THE HERALD
of Christ's Kingdom
VOL. XV. November,
1932 No. 18
Table of Contents
"Heaping
Treasure Together for the Last Days"
The
Sufferings of Christ and the Will of God
Half
Hour Meditations on Romans
What
is Evil Speaking?
Report
of Recent Conventions
New
Edition of the Divine Plan Soon Ready
Encouraging
Letters
GONE
BEFORE US
VOL.
XV. November, 1932 No. 18
Howard Scott, Technologist, Says Data Already Compiled Shows
Machine Age Menace. Holds New System Vital.
DEVOUT students of sacred prophecy have no difficulty in recognizing the
significance of the present sad circumstances in which millions of our race are
experiencing untold suffering and distress as a result of the gravest and most sanguinary
financial, and industrial crisis the world has ever known. Briefly, the Bible viewpoint is
that this is the due time for the setting up of the Kingdom of God and hence the due time
also for the great change from the old order to the new, from the reign of the empire of
Satan to that of the Kingdom of God's dear Son, in harmony with Jesus' prayer, "Thy
Kingdom come."
In sacred prophecy this time is described as a dark day of severest trouble, suffering
and distress upon mankind. "And what wonder that a revolution of such proportion and
necessitating such great changes should cause trouble. All revolutions have caused trouble
in every age; and this so much-greater than any previous revolution is to be a time of
trouble such as never was since there was a nation-no, nor ever shall be." This time
is also called the "day of vengeance" of our God and a "day of wrath,"
not with the idea of anger and malice as we see these manifest among mankind, but with the
thought that God has established certain laws, in harmony with which He operates, and
those who from any cause come into conflict with these, reap the penalty or wrath of their
own course.
While this is in brief the standpoint of the Divine Word regarding the present world
crisis, the logical and philosophical causes in detail may be traced from a scientific
standpoint by even the natural man; and thus some of the bright minds of the world today
are presenting to their fellows what they find to be the logical result and outcome of the
social system under which mankind is operating, an industrial system that permits the
fruitage of human toil, the result of labor, to be centered in the hands of a few; and as
the principle of selfishness is in control the results are a most inequitable and unjust
distribution of the goods, the wealth of human endeavors.
Causes of the Present World Depression
Again prophetically, this situation has been referred to by the Apostle James when he
says, "Go to now ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon
you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is
cankered; and, the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh
as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold the hire of
the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth:
and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of
sabaoth."
Manifest is it before all people that we are in a time pre, eminent above all others,
for heaping together treasures, for accumulating wealth. Entering into this situation and
constituting an important factor is modern knowledge and its wide dissemination in these
last days, resulting in marvelous scientific discoveries, inventions and labor-saving
machinery. Labor-saving devices of every description whose efficiency is daily increasing,
are replacing human labor in every department of industry, resulting in turn in depriving
millions of their employment, of means by which to earn a livelihood. It is then modern
knowledge operating in connection with selfishness in the present social system that has
brought about the present unparalleled world crisis, which in turn is preparing the way
for the new order of things under the administration of the Kingdom of God.
It is interesting in this connection to observe how thoughtful minds of the world are
tracing the legitimate causes of the present world depression, and pointing out how this
is the logical result of the social system under which the governments of the world are
operating. As an example of how the analysis of some is in remarkable harmony with the
Bible, the following, we believe, will be perused with deep interest by our readers:
"An extensive 'energy survey,' tracing the industrial and agricultural development
of the United States during the last 100 years in terms of production, employment and
energy expended, is under way at Columbia University. It is being made under the joint
auspices of the University's Department of Industrial Engineering and the Architects'
Emergency Committee of New York, it was announced yesterday by Professor Walter
Rautenstrauch, head of the department.
"Three thousand charts will present the history from 1830 to 1930 of each of
the 3,000 leading industrial and agricultural products, ranging from wheat and cotton to
steel and power, Professor Rautenstrauch explained. Howard Scott, consultant technologist,
is directing the project.
"About 150 charts have already been completed, steel and cement being among the
commodities covered. It is expected that the survey will be completed next summer, when
the charts will be published.
"The basic facts revealed by the charts for each of the 3,000 commodities will be
the amount of energy expended annually in production, the number of men employed and their
working hours, and the volume produced each year, it was pointed out. The rate of growth
of production, the decline in the amount of man-power needed to produce a unit of each
commodity from year to year, the total installed horsepower needed to produce a unit of
each commodity each year, and the total installed horsepower for each unit produced are to
be depicted by the charts. The highs and lows of inflations and depressions, translated
into production, energy and employment, will stand out in oscillating curves of each
chart.
To Explain Industrial Trends
"'The survey explains very clearly what is happening in this country today,' Mr.
Scott declared. 'Prior to 1900 the charts show very little fluctuation in the production
of the major commodities. Since then the oscillations grow tremendous, increasing in
frequency and in. amplitude. The man-power needed in the production of each commodity
slips down, even as the total installed horsepower increases.
"'The facts revealed by the charts completed through 1920 clearly indicate the
coming of the present depression, although the figures point to 1930 instead of 1929 as
the year of the crash.
"'The maximum of employment in industry was reached in 1918 and has declined ever)
since that date. Total production, on the other hand, reached its maximum in 1929. This
ratio of increased production and the declining employment is to be found in every major
industry, as the charts indicate. Employment may be considered, therefore, an inverse
factor in the rate of production.
"'The charts give a picture of our civilization in the only accurate terms in
which it can be depicted. It cannot be done, as economists do it, by computing monetary
wealth. Economics is merely the pathology of privately owned wealth. Although monetary
wealth is the only wealth in our price system of production, to attempt to evaluate modern
civilization in dollars is to attempt to build a house with a rubber yardstick.
"'The United States, these charts show, expends in energy 150,000 calories per
capita every day. The figure for the ancient Greeks and the modern Chinese is 1,600 to
2,000 per capita per day. Our greatest difficulty is the fact that the tremendous energy
expended in this country is not distributed. Under the present industrial system
unemployment will continue to increase until a maximum point is reached, which will bring
about the collapse of the system.'
"Man-Power Decrease Explained"
"Mr. Scott pointed out that in 1905, according to the charts, the production of a
barrel of cement required 1.75 man-hours per barrel, a man-hour being the number of hours
per unit per man, while in 1930 it required only about .45 man-hour per barrel. It took
1,291 man-hours to build a car in 1904, 303 man-hours to build one in 191.9 when the peak
of employment was reached, and only 92 man-hours in 1929, he added.
"The steel produced in 1900 amounted to 11,000,000 metric tons, and required
600,000,000 man-hours. In 1929, with a production of 58,000,000 metric tons, only
770,000,000 man hours were needed. Thirteen man-hours per ton were required in 1929, as
compared with 70 in 1900.
"'The social system of the future must be adjusted to the energy-producing values
which can be regulated by scientific methods,' he concluded.. 'A. price system and
scientific production cannot exist side by side.'
"Mr. Scott is associated with the Columbia University Industrial Engineering
Department in carrying out the survey and is being assisted by thirty-six unemployed
architectural draftsmen and engineers in the pay of the Architects' Emergency Committee,
who are gathering statistics and drawing the charts.
"Wheat, cotton, rye, corn, rayon, coal, power, zinc, lead, tin, and aluminum are
other products to be charted in the survey."
Gold and Silver Rusted
Our correspondent who sent us the foregoing article comments as follows:
"Seemingly a remarkable fulfillment of some features of James' prophecy regarding
the last days is now in progress.. On every hand responsible men are remarking the vast
aggregations of capital, now said to constitute the greatest reservoir of idle capital
resources and credit ever known in the history of the world-'treasure heaped together,'
and at the same time idle men and women by the millions-idle because the ones who own the
factories, mines, etc., see no way in which to operate them at a profit.
"This remarkable situation calls to mind James' second proposition: 'Your gold and
silver is cankered; and the rust. of them shall be a witness against you.' Things in use
do not generally rust, but idle things do. Millions of people are unemployed today because
capital is heaped together and itself idle. And this idleness of capital is a testimony
against its owners and systems and so recognized today.
"No less remarkable is the third proposition: 'The hire of the laborers who have
reaped down your fields [laborers of all kinds are represented, we suggest agricultural
and industrial], which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth.' Many now recognize that not
enough 'wages' or the joint product of labor and capital has been distributed to labor in
the past; that the oversupply of many commodities 'for which no buyers can now be found is
due to the fact that too much has been withheld from the (many) laborers, and retained by
the relatively few owners of the sources of raw materials and the machinery for processing
and converting them into articles for the use of man. Here again the prophecy seems to
meet fulfillment in a remarkable degree -- the 'withheld' hire of the laborers is
recognized as the cause of the present distressing situation in the world. And it presents
a stalemate which is not only causing unprecedented hardship and suffering to the
unemployed and their dependents, but also rapidly wasting ('cankering,' 'rusting' ) the
accumulations of the wealthy owners of real estate, factories, mortgages, bonds, etc.
"The poor world, owners of the 'heaped together treasure' and the 'laborers'
alike, know no way to solve the problem. Selfishness and failure to practise the Golden
Rule are bringing their own terrible consequences. But thank God, these cries of the
laborers 'are entered into the ears of the Lord'; and 'He shall make an utter end;
affliction shall not rise up a second time: He 'will shake all nations and [then} the
desire of all nations shall come.'
"'Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the
husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it,
until he receives the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for
the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.' - James 5:7,8."
(Contributed)
"Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that
ye should follow His steps."-1 Pet. 2:21.
THE Apostle is addressing a class of Christians who were scattered throughout Asia,
composed mainly of individuals of the servant or slave class, which class has furnished
the phrase or illustration descriptive of those who have truly consecrated their lives to
their Master, Jesus Christ-bondservants, handmaidens, etc., "Elect according to the
foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and
sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. . . begotten unto a lively hope by the
resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and
undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power
of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
Three principal points are found in this statement of facts: first that He suffered;
second, that He was an example; and third, that vie should follow that example. Christ is
therefore to be our example and we are to follow Him both as a pattern in manner of living
or character formation and as a sufferer; thus weaving Him into our lives, our very
beings, and inspiring us to a high and lofty position in our spiritual life, the higher
spiritual ground from which we may view the affairs of life as one detached
therefrom--"in the world but not of it." In this position we are enabled to
place a true valuation upon the spiritual things and upon the things temporal, realizing
that the spiritual are the real forces behind all things-the invisible powers, as those
which move the universe, that keep the planets in their courses, and supply the means
wherewith a man may think; the power which breathed into his nostrils, created him a
living creature, and made him the image of God, created for the pleasure of God and
through the love of God destined to come again into harmony with Him -- restored to his
reason, and capable of loving God as He was intended to be loved.
'Twas Wondrous Love
It was the love of God which planned this great and marvelous work, the creation of
man. He pronounced him very good and He will again so pronounce him when he has become
regenerated by the application of the purchase price of man, through the suffering of Him
who left us an example.
The love of God for men caused the poet to ask and to furnish the answer to the
following questions:
"Why comes this fragrance on the summer breeze,
The blended tribute of ten thousand flowers,
To me, a frequent wanderer 'mid the trees
That form these gay, though solitary bowers?
One answer is around, beneath, above:
The echo of the voice, that God is love.
"Why bursts such melody from tree and bush,
The overflowing of each songster's heart,
So filling mine, that it can scarcely hush
Awhile to listen, but would take its part?
'Tis but one song I hear where'er I rove,
Though countless be the notes, that God is love.
"Why leaps the streamlet down the mountainside,
Hastening so swiftly to the vale beneath,
To cheer the shepherd's thirsty flock or glide
Where the hot sun has left a faded wreath,
Or rippling, aid the music of the grove?
Its own glad voice replies, that God is love.
"In starry heavens, at the midnight hour
In ever-varying hues at morning's dawn,
In the fair bow athwart the falling shower,
In forest, river, lake, rock, hill, and lawn,
One truth is written: all conspire to prove,
What grace of old revealed, that God is love.
"Nor less this pulse of health, far glancing eye,
And heart so moved with beauty, perfume, song,
This spirit, soaring through a gorgeous sky,
Or diving ocean's coral cave among,
Fleeter than darting fish or startled dove
All, all declare the same, that God is love!
"Is it a fallen world on which I gaze?
Am I as deeply fallen as the rest,
Yet joys partaking, past my utmost praise,
Instead of wandering forlorn, unblest?
It is as if an unseen spirit strove
To grave upon my heart, that God is love!
"Yet would'st thou see, my soul, this truth displayed
In characters which wondering angels read
And read adoring! Go, imploring aid
To gaze with faith, behold the Savior bleed!
Thy Lord in human form! O, what can prove,
If this suffice thee not, that God is love?
"Cling to His cross; and let thy ceaseless prayers
Be, that thy grasp may fail not! and, ere long,
Thou shalt ascend to that fair Temple, where
In strains ecstatic an innumerous throng
Of saints and seraphs, round the Throne above
Proclaim for evermore, that God is love!"
Atonement Seen in His Suffering and Death
There is a growing movement among men to set aside the ransom work of our Master. They
would have us believe that Calvary is an historic mistake, suggesting that the idea of
vicarious sacrifice is immoral, an adaptation of a pagan practice and thought, that in the
Master we have a beautiful picture of upright living, and if we will we can become perfect
as He was perfect, and that thus He fulfils His mission of an example.
But the Apostle says that He suffered for us and left us an example. Of what value
would be the example without the suffering? Here the Apostle is referring not only to the
suffering incident to His living as an example, but to His suffering as a propitiatory --
His death upon the cross. Also of what value is His death if we disregard Him as an
example? The two are inseparably bound together as part of the same proposition; yet we
find many holding to one and setting aside the other. Faith in the cross is necessary, but
equally necessary is it to take Him for an example and to follow in His steps. "As
the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." If any man
will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow
Me."
The writer of the Book of Hebrews points us to many of the Ancient Worthies as
justified by their work of obedience based upon their faith in God's Word, but finally
points us to the Author and Finisher of our faith -a new order of things in which both
faith and works must be combined. Much emphasis is placed by some upon the doing of good
as a necessary work, and this of course is true, but only as it is the inevitable
outcropping of a character inspired by the Holy Spirit.
The will of God concerning us is our sanctification, and this means "sanctify
yourselves and I will sanctify you." This signifies further, character formation, and
still further the showing to the world that we have walked with Him, and they seeing the
fruits of a sanctified life, may sometime "glorify the Father" because of their
contact with us. Much confusion has resulted in the Christian world because: of undue
emphasis upon a certain phase of God's truth by the failure to rightly divide the Word.
We sometimes wonder if we are sufficiently thankful for the great measure of
understanding which has been given those who maintain a humble and receptive attitude to
the Word, who strive to show themselves approved of God, workmen that need not to be
ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth. It is the partial understanding of a truth as
often as the acceptance of an error which leads to confusion, or it is the first which
leads to the latter, in many cases.
Christ also Suffered for You
There is no emotion to which the human mind is so subject as suffering, and this
suffering may be from physical causes, reflected and registered by the brain and known as
physical pain, or it may be purely mental pain. The degree of suffering experienced
depends upon the sensitiveness of the sufferer.
Since the desecration of Paradise all men have suffered. From the moment God no longer
"walked with them in the cool of the evening," man has had no peace. Selfishness
has done her work well in the six thousand years of sin and death since one asked,
"Am I my brother's keeper?" The brotherhood of man is a hollow, meaningless
phrase. From the moment a new-born babe comes into the world until his last conscious
breath, he suffers first from physical pain and then from mental pain, from sorrow, from
disappointment, from loss of one kind or another. There are none who are conscious or in
their right mind who do not experience one kind or another of suffering. The drama of life
is more interwoven with tragedy than with comedy. No life is left long to forget
suffering. In the orchestral music of life the minor strains are ever felt, sadness is
dominant in each individual in the world as a whole.
Our Savior was not exempted from these human experiences. Especially from the moment of
His consecration to His last "It is finished," did He suffer; and how He must
have suffered! There seems to have been no moment during all the hours of His passion when
He did not suffer, when He could not say, "My soul is exceedingly sorrowful even unto
death." Peter speaks much of His suffering, Paul of His cross, and John of His love
-- all features of His one purpose. It was Peter who revolted at the idea that Christ
should die, the just for the unjust. It was he who flew to the defense of the Master as
the rabble gathered about Him in the Garden. The Holy Spirit had not yet come to change
him from the impulsive, impetuous Simon to the mellowed but courageous Peter who was in
time, to walk in the Master's steps even unto martyrdom. He did not grasp the significance
of the cross then. There was much the Master could not tell them, for they were unable to
bear it.
Should Lead Us to Self-Examination
The man who exclaimed "This shall not be unto Thee, Lord" was the same who
under the influence of the Spirit carried the message to the first Gentile and witnessed
the outpouring of that Holy Spirit which had wrought so great a change in himself. This
was the man who ate nothing unclean, but when the light dawned upon him, spared no pains
to preach the Gospel to every man. What a change the cross of Christ wrought in him when
his eyes were opened! How different his attitude when he says, "Unto you therefore
which believe, He is precious." -You who believe in His Atonement work, you who have
consecrated, you who have presented yourselves a living sacrifice, you who have been
transformed by the renewing of your minds, you who are no longer conformed to this world,
but have laid aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil
speaking, if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. These can say with the
Apostle John, "And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He
is pure." - 1 John 3:3.
The suffering of Christ for us should lead us to self examination. Let us look for
every trace of malice or guile or hypocrisies and envyings. Let us see if there be any
evil speaking in us, or the desire for the same. Let us do this with candor, seeking the
truth with honesty of purpose. Let us see if Christ dwell within us and whether we love
the brethren, for "we know that we have passed from death unto life if we love the
brethren." This is our great test today-love. Beloved, let us love one another: for
love is of God; and every one that loveth is begotten of God and knoweth God. He that
loveth not, knoweth not God: for God is love." (John 4:7, 8.) And love is the bond of
perfectness. If we are fitting ourselves for membership in the Body of Christ and realize
all that it means, we can leave no thing undone which will advance us in the way to our
chosen goal.
We read that through suffering the Master was made perfect; not perfect in conduct but
perfect in the completeness of His experience in the human phase of His existence. Nothing
has been left undone to meet every exigency of the future. There can be no question that
He is or was everything in the way of a corresponding price for fallen man. And if it were
needful that the Master should suffer how much more needful that the Body suffer; for the
servant is not greater than his Lord.
Laid Down His Life as the Good Shepherd
Again, the experiences of this life are needful that the joint-heirs with Jesus Christ
may be helpful to the world in their uplift work in the next Age. The sufferings of the
Master can be explained only on the grounds that they were for others. While He suffered
more than other men, He surely did not so because He justly deserved it. Nor did He suffer
by any unjust decree of God. He suffered as the good 'Shepherd gives His life for the
sheep. As Paul says, "Christ died for us," and Peter says, "Christ suffered
for us." And as this great truth became clear to these Apostles-that Christ was in
His death and suffering the great antitypical Pascal Lamb, that it is the blood of Christ
that cleanses from all sin, they became lost to all other material considerations, opened
their hearts to the ministry of the Holy Spirit and became two of the greatest exponents
of the truth the world has ever beheld. And it was by suffering that they perfected a
character pleasing to God. The Body members must all be made perfect by these same means
-- must fill up the sufferings of Christ which are behind.
We must remember always that we cannot merit the Lord's favor by these sufferings, but
that this favor is His gift through grace, and that we cannot boast that we have earned
it. We are bought with a price, there, fore "He that glorieth, let him glory in the
Lord." For this reason our Master became reconciled to His suffering and His,
"If it be possible let this cup pass from Me" became His "Nevertheless Thy
will be done." His was a perfect consecration and sanctification and so He can supply
what you and I may need in making our covenant by sacrifice with God that we may be
gathered unto Him. But our portion must be our all, our two hands full must be sprinkled
upon the coals of the altar, that it may ascend into the Most Holy a sweet smelling savor
in the nostrils of Jehovah.
His Atonement sacrifice has bridged the chasm between the Father and the Bride and has
made it possible that we may come boldly unto the Throne of Grace that we may find grace
to help in time of need. It is the sure grounds upon which is based our peace, our
confidence, our joy. His joy, His peace which He has given us in so large a measure, is
such as the world knows not how to give. God has made Him to be sin for us who knew no
sin: that we might be made the: righteousness of God in Him.
Our Experience must be Deeper than Imitators
By His suffering He has left us an example that we should follow in His steps. This
word example has several shades of meaning, one of which is that something is set up, to
be followed in outline or imitated. If so taken in our understanding of the text it will
doubtless accomplish much by way of improving our naturally fallen natures. If we go about
doing good because He so did, if we are kindly and helpful because He was so, if we strive
to do in all the experiences of life as He would possibly do, that would be commendable,
but we would be merely imitators if we went no further. We would be only patterning our
lives after an outward fashion.
Our experiences must be deeper, much deeper than this. In due time the Bride will do
not only the marvelous things which the Apostle saw Him do, but much greater also. This
injunction' to look upon Him as a pattern or example then reaches beyond the purely
physical and mental phase of our attempted patterning. It goes into the spiritual depth of
our being, into the holy of holies of our existence. Here we may imitate Him, and to the
extent that we do, those outward graces will come spontaneously and without effort, as
coming from new creatures, not merely the old made over, but transformed by the renewing
of our minds.
The Master's chief source of strength by which He was able to perform perfectly His
mission was His nearness to the Father, enabling Him to say, "He that hath seen Me
hath seen the Father. The Father and I are one." This then is the one principal point
or feature in which we should follow Him as an example. Filled with the Holy Spirit of
God, emptied of self, the fruits will manifest themselves in our lives in an
ever-increasing measure, verifying the promise of God, "Thou wilt keep him in perfect
peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee."
Now having taken the first step of consecration, making a covenant with Him by
sacrifice after the example set by the Master, we are ready to follow in His steps. It is
easy to speak of Him as our example, but do we realize what it means; if done with honesty
of purpose?
Take up Thy Cross and Follow Me
In those who understand it best we find the greatest transformation of life and
character. A revolutionizing of the reactions toward the things of life comes with the
realization of the new relationship. Our vision has been obstructed in the fields of mere
physical and intellectual life, beautiful in themselves perhaps as the green and fertile'
valleys, but as we reach the mountain peaks and see others rolling on and on before us as
though unfolding still more the beauties of the new life, we pause as the conviction comes
to us that God has heard our cry, that He has hearkened unto us and given ear unto our
voice, and that our prayers are set before him as incense and the lifting up of our hands
as the evening sacrifice. And we ask with the Psalmist: "Set a , watch, O Lord,
before my mouth: keep the door of my lips. Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to
practise wicked works with men that work iniquity." - Psa. 141:1.4.
Take up thy cross and follow Me, from the lips of the Master makes known the truth that
following in His steps leads to a life of sacrifice and suffering. He who would live godly
in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, from the lips of the Apostle, indicates the same
truth. Now why should the godly life, of necessity, lead to persecution and suffering?
Because one who so walks is like one proceeding upstream against a strong downward
current; or like walking in the face of a powerful wind. The aims and objects of the
world, even the clean and upright among them, are very contrary to the aims and objects of
the consecrated Christian. The world knoweth Him not, hence knows not in a true sense His
footstep followers. One is climbing higher and higher toward perfection of life, and
because of the hope that is within him, purifieth himself even as He is pure. This hope
emphasizes the sonship of the Church and the fact that "we shall be like Him for we
shall see Him as He is." And the purification leads to the development: of love here
and now for all mankind, that we should do good unto them, especially unto the household
of faith.
The Master lived after this principle, though He could not live among them without a
spiritual withdrawal from them. To walk in His steps brings the same disfavor upon His
followers as it did upon Him. Both lay their flesh upon the altar, thus indicating that
they have withdrawn from the things of the world, for one cannot serve two masters. We
must overcome the world, and "this is the victory that overcometh the world, even
your faith." The world has no sympathy with a faith which sets aside the things of
the world as without value when compared with the things of the Spirit, which to them are
foolishness. As the love of the world is enmity toward God, so the love of God brings the
enmity of the world toward the Church.
Keynote of Christ's Messages-the Overcoming Life
The Master spoke much of patient endurance toward those who persecute the Church
unjustly. "Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you and shall say
all manner of evil against you falsely. Rejoice and be exceeding glad." "In your
patience possess ye your souls," is His advice to those who suffer by following His
steps. They are building character. They are gaining strength. They are on the way to be
among the overcomers. What glorious promises are made to the seven churches of Asia, in
those letters addressed to them. The Apostle knew what it was to overcome the world. It
carries the thought of a power which gives a victory over a mighty force-the forces of the
world. John knew the power of abiding under the shadow of the Almighty. Faith in the power
of God produces in the humble of heart a poise which indicates a. victory over the forces
of evil, a confidence in the promises which, like love, casteth out fear.
Much perhaps of the suffering which comes to the Christian is needless because he has
not learned to cast all his cares or anxieties upon the Lord in a whole-hearted way. He
suffers from doubts which darken his spiritual horizon, from fears as to his ability to
stand the storms of temptation and trial and even as to the fact that he may be walking in
the straight and narrow way. He is disturbed as to the proper solution of the problems
confronting him in his daily life. The seeming trifles multiply at times so greatly that
they threaten to overwhelm him. The Master, always so calm and self-possessed in His soul,
seems even to have experienced this feature of human suffering on one occasion, when as He
hung upon the cross, paying the debt of sin of the world, as the clouds gathered and the
thunders rolled, and darkness again covered the face of the earth, He cried aloud,
"My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" Thus He descends in the lowest
depths of despair, that He might be able to redeem him who likewise so descended.
Many of our sorrows, heartaches, and sufferings may be of our own causing; but whether
it be so or not we can find comfort and peace as the Master found it in His frequent
communings with the Father, "dwelling in the secret place of the Most High."
"O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good: for His mercy endureth for ever. Let
the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom He hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy; and
gathered them out of the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from
the south." - Psa. 107:1-3.
Were Our Vision Purged
To quote from one who seems to have a vision: "Had one lived in Jesus' day and
realized His excellence,' the cross would have been an almost insuperable offense to
faith. Why should He have had a crown of thorns? Had the veil been lifted from the future,
and had one seen the salvation flowing from the five wounds of the Redeemer, then he had
been comforted and content. No one then imagined that through the mystery of the Lord's
passion so great a blessing was to come on all ages, for none' had entered into the'
secret of His suffering. [Today we are perplexed by the passion, which is not now
concentrated like a bitter essence in the cup of One, but is distributed in the earthly
vessels of ordinary people, and we stand aghast at the lot of the victims.] Were our
vision purged and power given us to detect spiritual effects, then we would understand,
and cease to complain. We would see the hard crust of human nature broken up, and the
fountains of fine emotions unsealed: the subtle sins which sap the vigor of character
eliminated, and the unconscious virtues brought to bloom. Before the widespread, silent,
searching appeal of the suffering, each in his, appointed place, the heart of the race
grows tender and opens its doors to goodness."
"It was the Sea of Sorrow: and I stood
At midnight on the shore. The heavy, skies
Hung dark above: the voice of them that wept
Was heard upon the waters, and the chill,
Sad going of the midnight wind, which stirred
No wave thereon. And I was there alone
To face that dreadful sea: I felt the cold
And deathly waters touch my feet, and drew
A little back and shuddered. Yet I knew
That all who follow Christ must suffer here.
'Master,' I said, with trembling, in the night,
With voice that none but He would note or know,
So hoarse and weak-'O Master, bid me come!
If on these woeful waters I must walk, Then let me hear
Thy voice thereon, that so I may not die, before I reach Thy feet,
Of loneliness and fear.'
"I listened there,
With breathless longing by that solemn sea,
Till through the curtains of the night I heard
His own voice calling me-that voice which draws
His children through the flood and through the 'fire
To kiss His feet: and at the Master's word
I left the shore, forth walking on the dim
And untried waters, there to follow Him
Who called me, and then to see His face!"
No. 31
"But now apart from . . Law a righteousness of [or from]
God hath been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and theProphets; even the
righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ unto all [and upon all] them that
believe; for there is no distinction."-Rom. 3:21, 22, R. V.
THESE two verses, as we noted in our last two Meditations, form the theme, not only of
the passage (Romans 3:21-26), but of the whole of the second section of our Epistle.
(Romans 3:21-5:11.) But before proceeding with the development of this theme, the Apostle
first sums up the argument of the previous section (Romans 1:18-3:20), by restating the
ground on which every human being needs this evangelical righteousness. It is because
"all have sinned and come short o f the glory of God." Romans 3:23.
To What Sins does the Apostle here Refer?
Personal? Adamic? or Both?
Some have supposed that the reference here is to the first sin of Adam; others
think that there is a principal, though not an exclusive reference to that original sin.
But whatever the Apostle may have to tell us later as to the manner in which sin entered
into the world, he has not yet mentioned Adam or any "weakness of the flesh" we,
as his children, may have fallen heir to. His reference in the verse before us is
obviously to the fact which he has substantiated in the preceding section (Romans
1:18-3:20)-the fact that all are guilty of actual personal transgressions. This he proved,
not by pointing to Adam's transgression, but by an appeal to the facts of history. He did
not deny, on the contrary he will later (in chapter 5), affirm the fact of Adam's
transgression and our inheritance of infirmity from our first parent, but it is important
to observe that his argument as to the necessity for a faith righteousness is not based on
this fact. Up to this verse (Romans 3:23) in our Epistle, it must be admitted the Apostle
has not argued that since all are children of Adam and, have inherited certain sinful
tendencies from him, that therefore they need this evangelical righteousness, this
justification by faith. His argument for the necessity of a faith-righteousness contains
no reference to Adam and our inherited blemishes, but rests solely an that personal estate
o f sins all have willfully committed. In the Apostle's view it is from these that all
need to be justified, and it is with these, and with these alone, that the whole o f the
argument of the first section (Romans 1:18-3:20) is concerned. We would urge our readers
not to overlook this point but to make special note of it as it will be of material
assistance later when we come to chapter 4, and inquire into Abraham's justification and
seek to ascertain why it was that notwithstanding he was justified by faith he remained
and still remains under the condemnation passed on Adam and his race, and what he will
need in addition to having his faith counted unto him for righteousness before he will
pass from under that condemnation. It will be helpful also when we come to chapter 8, and
consider what, in addition to having their faith counted unto them for righteousness was
necessary to the Church before the Apostle could triumphantly exclaim "There is
therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." - Romans 8:1, R. V.
Let Us Judge Ourselves
But to return to the verse before us: How does the Apostle prove that all have sinned?
We answer: He proves the existence of the personal estate of willful sins not
speculatively but historically; not by logic but by experience; not by development of a
theory but by an appeal to fact. "Because philosophy and science have been bringing
into prominence the influence of heredity and physical environment on character, we use
this consideration, and often with little enough knowledge of real science, to obliterate
the sense of sin. We are apt to regard sin as it appears in the world at large as a result
of ignorance, or social conditions-as in one way or another a form of misfortune. And so
viewing it in the world, we view it in ourselves. We make excuses for ourselves. We have
largely lost the sense that sin is willfulness; that it is an inexcusable offense against
God; that it does, and necessarily does, bring us under God's indignation. . . It is this
sense of sin that St. Paul must help' to restore in us. We must believe that God is holy,
and we must learn to tremble under His necessary holiness, before we can in any right
sense realize that He is loving. We must learn once again to be really penitent; to
confess our sins in general and in particular with utter humiliation; to expect the Divine
judgment upon them. . . And learning this for ourselves with regard to our own personal
sins, we must learn also to feel, like Daniel, what our Church and nation deserve in God's
sight. We must confess our own sins and the sins of Church and nation [Dan. 9:4.20]-aye,
of the human race. Only through such a restoration of evangelical severity can there be a
restoration of evangelical joy. The deepened sense of personal sin is the (,needful step
to spiritual progress. Certainly no more in our case than in that of the Jews will
orthodoxy, or ritual accuracy, or frequent services, or superior education, or
philanthropic zeal, be accepted as a substitute for moral severity, for the spirit of
penitence and the readiness for penance. Let us judge ourselves, brethren, that we be not
judged by the Lord.
What shall be Our Standard of Judgment
"And it is all-important what our standard of judgment is. The Jews failed because
they judged themselves by a mainly external and therefore easy standard. So do most . . .
[of us]. We are satisfied if we do nothing discreditable. But the religious sense of sin,
as it is experienced by the Psalmists, or St. Paul, or Luther, or John Keble, arises from
the intense perception of a personal relation to the All-Holy. The 'falling short' or
rather 'experienced need,'* of which St. Paul goes on to speak, is the experienced need of
something very lofty, to which it is possible for men to be quite insensible -- 'the glory
of God.' God's Divine brightness, the eternal light, streams forth into nature. 'The whole
earth is full of His glory.' Man also in his natural and moral being is meant to have
fellowship with God. He is meant for the Divine glory also. It is in proportion as he
realizes what he was meant for, and becomes conscious in himself of a capacity for God,
that his present actual pollution and sinfulness becomes a reality to his consciousness.
It is in the light of God and in aspiration after the glory of God, that the sense of sin
really awakens. 'Thou requirest truth in the inward parts,' says the Psalmist. 'Against
Thee, Thee only, have I sinned.' 'If thou, Lord, shouldst be extreme to mark what is done
amiss, Lord, who may abide it?'
-------------------------------------------
*"The word for 'fall short' in verse 23 is a 'middle' verb, and apparently implies
not only failure in point of fact, but conscious failure. Thus in Luke 15:14, the prodigal
son begins to feel his destitution (middle). But in Matt. 19:20, the rich young man asks,
'What, as a matter of fact, is wanting to me?' (active)."
Man's Extremity God's Opportunity
"Being justified [declared righteous-Rotherham] freely by His grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Christ. "-Ver. 24.
"Now we have been brought to recognize the true state of the case as between
ourselves and God-the fact about ourselves as we are in God's sight. We were meant for
fellowship in the Divine glory. . . But, meant for fellowship in the Divine glory, we have
fallen short of it and have come to appreciate our failure. We have sinned, and that
universally and willfully. We are such that God cannot accept us as we are; the 'day of
His appearing' could be for us but a 'day of wrath.' And in this dire situation we are
helpless. We can supply no remedy. 'Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his
spots? Then may ye also do good that are accustomed to do evil.' (Jer. 13:23.) But to
acknowledge this-to abandon the claim so dear to the human heart, that we can be
independent and manage our own life successfully: to repudiate all our false pride, and to
come before God all of us on the same level confessing our failure and our sin-this is to
let man's necessity be God's opportunity, and to open the flood-gates of the Divine
righteousness."
Believers though Unrighteous are declared Righteous
With such sentiments as the foregoing in mind it will not be difficult for us to see
that faith-righteousness is not anything that we could procure for ourselves, but is a
gift bestowed upon believers personally by God Himself. It is a Divine act, not a human
attainment. Moreover, consecrated believers know by personal experience as well as from
Scriptural teaching that when God justified them by faith He did not make them righteous
but declared them righteous or reckoned them so. This was our conclusion, it will be
recalled, when we considered the matter in Meditations No. 15. "When a man is
justified by faith, righteousness is not communicated to him but is imputed to him; he is
not made righteous but reckoned righteous. In imputing our faith to us for righteousness,
God does not thereby declare that we who are not righteous have become righteous, but He
thereby undertakes to regard and deal with us as though we had, extending to us all the
privileges that would be ours if we had become righteous." In verse 24 the Apostle
sets before us (1) the method, (2) the origin, and (3) the ground of this faith
righteousness.
The Method of Justification by Faith -- Freely
To be justified freely is to be justified without any meritorious cause in us of the
blessing bestowed. The same word is used in John 15:25 where instead of being translated
"freely" it is translated "without a cause." "They hated,
Me," our Lord there says of His enemies, "without a cause," by which He
evidently means, without a cause in Himself that should have had any tendency to excite
their malicious hatred. So here, to be justified freely is to be justified without a cause
in us that could procure such a blessing.
The Origin of Justification by Faith -- His Grace
Scholars have pointed out that the word "His" should be emphasized. It is
from God that the gift comes down. It is not merely by favor but by His favor that
believers are justified-declared righteous. "It is God that justifieth." (Rom.
8:23.) As another remarks: "The entire expression as the Apostle gives it, points us
at once to the efficient cause (God) and also to the impulsive cause (His grace) of the
justification of believers."
The Ground of Justification by Faith -- Through
the Redemption that is in Christ Jesus
The ransom sacrifice of Christ constitutes the meritorious ground not only of the
faith-righteousness of believers of this Age but also of their deliverance as well as that
of the rest of the human family from Adamic condemnation and death to eternal life in
Christ. But the Apostle is not yet ready to discuss that "way of life." At the
proper time and place (see chap. 5, ver. 12-21), he will do so adequately, exhaustively,
in the superb and masterful style with which we are so familiar. But in the present
passage he is not discussing that way of life, but is discussing the privilege of
justification by faith offered to believers of this Gospel Age. True, justification by
faith is intended by God to serve as an introduction to that life to those who in this Age
consecrate themselves to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. But we believe it will conduce to
clarity of thought if we do not attempt to anticipate here a subject which under the
guidance of the Holy Spirit the Apostle has thought well to postpone to a later chapter.
Instead let us concentrate our attention on the theme he is here seeking to unfold.
Ransom not Mentioned
As we come to examine closely into the text we find that the "ransom sacrifice of
Christ" is not mentioned. "What then," it may be asked, "are we to
understand by the redemption that is in Christ Jesus'?" We answer: The word
apolutrosis here translated redemption appears only ten times in the New Testament and not
once does it refer to the ransom but in each case signifies deliverance. True, in every
case the deliverance mentioned may be proved to be intimately connected with the work of
the Redeemer, with the ransom sacrifice at Calvary, but it is always deliverance, the
outcome of the redemptive work, the result of the ransom, never the ransom itself that is
intended. For that central feature of God's Plan a different word is used. It appears only
three times. Twice it is used to record our Lord's own words: "The Son of Man came .
. . to give His life a ransom [lutron-anti-a price to correspond] for many." (Matt.
20:28; Mark 10:45.) The third time it is used by our Apostle, only compounded differently:
"The Man Christ Jesus gave Himself a ransom [anti-lutron-a corresponding price] for
all, to be testified in due time." - 1 Tim. 2:6.
To What Deliverance does the Apostle Refer?
But what is the "deliverance that is in Christ Jesus"? We answer: The context
must in each case decide. In three places the reference is undoubtedly to the final
deliverance of the Church: Luke 21:28; Rom. 8:23; Eph. 4:30. In three other places the
reference is to their present justification by faith: Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; Rom. 3:24. In
one place the reference is to the final deliverance not only of the Church but also of the
whole of mankind, including the earth, man's home. (Eph. 1:14.) In another place the
reference is to the deliverance granted believing Jews from transgressions which took
place under their Old Law Covenant. (Heb. 9:15.) In yet another it is to a deliverance the
Ancient Worthies refused, preferring death (Heb. 11:35), while in another instance the
word would seem to apply both to the final deliverance of the Church and also to their
present justification by faith. (1 Car. 1:30.) Let us briefly examine these ten texts in
which apolutrosis occurs.
(1) Luke 21:28: "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look tip, and
lift up your heads; for your redemption (deliverance) draweth nigh." When the
deliverance here spoken of "draweth nigh" then "the Kingdom of God is nigh
at hand." (Ver. 31.) "There is no reference here to the ransom or to the
conditions precedent to the Church's deliverance, but merely to the deliverance
itself," namely the final deliverance of the Church.
(2) Rom. 8:23: "Even we ourselves (the faithful Church) groan within ourselves,
waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption (deliverance) of our Body [the Church,
the Body of Christ, which is to be glorified with the Head, in due time]."
"Nothing in this statement has the slightest reference to the redemption accomplished
at Calvary, the purchase-price; it refers purely and solely to the deliverance of the
Church, which is to be a part o f the result of the redemption finished at Calvary-the
ransom." Again the reference is seen to be to the final deliverance o f the Church.
(3) 1 Cor. 1:30: "Of Him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom
and righteousness and sanctification and redemption [deliverance]." "Nothing
here has any reference to the redemption-price paid at Calvary. The Apostle is speaking,
not of what our Lord did for us, but o f what He is yet to do for us. . . .
He will, in due time, deliver from the bondage of corruption, death, the Church which
He purchased with His own blood. The deliverance, and not the purchase is here referred
to," and again it is seen to refer to the final deliverance o f the Church, although
it may here "very properly be applied also to the intermediate and incidental
deliverances o f the faithful all along the narrow way, culminating in salvation 'to the
uttermost' in the glory, honor and immortality of the First Resurrection."
(4) Eph. 1:7: "He hath made us accepted in the Beloved, in whom we have redemption
[deliverance] through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His
grace." Here the word deliverance is explained for us. It is the forgiveness of sins,
not, we would observe in passing, the sin or sins of Adam but our own. "Thy sins be
forgiven thee." (Matt. 9:2.) Deliverance here, then, refers not to the sacrifice at
Calvary but to the reckoning as righteous those who were in fact sinners, or in other
words it refers to the justification by faith of the ungodly. Thus seen, the word does not
refer to the final but to a present deliverance.
(5) Eph. 1:14: "Ye were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the
earnest of our inheritance, until the redemption [deliverance] of the purchased
possession." "The possession which Christ purchased by the sacrifice for sins as
man's substitute includes mankind in general or so many as will accept the favor on the
Gospel conditions, as well as the Church, the Bride. The time for the deliverance is in
the Millennial Kingdom and the Church is to be delivered first-'early in the morning.' But
the earth was part of man's original estate and was purchased by the same sacrifice once
for all: hence it too is to be delivered from its share of the curse and shall become as
the garden of the Lord-Paradise. The purchase is accomplished but the deliverance waits
for God's 'due time.' " The word, then, has reference to the final deliverance o f
both the Church and the rest o f the world o f mankind, including the earth, man's home.
(6) Eph. 4:30: "And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God whereby ye are sealed unto
the day of redemption [deliverance]." "There is no reference here to the
redemption sacrifice finished at Calvary. Yet not until that sacrifice was finished, and
its merits presented in the holy of holies, and accepted by the Father, did the Holy
Spirit come upon any to seal them as sons of God. But now these who have been sealed are
to maintain this seal of sonship, this begetting of the Divine nature, not to lose it. The
sealing of the Spirit is the first-fruit of the Spirit, and is all that is communicated
during this present life: for the full measure of the blessing of the Divine nature we
must wait until the time appointed of the Father, the 'day of deliverance,' the Millennial
Day, in which day the Scriptures declare, concerning the Church, the Bride of Christ, 'God
shall help her early in the morning."' (Psa. 46:5.) Whoever loses the Holy Spirit and
its seal will have neither part nor lot in the First Resurrection, in the morning of the
'day of [complete] deliverance' from the power of sin and death." In this passage the
context again discloses a reference to the final deliverance o f the Church.
(7) Col. 1:14: "In whom we have redemption [deliverance] through His blood even
the forgiveness of sins." This as will be readily seen, is a parallel passage to Eph.
1:7. "We believers already have deliverance, that is, the forgiveness of our sins,
and hence harmony with the Father. The word 'redemption' here has no reference to the
sacrifice for sins, but merely to its effect upon us, setting us free from our sins. The
Apostle, however, does not ignore the sacrifice, but declares that our deliverance from
the bondage and control of sin is through the efficacy of our Lord's blood--His death, His
sacrifice for sins, the ransom paid." The word then relates, as in Eph. 1:7, not to
the final but to a present deliverance.
(8) Heb. 9:15: "For this cause He is the Mediator of the new testament, that by
means of death, for the redemption [deliverance] of the transgressions that were under the
first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal
inheritance." "Once more a faulty rendering partially obscures the meaning; but
when the thought is seen to be deliverance all is clear." The evident reference is to
the deliverance already experienced by the believing few from transgressions which had
taken place under the Old Law Covenant.
(9) Heb. 11:35: "Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance." "This
is the one instance in which the translators have properly rendered this word: they
probably tried to render it 'redemption' and found that it would make rather strange
reading to say, 'not accepting redemption,' and then translated it properly,-deliverance.'
" Obviously it has reference to a deliverance that could have been accepted by the
worthy ones of a previous Age, but to which death was preferred.
(10) Rom. 3:24: "Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption
[deliverance] that is in Christ Jesus. Coming now to this, our text, it should not be
difficult, in the light of the foregoing discussion to see that the deliverance here
spoken of is akin to that mentioned in Eph. 1:7 and Col. 1:14. It is a present
deliverance, even the forgiveness of sins. No reference is here made to the great
sacrifice for sins, but merely to the present effect upon believers, setting them here and
now free from their sins; reckoning as righteous those who in fact are sinners. As Brother
Russell in commenting directly on this text has observed: "The Apostle does not in
these words refer to the ransom but merely to the deliverance which the Lord's people
have, now reckonedly, and by and by prospectively in the resurrection. He is treating the
matter from God's standpoint: believers are freely, unconditionally, justified; aside from
any works of merit on their part. This is accomplished through the deliverance which God
has provided in Christ Jesus -our Lord." - Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. V, Page
434.
Conclusion
The thought of the Apostle then seems clear. He is discussing, not Adamic condemnation
and death and the way of deliverance therefrom to eternal life through the ransom
sacrifice of Christ, but while not ignoring that sacrifice, is, for wise reasons, limiting
his discussion to personal willful sins and how by faith believers may be here and now
forgiven them, delivered from them, justified from them-how by faith they may be declared
righteous by God. And so far as this faith-righteousness is concerned its method is
without cause in us, its origin is in God, and its all sufficient ground is the
deliverance that is in Christ Jesus.
(Reprinted by request from "The Watch Tower,"
September 1, 1914)
Speak evil of no man." - Titus 3:2
THE Apostle’s injunction is very positive; we are to speak evil of none. The
question then arises, What does St. Paul mean here? Does he mean that we should speak
nothing of any man with an evil intention toward him? Or does he mean, Speak no evil
whatever the intention? We answer, we surely know that to speak evil with a wrong motive,
a wrong intention, would be a heinous crime, especially in a child of God. But we think
the Apostle meant, No matter what your motive speak evil about nobody. If that be the
Apostle’s thought—and we believe it hardly controvertible—it places a very
stringent requirement upon all of the Lord’s people. If the motive for speaking evil
were bad, all the worse but good or bad "Speak evil of no man."
Now another question comes up, What is evil-speaking? We answer, This subject has
various sides. To speak evil is to speak that which is injurious; therefore one should say
nothing that would injure any man. It is very easy to perceive the justice and the
reasonableness of this requirement if we apply the Golden Rule. Would we wish any one to
do us evil? Would we wish any to speak slightingly of us to comment on our faults or on
what the speaker considered faults, and thus lower us in the eyes of others? If the
Lord’s people would learn to apply the Golden Rule to every affair of life, it would
surely be very helpful.
Some of the most conscientious Christians have difficulty along this line. In
considering this matter of evil-speaking some think, Is my motive right? They forget that
their motive in speaking derogatively of others has nothing to do with the Apostle’s
injunction. No matter what the motive, we are not to speak evil. The question is not, Did
I have a good intention or a bad one? but, Am I speaking evil? Am I saying anything
contrary to the Golden Rule—something that I would not wish to have said of me? We
would that we could instill this thought into the hearts and minds of every reader of this
journal.
IS REPORTING VIOLATION OF RULES EVIL-SPEAKING?
Now comes another question, How should we apply the injunction of our text in the case
of the home, for instance, or the office? Suppose that we are connected with an office or
a home where certain rules are laid down for the government of that office or home. Would
it in such a case be evil-speaking on our part to report any violation of those rules? We
do not consider this evil-speaking. If we were ourselves violating those rules, the person
who would report us would be doing right—not doing us evil or wrong or injury. By not
reporting the misdemeanor or violation of rules, the person would be encouraging in us a
continuation of the wrong course.
God’s people are supposed always to have no other than good motives for any course
pursued. To have any but a good motive in dealing with others would be to have a murderous
motive. We are not, therefore, to take the motive into consideration. But a person who
accepts a position in an office, a home or an institution accepts also the conditions and
sundry rules connected with such a position. Doubtless nearly all rules and regulations in
an office or home are made, not with the view of injuring any one, but for the general
welfare of the business or the family or whatever it may be. Hence the observance of all
these obligations should be considered a serious responsibility.
One should not report an infraction of rules in an evil
way,
but merely as a fact.
It is not necessary for the one who informs to judge the heart of the one reported. It
is not a question of a bad heart. If one has a foolish brain, or is forgetful or
inattentive and violates important rules, it is not judging the heart to report such a
case—and especially where there is a rule that such cases be reported. It is merely a
matter of duty—a thing that is required and is both necessary and proper. We see this
principle laid down in God’s workmanship in our bodies. If something occurs in the
body—for instance, if a finger is being pinched— the nerves immediately
telegraph to the brain. If a foot is hurt, the fact is telegraphed to the brain at once.
Suppose there were no means of communicating the injury of a member of the body to the
brain. Suppose there were no nerves of sensation to convey the message. One might not know
whether or not he had lost a finger or a toe. He would not know when he had lost a foot,
until he stumbled and fell.
SUBJECT NOT TO BE DISCUSSED WITH THE OFFENDER
We should not be always looking to see if our own personal matters are being impinged.
We know that we as well as others, have imperfections. If others inadvertently tread upon
our toes, we know that we are likely to sometimes tread on others’ toes. But personal
matters are different from those that belong to the family or to the office. It is not
busybodying to report violations of the rules of the house or of the office. It is to the
interest of every member of a family or an institution that the interests of the whole
body be looked after, in a proper and reasonable way.
It would not be proper for any one in an office to attempt to set straight every one
else in the office. It is not for any one to go around and correct others; this is not his
business. But if another is breaking rules, it is his business to report the
facts—the facts without any coloring whatever. If we would do otherwise, if each one
who notes an infraction would go to the one who violated the rules, and thus attempt to
settle all the affairs of the office or the family, there would be continual confusion.
The one who broke the rule would be disposed to defend himself and to say, "My course
was all right, and it is none of your affair whether that gate was left open or
shut," etc. But if that gate is left open, it is your duty to report the matter to
the proper authority, and thus you are relieved of the responsibility of the affair. This
is not a personal matter, such as to be dealt with according to Matthew 18:15-18. It would
not be our duty to tell Tom Dick, Harry, Mary or Jane about the matter. There is just one
person to whom we should tell it; and the report should be made with all kindly feeling.
One would soon get himself into trouble if he were to try to run an entire house or
office by going to various ones to endeavor to set them right. But if there were a
new-comer, and he were unintentionally violating a rule, it might be well to say; It is a
rule of the house to do thus and so. But it would not be proper to mention this fact to
him more than once. A second violation should be reported though in a loving spirit.
MISCELLANEOUS CASES
Applying the question to our proper course in the Church, in matters relating to
ourselves personally, we see where our individual responsibility lies. "If thy
brother trespass against thee go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone."
Our Lord does not refer to what he does against some one else, but against
"thee." "Well," some one may object, "I think he was doing
something against so-and-so." We have heard some one say: "I think Brother
So-and-so does not treat his wife right." We reply, "That is his business and
his wife’s business it is not your business. Your business is to look after your own
wife or husband, your own parents, your own children, and let other people alone. We
advise that you practise on yourself. Do your duty in respect to your own affairs, and
refrain from comments on those of others."
But suppose we saw something radically wrong, suppose we were going along the street
and saw a man cruelly beating a horse, should we say nothing? In such a case if we saw a
policeman, we might say, "Will you take notice of how that man is abusing that
horse?" Or it might be reported to the humane society, if there were one in the
locality. If a parent were brutally beating a child, or something of that kind, it would
be proper to report the matter to the authorities. But it is not the business of every one
to go about attempting to straighten out matters in general. The world is full of evil,
and will be until the Kingdom shall take control.
We think that as far as the Church is concerned the number of difficulties we see in
the world would better be let alone as a rule; for if we should start out to right
everything that is wrong, we would not have any time left for serving the King of kings
and Lord of lords. Our time is limited enough, at best. People already misjudge us;
therefore we do well not to add unnecessarily to the opposition. If the time ever came
when we were through with all our duties to the Church and to our families then we might
see to some of these outside matters. But we have very little time, and it leaves us very
small opportunity to attend to any other matters except our necessary duties and our
service for the Lord and the brethren. And for this we should be very thankful; for then
if there is opposition against us, it will be only because we have been faithful to our
Heavenly King.
Our King has not given us authority as yet to set the matters of the world straight.
But we are instructed that we should, as we have opportunity, make known the principles of
righteousness, without getting into any dispute. When our King comes in and begins His
Reign, and we are exalted with Him, we will show the world what a government should be!
But, indeed, it seems surprising how good the laws are even now. We are simply amazed as
we think of the good laws of the State of New York for instance. It is wonderful how the
State tries to take care of the interests of the majority, and how much is done for the
people; we are glad that the poor world has been able to do so well. We admire what they
have done under such adverse conditions. What a grand time it will be, and what a grand
world it will be, when everything is under the Law of Righteousness!
ANOTHER PHASE OF THE QUESTION
But coming back to this matter of evil-speaking in the Church; suppose that a brother
has been nominated for the position of Elder or Deacon, and suppose that in our judgment
he is unfit for such an office, for certain reasons known to us, but not known to the rest
of the Ecclesia. What should be our course in the matter? We are admonished to speak evil
of no man. Should we then get up and say, "Brethren, I consider Brother A. wholly
unfit to be an Elder; I know that he did thus-and-so; that he cheated a woman out of a sum
of money"—or whatever the charge might be. Shall we say this? No, indeed! Is it
our duty to speak evil in the interests of the Church to do evil that good may come?
Certainly not! But the old creature always wants a chance to speak evil; give him half a
chance and he will soon tell all that he knows!
Then what shall we do? Well, if we were ourself a member of that congregation, we think
we would go over and speak to the brother thus nominated, and say, "Brother A., there
are certain matters which I have learned about you which I do not wish to mention to
anybody. I would not wish to speak evil of you at all, dear brother. But I believe that
this feature of your life is wrong, and that it would not be right for this Congregation
to elect you. I do not wish to tell them about this matter. I wish to ask you if you will
refuse to serve. If you promise that you will decline to be elected, that is all that is
necessary. Or if you think that my point is not well taken, just state the matter publicly
to them. If you do not do this, and do not refuse to be elected, then I must state the
matter publicly—I will have to tell what I know; for you know it is as I state it. I
have come to you in kindness and have no desire to injure you."
If the brother answers, "Well, Brother __________, I will decline the nomination;
and as regards the matter you mention, I am trying to get the better of it"—then
we would tell him we are very glad. We believe that we would in this way do that brother
good. We would also be preserving the Class from what would be hurtful or contentious, and
would be keeping the peace. If, on the other hand, the brother should be disputatious, we
would say to him, "You may be sure that I will explain this matter to the Church, if
you do not decline the nomination for thereby you are saying that you approve your course
in life and are standing by it."
But if the matter were something that occurred in the brother’s life long ago, he
might be entirely changed by now—in the matter of a year, or two years, or five
years, or whatever. We would be glad if he were changed from the old course. Then we might
go to the brother and say, "Brother, I notice that you stood for election. Is your
life entirely changed?" If he replied, "Yes Brother; it is changed
entirely," then we would be glad. But if he got angry and told us it was none of our
business we would say, "Now, Brother, I must make a report of this to the Church. You
are indicating by your manner that you are advocating the same course that you took
before. If I had done such a wrong, and continued to do wrong, I would wish to have my
course checked. So I shall report this matter, that the Class may consider again whether
they will have you for an Elder (or a Deacon)." But suppose that the Brother should
not be nominated for office in the Church? Then we would consider that his past was none
of our affair.
A CONCLUDING WORD OF EXHORTATION
Anything injurious to the real interests of another should never be spoken. We cannot
be too careful of our words concerning others. There seems to be a tendency with some of
the Lord’s children to indulge in confidences with others of the brethren and to
relate incidents that reflect upon another brother or sister, that show up certain
manifestations of weakness in that one. The disposition that thus exposes the
imperfections of the brethren is surely not the love that covers. (1 Peter 4:8.) We know
some who have been long in the narrow way, who do not seem even yet to have overcome this
disposition. Do they forget that they themselves have weaknesses perhaps as pronounced as
the brother or sister whom they criticize? The very fact that they ignore the
Master’s injunction along the line of our text proves their own lack of development.
Yet these would probably resent the implication that they are guilty of evil-speaking.
The sooner every follower of Christ comes to see that all this is slander that it is
besmirching the good name of a brother or sister, that it is a direct violation of the
repeated injunction of the Word of God, and that defamation is theft of another’s
reputation, the sooner they will see this subject as it really is, in all its
hideousness—as it must appear in the sight of the Lord. Once seeing the matter from
the Divine standpoint, the only true standpoint the child of God must surely awaken to the
greatest possible energy in overcoming such works of the flesh and of the Devil. Let each
one who reads these words search his or her own heart and think over his or her own
conduct and then ask the question, "Is it I?"
Let every one who hopes to be accounted worthy of a place in the Kingdom, so soon to
come, purge out the old leaven of malice, envy, backbiting and strife if any yet remain,
that he or she may become indeed a copy of God’s dear Son. The flesh is very
seductive, and is inclined to make all manner of excuses for itself. Let each one make
this a matter of personal heart-searching. There is, we believe, only a very little while
remaining in which to perfect our characters. Let us pray more earnestly than ever,
"Set a watch, O Lord, before my mouth! Keep Thou the door of my lips!"
ATLANTIC CITY
The brethren who have been privileged to attend the gatherings at Atlantic City, from
year to year, have come to look upon them as seasons of very special fellowship and
spiritual joys. The Atlantic City Class has for several years past arranged for a
conference for their encouragement and that of others in adjacent States who might be
hindered from attending gatherings at greater distances. The warmth of welcome and spirit
displayed by the local Class no doubt constitutes one of the chief reasons for the
contagious atmosphere of fellowship that pervades these yearly gatherings; and it is our
pleasure to report that this last season of blessing October 8, 9 was no exception. The
presence of the Lord and His Spirit were unmistakably manifest and evidently guided in the
matter of subjects chosen for the occasion, which were appropriate to the present needs of
the Church. About the usual attendance at these yearly gatherings, was present at this
time, some sixty of the brethren participated in fellowship on Sunday. Considering the
high standards of Christian character and service that were held before the friends in the
various discourses and the need for a closer acquaintance and walk with the Lord, it
seemed timely indeed that the Apostolic admonition, "Examine yourselves whether ye be
in the faith; prove your own selves," be carefully remembered. We believe it was with
a sense of added spiritual joy and gratitude that the friends bid each other farewell and
separated to take up once more their individual duties and responsibilities as the Lord in
His wisdom has dispensed to each and all.
WASHINGTON, D. C.
The one day Sunday Convention recently announced for Washington for October 16 being
now in the past, we have much pleasure in reporting that according to the prevailing
opinion in evidence at the close of the day, the brethren realized all and more than they
had anticipated in the way of stirring up their pure minds and in the enjoyment of
spiritual fellowship. Though there has been a regular gathering of brethren in Washington
during the past fourteen years, standing fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made
free, this was the first occasion of a general gathering or convention of brethren from
surrounding districts; and at this time there were friends from Virginia, Pennsylvania,
Maryland, Delaware, and New York.
The exercises of the day began with songs of praise and thanksgiving, and earnest
prayers were offered for the Divine blessing upon the assembling of the brethren, in which
God's people everywhere were remembered, with the request that His blessing might attend
the worship and fellowship of saints in all parts of the world. Then followed a testimony
meeting during which the friends spoke earnestly and freely together of their peace and
joy in the Lord, of what great things He had done for them, and of His manifest
providential leading and overruling in their daily experiences. They spoke, too, fervently
of their longings and hopes to continue faithfully walking in the footsteps of Christ and
in the end of the Christian racecourse to realize the Master's loving commendation and
approval.
From the various warm expressions of the appreciation of the discourses it was evident
that the friends are being exercised more and more in the direction of attaining the
fulness of the stature of manhood in Christ and the development of the Christ-character,
even as the Apostle assures the Church of His day of his prayer for them, "That He
would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by
His Spirit in the inner man; that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being
rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the
breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth
knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God."-Eph. 3:16-19.
Warm farewell greetings and "God be with you till we meet again,"
characterized the partings of the brethren, and we are sure that the sentiment and desire
of all was that the dear brethren of the Washington Class would arrange for another such
conference on holy things in the not far distant future.
The task on which our Institute set out about two months ago, that of publishing a new
edition of "The Divine Plan of the Ages," has now been about accomplished; there
has been a few weeks' delay, which we regret, but it has seemed unavoidable, as our
printers have not been able to make quite as rapid progress as was expected, owing to
other printing orders which they have had.
We expect to be able to fill orders for this Volume early in November. As was explained
in the September issue of this journal, the new book is to be a pocket size edition,
containing however the same size print as in our previous large cloth bound Volume. It is
practically of the same size as that issued by Brother Russell and known as the karatol
edition, on thin paper and semi-flexible binding. This new book will be very convenient
for carrying in the pocket and we believe will be of very good appearance and attractive,
and we trust will please all.
Remembering that we have in this Volume, "The Divine Plan of the Ages," the
great and essential truths of the Bible set forth in clear light and beautiful form, let
us realize afresh our privileges of sharing in this ministry of the Divine message.
As already indicated in our previous announcement, the price of the book will be thirty
cents per copy, postpaid; or in lots of ten copies or more, carriage charges collect,
twenty cents per copy.
Dear Brethren in Christ:
In renewing subscriptions for the "Herald" we do so with continued
appreciation of your labors of love in the ministry-for all here look upon it as a real
ministry in spiritual things, dealing exclusively with the Christian fundamentals -faith,
hope, and love, "Christ in you" as the one and only hope of any future glory or
of present peace.
We recall it was the "Herald" the Lord used in our case-in direct answer to
prayer-to lead us into the full light of the "more sure word of prophecy" at a
critical time in our Christian experience. The special Chronology number indeed proved to
be the Divinely provided path through the Red Sea of accumulating difficulties, leading us
into a large land-even the most comprehensive understanding of the whole science of
Prophetic Chronology, which is proving more than ever today to be the only light that can
illumine the world situation, and in which the Christian can maintain his
"watch." For instance, the present world crisis has no significance apart from
the fact that the time is at hand. All the trouble in the world signifies nothing in the
mature of signs of the times if we are not fully assured in advance that the time for the
signs has arrived. It is this knowledge, specially granted to "the wise," which
enables us to more and more appreciate the solemn character of these days, and their
important bearing on our hopes and Christian walk-seeing indeed that all these things are
being dissolved "what manner of persons ought we to be." There is only one thing
now to look for and hasten unto, even the everlasting Kingdom, and to be found of Him
waiting and ready.
We note with some regret the new arrangement to publish the "Herald" monthly,
but it is a further reminder of the universal effects of the world economic crisis. The
whole of Christendom-like Jerusalem of old-seems to be in the death-grip of a great siege
by surrounding forces determined on its capture and overthrow. As the siege progresses,
the economic life of the "City" becomes more and more affected, until "the
temple sacrifices have to cease for lack of offerings." Such is the condition of the
world today, and more particularly in Europe-"the body of the Beast." Its
parallel is surely in the last siege of Jerusalem by the forces of Nebuchadnezzar at the
beginning of the "seven times," foreshadowing a similar siege at their close by
these new and strange economic forces, peculiar to this day of the Lord-"when
knowledge shall be increased and many run to and fro"! The issue is the same-the
judgments of the Lord on apostasy and every evil work, but to be followed this time by the
blessed rule of the King of kings and Lord of lords.
The Church here (on whose behalf I write) send you their warm Christian love and also
their greetings to all of like precious faith everywhere, and I remain,
Your brother in Christ, O. E. K.-Ire.
My dear Brethren:
I was happy a few days ago, and still am, to have the privilege of meeting a very
earnest young Christian and his wife, who are traveling representatives for the
undenominational Bible School . . . We had a fine discussion and they saw the
unreasonableness of the Trinity doctrine and were both interested in looking into our
Bibles and Concordance with regard to Hell, the Holy Spirit, Restitution, etc. Of course
we could only touch upon these things, but sincerity can soon grasp the Living Words and
drink the Living Waters. You may hear from them as they intend sending for the
"Herald." Will you please send leaflets to them. I gave them May 15th
"Herald," with the article on "Living Waters." May I ask for another
number please. . . . Such articles as "Living Waters" are life and health to me.
I truly thank our Heavenly Father for revealing so much to us. I know He is able to keep
me to the end. Worldly things are receding, heavenly things are approaching.
Thanking you in anticipation, and hoping to have further articles such as
"Living Waters" -- logical, analytical -- they appeal to my innermost heart. You
have my prayers and Christian love.
In all sincerity,
E. W.-Alta.
Dear Brethren:
We feel that we can use some tracts or leaflets to advantage, and I am instructed to
write you for information as to what you might be able to supply us with in this line. . .
.
We are glad to say that as regards our own Ecclesia, Vancouver, there exists a
condition which is very gratifying: we attribute this to a considerable extent to the
nature of our studies, the fervor of the prayer, praise and testimony meetings, and I
might add, the practice and precept evidenced by our Elders. . . .
Favorable comments are often heard regarding your work and efforts, and I can assure
you that we trust that your labors, individually and collectively, may be blessed. We send
to you the Christian love of our brethren here, and pray that your labors may have the
Lord's direction and approval.
Your brethren in Christ,
Associated Bible Students, Vancouver, B. C.'
Dear Brethren in Christ
It is with a sad heart I wish to let you know Brother Christian passed to his reward
September 30th, at 8:30 p.m. He remained composed and strong in the Lord and the Truth to
the end. He seemed to be in unusual health at the Toledo Convention, although he had been
failing, but immediately on his return became worse. It leaves our little Class without a
leader and we hardly know what to do, yet the Lord saw fit to call him under those
circumstances, and .recognizing it as His will we will not murmur nor repine. Sometimes
these things seem hard to understand from our viewpoint. How grand it is to have that
faith in our Heavenly Father that helps and sustains one to the end.
With Christian love,
M. C.-Ohio.
On the morning of September 27th, Brother Arthur B. Streeter, son of the late Brother
R. E. Streeter, suffered a stroke which resulted in his death the evening of the following
day. From his youth he was closely associated with his father in his religious work.
Loyalty to the principles of truth and righteousness, coupled with deep devotion to the
spiritual interests of the Lord's people, characterized them both. All who knew Brother
Arthur had observed in him a rapid ripening of the Christian graces, particularly since
the passing of his beloved father in 1925. May the remembrance of his example of
"love for the brethren" which made him gentle and tolerant and enabled him to
cheerfully lay down his life for them, long remain an inspiration to us to patiently bring
forth in our lives those same fruits of the Spirit.
1932 Index |