The Watchtower, March 1, 1981

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The Watchtower — March 1, 1981

Source: jw.org

Contents

Page Two

Who Can Find Contentment?

Can You Be Contented with Your Lot in Life?

Finding Spiritual Contentment in Denmark

Witnesses to the Most Distant Part of the Earth

Go! Make Disciples

Insight on the News

Do You Appreciate the “Faithful and Discreet Slave”?

The ‘Faithful Slave’ Gives “Food at the Proper Time”

Questions From Readers

Youth Wonders—Why Are We Here?

Page Two

In a discontented world, can you find the key to real fulfillment and a happy life? The following pages may help you to find the answer

Who Can Find Contentment?

MANY people believe that their quest for contentment would end very happily if only they could move to a remote and secure tropical island. Surely, there they could enjoy a tranquil life basking in the sun, with plenty to eat and not a worry in the world.

In the book Rascals in Paradise, James A. Michener and A. Grove Day tell of “a fabled occurrence in recent Pacific history.” In essence, the story is that during the 1930’s a certain Australian concluded that a major war was on the horizon. Desiring to avoid involvement in such a cataclysmic event, he methodically sought a place of refuge.

“Finally,” we are told, “by a process of the most careful logic, he decided that his only secure refuge from the world’s insanity lay on some tropical island. . . . he studied the Pacific and narrowed his choice of islands to the one that offered every advantage: remoteness, security, a good life . . . in the late summer of 1939, one week before Germany invaded Poland, this wise Australian fled to his particular South Pacific refuge. He went to the almost unknown island of Guadalcanal.” But did he find security and contentment there?

Alas, for that refugee, even the remote island of Guadalcanal became the scene of intense fighting in the years 1942 and 1943! Indeed, during much of World War II, it was anything but a carefree tropical paradise.

That all took place decades ago. But what about the present day? What is seen by the candid observer?

Strikes, protest marches, child runaways, school dropouts, illegal use of drugs, broken homes and divorces—all of these are becoming commonplace. Why? What is the common denominator in the majority of these problems? Discontentment!

Think, too, of the present-day threat to peace. Consider the possibility of a nuclear holocaust. Who can find contentment amid such circumstances?

Today, as during World War II, there is no remote and secure tropical isle to which you may flee. With air travel, mass communications—yes, and atmospheric pollution—none of us can find a location that now affords complete safety and tranquillity. But does this mean that all men, women and younger persons are doomed to lives of unhappiness and discontentment? No, indeed. And this we shall see as we consider the pressing question, Can you be contented with your lot in life?

Can You Be Contented with Your Lot in Life?

“IF TWO angels were sent down from heaven, one to conduct an empire, and the other to sweep a street, they would feel no inclination to change employments.” So said English cleric John Newton some two centuries ago. That was one way of looking at the matter of being contented with one’s lot in life.

But what is involved in being contented? It is an inward feeling of deep and enduring satisfaction with one’s circumstances and is reflected by a lack of grumbling or faultfinding. One dictionary defines the word “contented” as being “easy in mind: satisfied esp[ecially] with one’s lot in life.” What about you? Inwardly, do you wish you had a different job, a different home, a different mate? Do you find that your desires are becoming cravings that may tend to throw you off balance?

Being content does not rule out putting forth real effort to improve our circumstances. Contentment should not stifle initiative, leaving us barely enough to live on from day to day. But it does mean that we should not be craving something to the point that we find ourselves among the unhappy complainers.

AN EXAMPLE OF CONTENTMENT

Consider the example of the Christian apostle Paul. A Roman citizen and probably from a prominent Hebrew family, he studied law at the feet of the learned Gamaliel and earned the respect of his fellow Pharisees. But what happened? He was called by Jehovah God through His Son to become a preacher of the “good news.” To maintain himself and avoid becoming a burden to others in the Christian congregation, Paul worked with his hands. This enabled him to move about freely from city to city, wherever his missionary activity took him. His work as an evangelizer brought him much persecution, even beatings, stonings and lashings. But was he contented?

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul wrote: “I do indeed also consider all things to be loss on account of the excelling value of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord. On account of him I have taken the loss of all things and I consider them as a lot of refuse, that I may gain Christ. I have learned, in whatever circumstances I am, to be self-sufficient [“content,” margin].” (Phil. 3:8; 4:11) Yes, the apostle Paul found true contentment in his faithful service to God.

WARNING EXAMPLES OF DISCONTENTMENT

Others, however, became discontented, with tragic results. The first woman, Eve, had a perfect husband, an ideal home in a paradise garden, a great variety of food in abundance, the loving care of her heavenly Father and God, and the prospects of living forever. Yet when the Tempter declared that God was withholding what was rightly hers, she believed him and became discontented with her lot. She chose a course that offered her independence and the opportunity to set her own standards as to what was good and what was bad. This choice brought only suffering and death to her. How much better it would have been for her to remain contented, subject to her husband, and, above all, to her God!

Centuries later, when Jehovah God was leading his people through the wilderness, there were repeated outbreaks of discontentment. On one occasion, 254 chieftains of Israel became discontented with their lot and this led to open rebellion against Moses and Aaron. “That is enough of you. . . . Why, then, should you lift yourselves up above the congregation of Jehovah?” they declared defiantly. Moses’ answer pinpointed the cause of their discontentment. We read: “Is it such a little thing for you men . . . to carry on the service of Jehovah’s tabernacle . . . ? So must you men also try to secure the priesthood?” (Num. 16:1-10) The result? Death by fire for the majority; others swallowed up by the earth.

Different circumstances brought on the discontentment of Demas, a fellow worker of the apostle Paul. He was with the apostle during his first imprisonment in Rome. But during Paul’s second imprisonment ‘Demas forsook him because he loved the present system of things.’ (2 Tim. 4:10) Thus he lost out on true contentment.

ARE YOU CONTENT?

What about you? If you are the breadwinner in your family, do you lack contentment? There certainly are many things that can trouble a Christian—dishonesty in high places, unjust treatment of the poor and needy, and favoritism, to say nothing of so many jobs that are just routine. How can a person be contented under such conditions? It is good to keep in mind that you are not alone. Faithful servants of God in ancient times faced the same problems, and how they dealt successfully with them is recorded in the Bible for our encouragement.

For example, there was the Levite Asaph, a well-known singer and musician. He wrote: “I became envious of the boasters, when I would see the very peace of wicked people. They are not even in the trouble of mortal man, and they are not plagued the same as other men.” Therefore, he began to say to himself: “It is in vain that I have cleansed my heart and that I wash my hands in innocence itself.”—Ps. 73:3, 5, 13.

In effect, Asaph asked himself: ‘What is the use of trying to do what is right? Others are getting away with badness. Why not I?’ But then he discerned that his reasoning was wrong. While at the sanctuary with other worshipers of Jehovah, he came to recognize that the prosperity of the wicked is short-lived.—Ps. 73:15-19.

Whereas we may be distressed about the badness that surrounds us, we can take comfort in the fact that there is a day of reckoning. (Acts 17:31) In this system of things, there is much that cannot be changed. “That which is made crooked cannot be made straight,” says the Bible. (Eccl. 1:15) So, when we cannot change matters by proper means, we wisely wait on Jehovah God to act in his due time. Thus we maintain our contentment.

How about your home? Is it a source of contentment to you? Certainly, loving family members can contribute to contentment. After a hard day at work, what a relief it is for a man to enter his peaceful home and enjoy association with his wife and children! The Bible proverb expresses this well, saying: “Better is a dish of vegetables where there is love than a manger-fed bull and hatred along with it.”—Prov. 15:17.

The spiritual family consisting of fellow witnesses of Jehovah is also a big help in remaining content. How fine it is to be able to associate with persons who are honest, upright and loving! Have you found that attendance at meetings of Jehovah’s Witnesses causes you to forget the problems that tend to discourage you?

‘But what about my lot?’ a housewife may ask. It will require constant effort to maintain true contentment while so much is being said about “women’s liberation.” But are those who take the lead in this movement really contented? How can they be when they ignore the fact that the God-ordained role for a wife is that of a helper and complement, not that of a head or competitor? (Gen. 2:18) A wife can do much to contribute to the happiness of the entire family. In these days of galloping inflation, she can keep down expenses by shopping wisely. (Prov. 31:14) By word and example, the Christian wife can build up her children spiritually, helping them to see what it means to live as disciples of Jesus Christ.

It is by filling her God-given place that a Christian woman experiences the happiness of the capable wife described in the book of Proverbs, where we read: “A capable wife who can find? Her value is far more than that of corals. In her the heart of her owner has put trust. . . . She has rewarded him with good . . . all the days of her life. . . . She is watching over the goings on of her household . . . Her sons have risen up and proceeded to pronounce her happy; her owner rises up, and he praises her. . . . The woman that fears Jehovah is the one that procures praise for herself.”—Prov. 31:10-30.

What about you youths? Are you contented with your lot? Young people today face serious problems. Immorality, cheating and the misuse of drugs have risen to dizzying heights. Such things do not need to throw you off balance, cause you to lose your sense of direction and prompt you to become a school dropout. By stopping your education prematurely, you may have to content yourself with a low-paying job and circumstances at work that are even more distressing than those you faced in school. Hence, strive to do your best at school, choosing the kind of training that will enable you to support yourself well without depleting your strength. God’s servants do well to prepare themselves for the kind of work that will leave them free to devote much of their time and energy to helping others spiritually. This results in experiencing the far greater happiness that comes from giving.—Acts 20:35.

If you are a worshiper of Jehovah God, while still in school strive to make advancement as a Christian. Seize the opportunity to proclaim the “good news” at school and in association with other members of the congregation. During school vacations, give thought to enlarging your share in the public proclamation of the “good news.” You may find real pleasure in serving as an auxiliary pioneer. Do not neglect the reading of the Bible and publications that are designed to help you to understand it better. Good advance preparation will enable you to participate at congregation meetings.

Are there any in your congregation who are sick, handicapped or elderly? Could you do shopping, repair work or cleaning for them? Is there someone with failing eyesight? Could you devote time each week in reading to this person? To be a disciple of Jesus Christ means to serve others as he did. If you learn to serve others in your youth, your joys and blessings will be abundant.

Are there any new elements in finding the key to real contentment? No, there is nothing new. Over 1,900 years ago the apostle Paul gave advice that is just as applicable now as it was then. He wrote: “To be sure, it is a means of great gain, this godly devotion along with self-sufficiency [or, “contentment”]. For we have brought nothing into the world, and neither can we carry anything out. So, having sustenance and covering, we shall be content with these things.”—1 Tim. 6:6-8.

Take time, then, to meditate on your lot. True, it could perhaps be better, but it could also be much worse. Strive to be contented with what you have, not fretting about what you do not have. Find happiness by doing what you can to assist others spiritually and in being a source of encouragement to them. Do this, as many have, and you can be contented with your lot in life.

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‘But what about my lot in life?’ a housewife may ask

Finding Spiritual Contentment in Denmark

AT THE gateway of the Baltic Sea lies Denmark. Consisting of a peninsula and some islands, this country covers an area of around 43,000 square kilometers (16,600 sq. mi.) and has a population of about 5,000,000.

Centuries ago the influence of this kingdom stretched far beyond its present borders. During the years 800 to 1000 C.E., the Vikings crossed the seas in dragon-stemmed ships, ravaging and conquering extensive areas west of Denmark. After the country had become “Christianized,” there were times when areas to the north, east and south also came under the control of Danish monarchs. Two of these territories, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, are still under the Danish crown.

For over 100 years, Denmark has not been actively involved in warfare, although it was not exempt from the effects of the two world wars. Thanks to highly developed agriculture, the country is one of the breadbaskets of Europe. The standard of living is high, and the Danes enjoy a noteworthy measure of security on account of their social legislation.

Nevertheless, there is still some truth in these words that English playwright William Shakespeare put into the mouth of the Danish prince Hamlet: “Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.” Problems of a financial nature can be seen in the form of unemployment and balance-of-payment deficits, and the many cases of thrombosis and cancer give evidence of widespread health problems. The people have not been made happier by the freedom and prosperity that they enjoy, nor by the loose sexual morality that has gained acceptance. According to statistics, Denmark has one of the world’s highest suicide rates. This emphasizes the truth of Jesus’ words: “Even when a person has an abundance his life does not result from the things he possesses.” (Luke 12:15) To be truly happy and contented with their lot in life, people must have their spiritual needs filled.—1 Tim. 6:6-8.

EARLY ACTIVITY OF JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

It was interest in this spiritual need that prompted C. T. Russell, the first president of the Watch Tower Society, to visit Denmark in 1891. He found the country to be like a field ripe for harvest. Also, the circumstances were ideal for spreading the Bible’s message.

Over 40 years earlier, in 1849, the former absolute monarchy became a constitutional monarchy. Up to that time the Evangelical–Lutheran State Church practiced forced christening on the infant children of Baptist parents. But, with the start of the constitutional monarchy, the State Church became a National Church, in which membership was voluntary. Moreover, after a period of considerable indifference to the Bible, some religious revivals increased interest in spiritual matters. Also, in the middle of the 19th century, the well-known Danish theologian and philosopher Søren Kierkegaard attacked the church in very strong terms. He accused it of watering down Jesus’ words about the ‘cramped road’ leading to life, saying that the church had trampled it so broad that everyone could promenade on it.—Matt. 7:13, 14.

Thus, in more than one way, it was fitting that the first “Bible Student,” a Danish-American, was sent to Denmark in 1894. From 1897 onward, articles from The Watchtower were published in a little periodical called Tusindaars-rigets Bud-bærer (Millennium Messenger), and since 1900 the Watchtower magazine has been published in Danish. This journal has played an important role in stimulating the spiritual appetite of many.

However, the words of Søren Kierkegaard still hold true. The general attitude is one of passiveness toward religion. This can be seen from an article in the Danish Journal, issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the January 1978 issue, the following remarks were made: “If it is true, as the old Danish proverb says, that it’s better to sit in the tavern and think of the church than sit in the church and think of the tavern, then the Danes are doing the right thing.” While more than 93 percent of the population continue as members of the church, only 2 percent go to church every Sunday. Four percent go once or twice a month, while “51 percent of the adult population say they never go to church.” In recent years, increasing numbers, especially among the young, have terminated their church membership.

INTEREST AMONG THE YOUNG

The prosperity that followed World War II caused many of the generation that is now of middle age to work for materialistic goals. But problems like the atomic threat, pollution and unemployment have contributed to a loss of faith in such values on the part of large numbers of young people. These youths are looking elsewhere in their search for contentment.

Take the case of a young man who completed a six-month course at a religious high school without finding any solution to his problems. At 18, he started looking for an answer elsewhere—to Hinduism, occultism, astrology, spiritism, Scientology and drugs. “I thought,” he said later, “that the sum of all of this was bound to give me an idea of God.” Disappointed by the outcome, he was led into drug addiction and gradually came under the influence of demonic powers to such an extent that he felt his life threatened. Nevertheless, he retained some faith in a God of love and in Christ. Regarding his continuing to search, he stated: “I went to the religions professing to be Christians—the Pentecostals, Apostolics, Baptists, Christian youth groups, and Jehovah’s Witnesses. I kept asking, getting contradicting answers, wondering, praying and searching in the Scriptures.”

At the age of 22, the young man came to the conviction that the truth was to be found among Jehovah’s Witnesses. He succeeded in breaking his drug habit after having been addicted for one and a half years. Despite great parental opposition, he became a baptized Witness and is now zealously sharing Bible truths with others. He has found spiritual contentment.

OPENNESS IN SCHOOLS

In the Danish schools, too, there are strong feelings of dissatisfaction with the standards of society. One positive result of this is a willingness to look into answers from other sources. For example, many teachers include information about Jehovah’s Witnesses in their classes. Especially in recent years has there been growing interest in classroom visits by the Witnesses.

How are such visits handled? A young couple who have gone to schools about 60 or 70 times state: “We give an introductory talk, explaining a few basic points of our faith—for example, our preaching about God’s kingdom and the coming paradise on earth, belief in creation, our view of the Bible, the commandment of neighbor love and its connection with the matter of neutrality, our history, and our form of organization compared with the early Christian congregation. The rest of the time is spent answering questions from the class. Recently, we have noted a change in what occupies the minds of students. Two or three years ago the class discussions often centered around social problems and our political neutrality. Now there is a growing interest in matters of a human, moral or purely Biblical nature.” After the Witnesses had one session with 40 students, the teacher expressed some surprise and pride because the students had been so attentive and had asked such relevant questions.

STILL A NEED TO FIGHT FOR THE FAITH

However, in Denmark there is one area where feelings have been running high, perhaps more so than in other places. This involves the stand taken by Jehovah’s Witnesses with reference to blood transfusions. This question was dramatically publicized in March 1975, when a young couple took their three-year-old son from the children’s hospital in Copenhagen. They did so because the doctor, in order to administer a blood transfusion against the wishes of the parents, had legal custody taken away from them.

Knowing that they most likely would be pursued by the police, the parents sought refuge with some of their fellow believers. At the same time, they tried to find a doctor who was willing to treat the child without the use of blood. A national police hunt, with raids, ransacking and border controls, took place. This was accompanied by a veritable persecution campaign in the press, with headlines such as “Child Killers,” “Religious Fanatics” and “Cynical Parents.” Even bomb threats and cases of outright violence occurred. A couple of clergymen and a member of Parliament raised the question of whether the authorities should not take action against Jehovah’s Witnesses. Meanwhile, the parents did find a doctor who was willing to respect their faith and to use alternate methods of treatment. Today the boy is alive and healthy.

STILL WORK TO DO

In recent years Danish society has undergone great changes. This has even affected the facilities that Jehovah’s Witnesses are using for meetings. In the past, the Witnesses used sports buildings for their semiannual circuit assemblies. However, rapidly rising rental costs have made it advisable for them to build their own assembly halls.

The dedication of the first assembly hall on March 17, 1979, was indeed a joyous event. Financed by unsolicited contributions and built with voluntary labor, this hall will serve the parts of the country called Jutland and Fünen. For the eastern part of the country, with the island of Zealand and the capital city of Copenhagen, good progress is being made with plans for a similar hall. In connection with the second assembly hall, it is planned to erect a new and much larger branch office of the Watch Tower Society.

During the nearly 90 years that have passed since C. T. Russell visited Denmark, the work of helping others to gain accurate Bible knowledge has progressed steadily, with intervals of rapid growth and periods of stabilization. Next to the National Church, Jehovah’s Witnesses are the largest religious body in the country—perhaps with the exception of the Catholic Church, which has not published any membership figures for a number of years. Very few countries with a population like that of Denmark have a similar ratio of Witnesses to population—1 to 387.

Today a substantial part of the work of distributing spiritual food consists of teaching and strengthening the many active Witnesses. At the same time, they keep on preparing themselves for an even greater witness about God’s kingdom. As long as Jehovah wills, they will declare the “good news” to the Danish people and show them how to find spiritual contentment.

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DENMARK COPENHAGEN SWEDEN

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THERE HAS BEEN GROWING INTEREST IN CLASSROOM VISITS BY JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES

Witnesses to the Most Distant Part of the Earth

1. What was one of the most dramatic moments in the history of mankind?

IT WAS undoubtedly one of the most dramatic moments in the history of mankind. Never had a parting been more moving. The Son of God was about to take leave of his followers on earth, never to be visibly present with them again in the flesh. There was time for just one more question, one more answer. On what topic? That last conversation would affect Christ’s followers right up until the end of the present system of things!

2. What was the last question put to Jesus before he left the earth for all time, and why does his answer interest us greatly?

2 The final question Jesus’ disciples put to him was: “Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?” What their precise motives were in asking that question is a matter of conjecture. Whatever their expectations were, one thing is clear: they wanted to know when God’s purposes concerning the Kingdom would be fulfilled. Who can blame them? They were neither the first nor the last to show impatience for final deliverance. So Jesus’ comments, yes, his very last words before leaving the earth for all time, are of the utmost interest to us today.

CHRIST’S PARTING COMMISSION

3, 4. (a) How did Jesus reply? (b) What twofold lesson did Jesus give his disciples?

3 Jesus replied: “It does not belong to you to get knowledge of the times or seasons which the Father has placed in his own jurisdiction; but you will receive power when the holy spirit arrives upon you, and you will be witnesses of me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria and to the most distant part of the earth.” The account adds: “And after he had said these things, while they were looking on, he was lifted up and a cloud caught him up from their vision.”—Acts 1:6-9.

4 The import of Jesus’ parting words was twofold. He first tactfully, yet firmly, told his disciples that the timing of the outworking of Jehovah’s purposes was not their concern. He thus confirmed what he had already stated in his prophecy on the conclusion of the system of things. (Matt. 24:36; Mark 13:32-37) Then he went on to show them what would henceforth be their concern. They were to be Christian witnesses first in Jerusalem, where they had been told to remain for the time being (Acts 1:4), then in all Judea and Samaria and, ultimately, “to the most distant part of the earth.” To that end they would receive “power” by means of the holy spirit.

5. When did “power” come upon Jesus’ disciples, and what did it move them to do?

5 That “power” arrived upon them a week and a half later, at Pentecost. The apostles and other disciples had obediently stayed in Jerusalem, and on that festival day “they were all together at the same place.” Suddenly, “they all became filled with holy spirit and started to speak with different tongues, just as the spirit was granting them to make utterance.” They spoke, not some unintelligible babble, but “about the magnificent things of God.”—Acts 2:1, 4, 11.

“IN JERUSALEM”

6. How did these anointed Christians begin fulfilling their commission, but with what opposition?

6 These newly anointed Christians immediately set about carrying out the commission that they had received from the resurrected Christ. They first preached “in Jerusalem”; not without opposition, however. The religious and civil leaders of the Jews plotted against them, saying:

“What shall we do with these men? Because, for a fact, a noteworthy sign has occurred through them [the healing of a lame man], one manifest to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it. Nevertheless, in order that it may not be spread abroad further among the people, let us tell them with threats not to speak anymore upon the basis of this name [Jesus] to any man at all.”—Acts 4:16, 17.

7. (a) How did Christ’s disciples react thereto? (b) How did a religious opposer provide proof that the early Christians were faithfully carrying out their commission?

7 Christ had said: “You will be witnesses of me.” The Jewish Sanhedrin threatened the early Christians “not to speak anymore upon the basis of this name.” Whom did they obey? They respectfully told their persecutors: “We cannot stop speaking about the things we have seen and heard.” (Acts 4:18-20) They kept right on witnessing. Although the apostles were jailed, after their miraculous release during the night “they entered into the temple at daybreak and began to teach.” (Acts 5:17-21) What zeal! Again they were arrested.

“They brought them and stood them in the Sanhedrin hall. And the high priest questioned them and said: ‘We positively ordered you not to keep teaching upon the basis of this name, and yet, look! you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching.’” (Acts 5:27, 28)

Unwittingly, this religious dignitary testified to the fact that these early Christians were faithfully carrying out the first part of their Christ-given commission. They were being zealous witnesses of him “in Jerusalem.”

8. How had these Christians ‘filled Jerusalem with their teaching,’ and what results did they obtain?

8 After being flogged and ordered “to stop speaking upon the basis of Jesus’ name,” these Christians “went their way from before the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy to be dishonored in behalf of his name.” Far from being discouraged, “every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus.” (Acts 5:40-42) Notice that they “continued” witnessing “from house to house.” (New World Translation; New International Version) That is how they, although relatively few in number, had managed to ‘fill Jerusalem with their teaching.’ This method brought splendid results. “Consequently the word of God went on growing, and the number of the disciples kept multiplying in Jerusalem very much.”—Acts 6:7.

ON INTO SAMARIA AND JUDEA

9. Under what circumstances did the witnessing work move on to Judea and Samaria?

9 But the early Christians could not stop there. They were to be Christ’s witnesses also “in all Judea and Samaria.” Actually, it was their very zeal in carrying out the first part of their commission that led them into fulfilling the second part of their Christian work. Opposition to their witnessing in Jerusalem reached a climax with the religious murder of Stephen, and this set in motion a wave of persecution against the congregation of Christian witnesses in Jerusalem. The purpose of this violent opposition was to silence these witnesses of Christ. Instead, it gave a new boost to the witnessing work and extended it just where Christ wanted it to go. “All except the apostles were scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria.” And what did those dispersed Christians do in those areas? They “went through the land declaring the good news of the word.”—Acts chap. 7; Ac 8:1, 4.

10. What did the apostles do when they heard that “Samaria had accepted the word of God,” and what ‘key’ did Peter use?

10 Soon news got back to “the apostles in Jerusalem” that “Samaria had accepted the word of God.” Rising to the situation, the apostles sent two of their number, Peter and John, to consolidate the good work done by these scattered Christians, including Philip the evangelizer. Using the prerogative that Christ had granted him, Peter opened up the way for the Samaritans to become spirit-begotten, anointed Christians, called to share with Christ in “the kingdom of the heavens.” (Matt. 16:18, 19; Acts 8:14-17) The account in Acts continues: “When they had given the witness thoroughly and had spoken the word of Jehovah, . . . they went declaring the good news to many villages of the Samaritans.” (Acts 8:25) So much for Samaria!

11. What evidence is there that “all Judea” received a fine witness?

11 As for Judea, doubtless many Judeans were present in Jerusalem at Pentecost and received the fine witness given by the newly anointed Christians, notably by Peter. (Acts 2:9, 14-36) We also know that before the wave of persecution broke out against the Christians in Jerusalem, “the multitude from the cities around Jerusalem kept coming together, bearing sick people and those troubled with unclean spirits, and they would one and all be cured.” (Acts 5:16) All these inhabitants of Judea received the witness concerning Jesus. Referring to the period following the conversion of Paul, Luke wrote: “The congregation throughout the whole of Judea and Galilee and Samaria entered into a period of peace, being built up.” (Acts 9:31) About 15 years later Paul was able to write to Christians in Thessalonica: “For you became imitators, brothers, of the congregations of God that are in Judea.” (1 Thess. 2:14) Undeniably, the early Christians zealously carried out their Christ-given commission to be his witnesses “in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria.”

“AWAY TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH”

12. How were seeds for future expansion sown on the day of Pentecost?

12 However, Jesus’ parting commission went still farther. It stated: “You will bear witness for me in Jerusalem, and all over Judaea and Samaria, and away to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, The New English Bible) There is evidence that Christ’s name was witnessed to among the Jews of the Diasporaa at an early date, even before 36 C.E.—the year Peter again used his Christ-given prerogative, this time to open up the Kingdom to the uncircumcised Gentiles. (Matt. 16:18, 19; Acts chap. 10) For one thing, the 3,000 Jews and proselytes who became baptized Christians on the day of Pentecost 33 C.E. were not inhabitants only of Jerusalem and Judea. Many of them had come from such far-flung places as Parthia, Media, Elam and Mesopotamia (modern Iran and Iraq), Asia Minor (modern Turkey), North Africa and Italy. (Acts 2:8-11) Upon returning to their homelands on the three continents of Asia, Africa and Europe, these newly converted Christians undoubtedly witnessed to Christ’s name, at least to other Jews and proselytes in their respective countries. Thus seeds for future expansion were sown right there at Pentecost.

13. What indicates that the Christian witness was given beyond Judea and Samaria at an early date?

13 Furthermore, we read in Acts 11:19: “Those who had been scattered by the tribulation that arose over Stephen [sometime after Pentecost, but before the conversion of Paul in 34 or 35 C.E.] went through as far as Phoenicia and Cyprus and [Syrian] Antioch, but speaking the word to no one except to Jews only.” This provides definite proof that even before the preaching reached out to the non-Jews, Christ was being witnessed to far beyond Judea and Samaria.

14. Where did systematic witnessing among the uncircumcised apparently begin? Explain.

14 Once Peter had used another of the “keys of the kingdom of the heavens” to unlock Kingdom opportunities to the uncircumcised, in 36 C.E., the way was open to carry the Christian witness to all peoples, yes! “away to the ends of the earth.” (NE) Apparently, systematic witnessing among the uncircumcised Gentiles first got under way in Syrian Antioch, at that time the third largest city in the world, after Rome and Alexandria. It happened this way: Sometime after 36 C.E., but before 44 C.E., “there were some men [Christians] of Cyprus and Cyrene [in North Africa] that came to Antioch and began talking to the Greek-speaking people, declaring the good news of the Lord Jesus. Furthermore, the hand of Jehovah was with them, and a great number that became believers turned to the Lord.”—Acts 11:20, 21.

15. (a) What did the Jerusalem congregation do about this new situation, and why was their choice a judicious one? (b) What had Paul been doing for the past several years? (c) Why is the case of the early congregation of Antioch of particular interest?

15 The zealous preaching activities of these Christians from Cyprus and Cyrene among non-Jews were blessed by Jehovah. “The congregation that was in Jerusalem” sent a special representative up north to Syria to handle this new situation. They chose Barnabas, himself a Greek-speaking Jew from Cyprus. After having encouraged these new disciples of Christ, Barnabas went to Tarsus to fetch Paul, who himself had just spent several years “declaring the good news about the faith” in Syria and Cilicia, now southeastern Turkey. (Compare Acts 9:26-30 with Galatians 1:18-23.) “It thus came about that for a whole year [probably about 45 C.E.] they [Barnabas and Paul] gathered together with them in the congregation [now made up of both Jews and Gentiles] and taught quite a crowd, and it was first in Antioch that the disciples were by divine providence called Christians.”—Acts 11:22-26.

16, 17. (a) How was the witnessing work expanded out from Syrian Antioch? (b) What prophecy did Paul and Barnabas quote to justify their activities, and to whom did this prophecy originally apply? (c) How does this shed light on Acts 1:8?

16 For 10 years or so Syrian Antioch became a center from which intense missionary activities were carried out, under the direction of the holy spirit. (Acts 13:1-4; 14:26; 15:35, 36; 18:22, 23) Paul, together with various fellow missionaries, undertook three extensive witnessing tours that spread Christianity throughout Asia Minor and Greece. They preached Christ to both Jews and Gentiles. On one occasion, Paul and Barnabas justified this course of action to a group of irate Jews, saying:

“It was necessary for the word of God to be spoken first to you. Since you are thrusting it away from you and do not judge yourselves worthy of everlasting life, look! we turn to the nations. In fact, Jehovah has laid commandment upon us in these words, ‘I have appointed you as a light of nations, for you to be a salvation to the extremity of the earth.’”

Luke adds: “When those of the nations heard this, they began to rejoice and to glorify the word of Jehovah, and all those who were rightly disposed for everlasting life became believers.”—Acts 13:46-48.

17 By quoting Messianic Servant prophecies (Isa. 42:6; 49:6) and applying them to their own activity, Paul and Barnabas showed that they and their fellow Christians were actually “substituting for Christ,” whom Jehovah had commissioned to bring “light” and “salvation” to “the extremity of the earth.” Christ, in turn, had commissioned his followers to be his witnesses “to the most distant part of the earth.”—2 Cor. 5:20; Acts 1:8; compare Isaiah 49:5-9 with Luke 2:25-32.

A LONG-TERM COMMISSION

18. What do we know about the early Christians’ efforts to be witnesses “to the most distant part of the earth”?

18 As we have seen, the book of Acts shows the zeal with which the apostles and early Christians sought to carry out their Christ-given witnessing commission in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria and as far as they were able to go toward “the ends of the earth.” We know, for example, that the apostle Peter was a faithful witness of Christ as far east as Babylon, and that Paul witnessed as far west as Italy and perhaps even as far as Spain.—1 Pet. 5:13; Acts chap. 28; Rom. 15:23-28.

19. What shows, however, that Christ’s parting commission to Christians would extend to the present day, and what question arises?

19 But it is quite evident that Christ’s parting commission to be witnesses “to the most distant part of the earth” was more far-reaching than that. According to Jesus’ own prophecy, it went beyond the apostolic period, reaching right down until the “conclusion of the system of things.” (Matt. 24:3, 14) However, it has been very strengthening and faith-inspiring to review the fine example set by the early Christians. Now the question arises: Who, today, are carrying on the good work begun by the apostles, and by what means have they been witnesses for Christ and his heavenly Father, literally “to the most distant part of the earth”? We shall see in the following article.

[Footnotes]

The “dispersion” of the Jews after the Assyrian and Babylonian deportations.

[Blurb on page 14]

“Look! You have filled Jerusalem with your teaching”

[Blurb on page 15]

“They went declaring the good news to . . . the Samaritans”

[Picture on page 13]

“You will be witnesses of me . . . to the most distant part of the earth.”—Acts 1:8.

SAMARIA

JERUSALEM

JUDEA

Go! Make Disciples

1, 2. (a) How would the expression “the most distant part of the earth” take on new scope as time went by? (b) How did Jesus show that the Christian commission to witness would not end with the first-century Christians?

BOTH timewise and geographywise, Jesus’ parting commission to be witnesses to the ends of the earth, as recorded in Acts 1:8, did not end with the early Christians. They did a fine job telling out the “good news” as far as they could go “in all the world” or ‘in all creation under heaven’ in their day. (Col. 1:5, 6, 23) But as time went by those expressions would take on new scope, as the ever-increasing population sprawled out over six continents and countless islands, literally “to the most distant part of the earth.”

2 Jesus was well aware of this. For the benefit of all his disciples—not only the first-century Christians but all Christians down through the years, and especially those Christians living on earth during “the conclusion of the system of things”—the resurrected Christ stated:

“All authority has been given me in heaven and on the earth. Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you. And, look! I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.”—Matt. 28:18-20.

3. According to one scholar, what work would anointed Christians have to accomplish?

3 Here is proof for any who need it that the commission Christ gave his disciples on the day of his ascension was not completely fulfilled in the first century C.E. It would go on being fulfilled right up to the “conclusion of the system of things.” By whom? Interestingly, regarding Acts 1:8, Rylands Professor F. F. Bruce writes: “As Jesus Himself had been anointed at His baptism with the Holy Spirit and power, so His followers were now to be similarly anointed and enabled to carry on His work. This work would be a work of witness-bearing—a theme which is prominent in the apostolic preaching throughout Acts (cf. Chs. Ac 2:32; 3:15; 5:32; 10:39; 13:31; 22:15, etc.). An OT [Old Testament] prophet had called Israel to be God’s witnesses in the world (Isa. 43:10; 44:8); the task which Israel as a nation had not fulfilled was taken up by Jesus, as the perfect Servant of the Lord, and passed on by Him to His disciples.”

4. Since when have the remnant been fulfilling this commission, and why did this take tremendous faith?

4 Yes, the commission to be witnesses to the ends of the earth and to make disciples of people of all the nations at this “conclusion of the system of things” has been passed on to the anointed remnant of spiritual Israel, who are collectively Jehovah’s “servant” and his “witnesses.” (Isa. 43:10-12) They have been faithfully fulfilling this commission particularly since 1919. But how could these few thousand spirit-begotten Christians reach the billions of humans scattered “to the most distant part of the earth”? What tremendous faith it took even to envisage undertaking such a task!

5. What means has helped modern-day Christians to spread the witness to the ends of the earth?

5 Reread the modern history of Jehovah’s Witnessesa and you will see that one of the principal means used to spread the Kingdom message far and wide has been by the distribution of magazines, namely, The Watchtower and its companion magazine Awake! (formerly The Golden Age, then Consolation). These Bible-based periodicals have been distributed literally by the billionsb in over 100 languages and to the four corners of the earth.

“ARMIES OF CAVALRY”

6, 7. (a) How are the anointed remnant symbolized in Revelation, chapter 9, and what do they have at their disposal? (b) What do these picture? (c) What comment did the book “Then Is Finished the Mystery of God” make on this prophecy?

6 In Revelation, chapter 9, the anointed remnant are symbolized by “four angels,” or messengers, released from captivity to Babylon the Great, “at the great river Euphrates.” (Re 9 Verses 14, 15) These liberated messengers have at their disposal “armies of cavalry” numbering “two myriads of myriads,” or 200,000,000, used for, symbolically speaking, ‘killing’ a large fraction of humanity. (Re 9 Verses 16-19) The “horses” in this vision picture the means used by the anointed remnant to publicize Jehovah’s judgment messages directed particularly against Christendom, the most reprehensible part of “Babylon the Great” (the world empire of false religion).

7 Explaining this fascinating vision, the book “Then Is Finished the Mystery of God” states: “The charging of these symbolic ‘horses’ increased greatly when the Watch Tower’s magazines began to be offered on the streets, from house to house, from store to store.” (Pages 246, 247) So, while these symbolic “horses” include books, booklets and tracts, undoubtedly the magazines have played, and are still playing, an important part in spreading the Kingdom witness “to the most distant part of the earth.”c

8. How have the anointed remnant also obeyed Christ’s command to ‘go make disciples’?

8 Not only have the anointed remnant zealously and courageously led such symbolic cavalry against the bastions of false religion, but they have also heeded Christ’s command to ‘go make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them.’ Since 1935 an increasing number of persons have read the judgment messages published against the world empire of false religion and have obeyed the divine order to ‘get out of “Babylon the Great.” ’ (Rev. 18:1-4) They have dedicated themselves to Jehovah God and have been baptized “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit.” Having themselves been helped by The Watchtower and Awake!, they have joined the anointed remnant in disseminating these fine magazines far and wide, yes, “to the extremity of the earth.”—Isa. 49:6.

ARE YOU AN ACTIVE PROCLAIMER OF THE “GOOD NEWS”?

9. What is the duty of each and every Christian?

9 The order to be witnesses “to the most distant part of the earth” and to go “make disciples of people of all the nations” applies to all who claim to be Christians. Hence, all dedicated witnesses of Jehovah should have a deep, heartfelt determination to share in fulfilling that blessed commission.

10. (a) What should members of the “great crowd” remember? (b) What, however, has been the attitude of some?

10 If you are now a member of the “great crowd,” described in Revelation 7:9-17, remember that in order to “come out of the great tribulation” you have to “keep on . . . saying: ‘Salvation we owe to our God, who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb,’” and you must not stop “rendering him [Jehovah] sacred service day and night in his temple.” Lately, however, some have adopted the attitude that it is sufficient to attend the Memorial of Christ’s death once a year, keep abreast of current Bible knowledge by reading the Watch Tower Society’s publications, attend meetings from time to time and let their light shine merely by leading a good life and giving an occasional witness if and when the opportunity to do so occurs.

11. Can the Christian commission be fulfilled merely by leading a good life, or how else?

11 But is this enough? How could the Christian witness have been given “to the most distant part of the earth” if the early Christians and the modern-day anointed remnant had just stayed where they were, leading good lives? In order to ‘make disciples of people of all nations,’ they first had to “GO”! Yes, they had to get out and witness “from house to house” and “in people’s homes.” (Acts 5:42, New World Translation; Today’s English Version) This public witnessing is an indispensable part of our “sacred service.”

12. What may some have forgotten, and what are these now encouraged to do?

12 Where do you stand? Have you been a Kingdom publisher who found inward joy in making known the “good news” and also Jehovah’s judgments by means of the symbolic “horses,” particularly the Society’s magazines? If you have slowed down or even stopped altogether, is it because you have lost sight of the spiritual significance of such activities, namely, helping the anointed remnant to fulfill their commission to “proclaim the year of goodwill on the part of Jehovah and the day of vengeance on the part of our God”? (Isa. 61:1, 2, 5) Then it is high time for you to rediscover that joy by again busying yourself in Jehovah’s service.

DO YOU HAVE DIFFICULTY IN EXPRESSING YOURSELF?

13, 14. (a) Why may some have held back from witnessing from house to house? (b) What practical suggestions are made to help them to overcome their timidity?

13 Perhaps you have found witnessing from house to house difficult because you are not fluent in expressing yourself. Or maybe you are among the millions who appreciate reading the Society’s magazines and meeting with Jehovah’s Witnesses in their Kingdom Halls, but who have never taken part in house-to-house witnessing because they are afraid they will not know what to say. You are well aware that the witness must be given “to the most distant part of the earth” and that disciples must be made among “people of all the nations,” but you just do not feel capable yourself of facing the people at their doors. You know you should do it, and you meet the Scriptural qualifications, but you feel you cannot. Your heart is full of appreciation for the truth of God’s Word, but your legs just refuse to carry you to that first door because you are afraid that your lips will not find the words you need. What can you do about it?

14 You might start by taking your Bible and rereading Romans 10:8-15. That should set your feet tingling to get out and “declare good news of good things.” Next, pray to Jehovah for strength—yes, to “him who imparts power.” (Phil. 4:13; compare Acts 1:8.) Then, the next time you go to the Kingdom Hall or to your local congregation book study, ask one of the Christian elders to put you in touch with a Witness who has had some experience in telling out the “good news” from house to house. This Kingdom publisher will not expect you to engage the householders in Bible-based conversations right from the start. Most likely he (or she) will suggest that you spend a little time together considering the latest issues of The Watchtower and Awake! before going together from door to door to present these fine magazines to the public.

15. Why is the magazine work an ideal way to gain experience in house-to-house witnessing and in starting home Bible studies?

15 Witnessing with magazines is an ideal way to get started or to get busy again in the work of preaching and making disciples. It is undoubtedly one of the easiest and best ways of getting out among the people and gaining experience in witnessing from house to house. Each issue provides new talking points. In addition, if you call back on all those who accept a magazine, soon you will have a list of people you can call on regularly with the latest issues. You will gradually get to know these people. Such features as the series “Have You Ever Wondered . . . ?” (in Awake!) will enable you to start a conversation and even begin a Bible study. Read the first paragraph to the householder, ask the first printed question (subtitle)—allowing the person to reply—before reading the following paragraph and any scriptures cited. Then go on to the next question (subtitle), and so on for the time the householder has available. Why not try this? You will be amazed at the joy and godly contentment you feel by regularly rendering to Jehovah such “sacred service.”—Rev. 7:15.

YOUNG CHRISTIANS, GET THOSE “HORSES” MOVING!

16. What scriptures show that young Christians are also involved?

16 The responsibility to be “witnesses . . . to the most distant part of the earth” rests upon all Christians, young and old. The prophetic 110th Psalm says of Christ:

“The rod of your strength Jehovah will send out of Zion, saying.: ‘Go subduing in the midst of your enemies.’ Your people will offer themselves willingly on the day of your military force. In the splendors of holiness, from the womb of the dawn, you have your company of young men just like dewdrops.” (Ps. 110:2, 3)

Another Messianic psalm speaks of “virgins” who would be “companions” of Christ’s bride. (Ps. 45:13, 14) Both of these passages apply to the anointed remnant and to the “great crowd” that literally includes you “young men” and “virgins.” So you, too, must ‘offer yourselves willingly’ and be loyal “companions” to the remaining ones of the anointed bride class still on earth, also symbolized by the “four angels” who are directing the “armies of cavalry” against Satan’s religious world empire.—Rev. 9:15-19; 21:2, 9.

17. How are many fine young men and women performing “sacred service”?

17 Many such young men and women are performing “sacred service” at the Brooklyn headquarters of Jehovah’s Witnesses and in the 97 branches located throughout the earth. There, they willingly perform various tasks directly connected with the preparation and the shipping of the symbolic “horses”—publications containing judgment messages related to the “day of vengeance on the part of our God” and setting forth also comforting truths about “the year of goodwill on the part of Jehovah.” (Isa. 61:1, 2) All these willing ones not only share in preparing the “horses” for use in the field, but also take part in the actual field service, making extensive use of such “horses,” particularly the magazines.

18. (a) How are other young Christians proving themselves to be zealous companions of the remnant? (b) How do the King and his “brothers” consider their zeal?

18 Other young Christians “offer themselves willingly” and prove themselves to be zealous companions of the anointed remnant by serving as “pioneers,” that is, by devoting at least 1,000 hours a year to the public witnessing work. The zeal of all these young Christians is highly regarded by the King Jesus Christ and his anointed “brothers” still on the earth.—Compare Matthew 25:34-40.

19. What encouragement is given to all other young Christians?

19 But there are many thousands of other “young men” and “virgins” within the congregations of Jehovah’s people. Are you ‘offering yourselves willingly on the day of Christ’s military force’? Or are you letting the symbolic “horses” pile up in your room or lie dormant in your witnessing bag? Get those “horses” moving! Get out into the field during your afterschool hours, your midweek break (where this arrangement exists), weekends and the various vacation periods you have throughout the year. The auxiliary pioneer service gives you a wonderful opportunity to ‘offer yourselves willingly’ for “sacred service.” And the magazine work is a method of Christian witnessing that is especially appropriate for you young ones. It is within your reach and it can produce fine results.

ACTIVE WITNESSES UP UNTIL THE END

20, 21. (a) What commission did Christ give to first-century Christians and to those living in the “last days”? (b) The testimony of a history professor shows what? (c) How have Jehovah’s Witnesses used the magazines to this end?

20 To the early Christians Jesus stated: “You will be witnesses of me . . . to the most distant part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) To Christians living in the “last days,” or the “time of the end,” he stated prophetically: “This good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.”—Matt. 24:14; Dan. 12:4; 2 Tim. 3:1.

21 The Jewish high priest, an archenemy of the early Christians, ruefully admitted: “Look! you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching.” (Acts 5:28) In his book These Also Believe, history professor Charles Braden wrote: “Jehovah’s Witnesses have literally covered the earth with their witnessing. . . . It may be truly said that no single religious group in the world displayed more zeal and persistence in the attempt to spread the good news of the Kingdom than the Jehovah’s Witnesses.” Although numbering only a few thousand in 1919, the anointed remnant accepted the challenge. Through the “power” of the holy spirit and with increasing help from the ever-expanding “great crowd” of their companions, they have indeed “literally covered the earth with their witnessing.” From 1919 to 1980, these Christians have distributed over four and three-quarter billion copies of The Watchtower and its companion magazine (The Golden Age; Consolation; now Awake!).

22. What do the facts show, and so what are we all encouraged to do?

22 These two fine Christian magazines have been and continue to be important means for witnessing to the ends of the earth and making “disciples of people of all the nations.” (Matt. 28:19, 20) The facts show that there is still much witnessing to be done. So to your “horses” all you faithful Christian witnesses! Get them and keep them moving out in the “field,” and may Jehovah continue to bless the intensive use of The Watchtower and Awake! in the days ahead.

[Footnotes]

See the books Jehovah’s Witnesses in the Divine Purpose and the 1975 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses, published by the Watch Tower Society.

Between 1919 and 1980, 4,767,784,340 magazines were distributed throughout the world by Jehovah’s Witnesses, not including the millions of copies sent by mail to Watchtower and Awake! subscribers. This is more than twice the number of tracts and booklets distributed over the same period.

For a full explanation of this prophecy, see the book “Then Is Finished the Mystery of God,” pages 238-247.

[Chart on page 19]

Distribution Chart of Worldwide Activity

Years Tracts & Pamphlets Magazines Bound Books Total

(Booklets)

1879 to

1917 419,078,170 (Mags. included) 9,894,056 428,972,226

1918 102,775 13,140 256,609 372,524

1919 to

1980 2,322,888,592 4,767,784,340 450,642,739 7,541,315,671

Grand

Totals 2,742,069,537 4,767,797,480 460,793,404 7,970,660,421

Insight on the News

Bad Advice by Cleric

● In a recent Toronto “Star” column, “Youth Clinic,” an 18-year-old girl asked whether the Bible forbids sex before marriage. The answer by Anglican priest Graham Cotter was: “There is no specific passage in the Bible which forbids sex before marriage in all circumstances.” However, letters to the editors pointed out that many specific Bible passages do indeed condemn premarital sex. The paper tried to explain that the clergyman was not “defending casual sex” but that the problem was in determining “what constitutes marriage.”

As to “what constitutes marriage,” the Bible says: “Let marriage be honorable among all, and the marriage bed be without defilement, for God will judge fornicators and adulterers.” (Heb. 13:4) Certainly, for marriage to be “honorable” it must be legally and morally sound. Therefore premarital sex is not a basis for “honorable” marriage. Hence, the Scriptures classify as fornication sexual relations outside of marriage, counseling: ‘Flee from fornication.” Also, God’s Word warns: “Neither fornicators . . . nor adulterers . . . will inherit God’s kingdom.”—1 Cor. 6:9, 10, 18.

When a clergyman tries to accommodate a promiscuous generation by condoning fornication, or obscuring what it is, he is giving bad advice. The young woman needed sound counsel on the wisdom of exercising self-control before marriage, which would also be expected of her after marriage. Refusing to direct people toward such decent behavior is a great disservice to both God and man.

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The Watchtower, March 1, 1981