The Watchtower, June 15, 1972

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The Watchtower — June 15, 1972

Source: jw.org

Contents

Will God Let Polluters Destroy the Earth?

God Respects the Family Arrangement

How Does Your Status with God Affect Your Children?

Trust in God, Not Your Own Understanding

Religion in the News

Seeking the Goodwill of God Now

Joining the “Great Crowd” of “Men of Goodwill”

Does Your Minister Qualify?

Fine Conduct Attracts

Questions From Readers

Do You Spend Time With Your Child?

Will God Let Polluters Destroy the Earth?

“BY 1984 THE EARTH COULD BE DEAD” read a headline in the London Medical News-Tribune in its issue of March 27, 1970. Alarming, but no more so than similar statements in hundreds of articles published in the past ten years. Certainly people have been repeatedly warned of the grave danger they face from pollution of land, water and air in every part of the civilized earth.

Scientists are aroused, as are legislators and statesmen. But in trying to reverse the ruinous trend, these men run up against a real roadblock—selfishness. People are generally willing enough to cooperate in fighting pollution—provided to do so would not inconvenience their way of life and livelihood. And the industrial and commercial system of this world does not know how to solve the problem without seriously affecting the economy or holding back “progress.”

More serious than the literal pollution is the moral corruption and the defilement of the earth by the bloodshed of warfare, especially in the lands of the nations called “Christian.” (Num. 35:33) And law-enforcement agencies in these nations are forced to admit they are fighting a losing battle against crime and corruption.

Is the problem beyond solution? It appears so, as conditions steadily worsen. But what about the Creator of this earth? Is he unconcerned about its being made into a desolate garbage dump and jungle of crime instead of the paradise garden that he commanded the first human pair to develop? Does he not care about the thousands dying every year because of both the literal and the moral pollution, or care about the danger of extinction hanging over the human race?

We can be assured, indeed, that the Creator does not enjoy what he sees. The earth is his creation and was meant to be a credit to him. When he started the human race he gave them a perfect start. Now, after nearly 6,000 years of ignoring God’s laws, man has almost succeeded in making the earth uninhabitable instead of the joyful place God purposed it to be. Certainly this does not make the Creator happy. Will he do something about it? If so, what? Will he destroy the entire planet, together with those living upon it?

It is unthinkable that Almighty God would do such a thing. It would be a waste of his creative activity, a sign of defeat. Well then, can we, in this time of crisis, know what he purposes to do and can we depend on him to do it? Yes. We can know, not only from what he has promised, but, additionally, from the record of what he has actually done. Let us examine a small-scale illustration recorded and preserved for our faith and assurance today.—Rom. 15:4; 1 Cor. 10:11.

The time was the seventh century before our Common Era. It had been more than 850 years since God had brought Israel into the Promised Land, driving out the Canaanite inhabitants because of their corruption. Now the descendants of that faithful generation that entered the land had themselves become corrupt in morals, defiling the land by adopting idolatry and unrighteously shedding innocent blood. Even the land itself had deteriorated.

The prophet Ezekiel was in Babylon. But he was used to express God’s displeasure with Israel’s corruption and to tell what God was going to do about it. In doing so, he addressed, not the people, but the “mountains of Israel,” hundreds of miles to the west and south of Ezekiel’s location. Jehovah instructed him:

“Son of man, set your face toward the mountains of Israel and prophesy to them. And you must say, ‘O mountains of Israel, hear the word of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah: This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said to the mountains and to the hills, to the stream beds and to the valleys:

“‘“Here I am! I am bringing upon you a sword, and I shall certainly destroy your high places. And your altars must be made desolate and your incense stands must be broken, and I will cause your slain ones to fall before your dungy idols. And I will put the carcasses of the sons of Israel before their dungy idols, and I will scatter your bones all around your altars. In all your dwelling places the very cities will become devastated and the high places themselves will become desolated, in order that they may lie devastated and your altars may lie desolated and be actually broken and your dungy idols may be actually made to cease and your incense stands cut down and your works wiped out. And the slain one will certainly fall in the midst of you, and you will have to know that I am Jehovah.”’”—Ezek. 6:1-7.

The “high places” were places for idolatrous worship to be carried on. By means of their altars, incense stands and dungy idols, the unfaithful Israelites were polluting the mountains, hills, valleys and banks of the stream beds of their God-given possession. Jehovah God had meant for that beautiful land to be sanctified as a place of his clean worship, but after 860 years of occupancy it was desecrated. By turning from the pure worship of God and from following his laws, there was moral corruption. Bloodshed defiled the land.

Actually, their polluted condition all hinged on their bad attitude toward Jehovah. So the only way to cleanse the land was to take drastic action against its defilers, so that those mountains, stream beds and valleys would be clean and the land would, in effect, ‘know that God is Jehovah.’

SPIRITUAL FORNICATION BRINGS THE WORST DEFILEMENT

Bodily fornication is unclean and brings all kinds of woes and sicknesses upon its practicers. But spiritual fornication is worse. It brings about every form of corruption and distress, and eventual judgment from the true God. Spiritual fornication was the outstanding sin of Israel. How was this? Because she was unfaithful to her ‘marriage relationship’ with Jehovah God. God had become a heavenly “Husband” to the nation by reason of the Law covenant that he had established by means of the prophet Moses in 1513 B.C.E.—Jer. 31:31, 32.

But Israel had no appreciation of that relationship. The Law covenant prescribed death as the penalty for adultery. Was spiritual immorality, a worse sin, likewise punishable? Yes. The punishment unfaithful Israel would suffer was described by Jehovah to Ezekiel:

“And when it [the drastic action God would take] occurs I will let you have as a remnant the ones escaping from the sword among the nations, when you get scattered among the lands. And your escaped ones will certainly remember me among the nations to which they will have been taken captive, because I have been broken up at their fornicating heart that has turned aside from me and at their eyes that are going in fornication after their dungy idols; and they will certainly feel a loathing in their faces at the bad things that they have done in all their detestable things. And they will have to know that I am Jehovah; not in vain did I speak about doing to them this calamitous thing.”—Ezek. 6:8-10.

Those escaping the sword of execution in the land of Judah were but a remnant of the fornicators. Most of Jerusalem’s population died from famine, pestilence and the sword. The rest were led away into slavish captivity from those mountains and valleys they had defiled. Their false gods could not save them from Jehovah’s judgment. By hard experience in the distant lands of their captors they learned that He did not speak to them in vain when he repeatedly warned them of the dire consequences of forsaking his worship.

CHRISTENDOM, THE WORST POLLUTER

Christendom has never been recognized by Jehovah as belonging to him, but she has made that claim. (Compare Matthew 7:22, 23.) She has advertised herself as being the representative of the God of the Bible and as being the repository of Bible truth. She claims to stand, as Israel did, in a wifely relationship to God, professing to be in covenant relationship with him through the new covenant, with Christ as its Mediator.

But Christendom has practiced spiritual fornication by making alliances with the political, military and commercial elements of this world, and has carried on within her borders things worse than ancient Israel did. She has polluted the mountains, hills, valleys and stream beds by her adoption of pagan religious practices and items of religious worship.

Actually, who can distinguish between the motivations and actions of the so-called Christian nations and the pagan ones? In fact, Christendom, though she may be richer materially than most of the pagan nations, has problems, moral and otherwise, greater in number and complexity than the pagans.

Christendom, therefore, is wrongly occupying any standing as Christian. But God holds her to her claim, nevertheless, and he will punish her according to the way that she has detestably violated that claim. She must be removed from such a professed standing and name. When Jehovah deprives her of such name by destroying her, any adherents who escape execution at her destruction will have no prospect of a future free life. They will be taken over and brought under the control of the secular elements of this world, just as Israel was brought under captivity and control of the militaristic Babylonians.

GOD FAITHFUL TO ALL TERMS OF A COVENANT

Christendom will have to learn, as did ancient Israel, that God is a covenant keeper. They will have to know he is Jehovah. Israel could not treat the covenant with Jehovah as a mere scrap of paper. A covenant with God cannot be torn in pieces and canceled by the unfaithful party to the covenant at any time that he likes! God is faithful, rewarding and blessing the covenant keeper. (Heb. 11:6) And he is just as faithful in punishing the covenant breaker according to the punishments specified in the covenant. (Deut. 7:9, 10) Otherwise he would be undependable. Jehovah emphasized this fact when he went on to say to his prophet Ezekiel:

“This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah has said, ‘Clap your hands and stamp with your foot, and say: “Alas!” on account of all the bad detestable things of the house of Israel, because by the sword, by the famine and by the pestilence they will fall. As for the one far away, by the pestilence he will die; and as for the one that is nearby, by the sword he will fall; and as for the one that has been left remaining and that has been safeguarded, by the famine he will die, and I will bring to its finish my rage against them. And you people will have to know that I am Jehovah, when their slain ones come to be in the midst of their dungy idols, all around their altars, upon every high hill, on all the tops of the mountains and under every luxuriant tree and under every branchy big tree, the place where they have offered a restful odor to all their dungy idols. And I will stretch out my hand against them and make the land a desolate waste, even a desolation worse than the wilderness toward Diblah, in all their dwelling places. And they will have to know that I am Jehovah.”’—Ezek. 6:11-14.

By this experience the rebellious ones would find out that he is indeed the Purposer and the Keeper of his covenant, living up to all its terms. He would not leave any doubt that it was he, Jehovah, who was taking action.

As Israel’s conqueror, King Nebuchadnezzar, led the remnant of survivors of Jerusalem and Judah away toward Babylon as captives, what a desolation they left behind! “Worse than the wilderness toward Diblah,” said Jehovah, evidently referring to the gravelly, unbroken plain of the Syrian Desert that lies to the south and southeast of Riblah. (See Revised Standard Version.) For seventy years the land would not be inhabited by man or domestic animal, until God considered it cleansed and rested up from its pollution.—Jer. 25:11, 12; 2 Chron. 36:21.

A CLEANSED EARTH

Consequently, in our day God the Creator will show his concern for his creation by destroying all who share in polluting and ruining it, both inside and outside of Christendom. At this time when complete ruination seems unavoidable, Jehovah’s appointed time is very near to “bring to ruin those ruining the earth.” (Rev. 11:18) With the polluters gone, the way will be clear for reconstruction in the manner that the Creator designs and directs.

Will there, then, be any survivors to enjoy a cleansed and beautified earth? Yes, for in ancient Jerusalem’s destruction there were those who had kept covenant faithfully with God. They were preserved from death when the city fell. In exile they were able to raise offspring, some of whom returned in 537 B.C.E. to restore true worship. These found peace and freedom from pollution in the formerly corrupted land.

Likewise in Christendom, and in some of the other nations, there are persons who are grieved by the pollution, particularly moral and spiritual, that they see all around them. What can these do? This: Get away quickly from all moral and spiritual filth, learn of God’s laws and respect his creation. Find the proper way of approach to Him and what faithfulness to him requires. This can be done only by gaining a true understanding of Jehovah’s Word the Holy Bible.

Then, though a person’s health may be adversely affected by the present pollution of air, water and land, spiritually he can remain clean and can receive God’s favor and protection when He desolates polluters. And what a prospect, to look forward to breathing clean air, drinking pure water, eating clean food and enjoying cleanness of living when the earth is brought to the state that the Creator originally purposed for it!—Rev. 7:15-17; 21:1-4.

God Respects the Family Arrangement

WHEN a child is born, the friends and relatives gather around and remarks are heard, such as: ‘He’s the image of his father!’ or, ‘He looks just like his mother!’ Sometimes the likeness to the other parent is not so obvious in physical appearance but becomes evident later on in the child’s personality traits. Truly, it is with us today just as it was with the first man Adam, who, the Bible relates, “became father to a son in his likeness, in his image, and called his name Seth.”—Gen. 5:3.

In the matter of parenthood and parental rights Jehovah God has been very constant. He gave parents the privilege and power to bring forth children in their own image and likeness. Yes, and more than that, he allows them to bring up their children in the way they desire. And regardless of the fact that some parents have neglected their children and some have even brought them up to be fighters against God, he has not taken their children away from them and given them to others to care for.

Certainly this is just and reveals great forbearance on God’s part. No one can justly complain that God deprived him of training his children in the way he wished. And no person who has failed to teach God’s principles to his children can rightly complain about the distress that the bad conduct of his (or her) children brings. Negligent parents cannot sidestep the principle that “a boy let on the loose will be causing his mother shame.”—Prov. 29:15.

YOUNG CHILDREN ARE NOT SINLESS

All the children of mankind, although inheriting some desirable traits from their parents, also inherit some undesirable ones. And, without exception, all have been born sinful as a result of their original forefather’s losing his status with God through disobedience. The Bible tells us: “Through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men because they had all sinned.”—Rom. 5:12.

Through sin, ‘missing the mark’ of God’s standard of perfection for him, falling short of the glory of God, which he should have reflected, Adam failed to pass on perfection to his children. So the entire human race was affected. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”—Rom. 3:23.

Thanks to God’s undeserved kindness, the ransom sacrifice of Christ can remove the sin in which one was born. The individual must, of course, be of an age to accept God’s provision for himself. But what of children not yet old enough to exercise such faith? They are not sinless. The psalmist David said: “Look! With error I was brought forth with birth pains, and in sin my mother conceived me.” (Ps. 51:5) So, how does God deal with them? He deals with these children through the family arrangement. Why? And how does this principle operate?

Jehovah believes in the family arrangement and has made the family the basic unit of earthly society. The place, meaning and function of the family originate with him. He is the Father “to whom every family in heaven and on earth owes its name.” (Eph. 3:15) He gives the family dignity and status. The father in the family is head, the mother is helper, and the two together have divinely given responsibility for the children’s control.

PARENTS ACCOUNTABLE FOR CHILDREN

Very young children who have not reached the age of responsibility are almost altogether the product of their parents through inheritance, with, additionally, the training and environment provided by the parents. Accordingly, God holds the parents responsible until the child reaches the age of responsibility for his own decisions and acts.

What the parents do as to their relationship with God therefore affects the entire family. Just as the law of men calls the parents to account for the acts of their minor children, so does God. If a child commits a crime, damaging property, the father can expect the police to be knocking on his door to bring charges against him and require that he pay for the damage. Why, then, should not God likewise hold parents responsible for the acts of their young children?

FAR-REACHING RESULTS OF PARENTAL TRAINING

The right or wrong acts of parents or the right or wrong training they give can reflect on the children’s children, even on great-grandchildren. For example, when the generation handling world affairs gets embroiled in a war it greatly affects future generations, just as has been the case in the aftermath of World Wars I and II.

Because God does grant the parents the right to bring up their children without his interference he can describe the results to parents who follow his laws and those who do not. He said to Moses: “I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion, bringing punishment for the error of fathers upon sons, upon the third generation and upon the fourth generation, in the case of those who hate me; but exercising loving-kindness toward the thousandth generation in the case of those who love me and keep my commandments.” (Ex. 20:5, 6) There can be no doubt about it: Children brought up in the wrong way are almost sure to practice bad things and receive the recompense due for their actions.

Abraham was an example of a family head who kept God’s way and taught his children obedience to God. This proved to be a long-lasting blessing to his descendants.—Gen. 18:19; Deut. 4:37.

However, when Abraham’s descendants later turned to idolatry and other wickednesses they were taken into captivity by enemy nations. In fact, from the exile in Babylon right down to Jerusalem’s destruction in 70 C.E. the Jews were constantly under the domination of pagan world powers, first Babylon, then Persia, Greece and Rome. Descendants for many generations felt the weight of the sin of their ancestors.

This principle proved true in pagan nations also. At the building of the Tower of Babel, the people that had broken away from the worship of Noah’s God, Jehovah, were split up into various language groups, and nations developed from them. Their offspring later found themselves “alienated from the state of Israel and strangers to the covenants of the promise, and [they] had no hope and were without God in the world.” (Eph. 2:12) Only those who have turned away from the bad course of their forefathers, forsaking paganism, have come to know God by taking up worship of him.

A case in point, of judgment of young children along with their wicked parents, is that of the Canaanites. Because of their long history of the deepest corruption their young children were executed along with them, at God’s command, when the Israelites occupied the land.—Deut. 7:1, 2.

All this shows that God attributes merit or demerit to the young children of a family, based on the status of the parents. Is anything required of the parents, other than being worshipers of the true God Jehovah? And is anything required of the young children? Also, what about families where only one parent is a worshiper of Jehovah and a disciple of Jesus Christ? These questions will be discussed in the following article.

How Does Your Status with God Affect Your Children?

HISTORICAL evidences discussed in the previous article are demonstrations of the fact that what a parent does has profound effects upon his children, extending into several future generations. Parents’ right course of life and their proper example are bound to result in good for their children, particularly so if the parents are true servants of Jehovah God. Their status with God means life to the children, provided they carefully teach them God’s laws and instill in them obedience to parental authority.

What about the situation, though, where one of the parents is a “believer,” a Christian, but the other is not? Does this union, or a continuation of the union without separation, make the believer contaminated or unclean, making the children unclean as a consequence?

No. Why not? Because of the righteous principles of God, by which he stands loyally, and because of his loving-kindness toward those who serve him with exclusive devotion. He comforts those in religiously divided households, where one is a believer and the other is not, saying in his Word: “For the unbelieving husband is sanctified in relation to his wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified in relation to the brother; otherwise, your children would really be unclean, but now they are holy.”—1 Cor. 7:14.

In the Hebrew and Greek languages, in which the Bible was written, words drawn from the Hebrew word qa·dhashʹ which has the root meaning “to be bright, new, clean,” and from the Greek word haʹgi·os are rendered “holy,” “sanctified” and “set apart.” Both the Hebrew and Greek usage had a religious, spiritual and moral sense. Anything sanctified, therefore, would be clean, holy, set aside for God’s service.

This clean standing before God comes by the exercise of faith in God’s provision through his Son. One not exercising this faith has not been cleaned up from his inherited imperfection, sinfulness. Such persons, termed by the apostle Paul as ‘unbelievers,’ may be living honest, moral lives. But they have not separated themselves from the unclean world. They have not accepted God’s provision for removal of their sinful state, not yet having been set free from slavery to sin by becoming true followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Such persons are not, of themselves, clean in God’s eyes.—2 Cor. 6:17; Jas. 4:4; John 8:34-36.

Note that the apostle’s statement, at 1 Corinthians 7:14, does not say that the unbeliever is, by the marriage bond, made clean or holy himself. He may, in fact, be one who carries on wrongdoing or unclean practices. Rather, Paul says the unbeliever is sanctified “in relation to” the believer. So God counts such marriage relationship or union clean, as a loving-kindness to the believer and the young children.

On what basis can God thus favor the young children of religiously divided families? Well, marriage is an institution of God, and the marriage relationship is a proper arrangement for humans. Therefore, any proper marriage has God’s approval. He counts the marriage partners as “one flesh.” (Matt. 19:5) Accordingly, when one of the partners is a faithful Christian, that one is not contaminated by continuing to live with the unbelieving one. The marriage is acceptable to God. If it were not acceptable, the children would be like illegitimates. But now they are counted as holy, clean. Or, if both the partners are unbelievers, the marriage itself is not condemned, but the children are counted like their parents, not sanctified or holy to God.

However, the children whom God counts as holy on the basis of parental merit are those children who are not yet old enough to understand fully all that is required of those who serve God. They are unable to make the momentous decision for themselves that is required of those who become baptized disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ. But it is a very important fact to keep in mind that even such young children must know what obedience means. They must be obedient to their parents. They must be children that are not unruly or practicers of what is bad. (Prov. 20:11) This would make it imperative that the parents, or the parent who is a believer, teach the children obedience, and also teach them the truth of the Bible at every opportunity.

Not only is the father required to bring up the children “in the discipline and mental-regulating of Jehovah,” but the children also are given the direct command: “You children, be obedient to your parents in everything, for this is well-pleasing in the Lord,” and, “Children, be obedient to your parents in union with the Lord, for this is righteous: ‘Honor your father and your mother’; which is the first command with a promise: ‘That it may go well with you and you may endure a long time on the earth.”’—Eph. 6:1-4; Col. 3:20.

Consequently, if a young child is rebellious and goes contrary to the commands and requests of his parents, if he, when away from his parents, does things he knows are against their will, or are wrong in God’s eyes, if he runs with associates that practice wrongdoing, then he certainly cannot claim to come under the benefits of family merit. He cancels out the merit that his Christian parent or parents might bring in the eyes of God, and he is unclean, just as those are with whom he practices wrongdoing.—Ps. 50:16-20.

What does having the merit of a Christian parent or parents mean to the obedient child? It means that he has the favor of God. He has God’s protection and help, just as his Christian parent does. He does not have the judgment of God against him, as does the world. (2 Pet. 2:9; compare Psalm 37:25, 26.) When God executes judgment on the wicked he will spare such children as being clean, holy, just as the believing parent is holy.

Conversely, the Bible declares: “‘For, look! the day is coming that is burning like the furnace, and all the presumptuous ones and all those doing wickedness must become as stubble. And the day that is coming will certainly devour them,’ Jehovah of armies has said, ‘so that it will not leave to them either root or bough.”’ (Mal. 4:1) When Jerusalem was destroyed in 70 C.E. because of its unfaithfulness to God, children were killed along with their parents. Christians who had heeded Jesus’ prophetic warning to get out of the doomed city before the Romans sealed it off were saved along with their children.

Likewise at the destruction of the wicked in this present system of things the principle will apply: The offspring (the bough) not taking a righteous stand on their own will receive the same adverse judgment as the parents (the root).

Jehovah God’s recognition of his faithful servants reveals his great love and appreciation for those who love him, as well as showing his wise ability to make “all his works cooperate together for the good of those who love God.” (Rom. 8:28) Moreover, Jehovah’s justice is magnified in that he accomplishes all this within the framework of his own stated principles.

[Picture on page 362]

A young child who is rebellious cancels out the merit his Christian parent might bring him in the eyes of God

Trust in God, Not Your Own Understanding

PERSONS who render exclusive devotion to Jehovah God realize that all final judgments of mankind are in his hands. King David, in his parting counsel to his son and successor Solomon, said: “All hearts Jehovah is searching, and every inclination of the thoughts he is discerning.”—1 Chron. 28:9; 1 Sam. 16:7.

For these reasons we should not feel anxiety about what judgment certain persons or groups receive. However, Jehovah does give us guidelines so that we may take the course that will bring favorable judgment to ourselves and also work toward the proper standing of others in God’s sight.

Because of the very tender relationship and feelings that exist with regard to young children, and in view of God’s principle of family merit, discussed in previous articles, some related questions arise that deserve discussion.

ADOPTED CHILDREN

Some have asked, ‘What about young children who are adopted? Are they not part of the family unit into which they are adopted, and would not their status with God be governed by the status of their adoptive parents?’ Apparently so. If the foster parents are true Christians, they will teach the truth of God’s Word to the child. If the child is obedient to his foster parents and to the laws of God that he is able to understand, then, what the apostle Paul said at 1 Corinthians 7:14 would evidently apply in this circumstance.

On the other hand, the child may be reared by non-Christian foster parents. It seems that he would be considered as sharing the foster parents’ judgment before God. Of course, if the child is old enough to discern right and wrong and he does so, showing a definite love for righteousness, earnestly seeking to know and follow the truth even though his foster parents do not, then he could receive God’s favor.—Ezek. 18:14-18; 33:18, 19.

In cases where a couple have legally adopted a child and have therefore assumed responsibility for him, they have a large share in either a good way or a bad way in determining the child’s status. But persons or couples who merely keep a child in the home for a relative, or persons being paid for taking care of a child, could not expect the child to come under God’s favor merely because of their being his caretakers. They are not the ones responsible for the child, and the principle of family merit would not here apply. However, if, while they have the child in their care, they teach the child from God’s Word to the extent that they are able, this will, of course, be for the child’s welfare if he listens and follows the good things he learns.

Those who are servants of God should do all they can to teach others the truth, but those who do not have the direct responsibility for a child should not feel that they must interfere with the rights of the parents. If one has relatives that are unbelievers, it is the responsibility of the parents in such unbelieving families to train the children, and God allows them to do so as they please. Of course, if opportunity is given to tell such children the truth, this may be done. But to go beyond this, for example, trying to get legal control of the children, would be meddling in the affairs of others. (1 Pet. 4:15) God does not do this; why should we? Leave matters to God, who cares for those with right hearts.

DANGER OF MARRYING AN UNBELIEVER

It should be noted that, even though God blesses the family unit where only one is a believer, it is a very unwise thing for a Christian to marry an unbeliever. For, while God views the marriage relationship as holy, it does not mean that very distressing problems may not arise. It is much harder to teach children God’s way in a religiously divided household. The unbeliever may try to counteract the teaching the children receive, or may even try to prevent the teaching being done. This would have detrimental effects on the children. They may not show themselves obedient to the things taught by the believing parent, and, if so, these children would share God’s judgment upon the unbelieving parent.

A very difficult situation may arise if the unbeliever decides to separate from the believer because of religious differences. If the unbelieving one insists on separation, the believer may let him (or her) depart. The apostle Paul points out that “a brother or a sister is not in servitude under such circumstances, but God has called you to peace.” (1 Cor. 7:15) But what if there are children? The unbeliever may try to take the children. He or she may even get custody granted by the court. Then what little opportunity the believing mate has of seeing the children and talking to them about God’s way may not be sufficient to mold the children in the right way. Even if the unbeliever departs, leaving the children to the believer, what a hardship that works on the believer! It puts added burdens on the Christian mate, having to support the children, at the same time seeing to their spiritual welfare in a proper manner.

Yes, single persons should not disobey the apostle’s counsel on behalf of their own spiritual welfare and that of children that may be born to a union with an unbeliever. The apostle follows the Bible’s counsel to the Israelites, not to make marriage alliances with unbelievers, when he counsels widows to marry “only in the Lord.”—1 Cor. 7:39; Deut. 7:3, 4.

On the other hand, to those who may already be involved in marriage to an unbeliever, or in other binding situations that would pose some problems in connection with service to God, the apostle says: “In whatever condition each one was called, brothers, let him remain in it associated with God.” (1 Cor. 7:24) If a person is married at the time that he comes to a knowledge of the truth, and the mate does not become a believer, nonetheless, God counts the relationship holy. But a single person who marries an unbeliever is not putting first his association with God. He is gravely risking his spirituality and is putting an extra strain on his integrity.

CONFIDENT IN GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS

There are other questions that arise in connection with the principle of family merit. The Bible does not answer them all. It leaves the judgment of each individual case to Jehovah and his Son, whom he has appointed to judge the world in righteousness.—Acts 17:31; 2 Tim. 4:1.

Should we worry and speculate as to who will survive the “great tribulation,” or who will be resurrected? If we live according to God’s commands now and proclaim the good news to the best of our ability, we will be doing God’s will.

As to Jehovah’s judgments, if we come to know God we will trust in him, and we will be like Abraham, who, knowing God’s justice and mercy, used these as the basis for a plea in behalf of persons living in the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, saying: “Suppose there are fifty righteous men in the midst of the city. Will you, then, sweep them away and not pardon the place for the sake of the fifty righteous who are inside it? It is unthinkable of you that you are acting in this manner to put to death the righteous man with the wicked one so that it has to occur with the righteous man as it does with the wicked! It is unthinkable of you. Is the Judge of all the earth not going to do what is right?” Jehovah’s matchless mercy was shown in his listening to Abraham’s plea to the point that if only ten righteous men were found in the district, God would completely spare the cities.—Gen. 18:22-33.

So, rather than be overly concerned, it is better to wait upon Jehovah, at the same time continuing to do his will with the confidence expressed by the psalmist, who said: “I well know, O Jehovah, that your judicial decisions are righteousness.”—Ps. 119:75.

Religion in the News

THE church systems of Christendom claim they have God’s backing. Yet, observing the condition of the churches today, many thinking persons ask: If the all-wise and all-powerful God is backing the churches, then why are they in such turmoil and crisis?

Surely, if God is backing the churches, news reports about them should reflect God’s qualities, his order and truthfulness. They should show the churches upholding God’s laws and teachings, making these clear to honest-hearted persons. But notice now just a few of the many items the press contains about the churches these days.

ANGLICANS TO ACCEPT POLYGAMISTS

From Port Moresby, Papua, comes the following report published by the New York “Times”: “The Anglican Church gained points recently when the Synod of Bishops here threw out a rule that prevented men with plural wives from being baptized.”

This may come as a surprise to persons who recognize Bible teachings as allowing only one wife to Christian husbands, thus equating polygamy with adultery.—Matt. 19:4-6; 1 Cor. 7:2.

So, the question raised in the minds of many thinking persons will be: With whom did the Anglican Church ‘gain points’? Very possibly with the natives—but what about God whose law the polygamists violate?

WHERE IS THEIR “GOOD NEWS”?

Jesus Christ had a dynamic message for mankind, a message that God commissioned him to preach. It was really good news, the best news. As part of a sign of these “last days” Jesus foretold that “this good news of the kingdom” would be preached throughout the earth before the end came.—2 Tim. 3:1-5; Matt. 24:14.

Is this dynamic good news being preached in the churches of Christendom? Dr. John Bennett, former president of New York’s Union Theological Seminary, admitted that “today’s sermons are often dull, unimaginative, ill-prepared and boring,” reports the Seattle “Post-Intelligencer.”

Then, the moderator of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, Murdo Nicolson, stated: “We have got the greatest message in the world, but you would never know it from going inside a church.” This clergyman, the Windsor “Star” noted, “blames disenchantment with the church on the way the Bible’s message is being transmitted.”

Is it just a matter of the way the preaching is presented, or is it also a question of knowing what to preach and being filled with the zeal to preach? The Washington “Post” published this news report: “The 95 bishops of the United Methodist Church said today their denomination is caught up in a crisis of faith, with legions of clergy as well as laymen unable honestly to profess traditional Christian beliefs.”

Hans Küng, a leading Roman Catholic theologian who teaches in Germany, says of his church: “The church’s credibility is so low that we cannot imagine how this happened.” And, according to the St. Louis “Globe-Democrat,” East St. Louis priest Stanley Roth declared that the “diocesan priesthood is dead,” and added: “It cannot be reformed from within or without. It is an inoperable institution.” Catholic layman William Durbin answered that the priesthood and laity were “not dead, but in a pathological stupor, alive but leading a vegetable existence.”

Does all of that sound as if God is leading and backing these institutions where the “good news” is so sadly lacking?

CHURCHES IN POLITICS

The “Spectator” of Hamilton, Ontario, relates that many people no longer attend church because they are disgusted with the political activity of clergymen. They feel that “the church is ‘too activist,’ or ‘too involved’ or is taking on interests at variance with the gospel.”

Is political involvement by churches indeed “at variance with the gospel”? Well, Jesus said of his true followers: “They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world.” (John 17:16) He refused to become involved in politics.

Yet, Jesuit priest John J. McLaughlin, a speech writer for President Nixon, stated according to the Boston “Globe”: “Politics is a vocation of the highest order.” The priest had run for a U.S. Senate seat for Rhode Island in 1970. He also said: “Vatican II urged all citizens to become involved in political action, and I did not see ‘except priests’ in parentheses.”

And in Canada, the Toronto “Star” carried this headline: “Cleric asks churchmen to enter city politics.” The clergyman was Noble Hatton of the Metropolitan United Church.

As a by-product of their political involvement, more and more clergymen and churches are coming into conflict with political leaders. In the United States many claim that the government is applying pressure to try to stop them from taking their stand on political issues, and even “spying” on church personnel. The Bangor, Maine, “Daily News” said: “The latest protest came last week in a brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court, contending that military surveillance has included church leaders.”

WHO WILL TEACH THE YOUNG?

One thing is certain—if the churches do not have God’s backing, then all their adherents will suffer. And not only adults, but children too will pay a price.

In this connection note what R. L. Hodapp, the Bishop of Belize, British Honduras, stated in a pastoral letter issued for the entire country: “As time goes on it seems quite evident that there will be proportionately fewer priests, sisters and brothers. Hence, full responsibility for passing on the faith to their children will rest more and more upon the parents. From studies and even casual observation, we are forced to conclude that many of our Catholic schools are not turning out real Christians. . . . Quite often the reason for this is that parents themselves have been negligent in teaching and setting the example for their children.”

But who is responsible for the lack of spirituality among the parents? Why are they not equipped to teach the “good news” to their children? Must not the religious leaders share a large part of the blame? Can they expect parents to be able to teach their children when they, the clergy, are themselves not sure as to what to believe and teach? Commenting on the book “Priests in the United States,” written by priest Andrew Greely, Washington “Post” book reviewer Richard Neuhaus notes that the majority of priests “are increasingly unsure about what either [the church or the priesthood] are supposed to be and increasingly cynical about the leaders who are supposed to have the answers.”

WHAT DOES IT SHOW?

Ask yourself: Does all of the foregoing show any dynamic good news from God working through the churches? Or does it show just the opposite: that the churches are in a state of decay, confusion and crisis? The facts show that the ranks of clergymen, seminary students and laity are dwindling and they are not even certain of what the truth is.

And why not? Of religious leaders in ancient Israel, the prophet wrote: “They have rejected the very word of Jehovah, and what wisdom do they have?” (Jer. 8:9) God’s Son said of religious leaders of his generation: “It is in vain that they keep worshiping [God], because they teach commands of men as doctrines.” So if we find the same conditions today, we may be sure that the result will be just as it was in Jesus’ day: “Blind guides is what they are. If, then, a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”—Matt. 15:6, 9, 14.

However, for a certainty there is a dynamic message, really “good news,” being preached throughout all the earth today. If not by the churches of Christendom, by whom then? Well, who is it that comes to your door telling you the same things that Jesus Christ taught? Who is sounding the warning of the near end of this ungodly system of things and of the coming in of God’s new order? Who upholds God’s standards of morality? Who refuses to become involved in worldly politics? Who regularly teaches adults the Bible and equips them to teach their children? Who gives evidence by their growth and spiritual prosperity that they have God’s backing? We trust that your reading the rest of this magazine will help to supply you with the logical answers.

Seeking the Goodwill of God Now

“For the one finding [wisdom] will certainly find life, and gets goodwill from Jehovah.”—Prov. 8:35.

1, 2. (a) Why are millions failing in the search for health and life? (b) The one desiring good should consider what question?

FOR what are you seeking? Are you searching for that which will bring you good health, happiness, contentment, security, and long life? Millions of persons on earth fervently desire these blessings but have not been able to find them, for they are seeking them from a wrong source. Many are seeking material wealth and financial success, only to find that the rewards of riches are most uncertain and that money cannot buy health and life. Others search for pleasure and self-gratification, all too often at the cost of their morals and self-respect. Some strive for power and influence, while others merely seek for justice and equality. Some become sorely disillusioned by what they see about them and seek to change it all by rebellion and violence, while others seek an escape by deluding their minds with excessive drinking and brain-benumbing drugs.

2 But is any of this the source of true happiness and life? Do the present unsolved problems that plague and divide humanity cast the warm glow of hope upon the future? Do the unresolved issues that become more complex and confusing each day, issues that cause men and women to quarrel and fight, to hate and destroy one another—do these promise to provide what you are seeking? Does a world of increasing greed and hatred, of mushrooming crime, violence, immorality, drug addiction, delinquency and wickedness of every kind—does such a world offer you the prospect of attaining the good things you so fervently desire? If not, you might want to consider these words of wisdom from the Proverbs: “He that is looking for good, will keep seeking goodwill; but as for the one searching for bad, it will come upon him.” (Prov. 11:27) If you are seeking for good, then consider the question that more than any other will have a profound effect on your future—yes, upon that of all mankind—namely, Are you seeking the goodwill of God?

3. Why is now the appropriate time to seek God’s goodwill?

3 Why is this question so vital? Why at this time particularly must we make our decision as to the seeking of God’s goodwill? Because according to the unmistakable proofs from God’s Word the Bible we have reached the time in human history identified in the Scriptures as the “last days,” the time “to proclaim the year of goodwill on the part of Jehovah and the day of vengeance on the part of our God.”—2 Tim. 3:1-5; Isa. 61:2.

4. How has God demonstrated his desire to extend goodwill toward mankind?

4 God has always shown his goodwill toward those who have exercised faith in him and who have shown appreciation for his goodness and loving-kindness. He has never rejected any of mankind who truly sought his favor. Many men of faith down through the centuries have sought after his righteousness and truth and thus gained his favor and blessing. They never regretted it, as the proverb states: “The blessing of Jehovah—that is what makes rich, and he adds no pain with it.” (Prov. 10:22) Jehovah himself has always taken the initiative in making his loving-kindness and goodwill available to those of mankind who would desire it. The greatest evidence to date of that loving concern for the world of mankind was the sending forth of his Son Jesus to the earth, for it demonstrated God’s loving desire to bestow blessings and life upon those of earth’s inhabitants who would accept them, even as Jesus himself expressed it: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.”—John 3:16; 1 John 4:9, 10.

5, 6. (a) How do the Bible prophecies indicate that God’s goodwill is shown toward humanity? (b) When did the princely king make his appearance in fulfillment of prophecy?

5 For centuries the inspired prophecies of the Hebrew Scriptures had foretold God’s interest in the earth and its human inhabitants. The prophecies go back to the Garden of Eden right after the disobedience and downfall of the first human pair, Adam and Eve. That first prophecy foretold the “seed” that would hate the “serpent,” God’s chief enemy Satan, and that seed would eventually mortally “bruise” the “serpent” in the head, thereby bringing to an end mankind’s greatest enemy, the one who wickedly maneuvered the human family into sin and death. Later prophecies spoke of God’s promise of a king, greater than David, the seed of Abraham, who will bring to all nations of mankind the blessings of a just government with righteousness and peace, a king who will rule with wisdom and understanding, whose rulership will be an indefinitely lasting rulership, to whom all peoples can turn for justice and peace, a kingdom that will put an end to warring political kingdoms and governments, and stand in righteousness to time indefinite.—Gen. 3:15; 22:17, 18; Isa. 2:2-4; 11:1-5; Dan. 2:44; 7:13, 14.

6 Now came the next step in God’s purpose to bestow blessing and goodwill upon deserving mankind. How dramatically his loving interest in humanity was illustrated by the circumstance surrounding the miraculous events that occurred in 2 B.C.E. there in the Roman province of Judea. The time had come for the arrival of that promised Messiah King, the princely ruler of peace and righteousness foretold by the prophet Isaiah centuries earlier: “For there has been a child born to us, there has been a son given to us; and the princely rule will come to be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. To the abundance of the princely rule and to peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and upon his kingdom in order to establish it firmly and to sustain it by means of justice and by means of righteousness, from now on and to time indefinite. The very zeal of Jehovah of armies will do this.”—Isa. 9:6, 7.

7, 8. (a) What were the circumstances of the angelic announcement, and what further promise of blessing did it contain? (b) How was interest in the promise and appreciation for God’s goodwill demonstrated by the shepherds?

7 The birth of that Messiah prince promised for centuries would certainly be a cause for joyful acclamation and good news to all who desired the goodwill of God and longed for peace and righteousness. On that occasion, even the very angels of God shared in the joyful announcement of that outstanding birth in the city of Bethlehem. The shepherds tending their flocks on the Judean hillside were the privileged and favored viewers of the fear-inspiring angelic spectacle that followed. For the benefit of those seeking the goodwill of God, the Bible writer Luke relates it for us: “The angel said to them: ‘Have no fear, for, look! I am declaring to you good news of a great joy that all the people will have, because there was born to you today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, in David’s city. And this is a sign for you: you will find an infant bound in cloth bands and lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there came to be with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying: ‘Glory in the heights above to God, and upon earth peace among men of goodwill.”’—Luke 2:8-14.

8 Those humble shepherds proved to be men interested in the goodwill of God, for they immediately made their way to Bethlehem to see the child whose birth moved even the angels to proclaim, ‘Glory to God in the heavens,’ and whose birth carried with it the promise of ‘peace on earth among men of goodwill.’ How favored of God they had been to have received the special announcement of this most important and extraordinary event in human history, not through the sophisticated electronic channels of communication to be later devised by men, such as radio or television, but by direct communication from superhuman extraterrestrial spirit sons of God. By his goodwill toward them, God through his angels had permitted them to be eyewitnesses of what he was doing in behalf of mankind by sending the promised Messiah or Christ the Lord, the royal descendant of King David, for Mary his mother was a descendant of David. Filled with appreciation for the goodwill shown them by God, “the shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all the things they heard and saw, just as these had been told them.”—Luke 2:20.

9. What does it mean to become one of God’s “men of goodwill”?

9 Thus, as shown by the very special favor bestowed upon those faithful Judean shepherds, God’s “men of goodwill,” who receive his peace, are those upon whom God bestows his favor and good pleasure. This is the thought indicated by various Bible translations in their rendering of the words of that heavenly multitude of angels at Jesus’ birth. The American Standard Version translates Luke 2:14 this way: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men in whom he is well pleased.” Dr. Moffatt’s translation reads: “Glory to God in high heaven, and peace on earth for men whom he favours!” The New English Bible reads: “Glory to God in highest heaven, and on earth his peace for men on whom his favour rests.” Thus it is plain that the blessing of God’s peace is for those who have sought his goodwill and gained his good pleasure.

10. (a) In what ways did Jesus make it known that God’s goodwill was available to many? (b) How was it apparent that not all received goodwill from Jehovah?

10 During his earthly ministry, Jesus Christ called attention to the fact that God’s goodwill was then available to those of the Jewish nation who wished it. His very presence among them meant that God was specially exercising goodwill in their behalf, and their accepting his goodwill would work for their everlasting benefit. In the synagogue in the city of Nazareth, where he had been a carpenter until thirty years of age, Jesus on one occasion was given the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Out of it he read from chapter sixty-one, Isa 61 verses one and two: “The spirit of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah is upon me, for the reason that Jehovah has anointed me to tell good news to the meek ones. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to those taken captive and the wide opening of the eyes even to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of goodwill on the part of Jehovah and the day of vengeance on the part of our God.” When Jesus finished reading this prophecy, he turned to his audience and affirmed: “Today this scripture that you just heard is fulfilled.” (Luke 4:17-21) Wonderful blessings are thus in store for those who accept the good news offered by Jesus. However, it is not difficult to note the strong contrast of thought in the references to the “year of goodwill” and the “day of vengeance on the part of our God.” Opposite destinies are obviously involved, which makes manifest the fact that God’s goodwill is not toward all persons. If it were, there would be no need for a “day of vengeance.”

AN EXAMPLE FOR OUR DAY

11. Explain why the Jews of Jesus’ day were enjoying a “year of goodwill” on the part of Jehovah.

11 Back there in first-century Jerusalem, that promise of a “year of goodwill” followed by the destructive “day of vengeance” saw a typical fulfillment in a series of circumstances that give cause for concern in this day. The proclaiming of the “year of goodwill” begun by Jesus, was later taken up by his faithful anointed followers after Pentecost. It featured a message of good news that centered around the promised Kingdom by God’s appointed Messiah, and was made public by the preaching activity of those whom God had anointed by his holy spirit. It offered to all those Jews there in Judea the very blessing for which their forefathers had hoped for centuries, those who had exercised faith in the promises written down by the prophets. God’s Chief Agent for salvation and life was among them. Truly this was their “year of goodwill on the part of Jehovah.”

12. Why was their “year of goodwill” not to last indefinitely?

12 But would they accept it? Would this “year of goodwill” with its prospects of blessings always be available to that Jewish nation so that they could turn to it if and whenever they pleased? No, the circumstances that followed indicate that such was not the case. Just as a year is a definite time period with a beginning and an end, so their “year of goodwill” would not last indefinitely. Those who truly desired to gain God’s goodwill and avail themselves of its benefits and blessings would have to act quickly and decisively before it ended, before the “day of vengeance on the part of our God” came upon them.

13. Jesus’ prophecy foretold what conclusion to the “year of goodwill” in the first century?

13 Jesus’ prophecy concerning what would befall those who rejected God’s goodwill had carried with it a warning of a limited time period. Jesus had described the sweeping events that would lead up to the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 C.E.: “Furthermore, when you see Jerusalem surrounded by encamped armies, then know that the desolating of her has drawn near.” With this warning in mind, those Jews in Judea who truly had a sincere desire to gain God’s goodwill would have a profound interest in the instructions that follow: “Then let those in Judea begin fleeing to the mountains, and let those in the midst of her withdraw, and let those in the country places not enter into her; because these are days for meting out justice, that all the things written may be fulfilled.” Then pinpointing just how limited that “year of goodwill” would prove to be for that nation, Jesus added the ominous warning: “Truly I say to you, This generation will by no means pass away until all things occur.”—Luke 21:20-22, 32.

14. (a) Did the Jewish nation choose to accept God’s goodwill? (b) What were they forced to accept, and how?

14 Exactly as Jesus foretold, 37 years later, within that very generation, that “year of goodwill on the part of Jehovah” came to a halt, to be followed quickly by the destructive “day of vengeance” that fell violently upon the Jewish people, especially upon Jerusalem. In the year 66 C.E. the armies of Rome came just as Jesus had warned and surrounded the city. When the Roman armies withdrew for a time, those who sought God’s goodwill still had time to heed Jesus’ warning to ‘flee to the mountains.’ This they did, and speedily. However, 70 C.E. saw the Roman general Titus come with his legions, this time to wreak a horrible desolation upon both people and city, slaughtering 1,100,000 Jews, and taking captive another 97,000 miserable slaves to be scattered throughout the Roman Empire. Thus just as God had used the military forces of the ungodly ruler Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon in 607 B.C.E. to punish the nation that had rejected him, so in 70 C.E. the military legions of Rome under General Titus served his purposes very well, as his destructive “day of vengeance” fell violently and painfully on the nation that chose to reject his “year of goodwill.” Those wretched victims who had persecuted and perpetrated the deaths of Jesus and his faithful followers, and who had turned deaf ears to the warning by Jesus and his obedient disciples to flee for their lives from the imminent disaster were forced to feel the harsh effects of God’s “day of vengeance,” an experience they could not avoid.

15. How did accepting God’s goodwill benefit the remnant of believers?

15 To that entire nation God had made his goodwill available through the announcement of his Son and his disciples, but only a few accepted it and demonstrated their faith in it by their obedience. Only a remnant sought to gain the peace of God’s men of goodwill, and these became Jesus’ disciples, publicly going on record as to their decision by being baptized as the followers of Jesus. Thus these “men of goodwill” escaped the destruction of Jerusalem and the enslavement of the miserable survivors because they heeded the warning and acted on the instructions given by Jesus.

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The Watchtower, June 15, 1972