stand out by wonderful contrast.—Luke 21:28-33; Psalm 36.

2. Who appreciate virtue, and what must these do?

² Men find it hard to deal with these critical times, but not because they keep their thoughts on things that are virtuous. Rather, it is because they do not obey the injunction, “Whatever virtue there is and whatever praiseworthy thing there is, continue considering these things.” (Phil. 4:8, NW) The fact is that today virtue is truly appreciated by but a minority. How about you? Do you wish to turn away from those who are without virtue? Significant is the prophetic passage, so well known: “But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, without gratitude, with no loving-kindness, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with self-esteem, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power; and from these turn away.” (2 Tim. 3:1-5, NW) The foregoing describes men lacking virtue, from whom Christians must turn. It shows contrast and controversy between that which is virtuous and that which is not.

3. What proves that the qualities of virtue do exist?

³ If there were no such things as the elements that constitute virtue, this scripture would have no force. Virtue does exist, however. The very fact that there are vital issues and controversies between righteousness and unrighteousness is proof that such good qualities of virtue do exist. This issue or controversy involving virtue is also shown at Titus 1:16 (NW), which states: “They publicly declare they know God, but they disown him by their works, because they are detestable and disobedient and not approved for good work of any kind.” Consistently, God’s Word reveals wrongdoing in contrast with Jehovah God and his righteousness, so in spite of claims to godliness, the words of the old world prove that it is not in harmony with Jehovah God.

4. How do virtue and issues involving it prove the existence of the righteous God, Jehovah?

⁴ Materialistic Bible-haters cannot deny that the principles of virtue are in existence. By their claim of materialism and efforts to rule out Jehovah’s Creatorship and Godship they attempt to rule out virtue as well. In order to deny God they must deny high moral values; or, in order to deny high moral values they must deny the existence of Jehovah. Such denial is an impossibility. Virtue and high moral values do not originate with inanimate things nor do they originate with the lower animate creation, which are not in the image and likeness of God. Man it is who was created in Jehovah’s image and likeness. (Gen. 1:26, 27) Were man not so created but were he like the lower animate or inanimate creation, he would not find himself in a controversy involving virtue. The very fact that he does so find himself proves the existence of a virtuous God; otherwise virtues and the controversy involving them would never be.

5. Show a distinction between man and lower creation, and point out the result this makes possible for you.

⁵ If man is the same as fish, flying creatures, domestic animals, creeping animals, why does he have a vocabulary expressing thoughts of virtue, morality, integrity, faith, hope, loyalty, honesty and other qualities of worship? Lower animals do not profess or practice such qualities. These qualities are exclusive upon earth with men, and their existence is proof that Jehovah God exists and is righteous and that materialistic-minded men are wrong. From those who are going contrary to God, defaming Jehovah’s name, denying virtue, from such individuals and organizations turn away, if you would have God’s approval and if you would have life!

6. What kind of God is Jehovah, and what has he preserved?

⁶ Jehovah is a God of love, justice, wisdom and power. He is the God of integrity, is dependable, loyal, honest, moral. In fact, the words we use to express men’s noble thoughts and their understanding and appreciation of these good and high qualities are inadequate to describe fully the righteousness of Jehovah. Not only do these high qualities exist, but the fact that they are possible of attainment by men is a wonderful assurance to those who love righteousness. The Almighty has always been seeing to it that his worship is preserved in the earth. The preservation of Jehovah’s worship has meant the preservation of human life upon the earth. It has also meant the preservation upon earth of virtue, so that in our day it is possible for us to ‘consider these things.’

7. Describe the theocratic organization and one of its characteristics.

⁷ As God and King of those who serve and worship him, Jehovah is the great Theocrat, the God-Ruler, and it was under this righteous Theocrat that man was created to live. The great arrangement of Jehovah God at the head as the Theocrat and of righteous creatures serving under and worshiping him constitutes a theocratic organization. One of the characteristics of this theocratic organization has ever been the cutting off of those creatures and organizations that refuse to be virtuous, that refuse to uphold the principles of righteousness marking the theocratic organization.

8. Give instances of cutting off and of preservation.

⁸ An instance of the operation of this principle is found in the casting of man out of Eden. (Gen. 3:23, 24) Some time thereafter another great cutting off was accomplished by cleansing the earth with water, in which an ungodly world was destroyed. Through this cleansing a great preservation was accomplished, preservation of human and animal life upon the earth and of Jehovah’s worship, that it was not extinguished, and the preservation of virtue. There can be no doubt about the qualities of integrity and worship being involved at the time of the Flood.—Gen. 6:5-22

9. Individually, what must men do involving virtue, and why?

⁹ Man was helpless, in a position of complete dependency upon Jehovah for the blessings of his temporary life and certainly for any possible hope of everlasting life. Jehovah had indicated his purpose to effect deliverance in vindication of his name, but as far as individual men were concerned, each must take action definitely in evidence of his possession of qualities of virtue. If they did not do this they would not be exerting themselves on Jehovah’s side of the issue or standing for his supremacy and in justification of his righteousness. A course of unrighteousness is a denial of righteousness and therefore a denial of the righteous God. Such a course persisted in establishes the individual’s disinterest in righteousness, therefore his lack of interest in the promised New World in which righteousness is to dwell. (2 Pet. 3:11-13, NW) The great cutting off and cleansing by the Flood having passed into history, survivors and their descendants had before them the wonderful opportunity of upholding those things that Jehovah God approved. This course of action constituted worship of Jehovah, the exercise of virtue involving the basic attribute of love and including keeping of integrity, faith in Jehovah’s word, sure hope in his promises, loyalty to him and his cause, honesty before him and before man, morality in things personal and public.

THE TYPICAL PRESERVATION

10. To Israel were given what privileges?

¹⁰ Progressing with his purpose and using persons who willingly identified themselves with him and his worship, Jehovah organized the typical theocratic nation of Israel. In actually, but also pictorially, delivering them from bondage to the world power of devil-worshiping Egypt, he accomplished the cutting off or the disfellowshiping of an entire pagan world, separating his people, Israel, therefrom. The typical theocratic nation Israel must stand clean for the worship of the only true God, thus preserving within its national boundary the high qualities of clean worship, the virtues of righteousness.

11. Explain the purpose and development of judgment within typical Israel.

¹¹ The law of God was given to Israel through Moses as Mediator and was based upon principles of righteousness, which do not change. Jehovah was Israel’s God, Lawgiver, King and Judge. (Isa. 33:22) In order that poor judgment or selfish action on the part of individuals in Israel should not result in violation of righteous principles, personal as well as national problems were brought to Moses for decision. His was a mind directed by God’s spirit and operating in harmony with the principles of his law. This kindly assistance proved to be a task too great for one man, and so Moses proceeded, with Jehovah’s approval, to make a division of religious judicial authority, appointing other men to responsibility in the theocratic organization to assist in the application of the law of God and conformity therewith in matters large and small. The positions occupied by Moses and the men whom he appointed were not merely empty and honorary, but were important and practical and for the specific purpose of righteous judgment. Concerning these theocratic appointments we read: “And Moses proceeded to choose capable men out of all Israel and to give them positions as heads over the people, as chiefs of thousands, chiefs of hundreds, chiefs of fifties and chiefs of tens. And they judged the people on every proper occasion. A hard case they would bring to Moses, but every small case they themselves would handle as judges.”—Ex. 18:25, 26, NW.

12. In respect to God’s law, what responsibility was borne by those of Israel?

¹² The rule of procedure controlling the Israelite organization was the law of Jehovah. The responsible ones in the organization taught the law to the people and the people had the responsibility of informing themselves concerning the law of God. They knew what the principles of worship were and they knew the detailed application of those principles, in regard to the matters with which the law dealt, matters national, family and personal. Provisions were made to atone for sins and weaknesses of the fallen Israelite flesh. The various features of the law were designed to keep the nation in harmony with God, worshiping him, always acknowledging him, and, furthermore, to keep alive and vital the quality of love of God and neighbor and the elements of virtue in all matters. Jehovah was not going to allow his worship and its good qualities to be eliminated from the earth, but, rather, to be preserved in typical Israel.

13, 14. What drastic measures were provided, and for what purpose?

¹³ Sometimes it was necessary for drastic measures to be taken for the preservation of these good qualities. There was no watering down of theocratic standards to please those who had a greater love for unrighteousness than they had for righteousness. Offenders, insisting on going beyond the atonement provisions, were killed, and the congregation of the Israelites had a direct responsibility in their death. Religion or worship was not separated from governmental and economic matters of the nation, because acknowledgment of Jehovah must be present in all features of their life. So the law provided, “In case a prophet or a dreamer of a dream should arise in your midst . . . saying, ‘Let us walk after other gods, whom you have not known, and let us serve them,’ you must not listen to the words of that prophet or to the dreamer of that dream, because Jehovah your God is testing you to know whether you are loving Jehovah your God with all your heart and all your soul. . . . And that prophet or that dreamer of the dream should be put to death, . . . and you must clear out what is evil from your midst.”—Deut. 13:1-5, NW.

¹⁴ The death penalty was not confined to the false prophet or dreamer because “in case your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or your daughter or your cherished wife or your companion who is like your own soul, should try to allure you in secrecy, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ . . . you must not accede to his wish or listen to him, nor should your eye feel sorry for him, nor must you feel compassion, nor cover him protectively, but you should kill him without fail. Your hand first of all should come upon him to put him to death, and the hand of all the people afterward. And you must stone him with stones and he must die, because he has sought to turn you away from Jehovah your God, who has brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slaves. Then all Israel will hear and become afraid and they will not do anything like this evil thing again in your midst.” (Deut. 13:6-11, NW) What if an entire community went bad and turned against the worship of the righteous God Jehovah? Then that entire community was to be annihilated.—Deut. 13:12-18.

15. Define virtue and show how religion is involved in its practice.

¹⁵ The foregoing was to ensure the preservation of Jehovah’s worship without pollution and the keeping of his righteous commandments, thereby also preserving the qualities of virtue in general. Virtue has reference to moral practice or action conformative to the standard of right, excellence and integrity of course, uprightness of conduct, rectitude, morality. It is not a mere abstaining from harm but it is an active quality or power, whether of physical or moral nature, of strength, courage and valor. It has reference to excellence of any kind, merit, worth, value, chastity, purity. Since the righteous God, Jehovah, is the author of all these virtuous elements, his worship is involved in them all, and a departure from his worship is a departure from all virtue. Therefore the extermination of devil worshipers from Israel by the death of those false religious practitioners served to preserve true worship and virtue.

16. The law relative to presumptuousness places what emphasis on pure worship?

¹⁶ The seventeenth chapter of Deuteronomy outlines procedures wherein Israelites must have courage to bear truthful witness against any detestable to Jehovah and also courage to put forth their hands first of all to kill the offenders, in which action they were to be followed by all the people, in order to “clear out what is bad from your midst.” (Deut. 17:7, NW) Those who disagreed with the righteous judgments of the priests were themselves to be killed. “In case a matter for judicial decision should be too extraordinary for you, . . . then you must rise and go up to the place that Jehovah your God will choose, and you must go to the priests, the Levites, and to the judge who will be acting in those days and you must make inquiry and they must hand down to you the word of the judicial decision. Then you must do in accordance with the word that they will hand down to you. . . . In accordance with the law that they will point out to you, and according to the judicial decision that they will say to you, you should do. You must not turn aside from the word that they will hand down to you, to the right or to the left. And the man who will behave with presumptuousness in not listening to the priest who is standing to minister there to Jehovah your God or to the judge, that man must die, and you must clear out what is bad from Israel. And all the people will hear and become afraid and they will not act presumptuously any more.”—Deut. 17:8-13, NW.

17. Through these strict features of the law to typical Israel, what good result was furthered?

¹⁷ This was not bloodthirstiness. It was action on Jehovah God’s part to preserve the line of the Seed of promise, which eventually came in the person of Christ Jesus. Through this provision of ransom and priestly office filled by this faithful servant of Jehovah there is set before men the possibility of everlasting life in the New World of righteousness. We thank God that he took positive action to preserve intact and uncontaminated the line of descent of the Seed of promise and preserved likewise upon the earth his worship in holy devotion to righteousness.

18. Were literal or symbolic transgressions forbidden, or both?

¹⁸ Among the personal sins or transgressions which were condemned by God in his law to Israel, and which had to be avoided by those who would worship Jehovah in purity and in truth, were robbery, adultery and drunkenness, to name just three. These literal violations of virtue not only were wrong in themselves but were adopted Scripturally as symbols of spiritual sins, that is, sins not in respect to material things affecting the individual’s relationship to Jehovah God, but in respect to unseen things affecting the individual’s relationship to Jehovah. The literal practices themselves, however, even after they came to stand for spiritual transgressions, were not permitted in Israel. This is emphasized in respect to the antitypical theocratic Christian organization that came on the scene at the termination of the Mosaic law covenant under which Israel was organized.

THE CHRISTIAN ANTITYPE

19. What great change did Jehovah provide through Christ Jesus?

¹⁹ Moving forward with his purposes looking to the complete vindication of his name, Jehovah came to the time when he would provide both the termination and the prophetic fulfillment of the law to Israel in his beloved Son Christ Jesus. Jesus began the development of some things new, different from the typical theocratic nation of Israel, namely, the real theocratic Christian organization. While the law covenant with Israel did terminate with Christ Jesus and has not been in effect since his impalement and ascension to heaven, nevertheless, the righteous principles of the law continue in full force, and, in fact, with even greater force and effect upon those of the Christian organization. With the ransom sacrifice of Jesus Christ as a basis, Jehovah developed the Christian congregation under the new covenant.

20. As to Christian virtue, what may be said with definiteness?

²⁰ “God . . . has indeed adequately qualified us to be ministers of a new covenant, not of a written code, but of spirit; for the written code condemns to death, but the spirit makes alive.” (2 Cor. 3:2-6, NW) It is noted that Paul is not saying that there is a letter of the law and a spirit of the law and that there is a contrast between the two and therefore we may violate the letter of God’s law but keep its spirit. That is not the situation. Rather, what Paul is pointing out here is that there is a difference between the written code of the law given to the Israelites through Moses and the spirit of God. The spirit of God upon Christians develops in them fruits of righteousness and enables them to remain separate from the ungodly condemned world. The written code condemned the Israelites to death, but the spirit of God, through the operation of the new covenant based in the ransom of Christ Jesus, leads men to everlasting life. There is the contrast. Can we for a moment presume that, while the individuals of the nation of Israel under the law covenant were prohibited from practicing the depraving things that mankind in general then carried on, Christians are any the less obligated to refrain from these practices? No, of course not. On the contrary, the positive Christian commands to righteousness are more penetrating than the negative commands of the Mosaic law; and the spirit of God upon those who serve him in Christian worship now in the activity of the New World society enables them to keep integrity with the sure hope of gaining perfection to righteousness in the glorious future.

Turn to the New World Society

1. What kind of organization is the Christian congregation?

In the theocratic Christian congregation we have an organization permanently devoted to carrying out Jehovah’s purposes, and the one organization that preserves in the earth the virtues of God. Jesus referred to the Christians as a preservative of human life, of Jehovah’s worship and of virtue, when he stated, “You are the salt of the earth.” (Matt. 5:13, NW) This “salt,” now seen in the New World society, has responsibilities that it cannot avoid, to the end that Jehovah’s righteousness will be upheld, which privilege and obligation fall upon all who engage in Christian worship.

2. In the early Christian congregation what needs were to be filled?

² Christ Jesus launched the Christian congregation. Following his impalement, resurrection and exaltation to heaven he sent to his associates the spirit and power of his heavenly Father that they might push on with the expansion of true worship as the early Christian congregation. The Christian good news was to be preached, men had to grow spiritually strong to stand against the corruption of the ruling Roman Empire, congregations needed to be organized and the individuals in the congregations taught and trained in the Christian ministry. Christians, novices and experienced alike, must be kept within the bounds of Christian propriety and operating on theocratic principles; otherwise, corruption would interfere with the triumph of the Christian congregation in its God-appointed tasks.

3. Show the provision made to meet the needs and requirements of the Christian congregation.

³ There was, therefore, in the Christian congregation, a delegation of duties, which delegation of duties or assignment to special privileges and responsibilities came to dedicated men who gave evidence of spiritual maturity and of faithfulness to their duties and assignments. Such appointments were made by the governing body of the early Christian congregation as centered in Jerusalem, comprising the apostles and other mature Christian men, and their representatives in their behalf. Such appointees shared the ministry common to all Christians. They had organizational duties to care for in the congregations in which they were located and with which they served. Care and oversight of the respective congregations required the overseer Christians to see that the congregation itself and the individuals therein walked in the paths of virtue.

4. Who could be properly appointed to special ministry?

⁴ In the third chapter of First Timothy are set out qualifications that must be met by one who would be appointed as an overseer in the Christian congregation. He should not be a reprehensible person, a bigamist, an immoderate man without self-control, unstable of mind and disorderly, a hater of his fellow man, a drunkard, quarrelsome, or a money lover, not a person fostering juvenile delinquency or a novice, or a crook in business matters. Concerning overseers the statement is: “Also let these be tested as to fitness first, then let them serve as ministers, as they are free from accusation.” (1 Tim. 3:10, NW) “And the things you heard from me with the support of many witnesses, these things commit to faithful men who in turn will be adequately qualified to teach others.”—2 Tim. 2:2, NW.

5, 6. How general was this procedure of appointment, and to what extent were the appointees like the clergy of Christendom?

⁵ This was the uniform arrangement throughout the Christian congregations and the method for appointing responsible men to care for each of the congregational flocks, even as far away as in Antioch, as we read: “Now in Antioch there were prophets and teachers in the local congregation.” (Acts 13:1, NW) Addressing the Philippians Paul says: “Holy ones in union with Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, along with overseers and ministerial servants.” (Phil. 1:1, NW) To these ministerial servants and overseers and assistants in the theocratic Christian organization the members of the clergy class of Christendom bear no resemblance. The theocratic servants neither claim nor attempt to lead their flocks in politics, social reform, psychiatry, gambling or pagan religious doctrines and practices. Instead, such servants are recognized because they have studied and taught the Word of God and the laws of Christ; they have preached Jehovah’s kingdom, Christ’s ransom, the resurrection, the New World and, in it all, they have insisted that the individuals composing the Christian congregation were to be virtuous or be expelled.

⁶ On these lines, then, the early church was organized and operated, and neither it nor the word of God that it preached is responsible for the conditions that came following the death of the apostles. Then the Christian organization went into captivity to the pagan world and a hybrid emerged, the fusion religion of paganism and false Christianity. Christianity and “Christendom” are not the same, they are on opposite sides of the issue involving clean worship and virtue.

7. (a) Discuss the circumstances and content of Paul’s prophecy of Acts, chapter 20. (b) Was it fulfilled to the extinction of truth and virtue?

⁷ Having the spirit of his God, aware of the opposition of Satan and the conditions surrounding the Christian organization, with eyes to the future and speaking under inspiration, the apostle Paul from Miletus sent to Ephesus for the mature men of the congregation, and said to them: “And now, look! I know that all of you among whom I went preaching the kingdom will see my face no more. Hence I call you to witness this very day that I am clean from the blood of all men, for I have not held back from telling you all the counsel of God. Pay attention to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the holy spirit has appointed you overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God, which he purchased with the blood of his own [Son]. I know that after my going away oppressive wolves will enter in among you and will not treat the flock with tenderness, and from among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves. . . . You must assist those who are weak and must bear in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, when he himself said, ‘There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.’” (Acts 20:18-35, NW) True to Paul’s forecast the flock of God was beset by wolves from within and without and history records how comparatively feebly glowed the light of truth throughout the ages that followed. Yet, in spite of this captivity of the Christian congregation, the principles of Christianity did remain alive and God’s Word, by his power, was preserved throughout the centuries and comes to us pure and dependable today.

TO THIS YOU MAY TURN

8. Today what provision is actually with us?

⁸ Today there is something else with us, however, in addition to this Word of God, which is likewise made possible by Jehovah’s spirit. That is the New World society, extending throughout the earth, composed of men and women of all nations, each of whom has come to Jehovah God in dedication, giving evidence of having Jehovah’s approval and spirit as each shares in the work of expansion of pure worship. How is it possible that, in a world that has reached a new low in depravity, there can be a society devoted to the new world in which righteousness is to dwell? (2 Pet. 3:13, NW) Is there actually a society or group of Christians upon the earth that insists upon virtue’s being practiced by its members and associates to which you may turn? Yes!

9, 10. What development led up to re-establishment of theocratic rule?

⁹ As the apostle Paul pointed out in his closing speech to the mature men of the Ephesus congregation, he preached the message of the Kingdom. Those who had faith in the promises of Jehovah had faith in and looked for the establishment of the kingdom of heaven in Jehovah’s due time. As the time approached for the birth of this righteous government Jehovah had a work done in the earth, moving Christians through the understanding of his word of truth to make progress in Christian doctrine, organization and practice. With a beginning, small though not to be despised, in the latter years of the nineteenth century the preparatory work of announcing the kingdom of God over earth began. Christians formed themselves into a nonsectarian society, and into congregations for systematic Bible study and ministry. Having seen the evils of clergy rule, they first organized themselves along democratic lines, with each congregation through democratic vote conducting its own affairs. Later some progress toward theocratic rule was made. Came the year 1931, at which time the official Society that they had formed for the systematic carrying on of their work took a forward step, looking toward the restoration of theocratic rule among Christians upon earth.

¹⁰ The following year, 1932, the congregations of Jehovah’s witnesses throughout the world brought themselves under theocratic procedure, with the manifest blessing of Jehovah, until today we find the earth-wide New World society operating as did the early Christian congregation, noncommercially, nonpolitically, voluntarily on the part of each individual in it. There now is, therefore, the proper theocratic control over the Christian congregation, which control had not existed since the captivity of which Paul warned.

11. Who directs the Christian New World society?

¹¹ Who controls the organization, who directs it? Who is at the head? A man? A group of men? A clergy class? A pope? A hierarchy? A council? No, none of these. How is that possible? In any organization is it not necessary that there be a directing head or policy-making part that controls or guides the organization? Yes. Is the living God, Jehovah, the Director of the theocratic Christian organization? Yes!

12. What vital facts prove the foregoing answer?

¹² Because of the vital fact that the law that governs the operation of the theocratic New World society is the Word of Jehovah God, and because of the fact that the heaven-enthroned Christ Jesus is Jehovah’s Executive Officer carrying on his work in the earth, and because of the further fact that the spirit of God by Christ Jesus is operating through his Word and upon the hearts and minds of his dedicated servants, the New World society is theocratic, meaning “God-ruled.”

13. (a) How are appointments of ministerial servants made? (b) Prove such appointments are theocratic. (c) Over whom is theocratic control?

¹³ Does Christ Jesus come to earth and make appointments of the individual ministerial servants, overseers and assistants and other such ministers throughout the congregations in the earth? No. Then how are such appointments made? They are made by the visible governing body associated with the legal agency or Society, which in 1884 witnesses of Jehovah incorporated for that purpose, now named Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania. They are theocratic because they act in accordance with the great Theocrat’s written Word and with the model organization of the early Christian church or congregation as launched by Christ Jesus. “Farfetched,” do some say? But let those who contend that Jehovah’s witnesses are not a theocratic organization point out wherein they are not. In word and in deed, in doctrine, organization and practice, the New World society endeavors sincerely to conform to the Word of Jehovah God and to insist on its principles, and therefore it is a Scriptural, Christian, theocratic or God-directed organization. It is through his Word that Jehovah expresses his mind to his people. There is no other organization in Christendom that conforms to the Bible pattern or model. Only the New World society of Jehovah’s witnesses insists that those within its ranks do conform to the Scriptural pattern in matters both personal and congregational. This theocratic control and direction is not over all men; it is not even over all who may come in contact with it, or may be associated with the congregations of Jehovah’s witnesses, or attend their meetings. An individual must willingly submit or bring himself under the beneficent control by his personal dedication to Jehovah God; and so the theocratic control and direction is only over dedicated ones.

14. For what purposes are theocratic appointments?

¹⁴ The present delegation of duties to the servants in the congregation and the other special representatives of the theocratic organization is for specific purposes. These must feed the flock of God, shepherding faithfully and with love. They must help Jehovah’s people everywhere to study the Bible, grow in maturity, be trained in the field ministry, preaching the good news of the Kingdom to others, and they must preserve virtue in the congregation throughout the New World society organization. This is necessary that corruptness, indecency of any kind, not be allowed to creep in and contaminate.

15. In what way is the theocratic principle of cutting off found in the New World society?

¹⁵ As we have previously observed, in the nation of typical Israel corruption of pure worship brought death to the wrongdoer. In the Christian congregation the members of the congregation do not take the life of an offender. There is, however, a Christian cutting off or disfellowshiping. This is not a taking of human life, but it is an expulsion from fellowship with the congregation of dedicated servants of Jehovah God, a disfellowshiping from the New World society. This is necessary, following the exhausting of the other provisions of Christian rule for handling such matters, and it is accomplished by the mature judgment and considered action of the appointed servants in the Christian congregation. This is their responsibility. If faithful, they must discharge this responsibility, without passion, for the interests of all concerned and for the honor of Jehovah and the cleanliness of his organization.

ATTITUDE TOWARD DISFELLOWSHIPMENT

16. Enumerate offenses that require cleansing.

¹⁶ The offenses that make disfellowshiping necessary include those which brought punishment at the time of the early Christian congregation. Such offenses include persistence in lying, stealing, dishonest practices in business, sexual offenses, teaching of false doctrine, repudiation of Jehovah’s provision by Christ Jesus, rebellion against the theocratic organization, causing dissension, slander, backbiting and other wrongs. These we know are not virtuous and we cannot imagine such things’ being practiced by Jehovah God or by his Son Christ Jesus.

17. In what ways is disfellowshiping an act of love?

¹⁷ The Christian law in these matters does not ignore man’s weakness nor does it overlook the ransom provision of Christ Jesus and Jehovah’s forgiveness and mercy. The disfellowshiping procedure takes all of these into consideration and is really a last resort after all other provisions have failed to maintain or to restore cleanliness and virtue. Disfellowshiping is therefore really an act of love, love on the part of Jehovah God and Christ Jesus, on the part of the theocratic organization itself and on the part of the servants in the congregation who properly take the action directly. This is so because it is done not in malice or unkindness but in obedience to the righteous laws of Jehovah. It is an act of faithfulness; failure to keep the organization clean would be unfaithfulness. It has a threefold purpose, (1) that of keeping clean the Christian congregation of the New World society; (2) helping the offender, if possible, through this drastic means, should it be that he can be impressed with his error and duly repent of it before Jehovah God; (3) it is in the interests of those who observe the action taken, both as to assuring them of the correctness of the theocratic organization and as a warning to them of the seriousness of deviation from proper conduct.

18. Compare sexual offenses with other transgressions of Christian law.

¹⁸ There are these various offenses, some of which we have named, that serve to weaken the individual and the congregations if persisted in. Most of them we can recognize as being offenses against another person, depriving the other of certain rights and therefore showing a lack of love. But some seem to have difficulty in understanding why the sexual offenses should be so objectionable to the Christian organization and why they are so strongly condemned by God himself in his Word, the Bible. It is the great Creator and Father who has made his provision for the transmission of human life, and this is a very wonderful and sacred thing. We have all received of its benefits, because we are living. If we accept its benefits we, of course, accept God’s method, and the acceptance of the benefit and the method by us makes it encumbent on us to accept God’s regulation of the entire process. Some might argue that sexual offenses do no harm, not even to the willing participants themselves; so wherein is it so wrong? Lying, yes! Stealing, yes! Such things deprive another of what is his due. But an offense such as adultery or fornication, is it not different? Since it is so commonly practiced in the old world, how can it be so bad for the members of the New World society to practice?

19. How does Paul show religion to be involved?

¹⁹ Perhaps the apostle Paul encountered such or similar reasoning. In any event in the sixth chapter of First Corinthians he shows that religion is involved, stating in part: “Flee from fornication. Every other sin which a man may commit is outside his body, but he that practices fornication is sinning against his own body. What! Do you not know that the body of you people is the temple of the holy spirit within you which you have from God? Also, you do not belong to yourselves, for you were bought with a price. By all means, glorify God in the body of you people.”—1 Cor. 6:9-20, NW.

20. Why must the Lord’s “other sheep” abstain from sexual impurities?

²⁰ Here Paul is addressing members of the body of Christ. But does this mean that this commandment to abstain from sexual impurities is not binding upon the Lord’s other sheep, who constitute the great majority of those in the New World society? That could not be the conclusion, but, rather, this injunction to moral cleanliness is equally binding upon all servants dedicated to God. Why? Because his spirit is upon his dedicated people as a group or body and as individuals. These other sins that are condemned, such as lying, stealing, teaching wrong doctrines, and rebellion, are sins outside the body of the individual member of the Lord’s “other sheep” but the sins of adultery and fornication are sins against the individual’s own body, which should be used to glorify God.

21. To glorify God, what must we do?

²¹ We cannot glorify God in this or in other matters if we refuse to be subject to the regulations that he laid down. Do the members of Jehovah’s other sheep have his spirit on them? They do. Therefore they dare not sin against their own bodies. The times in which we are living, which are critical and hard to deal with, demand exacting preservation of virtue and they demand this not only of the members of the remnant of the “body of Christ” but also of the members of the Lord’s “other sheep,” of all who compose or hope to compose the New World society. Back in his time Paul made reference to what he called the prevalence of fornication. It is no less prevalent now.

22. What about the privilege and responsibility of the entire congregation in this matter of preservation of virtue?

²² What about the privilege and responsibility of the entire congregation in this matter of preservation of virtue? We recall that in the case of typical Israel it was the congregation, the people, who executed the death sentence upon offenders who were worthy of it under the law of Jehovah God. In the Christian congregation all must sincerely wish to preserve Jehovah’s virtues among men. They must respect the decision of the servants in such a matter as disfellowshiping. This is supported by Titus 1:5-16: “Make appointments . . . that he may be able both to exhort by the teaching that is healthful and to reprove those who contradict. . . . unruly men, . . . shut the mouths of these, . . . keep on reproving them with severity, . . . They publicly declare they know God, but they disown him by their works, because they are detestable.” We see from this that unruliness is not to be permitted. Unruliness would be a second violation, and a second violation would not do good nor help the first violation of God’s law constituting the basis for the disfellowshiping action. One’s questioning the decision respecting the disfellowshiping action would be inconsistent with one’s profession of faith in God and his word and one’s profession of the desire to see the word of God operate among his people. It would be inconsistent with our joining in the New World society in its wonderful work of expansion of clean worship. It would show a lack of trust, whereas a co-operation by all in the congregation and a conformance to the disfellowshiping that was done in behalf of all is showing trust by those who are in fellowship. Therefore it is necessary that all in the congregation accept the policy of the congregation. To the Thessalonians, Paul wrote: “Now we request you, brothers, to have regard for those who are working hard among you and presiding over you in the Lord and admonishing you, and to give them more than extraordinary consideration in love because of their work.”—1 Thess. 5:12-27, NW.

23. To what extent must an erring individual be saddened because of his sin?

²³ Anger on the part of the disfellowshiped person is not associated with his repentance. A person is not both repentant and angry; therefore there must not be any misplaced pity and misplaced sympathy. Must the heart be made sad then? Yes, disfellowshiping should make the heart sad. On the part of the erring individual, for any violation of God’s laws, small or serious, there must be real repentance, which means sadness of heart. In the case of a disfellowshiped person, in order for the disfellowshiping to work for his good and possibly to reinstatement, the heart must be cut, the mind must be hurt, there must be a real sincere longing for virtue on his part, which longing will lead to repentance.

24. In what action can we show our dependence upon Jehovah and our love of his virtue?

²⁴ For genuine worship and preservation of God’s virtue, the entire congregation is under test. Following the obedient course brings Jehovah’s blessing. Thereby all in the congregation show consistently their dependence on Jehovah through Christ Jesus for everything; for the truth itself, for his spirit enabling us to maintain our integrity and to perform our ministry, and for even the common blessings of life. Where counsel and guidance and even severe discipline are applied and received, ‘whatever virtue there is, whatever praiseworthy thing there is,’ such is from Jehovah God through Christ Jesus. The theocratic New World society, decade after decade, consistently continues to merit our wholehearted support and co-operation as Christians worshiping Jehovah God in the preservation of virtue, in his virtuous triumphant kingdom. Turn to the New World society!

Conspicuous by Their Absence

● When preacher Alan Walker of the Methodist Church in Australia addressed 550 church leaders in Silver Bay, New York, he said that teen-agers were “conspicuous by their absence in American churches.” He suggested that Protestant churches had allowed their Sunday Schools to interfere with teen-agers’ attendance at regular worship services, and that “when they leave the Sunday School they leave the church.”—New York Times, July 16, 1956.

A Jesuitical Prayer

● The Roman Catholic Jesuit magazine America, in its issue of March 31, 1956, said in an article entitled “Our Brother, the Jew” the following: “On Good Friday the Church bids us pray ‘ . . . that our Lord and God may take away the veil from their hearts, so that they, too, may know Jesus Christ Our Lord.’” However, the Jesuits published in their magazine only part of the Good Friday prayer—a phrase from the middle of it. In its more complete version this famous prayer runs as follows: “Let us also pray for the perfidious Jews; may the Lord our God remove the veil from their hearts so that they, too, may acknowledge Jesus Christ our Lord. Almighty Eternal God, Thou who dost not exclude from Thy compassion even the perfidious Jews, listen to our prayers which we offer on behalf of this deluded people, so that they see and recognize the light of Thy truth which is Christ and may be rescued from their darkness by the same Jesus Christ our Lord.”