9
1
9
download/literature/watchtower/1906-15.pdf
../literature/watchtower/1906/15/1906-15-1.html
ZION}S
WATCH
TOWER
ALLEGHENY,
PA.
in
public
services
of
the
church
to
other
congregations,
and
that
his
words
therefore
do
not
apply
at
the
present
time.
This
is
sophistry,
false
reasoning.
The
epIstles
to
the
Corinthians
were
not
'"
ritien
to
the
debauchees,
neither
male
nor
female,
of
that
time,
but
to
the
saints
at
Corinth,
both
male
and
fe
male;
and
a
saint
at
Corinth
meant
exactly
the
same
thing
as
a
saint
elsewhere,
namely,
one
whose
life
had
turned
from
sin
to
righteousness,
and
who,
accepting
Christ
as
his
Savior,
had
made
full
consecration
of
all
to
him.
Indeed
it
would
appear
that
the
Apostle's
strictures
on
woman's
sphere
came
from
the
opposite
quarter-that
the
church
at
Corinth
seemed
to
feel
itself
superior
to
the
other
congregations,
and
desired
to
grasp
liberties
for
its
women
which
the
other
churches
never
thought
of.
Hence
the
Apostle
after
rebukmg
them
asks,
"What'
came
the
Word
of
the
Lord
out
from
you'
[Did
it
originate
with
you'
Are
we
to
look
to
the
Christians
at
Corinth
as
the
expounders
of
the
message'l
or
came
it
unto
you
merely'
[Did
you
not
receive
the
Gospel
as
others
received
it'
Do
you
not
admit
that
you
were
not
the
originlltors
of
it'
You
have,
therefore,
nothing
whatever
to
do
with
adding
to
or
changing
its
regulations.
As
you
will
see
this
matter
in
its
correct
light
you
will
agree
that
you
should
receive
the
message
of
the
grace
of
God
in
the
line
in
which
he
sent
it,
and
should
obey
it
without
thought
of
alteration
or
emendation
to
suit
some
supposed
preferential
teachings
in
your
midst.]
(1
Cor.
14:
36.)
"The
faith
once
delive'red
to
the
saints"
is
not
a
variable
but
a
fixed
one.
Hence
the
Apostll'
urges"
that
ye
all
mind
the
same
things."
Another
line
of
sophistry
used
to
make
void
the
teachings
of
the
Scriptures
on
this
subject
seeks
its
object
by
handling
the
Word
of
God
deceitfully:
By
taking
the
statement
of
Colossians
3:
18,
twisting
it
about
so
as
to
give
it
a
different
meaning
from
its
proper
one,
and
thl;'n
using
that
improper
twist
in
connection
with
all
other
Scriptures
bearing
on
the
subject.
The
passage
in
question
reads,
"Wives,
suom:t
your
selves
unto
your
own
husbands,
as
it
is
fit,
in
the
Lord."
The
meaning
of
these
words
should
be
evident
to
everyone;
they
are
very
distinct.
They
tell
the
Christian
wife
that
her
rela·
tionship
to
the
Lord,
the
liberty
wherewith
Christ
makes
free
indeed,
does
not
annul
her
relationship
to
her
husband,
whether
he
be
in
Christ
or
be
not
in
Christ;
and
that
she
still
owes
to
her
husband
the
duty
of
a
wife;
that
the
wife
in
the
divine
order
is
not
the
head
of
the
famil)",
and
that
it
is
the
duty
of
the
wife
to
be
submissive
(in
all
matters
which
do
not
involve
conscience-which
would
include
all
matters
which
would
seriously
endanger
health).
The
Apostle
points
out
that
this
is
the
fit
course-the
course
which
he
has
elsewhere
pointed
out
to
be
the
proper
one
also
for
the
natural
man
or
woman
j
for
he
distinctly
declares
that
the
primacy
of
the
man
in
the
family
was
established
at
ere·
ation,
and
that
the
man
was
created
not
to
be
the
helpmate
of
the
woman,
but
the
woman
to
be
the
helpmate
of
the
man.
This
is
the
fit
course
in
nature
j
and
in
this
verse
the
Apostle
del'lared
that
it
is
still
the
fit
course
as
respects
the
Christian
wife
("
fit
in
the
Lord
")
after
she
has
been
received
into
the
liberty
of
the
family
of
God.
In
other
words,
she
has
a
rela·
tionship
of
heart
and
conscience
to
God
and
a
relationship
in
the
flesh
to
her
husband;
and
these
are
not
to
be
understood
to
conflict
but
are"in
full
agreement
uuder
the
Lord's
arrange
ment.
Do
you
ask
how
sophistry
could
change
the
plain
state
ment
of
this
verse'
We
reply
that
it
attempts
to
do
so
by
juggling
with
the
word
"fit,"
and
implying
that
the
Apostle
means
that
the
wife
should
subject
to
her
husband
as
her
mind
tells
her
would
be
fit
and
proper.
Of
course
the
minds
of
many
women
would
never
tell
them
that
it
was
fit
or
proper
to
be
SUbject
to
their
husbands,
and
according
to
this
false,
sophist
ical
interpretation
they
would
be
following
the
Apostle's
in·
junction
by
violating
the
spirit
of
his
Word
in
this
text.
After
establishing
this
fallacious
thought
in
the
mind-and
it
seems
to
appeal
to
the
natural
mind
of
some,--this
philosophy
which
seeks
to
upset
the
teaching
of
God's
Word,
while
appal"
ently
remaining
loyal
to
it,
proceeds
to
deal
WIth
all
the
other
texts
of
Scripture
which
relate
to
the
wife's
relationship
to
her
husband,
by
saying
that
they
must
all
be
understood
and
interpreted
in
harmony
with
this
declaration
of
the
Apostle,
"if
it
is
fit,"
meaning
as
the
woman
sees
fit
in
her
judgment
and
certainly
not
as
the
husband
would
see
fit.
The
Apostle
on
the
contrary
is
saying
that
the
submission
of
the
wife
to
the
husband
is
the
fit,
proper
course
"in
the
Lord"
as
also
in
nature.
As
before
stated.
we
realize
that
many
women,
both
in
and
out
of
the
truth,
suffer
great
hardships
at
the
hands
of
incon·
siderate
and
sometimes
brutal
husbands
j
and
in
view
of
our
knowledge
of
this
fact
nothing
would
be
further
from
our
natural
disposition
than
to
give
such
advice
respecting
gen·
eral
submission.
Rather,
our
natural
mind
on
the
subject
would
have
been
resistance,
self·assertion,
contending
for
rights,
etc.
But
as
we
have
learned
not
to
follow
our
own
inclinations
and
judgment
in
respect
to
our
own
matters,
interests
and
rights,
sO
we
have
learned
and
are
more
and
more
learning
to
advise
others
to
most
carefully
follow
not
their
own
combativeness
nor
their
own
ambitions
in
these
matters,
but
that
if
they
would
be
overcomers
and
win
the
crown
they
should
hearken
to
him
who
speaketh
from
heaven.
We
surmise
that
a
large
proportion
of
the
trouble
that
is
coming
upon
the
world
in
general
will
be
the
result
of
dis
content,
which
we
expect
to
see
increasing
year
by
year
until
the
turmoil
of
anarchy
shall
ruin
all
except
those
who
shall
have
submitted
their
wills
to
the
Lord
and
waited
for
him
to
establish
righteousness
and
justice
in
the
earth.
We
urge
upon
the
Lord's
people,
male
and
female,
all
the
fruits
and
graces
of
the
Spirit,-meekness,
gentleness,
patience,
long
suf
fering,
brotherly
kindness,
love.
We
assure
them,
in
harmony
with
the
Word,
that
whether
such
conduct
on
their
part
be
iovingly
received
and
appreciated,
or
whether
it
shall
bring
them
increased
trials
and
oppositions
and
injustice,
neverthe
Jess
the
peaceable
fruits
of
righteousness
prevailing
in
their
hearts
will
bring
them
the
peace
of
God
which
passeth
all
un
derstanding
even
in
the
present
life,
and
will
prepare
them
the
more
surely
for
the
kingdom
and
its
glories
and
honors.
'
,
He
that
humbleth
himself
shall
be
exalted,
he
that
exalteth
him·
self
shall
be
.abased."
"Humble
yourselves,
therefore,
under
the
mighty
hand
of
God,
that
he
may
exalt
you
in
due
time.
For
it
is
written,
he
giveth
his
favor
to
the
humble,
but
resist·
eth
the
proud,"
the
self-assertive.-Luke
14:
11;
J
as.
4:
6.
•
VOL.
XXVII
ALLEGHENY,
PA.,
AUGUST
1,
1906
VIEWS
FROM
THE
WATCH
TOWER
No.
15
How
clearly
those
whose
eyes
are
opened
to
the
true
teach·
ings
of
the
Bible
can
see
that
the
difficulty
of
the
writer
of
the
above
and
the
general
difficulty
of
Christendom
is
that
the
Truth
of
divine
revelation
has
been
buried
under
nonsensical
human
traditions
which
make
the
gospel
an
absurdity
to
them.
There
are
two
views
of
this
matter.
(1)
If
Christianity
be
off
we
were
here
the
better
it
would
be
for
us
in
the
next,
and
vice
verRa.
"It
is
wonderful
how
complete
and
rapid
the
change
hal'!
been.
The
churches
now
are
trying
to
emphasize
points
of
agreement,
rather
than
of
difference,
and
are
working
har·
moniously
together
for
moral
and
humanitarian
ends.
Theology
and
doctrine
have
been
sent
to
the
rear,
and
it
is
recognized
that
the
true
work
of
the
church
is
here
and
now
in
making
this
world
a
happier
and
better
place
for
everybody
to
live
in,
on
a
basis
of
unselfishness
and
brotherly
love.
In
this
effort
agnostic
and
churchman,
Jews
and
infidels,
are
working
to·
gether,
and
what
a
man
believes
is
regarded
as
of
compara·
tively
little
consequence."
*
*
*
CHANGE
IN
CHURCmANITY'S
METHODS
The
Editor
of
the
Cincinnati
Enquirer
says:
"The
churches
of
the
country
enter
so
largely
into
the
character
and
direction
of
its
growth,
and
accomplish
so
much
that
is
helpfUl
in
variouR
ways
in
the
uplifting
of
society,
that
information
as
to
their
progress
is
of
interest
to
readers
outside
as
well
as
inside
thl'ir
varied
folds.
No
one
can
fail
to
notice
how
much
in
a
general
way
their
teaching
and
aims
have
chang-ed
with
the
times,
and
to
how
large
an
extent
sec·
tarian
differences
and
angularities
are
disappearing
and
being
disregarded.
Fifty
years
ago
churches
were
looked
upon
chiefly
as
divinely
constituted
organizations,
insuring
their
members
safe
passage
to
and
first·class
accommodations
in
a
better
world,
and
their
teaching
was
mostly
along
theological
and
doctrinal
lines.
Every
sect,
while
doubting
the
efficiency
of
the
insurance
provision
in
the
tickets
of
all
rivals,
was
wholly
confident
of
its
own,
and
missions
to
the
heathen
were
urged
on
the
ground
that
unless
converted
they
were
all
doomed
to
everlasting
punishment
for
not
accepting
what
they
had
never
heard
of.
This
world
was
not
worth
thinking
about;
the
worse
[3828]
(239-243) in public services of the church to other congregations, and that his words therefore do not apply at the present time. This is sophistry, false reasoning. The epistles to the Corinthians were not written to the debauchees, neither male nor female, of that time, but to the saints at Corinth, both male and female; and a saint at Corinth meant exactly the same thing as a saint elsewhere, namely, one whose life had turned from sin to righteousness, and who, accepting Christ as his Savior, had made full consecration of all to him. Indeed it would appear that the Apostle’s strictures on woman’s sphere came from the opposite quarter—that the chureh at Corinth seemed to feel itself superior to the other congregations, and desired to grasp liberties for its women which the other churches never thought of. Hence the Apostle after rebuking them asks, ‘‘What? came the Word of the Lord out from you? [Did it originate with you? Are we to look to the Christians at Corinth as the expounders of the message?]} or came it unto you merely? [Did you not receive the Gospel as others received it? Do you not admit that you were not the originators of it? You have, therefore, nothing whatever to do with adding to or changing its regulations. As you will see this matter in its correct light you will agree that you should receive the message of the grace of God in the line in which he sent it, and should obey it without thought of alteration or emendation to suit some supposed preferential teachings in your midst.] (1 Cor. 14:36.) ‘‘The faith once delivered to the saints’’ is not a variable but a fixed one. Hence the Apostle urges ‘‘that ye all mind the same things.’’ Another line of sophistry used to make void the teachings of the Scriptures on this subject seeks its object by handling the Word of God deceitfully: By taking the statement of Colossians 3:18, twisting it about so as to give it a different meaning from its proper one, and then using that improper twist in connection with all other Scriptures bearing on the subject. The passage in question reads, ‘‘ Wives, subm:t yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit, in the Lord.’’ The meaning of these words should be evident to everyone; they are very distinct. They tell the Christian wife that her relationship to the Lord, the liberty wherewith Christ makes free indeed, does not annul her relationship to her husband, whether he be in Christ or be not in Christ; and that she still owes to her husband the duty of a wife; that the wife in the divine order is not the head of the family, and that it is the duty of the wife to be submissive (in all matters which do not involve conscience—which would include all matters which would seriously endanger health). The Apostle points out that this is the fit eourse—the course which he has elsewhere pointed out to be the proper one also for the natural man or woman; for he distinctly declares that the primacy of the man in the family was established at creation, and that the man was created not to be the helpmate of the woman, but the woman to be the helpmate of the man. This is the fit course in nature; and in this verse the Apostle declared that it is still the fit course as respects the Christian wife (‘‘fit in the Lord’’) after she has been received into the liberty of the family of God. In other words, she has a relationship of heart and conscience to God and a relationship in the flesh to her husband; and these are not to be understood ZION’S WATCH TOWER ALLEGHENY, Pa, to conflict but are*in full agreement under the Lord’s arrangement. Do you ask how sophistry could change the plain statement of this verse? We reply that it attempts to do so by juggling with the word ‘‘fit,’’ and implying that the Apostle means that the wife should subject to her husband as her mind tells her would be fit and proper. Of course the minds of many women would never tell them that it was fit or proper to be subject to their husbands, and according to this false, sophistical interpretation they would be following the Apostle’s injunction by violating the spirit of his Word in this text. After establishing this fallacious thought in the mind—and it seems to appeal to the natural mind of some,-—this philosophy which seeks to upset the teaching of God’s Word, while apparently remaining loyal to it, proceeds to deal with all the other texts of Scripture which relate to the wife’s relationship to her husband, by saying that they must all be understood and interpreted in harmony with this declaration of the Apostle, ‘if it is fit,’’ meaning as the woman sees fit in her judgment and certainly not as the husband would see fit. The Apostle on the contrary is saying that the submission of the wife to the husband is the fit, proper course ‘‘in the Lord’’ as also in nature. As before stated, we realize that many women, both in and out of the truth, suffer great hardships at the hands of inconsiderate and sometimes brutal husbands; and in view of our knowledge of this fact nothing would be further from our natural disposition than to give such advice respecting general submission, Rather, our natural mind on the subject would have been resistance, self-assertion, contending for rights, ete. But as we have learned not to follow our own inclinations and judgment in respect to our own matters, interests and rights, so we have learned and are more and more learning to advise others to most carefully follow not their own combativeness nor their own ambitions in these matters, but that if they would be overcomers and win the crown they should hearken to him who speaketh from heaven. We surmise that a large proportion of the trouble that is coming upon the world in general will be the result of discontent, which we expect to see increasing year by year until the turmoil of anarchy shall ruin all except those who shall have submitted their wills to the Lord and waited for him to establish righteousness and justice in the earth, We urge upon the Lord’s people, male and female, all the fruits and graces of the Spirit,—meekness, gentleness, patience, long suffering, brotherly kindness, love. We assure them, in harmony with the Word, that whether such conduct on their part be iovingly received and appreciated, or whether it shall bring them increased trials and oppositions and injustice, nevertheJess the peaceable fruits of righteousness prevailing in their hearts will bring them the peace of God which passeth all understanding even in the present life, and will prepare them the more surely for the kingdom and its glories and honors. ‘‘He that humbleth himself shall be exalted, he that exalteth himself shall be-abased.’’ ‘‘Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. For it is written, he giveth his favor to the humble, but resisteth the proud,’’ the self-assertive.—Luke 14:11; Jas. 4:6. Vou. XXVIT ALLEGHENY, PA., AUGUST 1, 1906 No. 15 a VIEWS FROM THE WATCH TOWER CHANGE IN CHURCHIANITY’S METHODS The Editor of the Cincinnati Enquirer says:— ‘‘The churches of the country enter so largely into the character and direction of its growth, and accomplish so much that is helpful in various ways in the uplifting of society, that information as to their progress is of interest to readers outside as well as inside their varied folds. No one ean fail to notice how much in a general way their teaching and aims have changed with the times, and to how large an extent sectarian differences and angularities are disappearing and being disregarded. Fifty years ago churches were looked upon chiefly as divinely constituted organizations, insuring their members safe passage to and first-class accommodations in a better world, and their teaching was mostly along theological and doctrinal lines. Every sect, while doubting the efficiency of the insurance provision in the tickets of all rivals, was wholly confident of its own, and missions to the heathen were urged on the ground that unless converted they were all doomed to everlasting punishment for not accepting what they had never heard of. This world was not worth thinking about; the worse off we were here the better it would be for us in the next, and vice versa. ‘‘Tt is wonderful how complete and rapid the change has been. The churches now are trying to emphasize points of agreement, rather than of difference, and are working harmoniously together for moral and humanitarian ends. Theology and doctrine have been sent to the rear, and it is recognized that the true work of the church is here and now in making this world a happier and better place for everybody to live in, on a basis of unselfishness and brotherly love. In this effort agnostic and churchman, Jews and infidels, are working together, and what a man believes is regarded as of comparatively little consequence. ’’ * * * How clearly those whose eyes are opened to the true teachings of the Bible can see that the difficulty of the writer of the above and the general difficulty of Christendom is that the Truth of divine revelation has been buried under nonsensical human traditions which make the gospel an absurdity to them. There are two views of this matter. (1) If Christianity be [3828]
To enhance your experience on our website, we use cookies and similar technologies. Some cookies are essential for the core functionality of our site and cannot be declined. You can choose to accept or decline additional cookies. We want to assure you that none of this data will be sold or used for marketing purposes. You can adjust your preferences at any time by accessing the Privacy Settings from the footer of the page. For more information, please refer to our
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use
.
