selfish. Those who do impose caste distinctions upon others fail to heed Jehovah’s command “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” They neglect to ‘love their neighbor as themselves’ and overlook Jesus’ commandment: “All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must likewise do to them; this, in fact, is what the Law and the Prophets mean.”—Mic. 6:8, RS; Matt. 22:39; 7:12.

Caste distinction harms not only those oppressed by it but also those exalted by it. How so? In that it is a manifestation of pride, and “pride is before a crash, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.” Also, we are warned that “whoever exalts himself will be humbled,” and that “what is lofty among men is a disgusting thing in God’s sight.” And to the extent that caste makes men unmerciful and harsh, to that extent practicing it means receiving like treatment at the hands of the great Judge, Jehovah God.—Prov. 16:18; Matt. 23:12; Luke 16:15; Matt. 7:2.

Caste distinctions, as we have seen, foster pride, jealousy and strife. Being opposed to God’s Word, they are of Satan the Devil, and being practiced by the lower animals, they are animalistic. The words of censure by the disciple James therefore apply to it: “If you have bitter jealousy and contentiousness in your hearts, do not be bragging and lying against the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is the earthly, animal, demonic. For where jealousy and contentiousness are, there disorder and every vile thing are.”—Jas. 3:14-16.

But most serious of all, caste distinctions exalt creatures and are therefore a form of creature worship. As such they invite God’s wrath, for he is “a God exacting exclusive devotion.” Because He cannot deny himself he will, in the near-at-hand battle of Armageddon, bring low proud man and have his name alone exalted.—Ex. 20:5.

Those who love God and their fellow man will have nothing to do with any caste distinctions, nor with organizations that practice them. As for those who are discriminated against because of caste distinction and who are unable to get out from under this yoke, rather than making an issue of it and dedicating one’s life to fighting it as some do, the wise course is to wait on Jehovah until his due time to end all injustices, which he will do in his new world of righteousness.

After Prayer, the Rifle Range

● A former clergyman recommends that church members follow their prayers with rifle practice. Reporting on the former clergyman’s views, which were expressed in a letter, the Houston Post of August 5, 1950, said: “Dr. E. C. Nance, president of the University of Tampa, advised leaders of groups interested in peace, including churches, to ‘launch a campaign of instruction in the use of firearms, civil defense, guerrilla warfare and so forth to every man, woman and child in the United States.’ Dr. Nance, 50-year-old veteran of two world wars and former pastor in several Christian churches, said if he occupied a pulpit today he would tell his congregation not to be too high-minded even in their prayers. ‘I would tell them that religion is not, at least in our day, to help them escape the realities of life, but to help face them. I would say it is better to be a live sinner than a dead saint. After leading my congregation in prayer services I would invite them to the rifle range for practice in firearms. I believe we should have total preparedness based on the laws of the jungle—that we should learn every art and science of killing.’” How unlike Christ Jesus!