Become Zealous for Jehovah

“Come with me, and see my zeal for Jehovah.”—2 Ki. 10:16, AS.

1. (a) In the Scriptures, Jehovah is often spoken of as what kind of a God? (b) What phrase frequently follows the declarations of his prophets, and why?

THROUGHOUT the Bible Jehovah, who made the universe, is spoken of as a zealous God, a God whose very zeal has worked marvelous wonders. Therefore, when his prophet Isaiah made important declarations concerning the purposes of the Great Jehovah, he punctuated these declarations with this sentence: “The very zeal of Jehovah of armies will do this.” (2 Ki. 19:31; Isa. 9:7; 37:32) This declaration assured the people that fulfillment of these promises was beyond all doubt, since they were from the Almighty, the zealous God.

2, 3. (a) Why is the phrase “the very zeal of Jehovah of armies will do this” of interest to God’s people? (b) Why is Jehovah’s zeal a cause of joy for mankind?

² The expression “the very zeal of Jehovah of armies will do this” is valuable and noteworthy indeed in that it emphasizes and insists upon God’s active interest and deliberate effectiveness in the salvation of mankind. By this expression we are made to know that salvation from sin and death, and the renewed life of the people of God, will not be due to any automatic working out of history, or due to any natural or economic causes. It will be the effective work of a zealous God, for we are told: “The very zeal of Jehovah of armies will do this.”

³ Jehovah’s zeal is, therefore, a cause of joy for humankind, because it gives promise of freedom from forces that oppress man physically and spiritually, which forces are frequently beyond the reach of the humble servants of God, even as Edom was. Concerning oppressor Edom, Jehovah’s prophet declared: “This is what the Lord Jehovah has said, ‘Certainly in the fire of my zeal I will speak against the remaining ones of the nations and against Edom, all of it, those who have given my land to themselves as a possession with the rejoicing of all the heart.’” (Ezek. 36:5, 6) All Edom-like oppressors, including Satan the Devil, his demons and his entire organization, will feel the fire of Jehovah’s zeal at Armageddon. “Distress will not rise up a second time.”—Nah. 1:9; Ps. 72:14.

EXAMPLES OF ZEAL

4. What lesson does the zeal of Jehovah teach, and how has this lesson been exemplified in the lives of Jehovah’s servants?

⁴ This zeal of Jehovah is a lesson to the people of God. It teaches that if a work is worthwhile doing, then it deserves our wholehearted support, our enthusiasm, our zeal, even as God gives of himself to his activities. This quality of God was exemplified in the lives of warriors, priests and prophets of God. Jehovah’s only-begotten Son Jesus Christ exemplified this quality, and so did the apostles and disciples of Christ. The Levites, for example, zealously supported Moses at Mount Sinai at the time of the making of the golden calf. They slew some 3,000 men who practiced idolatry on that occasion. Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest of Jehovah, out of his zeal for God’s righteousness, killed a fellow Israelite and a Midianite woman with a lance because of their wanton practice of sexual immorality. (Ex. 32:15-29; Num. 25:6-13) The psalmist David wrote that ‘sheer zeal for Jehovah’s house had eaten him up, and the very reproaches of those reproaching Jehovah had fallen upon him.’ (Ps. 69:9) Jehu, king of Israel, called on others to witness his zeal for Jehovah. He is described in Scripture as riding furiously, fulfilling his role as Jehovah’s executioner. (2 Ki. 10:16) Faithful zealous men have reaped the reward of praise from God, with the hope of a “better resurrection” awaiting them.—Heb. 11:35.

5, 6. (a) In the Christian Greek Scriptures, what words are used to express the English word “zeal”? (b) What examples in the Christian Greek Scriptures do we have of men of zeal?

⁵ In the Christian Greek Scriptures some thirty-three times such Greek words appear as zelos, zeloun, zelotes, and are used exclusively of men. As Jehovah, in the Hebrew Scriptures, had been zealous for his holiness, and as his prophets expressed zeal, so now his holy ones show the same zeal, Jesus Christ above all. Twice in his career as a minister of God, his zeal for Jehovah moved him to cleanse the temple of Jehovah. The house of Jehovah must not resemble a house of merchandise, he declared. The apostle John describes one occasion in these words: “Now the passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And he found in the temple those selling cattle and sheep and doves and the money brokers in their seats. So, after making a whip of ropes, he drove all those with the sheep and cattle out of the temple, and he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he said to those selling the doves: ‘Take these things away from here! Stop making the house of my Father a house of merchandise!’ His disciples called to mind that it is written: ‘The zeal for your house will eat me up.’”—John 2:13-17.

⁶ The apostles of Jesus Christ followed his zealous example. At Acts 17:6, opposers accused the Christians of ‘overturning the inhabited earth’ with their teaching. About twenty-two years after the death of Christ, the apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “Now concerning the ministry that is for the holy ones, it is superfluous for me to write you, for I know your readiness of mind of which I am boasting to the Macedonians about you, that Achaia has stood ready now for a year, and your zeal has stirred up the majority of them.” (2 Cor. 9:1, 2) Yes, Christian zeal proved contagious. It was a characteristic of Christianity. It stirred others up to a godly ministry.

ZEAL DEFINED

7. How is zeal variously defined?

⁷ What is zeal? Zeal is variously defined as a passionate ardor for a cause or, less often, for a person; or as an intense eagerness in promoting some end. It is also referred to as earnestness, enthusiasm, devotion and fervor. The word for zeal in Hebrew is kináh, from kaná, which means “to flush” with passion. The Greek word zelos implies a fiery consuming element analogous to the heat of zeal. And from this we get the expression “a fiery zeal.” In some areas of the world, active ministers are sometimes said to be “on fire for the Lord.” In the Bible, an active or enthusiastic minister of Jehovah is described as hot, while an inactive minister is said to be lukewarm.

8. How and why are Christians urged to be zealous?

⁸ Christians are urged to be zealous workers for Jehovah, for without zealous workers, a living religion is inconceivable. Without zeal, there can be no fiery triumph, no perfected Christian personalities, no lasting reward or deeds of Christian faith. Therefore, the apostle Paul writes: “Do not loiter at your business. Be aglow with the spirit. Slave for Jehovah. Rejoice in the hope ahead.” (Rom. 12:11, 12) “Whatever you are doing, work at it whole-souled as to Jehovah, and not to men, for you know that it is from Jehovah you will receive the due reward of the inheritance. Slave for the Master, Christ.” (Col. 3:23, 24) “Always having plenty to do in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in connection with the Lord.” (1 Cor. 15:58) Paul not only said these things but lived them. The Bible writer Luke tells us that “Paul began to be intensely occupied with the word, witnessing to the Jews to prove that Jesus is the Christ.” (Acts 18:5) It is to zealous activity in connection with the Lord that Christians have been called and it is this fiery service that wins the reward of everlasting life.

VARIOUS KINDS OF ZEAL

9, 10. What proves that there can be an honorable and a dishonorable zeal?

⁹ Are you zealous for the Lord? People have been mistaken, for not all zeal is good. Zeal when roused to a passionate degree often becomes wrath; when consuming itself in self-seeking, it becomes jealousy. Zeal without an accurate knowledge of God’s purposes can turn to fanaticism. So zeal may be honorable or dishonorable. There may be a guided zeal or a misguided zeal.

¹⁰ For example, the apostle Paul at Romans 10:2, 3 writes: “For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God; but not according to accurate knowledge; for, because of not knowing the righteousness of God but seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to the righteousness of God.” Thus the apostle reveals that there are people who may be completely sincere in their religious convictions and zealously so, but without basis in fact, without an accurate knowledge of the truth of God. These people very often are more anxious to establish their own righteousness than God’s. As a lady told a minister of Jehovah’s witnesses: “I wouldn’t believe you even if I knew you had the truth!” And again, there are some who do change. The apostle Paul was one. At 1 Timothy 1:12, 13, he admits that he pursued his previous course in life as a Pharisee in ignorance. “Although formerly I was a blasphemer and a persecutor and an insolent man. Nevertheless, I was shown mercy, because I was ignorant and acted with a lack of faith.” No doubt today there are many, like Saul of Tarsus, acting out of ignorance and with a lack of faith. Are you one of these? Let God’s Word guide your zeal.

11, 12. (a) Show cases where an ignorant zeal turned to a persecuting zeal. (b) What proves that such zeal could not be of God or of Christ?

¹¹ Frequently an ignorant zeal can turn to a persecuting zeal, as it did in the case of Saul of Tarsus. Saul, who became Paul, confesses: “You, of course, heard about my conduct formerly in Judaism, that to the point of excess I kept on persecuting the congregation of God and devastating it, and I was making greater progress in Judaism than many of my own age in my race, as I was far more zealous for the traditions of my fathers.” (Gal. 1:13, 14; Phil. 3:6) Even today professed Christians zealous for their religious beliefs go out of their way to persecute the Christian witnesses of Jehovah. A 1966 report from Indonesia tells of mob violence and of Christian ministers who in the course of their ministry were beaten up by Protestant clergymen. The account says: “Four of the town’s clergymen and approximately sixty elders of the various churches in town mobbed the house of an interested person where the first Watchtower study was being held. When the special pioneers and the house owner went out to ascertain the cause of the disturbance, the mob broke down the fence and attacked the three brothers. All were injured. One of the special pioneers was knocked unconscious and then savagely kicked by the presiding clergyman. . . . The clergyman who instigated this riot later visited another island where two families of Jehovah’s witnesses had recently moved and built homes. After preaching an inflammatory sermon against the brothers, he led the congregation out of the church to the homes of the two brothers and destroyed their homes, leaving twelve persons without a dwelling.” This, of course, was not a zeal for Jehovah that these clergymen were expressing, but a misguided zeal, which made them act contrary to the will of God. They behaved as did Saul of Tarsus, who later came to regret his dastardly acts. These clergymen may well do the same.

¹² This is not the only case of a misguided religious zeal manifesting itself in persecution of the innocent. History is filled with accounts of religious inquisitions, religious violence, religious riots and murders. Jesus Christ and, reportedly, most of his apostles were murdered at the hands of religious zealots, and so were the prophets of God before them. (Matt. 23:34, 35) Such misguided zeal could not be Christianity in action by any stretch of the imagination, for Christians have not the command to persecute, but to love, even their enemies.—Matt. 5:43-48.

13. What examples do we have showing that superstitious zeal can lead to base deeds?

¹³ Superstitious zeal can drive religionists out of their minds and into believing that they are actually doing God a favor by their base deeds. Baal worshipers in Elijah’s time worked themselves into a frenzy, “calling at the top of their voice and cutting themselves according to their custom with daggers and with lances, until they caused blood to flow out upon them” in hope that Baal would answer their petitions. But Baal was not the true God, but an impotent image of man’s making. Elijah proved Jehovah to be the true God and he beckoned to people to become zealous for Jehovah. (1 Ki. 18:21-40) Jesus Christ related a prophecy concerning our time and he showed that people would be as uninformed about the true God today as they were in Elijah’s time. Jesus said: “Then people will deliver you [the true Christian] up to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be objects of hatred by all the nations on account of my name.” “The hour is coming,” he said, “when everyone that kills you will imagine he has rendered a sacred service to God. But they will do these things because they have not come to know either the Father or me.” (Matt. 24:9; 23:34; John 16:2, 3) Jesus’ words prove conclusively that it is a superstitious zeal that motivates these people into acts of violence against the servants of God.

OTHER FORMS OF ZEAL

14. How can zeal be hypocritical, with perverse motives?

¹⁴ Zeal may bear a perverse motive. It can be hypocritical in its showiness. The Pharisee of Jesus’ illustration began to pray: “O God, I thank you I am not as the rest of men, extortioners, unrighteous, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week, I give the tenth of all things I acquire.” He was so concerned with himself that his selfish motive showed through. Not like the tax collector who beat his breast and said: “O God, be gracious to me a sinner.” (Luke 18:10-14) Jesus said that there would be many who would say: “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and expel demons in your name, and perform many powerful works in your name?” And he will confess to them: “I never knew you! Get away from me, you workers of lawlessness.” (Matt. 7:22, 23) This is the tragedy of a hypocritical zeal: it brings no lasting reward. Why not become zealous for Jehovah instead?

15. What is a quarrelsome zeal?

¹⁵ There is also a contentious or quarrelsome zeal, one that is argumentative over words, ways and customs. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 11:11-16, endeavors to settle the matter about a woman’s wearing a head covering in the congregation, after which he says: “If any man seems to dispute for some other custom, we have no other, neither do the congregations of God.” Earlier in this epistle, Paul shows there were disputes over whom they were following: “For when one says: ‘I belong to Paul,’ but another says: ‘I to Apollos,’ are you not simply men?” (1 Cor. 3:4) These need to become zealous for Jehovah and not waste vital energy over trivial matters.

16. (a) In what way can zeal be partial? Give an example. (b) What did the angel recommend to those lukewarm ones of Laodicea?

¹⁶ Zeal can be partial too. The Ephraimites were described as cakes baked only on one side, in other words, half-baked. (Hos. 7:8) They were halfhearted in their devotion and service to God. How many people do we know like that? People who straddle the fence—people who enjoy hearing about the kingdom of God but who like this world too. With their mouths they praise God’s people for doing a fine work, but they themselves will not join in it. Some may even attend meetings of God’s people, but never make this a regular custom. They consider themselves to be Christians, even quite spiritual-minded in fact. Like the Laodiceans, they are neither hot nor cold. They are lukewarm. They have deceived themselves into thinking that they are spiritually rich and that with their lukewarm efforts God is well pleased. But this is a deception, as the angel of the congregation in Laodicea was told to point out: “Because you are lukewarm and neither hot nor cold, I am going to vomit you out of my mouth. Because you say: ‘I am rich and have acquired riches and do not need anything at all,’ but you do not know you are miserable and pitiable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from me gold refined by fire that you may become rich, and white outer garments that you may become dressed and that the shame of your nakedness may not become manifested, and eyesalve to rub in your eyes that you may see. All those for whom I have affection I reprove and discipline. Therefore be zealous and repent.” (Rev. 3:14-19) It is not too late to awaken from this apathetic, lukewarm state. The angel recommends “be zealous for Jehovah.

17. (a) How can zeal be temporary? Cite an example. (b) How today can zeal show itself temporary?

¹⁷ There is also a zeal that is temporary, a zeal that gives up. When Jehoash, king of Israel, came to the prophet Elisha and wept over the apparent fate of Israel, Elisha told him to open the window to the east and shoot an arrow. This Jehoash did. Elisha then exclaimed: “Jehovah’s arrow of salvation, even the arrow of salvation against Syria! And you will certainly strike down Syria at Aphek to the finishing point.” (2 Ki. 13:14-17) Elisha’s declaration should have thrilled the king, but did it? When Elisha told him to take the arrows that he had and to strike the earth with them, what did Jehoash do? With the sound of victory ringing in his ears, he should have pulverized the earth with them. Instead, he feebly struck the earth three times and stopped. Elisha “grew indignant at him; hence he said: ‘It was meant to strike five or six times! In that case you would certainly be striking down Syria to the finishing point, but now it is three times that you will strike down Syria.’” (2 Ki. 13:18, 19) Jehoash revealed that his zeal was temporary. It gave out. He did not allow Jehovah’s promise to fire him, as it should have, had he fully believed. So today, many who hear the promises of God quickly counter them with doubt, skepticism and suspicion. The potential bonfire quickly turns into a fizzle and they wonder why they are not zealous for Jehovah. To the doubter, God’s Word says: “He who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven by the wind and blown about. In fact, let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from Jehovah; he is an indecisive man, unsteady in all his ways.” (Jas. 1:6-8) When serving Jehovah, there is no room for doubt. Jehovah demands exclusive devotion. The plunge into his service must be wholehearted, without reservations, and eternal. “We shall reap if we do not tire out.”—Gal. 6:9.

A GENUINE ZEAL FOR JEHOVAH

18. (a) What is genuine zeal? (b) How does genuine zeal manifest itself among mankind?

¹⁸ There is a genuine zeal, which is a sincere warm concern for the glory of God and the spiritual welfare of mankind. It is a zeal that stems from the divine command: “Be zealous!” (Rev. 3:19) It finds its example in Christ Jesus, who “went through the land doing good and healing all those oppressed by the Devil; because God was with him.” (Acts 10:38) Said the apostle Paul to Titus: Christ “gave himself for us that he might deliver us from every sort of lawlessness and cleanse for himself a people peculiarly his own, zealous for fine works.” (Titus 2:14) This zeal manifested itself throughout the centuries in the Christian’s attitude toward the importance of God’s service. Dedicated Christians have placed the worship of God first in their lives. (Matt. 6:33) They have become zealous for Jehovah. And this zeal can be seen in their Christian conduct and worship, in the desire and effort that they put forth to transform their minds and personalities to those of Christ. Their daily lives are permeated with zeal for Jehovah. In them, the words of the apostle Paul find fulfillment: “You no longer go on walking just as the nations also walk in the unprofitableness of their minds, while they are in darkness mentally, and alienated from the life that belongs to God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the insensibility of their hearts. Having come to be past all moral sense, they gave themselves over to loose conduct to work uncleanness of every sort with greediness. But you did not learn the Christ to be so, provided, indeed, that you heard him and were taught by means of him, just as truth is in Jesus, that you should put away the old personality which conforms to your former course of conduct and which is being corrupted according to his deceptive desires; but that you should be made new in the force actuating your mind, and should put on the new personality which was created according to God’s will in true righteousness and loyalty.”—Eph. 4:17-24.

19. What questions are we forced to ask, and where will answers to our questions be found?

¹⁹ But where today can you find such zeal in a world of religious ferment? Who today in this era of science wants to be zealous for Jehovah? What people are willing to set aside the old easy ways of loose living in a world of collapsing morality, crime and rebellion for a new personality? What proof is there that there is a genuine religious zeal for Jehovah in the earth? The following article will answer these and other timely questions.

Does Your Zeal Stir Up Your Brothers?

“Your zeal has stirred up the majority of them.”—2 Cor. 9:2.

1, 2. What events prove that people still have the capacity for zeal?

IN RECENT years, especially so since World War II, enthusiasm for Christendom’s religious institutions has diminished perceptibly, particularly so among the youth of the world. Empty church pews go begging, while sports arenas have been bursting at the seams with record crowds on Saturdays and Sundays, days generally set aside in Christendom for the worship of God. Sports fans, many of whom are churchgoers, brave bad weather and all manner of inconveniences, often travel great distances and pay exorbitant prices to be admitted to the games. They then cheer their teams to victory or console them in defeat.

² Some youthful fans can recite verbatim endless statistics about each player and happily volunteer all you want to know about the sport. So great has been the enthusiasm for competitive sports in recent years that in some lands huge walls have had to be built around the playing field, some even with moats filled with water, to discourage zealous crowds from storming the barriers and to keep them from charging onto the playing field and perhaps doing injury to the players. Obviously, people still have a capacity for overwhelming zeal, but religion is not what is stirring their hearts, is it?

3. In England, what stirs enthusiasm among many young people?

³ In England, the Beatles are declared to be more popular than Jesus Christ among teen-agers. The old religion is reportedly dead. There is a new religion now. It is the religion of the young crowd, with the young sound. John Lennon of the Beatles, recognizing this sweeping change in the world, announced: “Christianity will go. It will vanish and shrink. We’re more popular than Jesus now.” A young girl siding in with him asked: “Do you see a girl screaming over a picture of Christ as they do over a picture of the Beatles?” Quite naturally not. As little Zacchaeus once climbed up a fig-mulberry tree in order to get a better glimpse of Jesus Christ, so now youngsters line the rafters to get a better look at those who stir their souls. At the sight of the Beatles one girl cried out: “O my God! O my God! I can’t stand it. I can’t stand it.” “God” was on her lips, but it was not a minister of God or the message of Christ that was stirring her soul.—Luke 19:2-8.

4. What questions are asked, and why?

⁴ What has happened to the Christian religion that once stirred the hearts of men to leave their fathers and mothers, their places of employment, climb trees, even disown themselves for the sake of Christ? Where is that revolutionary zeal that once inflamed the world? Where are the people who were once charged with overturning the inhabited earth? (Acts 17:6) Without zealous ministers, there can be no triumph of Christianity, no rewarding deeds of Christian faith. But where today can such zeal be found?

RELIGIOUS FERMENT IN CHRISTENDOM

5, 6. In what condition is Christendom’s religion, as testified by her clergy?

⁵ Within Christendom, there are evidences, more of religion dying, than of a dynamic Christianity. Evangelist Billy Graham asserted that Christendom’s churches are floundering in tragic confusion. “If we have lost our enthusiasm for Christ,” he said, “it is because our faith has ceased to mean much to us.” Dr. Carl F. H. Henry, evangelist-theologian, said that liberal Protestantism “has lost most of its evangelical drive.” And there seems to be no question about that. On October 31, 1966, while church bells in divided Berlin rang out announcing Reformation Day, many delegates reportedly were beseeching God “to breathe the spirit of Reformation into the Christian church once again.” But the spirit of God apparently has left that body flat.

⁶ Protestantism is without first-century zeal. A Protestant church leader in America confessed: “The Christian church is dying around the world.” He described professed Christians as “smug, hate-filled [and] bigoted.” “Father” Boyd, nightclub Episcopal priest, said that ‘his church is moribund.’ In England, religion is described as being “on the slippery slope downhill. . . . The people have deserted the church,” said an Episcopal minister. He went on to say: “The same thing will happen here in America and it will doom the church.”

7. Who is responsible for the lifelessness of Christendom’s religions?

⁷ Who is responsible for this lifeless condition in Christendom’s religion? What has brought it about? A Methodist leader from Nashville, Tennessee, stated that there is “too much dullness” in the church. He charged that “some of it is just plain phonyism and there is too much conformity and mediocrity to be comfortable.” Former Episcopal Bishop Pike said: “We’ve been talking double talk for 2,000 years. No wonder we are confused.” Declared one prominent Presbyterian layman recently: “Most ministers are so misguided, so completely off base and so full of liberal and humanistic thought that they are proving more worthless to their parishioners each day.”

8. What factor has led to a loss of faith and religious zeal?

⁸ His statement might have been prompted by the recent action of the United Presbyterian Church’s General Assembly, which adopted a new confession of faith for the denomination. The confession rejects the view of the Bible as the “inerrant” word of God. Many clergymen and theology school professors question the reliability of God’s Word the Bible. They urge a “demythologizing” of the Bible. They in substance have set themselves up as judges to determine what teachings of the Bible are “possible.” They cite the virgin birth as a myth. Modern science believes the birth of a child by a virgin is impossible. Therefore, goes their line of reasoning, Mary was not a virgin at all. But once they doubt the virgin birth, what is there to keep them from doubting Christ the Son of God, the resurrection of the dead, or even the existence of God himself? It is the position of those who see much of the Bible as a myth that, although parts of it might be divinely inspired, the rest is simply the unfounded evidence of imperfect men. But if this position is taken and accepted, the Bible, the source of Christian strength, zeal and enthusiasm, is rendered useless. Even man, sin and God become the mere speculations of mortal men.

9. In what way have the clergy diluted the Word of God, and with what effect?

⁹ But is this not what has happened in Christendom? Dr. Leslie Weatherhead, former president of the Methodist Conference, says that he would like to censor the Bible. A rector of the Anglican Church of southern England, J. C. Wansey of Woodford, said the Bible contains passages of “spiritual junk” and “poison” for the people. An Episcopal bishop says ‘there is no holy spirit, no virgin birth, no resurrection and that he is not even sure about the almightiness of God.’ An Anglican minister, head of the University of British Columbia’s religious studies department, declared: “God is not necessary.” “All sciences—including religious studies—proceed without the hypothesis of God. If knowledge can exist without God, so can life.” Rabbi Joel Goor told students at the University of San Diego College for Women, on October 22, 1966: “We do not believe in original sin. We believe man sins as Adam sinned, not because he sinned,” despite what the Bible says to the contrary. (Rom. 5:12; 1 Cor. 15:22) This dilution of God’s Word with human speculation and nonsense has not produced a dynamic Christianity. For a diluted Christianity is no Christianity. It is false religion, void of all transforming power.

10. What disgraceful moral state has this dilution produced?

¹⁰ A diluted religion produced in Christendom a diluted morality, which is no morality. It sanctioned the tolerance of evil, which is an evil in itself. Robert W. Wood, a minister of the United Church of Christ (a body formed in the United States by union of Congregational and Evangelical and Reformed Churches), said: “The moral onus of homosexuality is no greater than that of being left-handed.” “Marriage” between two homosexuals is viewed as moral by this minister and he says that he would perform such a religious ceremony. Heads of religion uphold the legalization of homosexual practices between adult males, approve of sexual intercourse outside of marriage, and pooh-pooh practically every basic moral principle of the Bible, which is the basis for Christian faith and zeal. What sort of membership can be rightfully expected from such indolent, slothful, faithless leadership?

11. How did a Presbyterian lay group explain its concern?

¹¹ A Presbyterian lay group explained its concern like this: “The authoritative message of salvation, which has power to change the hearts of men, is declared by the Holy Scriptures. But men who doubt the full integrity and authority of the Bible soon lose confidence in its message. Time is given to study ‘about’ the Bible while knowledge of the Word itself is neglected. Even our seminaries so minimize Bible teaching that the importance of the Scriptures is often left in doubt. . . . People are hungering and thirsting for an authoritative message of salvation. Those who compromise the authority of the Bible as a mixture of truth and error will fail this generation.” God is not one to be mocked. The divine principle is: ‘We reap what we sow.’ (Gal. 6:7) The moral and spiritual breakdown of this generation must be laid before the pulpits and seminaries, where the authenticity of the Bible as the Word of God is being questioned.

12. What has been the fruitage of empty, ritualistic religion?

¹² When race riots raged in Chicago, Illinois, in 1966, the failure of the Roman Catholic Church to teach Bible principles, racial justice and human dignity became terribly evident. Roman Catholics turned on one another. A nun was felled by a rock. “It hurts to think we haven’t taught them better,” she said. A man screamed at a priest walking side by side with a Negro woman: “Hey, father, are you sleeping with her?” A perceptive priest who lived in one of the mob-ridden areas said: “For years, most of our parishes out here have been preaching empty ritual, rules and restrictions. We got what we asked for.” In other words, they reaped in riots and abuse what they have sowed in empty ritual. In Panama, a crowd threatened to lynch nuns and priests alike if they were not allowed to gamble and dance. These people, who came to Portobelo to celebrate the annual Roman Catholic Black Christ festivities, chanted: “We want the blood of a priest.” These people have zeal, but obviously it is not the zeal of first-century Christianity. It resembles more the zeal of those who staked the Son of God at Calvary than that of those who followed him.

ZEALOUS CHRISTIANS IDENTIFIED

13, 14. How have various authors identified the presence of zealous Christianity in the earth, and with what group?

¹³ Does this mean that there is no zealous representation of Christianity in the earth at this time? No, it does not mean that at all. Christianity is well represented in the earth today, and zealously so. Earth wide, there are over a million Christians responding zealously to the urgency of our times, willingly offering themselves as God’s ministers. They are proclaiming the good news of God’s kingdom as a witness to all nations before the end of this system of things. (Matt. 24:14) Charles S. Braden, in his book These Also Believe, identifies for us who these are. He writes: “It may truly be said that no single religious group in the world displayed more zeal and persistence in the attempt to spread the good news of the Kingdom than the Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Theirs is a ministry of zealous participation, one that says more than simply, “I believe.”

¹⁴ Religious news editor Louis Cassels also had this to say of Jehovah’s witnesses: “Their phenomenal growth rate is the result of a zeal for evangelism which puts the established churches to shame. Every Witness is regarded as an ordained minister, and is sent out to ring doorbells, pass out literature on street corners and preach the [Kingdom] message to as many people as possible. . . . Behind this passion for convert-winning is the firm conviction of the Witnesses that the end of human history is imminent. They expect it to come at any hour, and almost certainly within the next 10 years.”

15, 16. How have religious observers spoken about the zeal of Jehovah’s witnesses?

¹⁵ Religious observers recognize that there is a zealous group of people on earth who stand for Christian principle and who are upholding Bible principles in their very lives. Even a Roman Catholic publication expressed this wishful thought: “We admire the zeal of the Witnesses, and often wish our own Catholics were imbued with a similar apostolic spirit.” But wishing alone does not make zealous Christians, as Roman Catholic leaders should know.

¹⁶ One of the identifying evidences of true Christians is the persecution they undergo because of their zeal in preaching. A Protestant publication, the Alabama Baptist, said editorially: “All over the world we hear of this sect [Jehovah’s witnesses] being persecuted. . . . Certainly the only cause for their attack is because these have a zealous belief in their doctrines of the Bible. At least we could say this much for them, that they are the only group in our country who are so zealous in their beliefs and practices that they are resisting unto persecution.” Bible writers indicate that true Christianity would be marked by zeal, which quality admittedly is evident in the lives of Jehovah’s witnesses.

ZEAL MANIFESTED AND SUSTAINED

17. How can the zeal of Jehovah’s witnesses be identified as genuine Christian zeal?

¹⁷ But how can we identify the zeal of Jehovah’s witnesses as being the genuine zeal of Christianity? The Christian apostle Paul said that zeal shows itself in the fruitage of God’s spirit. (Gal. 5:22, 23) It manifests itself in a Christian’s Christlike personality. A zealous Christian is not “fashioned after this system of things.” He has transformed his mind, proving to himself what is “the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Genuine Christian zeal ‘abhors what is wicked,’ ‘loves without hypocrisy,’ ‘expresses tender affection for the brothers,’ ‘does not loiter at God’s business,’ is ‘aglow with the spirit,’ ‘slaves for Jehovah,’ ‘rejoices in the hope ahead,’ ‘endures under tribulation,’ ‘perseveres in prayer,’ shows concern for Christian responsibilities and is marked by an unflagging moral earnestness.—Rom. 12:1, 2, 9-12; Gal. 2:20.

18. In what way is Christian zeal sustained?

¹⁸ Genuine zeal is never sustained by the natural resources of persistence. This zeal finds its source in an unfading belief in Jehovah God, his Word and his purposes. Love of God and of neighbor is zeal’s inspiration. It finds support by being in contact with God’s holy spirit. Man’s spirit catches fire from God’s spirit and glows with intensity as it draws closer to the Source of all energy, namely, Jehovah. (Isa. 40:26) The writer of the Proverbs expressed this point beautifully, in these words: “The breath [spirit] of earthling man is the lamp of Jehovah.” (Prov. 20:27) That lamp will never be extinguished as long as it remains in touch with Jehovah the true God.

19. (a) What proves Christian zeal to be a contagious force? (b) How is the zeal of Jehovah’s witnesses truly representative of first-century Christianity?

¹⁹ Genuine Christian zeal, therefore, is the manifestation of the spirit of God in the lives of Christians. The active force of Jehovah is that which excites us to his service. It is this force that aids us to make over our personalities, to dedicate our lives to God. It is this active force that makes integrity-keepers out of us to God’s glory. It gives us a persevering zeal that finds strength in the service of Jehovah. Zeal is a contagious force that stirs up others to fine works. (Titus 2:11-14) The reported zeal of the Corinthians stirred up to eager giving the majority of brothers in Achaia, the Roman province including all of Greece south of Macedonia. This giving was not only of themselves, that is, of their strength and energy, but of their money to serve others. (2 Cor. 9:2) So we see in the lives of Jehovah’s witnesses today, not only a giving of themselves in the service of God, as reflected in the 183,995,180 hours that they spent in the Christian field ministry in 1967, conducting 867,009 free home Bible studies and making upward of 66,703,000 return visits on persons who showed interest in God and his Word, but also their giving of their money to serve others. During the service year of 1967, $4,551,014.87 was spent in support of 9,528 devoted missionaries, special pioneer and circuit and district servant ministers throughout the earth. In addition to all these full-time workers, they supported 1,717 of their brothers and sisters who work in Bethel homes around the world in 96 branches. This expression of their zeal is truly representative of first-century Christianity. It is such zeal that stirs up the brothers to greater spirituality and activity. How is your zeal? Does it stir up the brothers?

20, 21. What effect has Christian zeal on the old and young? Give proof.

²⁰ Genuine Christian zeal has a refreshing, persuading and stimulating effect upon the old and young. A Gilead missionary worker of Jehovah’s witnesses tells how a twenty-three-year-old girl reacted when she first heard about the good news of God’s kingdom: “The girl came to Geneva, Switzerland, as a French refugee and entered a Catholic home for young girls. While on vacation, a girl friend of hers spoke to her about God and the Bible. She met this friend only twice, but this was enough to create in her a desire to have a Bible study. A Bible study was started with her. She left the Catholic home soon thereafter. She began to come to our meetings at the Kingdom Hall. She is bubbling over with zeal and when she talks about the truth her eyes just sparkle. She is now talking to everyone, even though we have been studying together only four weeks.”

²¹ Another case of stirring zeal concerns a man of seventy who started to attend school to learn how to read and write so that he could better present the good news at the doors. At the time of his immersion he was in the third grade. It is such zeal that makes one want to do more for Jehovah. It is such zeal that stirs up the brothers.

22. What happens when zeal is lacking?

²² Where genuine zeal is lacking, all religious effort grows ineffective and soon subsides into flabby ineptitude. A tepid Laodiceanism, that is, a lukewarm religion, results. And the fruitage of such religion is what is in evidence in Christendom. There is no faith, no joy, no spirit for the service of God. The need, therefore, is to be whole-souled in our service to Jehovah, aglow with the spirit of God, filled with zeal that stirs up others to want to become praisers of Jehovah God.

HOW YOU CAN BECOME ZEALOUS FOR JEHOVAH

23, 24. (a) How is Christian zeal a sustaining force in the ministry? (b) What need is, therefore, highlighted?

²³ Genuine Christian zeal requires much energy. This vital energy or force is replenished by a Christian’s taking in truths from the Word of God, the Bible. For “the word of God is alive and exerts power.” (Heb. 4:12) And power is what is needed to sustain Christian zeal. When Jeremiah the prophet thought of quitting his post as God’s prophet, he said: “In my heart it [the word of God] proved to be like a burning fire shut up in my bones; and I got tired of holding in, and I was unable to endure it.” (Jer. 20:9) When believed, God’s Word exerts a force that cannot be contained. The persuasive witness of the apostle Paul when before King Agrippa moved Agrippa to say: “In a short time you would persuade me to become a Christian.” (Acts 26:28) And in our time when a witness for Jehovah gave a newspaperman a lift to his hotel one bitter winter day, the newspaperman was moved to write about this experience, concluding his article this way: “It isn’t often you meet such a nice, fine, friendly man—and such a good Witness for Jehovah.”

²⁴ The need, therefore, is to study God’s Word daily and meditate on that Word so that it can become “like a burning fire shut up in [our] bones.” The Word of God can inspire, because it is inspired of God. Paul wrote: “All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial.” (2 Tim. 3:16, 17) Jesus Christ declared: “Man must live, not on bread alone, but on every utterance coming forth through Jehovah’s mouth.” (Matt. 4:4) Since by this Word man must live, it would be well that we know it.

25. What other factor must be kept in mind to sustain zeal, and why?

²⁵ If we would be zealous, there is also the necessity to keep close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah. Knowledge of this fact moves us to right works and fine conduct. The apostle Peter exhorts: “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in holy acts of conduct and deeds of godly devotion, awaiting and keeping close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah . . . since you are awaiting these things, do your utmost to be found finally by him spotless and unblemished and in peace.” (2 Pet. 3:11-14) This awareness of Armageddon’s nearness serves as a warning to those of Christian zeal not only to preach Christ but to live lives that bespeak the times in which we are living. Such exemplary lives stir up the brothers.

26, 27. (a) Why does zeal call for spiritual insight? (b) Why must spiritual insight be distinguished from sentimentalism and a preoccupation of religious forms and phrases?

²⁶ Hence zeal calls for spiritual insight—the perception that is able to distinguish between the true and the false, right from wrong. We must be able to see spiritual values as they really are, without confusing them with specious substitutes. (Matt. 16:5-12) We must also recognize what is genuinely important and avoid confusing it with what is plausible but of secondary significance. From a physical viewpoint, a materialistic way of life, that is, eating drinking and marriage, may appear very important indeed, but Jesus Christ cautions not to be overly anxious about these things. Rather, to keep on “seeking first the kingdom [of the heavenly Father] and his righteousness, and all these other things will be added to you.” (Matt. 6:25-33; 24:38, 39) Jehovah cares for the zealous ones.

²⁷ Genuine spiritual insight must also be distinguished both from sentimentalism that lulls to sleep, and from a preoccupation with religious forms and phrases that do not have lasting meaning. When Jesus called on men to ‘be his followers,’ some of their replies showed a lack of spiritual insight and a want of appreciation of the privilege that was extended to them. Many responded quite sentimentally when they were called. One man said: “Permit me first to leave and bury my father.” Another said: “I will follow you, Lord; but first permit me to say good-by to those in my household.” Jesus replied: “No man that has put his hand to a plow and looks at the things behind is well fitted for the kingdom of God.” (Luke 9:59-62) The apostle Paul found it necessary to counsel brothers “not to fight about words, a thing of no usefulness at all because it overturns those listening.” (2 Tim. 2:14) Bickering over words and sentimentality drain one of vital energy. Insight is needed to preserve that energy for the zealous service of Jehovah.

28. Why must one’s associations also be watched if one is to become zealous for Jehovah?

²⁸ Associations must be watched if one is to become zealous for Jehovah. Bad association can, not only spoil useful habits, but dampen our zeal and rob it of its fire. (1 Cor. 15:33) Associating with doubters will, not only slow one down, but even destroy a believing mind. How often “fair weather” Christians discourage those with good intentions from going to Christian meetings and from the service of God on cold, hot or wet days! However, a zealous, spirited servant of God not only will persevere at times such as these, but will stir up the doubters to greater faith and the inactive to greater zeal. Does your zeal stir up your brothers in this way? It should.

29. What do we want to be found doing in this most urgent of times?

²⁹ It is mandatory that we be aware that we are living at a very crucial and urgent time in human history. Christendom’s religions, by her own admission, are either dead or dying. This time before the destruction of Babylon the Great and the war of Armageddon calls for zealous participation, on our part, in the finest work that can now be done, namely, to point people of honest heart to the kingdom of God as the only hope for mankind. May the Captain of our salvation find us so engaged at the hour of his inspection.

“He Nearly Died on the Spot”

● Youthful witnesses of Jehovah sometimes have their fine Christian conduct advertised in a most unusual and amusing manner. Consider the following report of an incident that took place in a Michigan junior high school:

“Deborah and Betsy are both seventh graders. Today their regular teacher for their English class was absent. In desperation, the school had a Catholic priest with his collar turned backward fill in for the day. As usual with any substitute teacher, the students really gave him a difficult time by their misbehaving and disorderliness. However, Deborah and Betsy, who are Jehovah’s witnesses, were a sharp contrast by their fine behavior.

“In desperation, the Catholic priest, noticing these two students, turned to the class and cried out, ‘Why can’t you act like these two young ladies? They are so well behaved that they must be Catholics!’

“One boy spoke up in reply, saying, ‘They are about as far as you can get from Catholics!’ When the priest was told that they were Jehovah’s witnesses he nearly died on the spot.”