Publication date
8/1/07
Volume
28
Number
15
The WatchTower
"Fighting Against God"
The Watchtower Magazines
/../literature/watchtower/1907/15/1907-15-1.html
 
 
 
JULY 
IS, 
11107 
ZION'S 
WATCH 
TOWER 
(223- 
22 
8) 
-EDITOR. 
when 
they 
see 
are 
prompt 
to 
confess 
and 
obey 
the 
voice 
of 
the 
light. 
We 
counsel 
that 
the 
Baptist 
minister 
be 
not 
too 
harshly 
thought 
of-that 
his 
"blindness" 
be 
remembered. 
What 
the 
A 
postle 
Peter 
said 
of 
those 
who 
delivered 
up 
our 
Lord 
will 
apply 
to 
many 
now: 
"I 
wot 
that 
in 
ignorance 
ye 
did 
it, 
as 
dId 
also 
your 
rulers."-Acts 
3:17. 
The 
"withdrawal 
letters" 
referred 
to 
are 
well 
adapted 
for 
use 
by 
those 
withdrawing 
from 
any 
human 
organization 
called 
a 
church. 
There 
is 
but 
one 
true 
church 
of 
the 
living 
God, 
"whose 
names 
are 
written 
in 
heaven." 
(Luke 
10:20) 
We 
supply 
these 
"withdrawal 
letters," 
with 
envelopes 
and 
tracts 
free, 
in 
any 
quantity. 
We 
advise 
that 
they 
be 
sent 
to 
every 
member 
of 
the 
church 
withdrawn 
from. 
This 
is 
not 
only 
an 
excellent 
way 
in 
which 
to 
bear 
witness 
to 
the 
truth, 
but 
a 
safe 
way 
to 
guard 
against 
misunderstanding 
and 
misrepresentation. 
For-we 
say 
it 
with 
sorrow-some 
min­ 
isters 
and 
church 
officials 
do 
not 
notify 
the 
congregation 
of 
the 
withdrawal, 
but 
allow 
the 
impression 
that 
the 
withdraw­ 
ing 
one 
has 
defaulted 
on 
and 
thereby 
denied 
his 
vows 
of 
membership. 
Still 
worse, 
in 
some 
CllJ3eS 
ministers 
have 
deliberately 
misrepresented 
the 
facts-to 
prevent 
others 
of 
their 
congregations 
from 
eX8.nlining 
or 
hearing 
further 
along 
the 
lines 
of 
thE' 
truth. 
In 
one 
case 
the 
withdrawing 
one 
was 
reported 
violently 
insane 
on 
religious 
subjects; 
and 
all 
were 
advised 
to 
avoid 
him 
lest 
they 
.should 
make 
him 
worse. 
Our 
advice 
therefore 
is, 
By 
all 
means 
use 
these 
letters­ 
and 
use 
them 
freely. 
It 
wIll 
be 
one 
of 
your 
best 
oppor­ 
tunities 
fCJI' 
sowing 
present 
truth. 
BRITISH 
PILGRIllIAGE 
OF 
BRO. 
A. 
E. 
WILLIA1'4S0N 
Seven 
Oaks, 
England, 
August 
1, 
2. 
lIford, 
England, 
August 
3, 
4. 
London, 
England, 
August 
5. 
South 
End, 
England, 
August 
6. 
Forest 
Gate, 
England, 
August 
7, 
8. 
Plymouth, 
England, 
August 
9. 
VOL. 
XXVIII 
ALLEGHENY, 
P 
A., 
AUGUST 
1, 
1907 
No. 
15 
"FIGHTING 
AGAINST 
GOD" 
ACTS 
5:39. 
Gamaliel 
gave 
evidence 
of 
his 
wisdom 
in 
the 
advice 
he 
"well 
done," 
but 
rather 
that 
it 
is 
a 
good 
quality 
uf 
itself 
proffered 
to 
his 
Jewish 
friends 
of 
the 
Sanhedrin 
when 
they 
if 
only 
it 
can 
be 
restrained 
and 
brought 
within 
proper 
were 
about 
to 
deal 
harshly 
with 
the 
early 
disciples. 
His 
bounds. 
They 
should 
see, 
as 
Gamaliel 
did, 
the 
danger 
of 
wise 
words 
were, 
"Ye 
men 
of 
Israel, 
take 
heed 
to 
your- 
using 
their 
combativeness 
and 
aggre8siveness 
against 
the 
selves 
what 
ye 
intend 
to 
do 
as 
touching 
these 
men. 
. 
•. 
Lord, 
against 
the 
truth, 
against 
the 
brethren. 
Refrain 
from 
these 
men, 
let 
them 
alone; 
for 
if 
this 
counsel 
Our 
Lord 
sayi, 
"His 
servants 
ye 
are 
to 
whom 
ye 
render 
or 
this 
work 
be 
of 
men 
it 
will 
come 
to 
naught: 
but 
if 
it 
be 
service." 
(Rom. 
6:16.) 
The 
question 
is 
not, 
To 
whom 
do 
of 
God 
ye 
cannot 
overthrow 
it; 
lest 
ye 
be 
found 
to 
be 
we 
prOfess 
to 
render 
service' 
nor, 
To 
whom 
do 
we 
think 
fighting 
against 
God." 
(Acts 
5:35-39.) 
Alas 
that 
so 
many 
we 
are 
rendering 
service' 
but, 
Whose 
cause 
do 
we 
actually 
who 
have 
named 
the 
name 
of 
Christ, 
and 
to 
some 
extent 
serve' 
From 
this 
standpoint, 
looking 
out 
over 
Christendom 
become 
partakers 
of 
the 
holy 
Spirit, 
and 
to 
some 
extent 
today, 
we 
ask 
ourselves, 
How 
many 
are 
serving 
God' 
and 
been 
taught 
in 
the 
school 
Christ, 
and 
to 
.some 
extent 
pOBBess 
How 
many 
imagine 
they 
are 
serving 
him 
while 
they 
are 
the 
wisdom 
that 
cometh 
from 
abave-alas 
that 
so 
many 
of 
really 
serving 
the 
adversary'-really 
"fighting 
against 
these 
seem 
to 
have 
less 
wisdom 
than 
is 
expressed 
in 
God'" 
Serving 
Christendom 
we 
find 
hundreds 
of 
thousand.s 
Gamaliel's 
words 
just 
quoted. 
of 
professed 
ministers 
uf 
the 
Gospel, 
and 
millions 
of 
pro- 
Some 
people 
by 
nature 
have 
so 
little 
combativeness 
that 
fessed 
Christians 
fighting 
under 
various 
banners, 
Methodist, 
they 
lack 
strength 
of 
character, 
are 
too 
pliable, 
"wishy- 
Baptist, 
Catholic, 
etc.,-but 
whom 
are 
they 
fighting' 
Satan' 
washy": 
they 
lack 
the 
qualities 
of 
an 
overcomer, 
and 
need 
Error' 
Like 
Saul 
of 
Tar.sus 
many 
of 
them 
will 
shortly 
have 
continually 
to 
seek 
grace 
and 
help 
from 
on 
high 
to 
take 
a 
their 
eyes 
opened 
to 
the 
fact 
that, 
so 
far 
from 
being 
soldiers 
stand 
for 
the 
truth 
and 
for 
righteousness. 
Otherwise 
they 
of 
the 
cross, 
they 
are 
fighting 
against 
God, 
against 
the 
real 
surely 
cannot 
be 
expected 
to 
come 
off 
more 
than 
conquerors. 
soldiers 
of 
the 
cross, 
the 
followers 
of 
the 
Lamb. 
What 
a 
The 
Lord 
is 
seeking 
for 
his 
little 
flock 
those 
who 
have 
bitter 
disappointment 
will 
be 
theirs 
I 
how 
we 
wish 
that 
we 
character, 
firmness, 
strength! 
as 
well 
as 
gentleness, 
meek- 
could 
awaken 
them 
now 
to 
an 
examination 
of 
the 
commands 
ness, 
patience, 
love. 
The 
happy 
combination 
which 
the 
of 
the 
great 
Chief 
Captain, 
that 
they 
might 
.see 
that 
they 
Lord 
seeks 
is 
not 
found 
anywhere, 
however. 
All 
who 
come 
are 
working 
and 
fighting 
under 
orders 
and 
directions 
not 
to 
him 
need 
to 
be 
refashioned 
in 
Ilome 
respects 
to 
make 
from 
him, 
but 
from 
human 
leaders 
and 
captains, 
some 
of 
them 
acceptable. 
Consequently 
on 
the 
other 
side 
of 
the 
these 
from 
the 
"dark 
ages," 
dead 
and 
buried. 
question 
we 
find 
that 
some 
who 
have 
strong 
characters 
We 
are 
glad 
to 
hope 
that 
if 
the 
truth 
could 
be 
flashed 
naturally 
have 
such 
strung 
combativeness 
that 
it 
is 
con- 
from 
heaven 
many 
of 
these 
strong 
characters 
that 
are 
now 
tinually 
bringing 
them 
into 
trouble 
and 
need.s 
to 
be 
curbed, 
fighting 
for 
sectarianism, 
and 
some 
of 
them 
for 
antichrist, 
brought 
under 
restraint. 
would 
fall 
astonished, 
humiliated, 
at 
the 
MllJ3ter's 
feet, 
It 
is 
difficult 
to 
say 
which 
of 
the 
two 
classes 
referred 
to 
crying," 
What 
wilt 
thou 
have 
me 
to 
do'" 
has 
the 
advantage 
over 
the 
other. 
The 
one 
class 
must 
culti- 
Let 
us 
remember 
the 
Lord's 
words 
through 
the 
Apostle: 
vate 
what 
the 
other 
class 
must 
restrain, 
and 
probably, 
all 
"The 
Lord 
resisteth 
the 
prand 
but 
showeth 
favor 
to 
the 
things 
considered, 
their 
chances 
are 
abant 
equal 
in 
the 
humble. 
Humble 
yourselves, 
therefore, 
under 
the 
mighty 
matter 
of 
winning 
the 
race. 
Hawever, 
those 
who 
have 
large 
hand 
of 
God, 
that 
he 
may 
exalt 
you 
in 
due 
time." 
These 
combativeness, 
who 
are 
aggressive, 
forceful, 
usually 
attract 
verses, 
we 
believe, 
are 
a 
key 
to 
much 
of 
the 
error 
along 
more 
attention 
in 
the 
church 
by 
reason 
of 
these 
qualities, 
the 
lines 
we 
have 
indicated. 
A 
strong 
character 
affected 
and 
usually 
awaken 
more 
opposition 
even 
though 
they 
do 
by 
a 
measure 
of 
pride 
is 
apt 
to 
take 
a 
wrong 
course 
from 
nat 
make 
enemies 
amongst 
those 
who 
love 
one 
another. 
which 
it 
is 
almost 
impossible 
far 
him 
to 
recede. 
But 
if 
The 
too 
pliable 
and 
docile 
are 
.apt 
to 
think 
of 
themselves 
humility 
be 
there 
the 
strength, 
the 
combativeness, 
will 
be 
too 
favorably, 
and 
are 
very 
hkely 
to 
be 
too 
favorably 
under 
proportionate 
control, 
and 
that 
much 
easier 
will 
it 
thought 
of 
by 
others 
llJ3 
respects 
their 
qualifications 
for 
the 
be 
for 
the 
individual 
to 
receive 
the 
proper 
instructions 
from 
kingdom. 
Those 
who 
are 
strong 
and 
forceful 
are 
apt 
to 
the 
Lord, 
and 
to 
follow 
them, 
and 
to 
be 
fitted, 
polished 
and 
be 
too 
roundly 
censured 
by 
others 
and 
to 
be 
too 
blind 
to 
prepared 
for 
a 
place 
in 
the 
kingdom. 
This 
same 
principle 
the 
fact 
themselves. 
Oh, 
that 
we 
all 
could 
have 
sound 
applies 
amongst 
those 
who 
have 
already 
received 
as 
a 
bless­ 
minds! 
but 
since 
this 
is 
impossible, 
Oh, 
that 
we 
all 
could 
ing 
from 
the 
Lord 
the 
light 
of 
present 
truth. 
We 
still 
need 
have 
a. 
~arge 
meas~re 
of 
the 
spirit 
of 
!1 
sound 
mind,. 
llfld 
the 
humility 
that 
will 
enable 
us, 
if 
too 
lacking 
in 
character, 
the 
ablhty 
to 
weIgh 
anr.selves 
accordmg 
to 
the 
dIvme 
strength, 
to 
acknowledge 
the 
same 
and 
seek 
it 
from 
the 
Lard. 
standard! 
And 
we 
still 
need 
the 
humility 
which 
will 
keep 
close 
watch 
These 
words 
are 
specially 
intended 
to 
assist 
the 
dear 
upon 
every 
word 
and 
act 
and 
thought, 
even 
with 
a 
view 
to 
brethren 
and 
sisters 
troubled 
with 
too 
large 
a 
degree 
of 
having 
all 
in 
complete 
subjection 
to 
the 
will 
of 
the 
Lord 
combativeness, 
disposed 
to 
be 
too 
aggressive. 
The 
Lord 
that 
we 
be 
found 
not- 
fighting 
against 
the 
Lord 
or 
against 
certainly 
showed 
markedly, 
particularly, 
hioS 
love 
for 
the 
the 
truth 
or 
against 
the 
brethren. 
Haw 
careful 
we 
should 
strong 
characters 
when 
from 
amongst 
the 
twelve 
he 
selected 
be 
to 
watch 
for 
the 
leadings 
of 
the 
Lord's 
providences 
not 
Peter, 
James 
and 
John, 
the 
three 
most 
radical 
and 
aggres- 
only 
in 
our 
own 
experiences, 
but 
also 
in 
the 
words' 
and 
sive 
of 
the 
apostles, 
as 
in 
some 
respects 
his 
favorites. 
So, 
experiences 
of 
others, 
and 
particularly 
to 
measure 
every 
then, 
those 
who 
have 
the 
aggressive 
quality 
by 
nature 
must 
thing 
by 
the 
divine 
standards 
and 
not 
by 
our 
own 
apinions 
not 
feel 
that 
it 
is 
a 
bar 
to 
their 
attainment 
of 
the 
Lord's 
and 
preferences 
I 
[4033] 
JuLty 15, 1907 when they see are prompt to confess and obey the voice of the light. We counse! that the Baptist minister be not too harshly thought of—that his ‘‘blindness’’ be remembered. What the Apostle Peter said of those who delivered up our Lord will apply to many now: ‘‘I wot that in ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.’’—Acts 3:17, The ‘‘ withdrawal letters’’ referred to are well adapted for use by those withdrawing from any human organization called a church. There is but one true church of the living God, ‘‘ whose names are written in heaven.’’ (Luke 10:20) We supply these ‘‘ withdrawal letters,’’ with envelopes and tracts free, in any quantity. We advise that they be sent to every member of the church withdrawn from. This is not only an excellent way in which to bear witness to the truth, but a safe way to guard against misunderstanding and misrepresentation, For—we say it with sorrow—some ministers and church officials do not notify the congregation of the withdrawal, but allow the impression that the withdrawing one has defaulted on and thereby denied his vows of ZION’S WATCH TOWER (223-228) membership. Still worse, in some cases ministers have deliberately misrepresented the facts—to prevent others of their congregations from examining or hearing further along the lines of the truth. In one case the withdrawing one was reported violently insane on religious subjects; and all were advised to avoid him lest they should make him worse. Our advice therefore is, By all means use these letters— and use them freely. It will be one of your best opportunities for sowing present truth. —EpIror. BRITISH PILGRIMAGE OF BRO. A. E. WILLIAMSON Seven Oaks, England, August 1, 2. Iiford, England, August 3, 4. London, England, August 5. South End, England, August 6. Forest Gate, England, August 7, 8. Plymouth, England, August 9. Vou. XXVITI ALLEGHENY, PA., AUGUST 1, 1907 No. 15 “FIGHTING AGAINST GOD” Aots 5:39. Gamaliel gave evidence of his wisdom in the advice he proffered to his Jewish friends of the Sanhedrin when they were about to deal harshly with the early disciples. His wise words were, ‘‘Ye men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what ye intend to do as touching these men.... Refrain from these men, let them alone; for if this counsel or this work be of men it will come to naught: but if it be of God ye cannot overthrow it; lest ye be found to be fighting against God.’’ (Acts 5:35-39.) Alas that so many who have named the name of Christ, and to some extent become partakers of the holy Spirit, and to some extent been taught in the school Christ, and to some extent possess the wisdom that cometh from above—alas that so many of these seem to have less wisdom than is expressed in Gamaliel’s words just quoted. Some people by nature have so little combativeness that they Jack strength of character, are too pliable, ‘‘wishywashy’’: they lack the qualities of an overcomer, and need continually to seek grace and help from on high to take a stand for the truth and for righteousness. Otherwise they surely cannot be expected to come off more than conquerors, The Lord is seeking for his little flock those who have character, firmness, strength, as well as gentleness, meekness, patience, love. The happy combination which the Lord seeks is not found anywhere, however. All who come to him need to be refashioned in some respects to make them acceptable. Consequently on the other side of the question we find that some who have strong characters naturally have such strung combativeness that it is continually bringing them into trouble and needs to be curbed, brought under restraint. It is difficult to say which of the two classes referred to has the advantage over the other. The one class must cultivate what the other class must restrain, and probably, all things considered, their chances are about equal in the matter of winning the race. However, those who have large combativeness, who are aggressive, forceful, usually attract more attention in the church by reason of these qualities, and usually awaken more opposition even though they do not make enemies amongst those who love one another. The too pliable and docile are apt to think of themselves too favorably, and are very likely to be too favorably thought of by others as respects their qualifications for the kingdom. Those who are strong and foreeful are apt to be too roundly censured by others and to be too blind to the fact themselves. Oh, that we all could have sound minds! but since this is impossible, Oh, that we all could have a large measure of the spirit of a sound mind, and the ability to weigh ourselves according to the divine standard! These words are specially intended to assist the dear brethren and sisters troubled with too large a degree of combativeness, disposed to be too aggressive. The Lord certainly showed markedly, particularly, his love for the strong characters when from amongst the twelve he selected Peter, James and John, the three most radical and aggressive of the apostles, as in some respects his favorites. So, then, those who have the aggressive quality by nature must not feel that it is a bar to their attainment of the Lord’s “fwell done,’’ but rather that it is a good quality of itself if only it can be restrained and brought within proper bounds. They should see, as Gamaliel did, the danger of using their combativeness and aggressiveness against the Lord, against the truth, against the brethren. Our Lord says, ‘‘ His servants ye are to whom ye render service.’’?’ (Rom. 6:16.) The question is not, To whom do we profess to render service? nor, To whom do we think we are rendering service? but, Whose cause do we actually serve? From this standpoint, looking out over Christendom today, we ask ourselves, How many are serving God? and How many imagine they are serving him while they are really serving the adversary?—really ‘‘fighting against God’’? Serving Christendom we find hundreds of thousands of professed ministers of the Gospel, and millions of professed Christians fighting under various banners, Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, ete.—but whom are they fighting? Satan? Error? Like Saul of Tarsus many of them will shortly have their eyes opened to the fact that, so far from being soldiers of the cross, they are fighting against God, against the real soldiers of the cross, the followers of the Lamb. What a bitter disappointment will be theirs! how we wish that we could awaken them now to an examination of the commands of the great Chief Captain, that they might see that they are working and fighting under orders and directions not from him, but from human leaders and captains, some of these from the ‘‘dark ages,’’ dead and buried. We are glad to hope that if the truth could be flashed from heaven many of these strong characters that are now fighting for sectarianism, and some of them for antichrist, would fall astonished, humiliated, at the Master’s feet, crying, ‘‘ What wilt thou have me to do?’’ Let us remember the Lord’s words through the Apostle: ‘‘Phe Lord resisteth the proud but showeth favor to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.’’ These verses, we believe, are a key to much of the error along the lines we have indicated. A strong character affected by a measure of pride is apt to take a wrong course from which it is almost impossible for him to recede. But if humility be there the strength, the combativeness, will be under proportionate control, and that much easier will it be for the individual to receive the proper instructions from the Lord, and to follow them, and to be fitted, polished and prepared for a place in the kingdom. This same principle applies amongst those who have already received as a blessing from the Lord the light of present truth. We still need the humility that will enable us, if too lacking in character, strength, to acknowledge the same and seek it from the Lord. And we still need the humility which will keep close watch upon every word and act and thought, even with a view to having all in complete subjection to the will of the Lord that we be found not- fighting against the Lord or against the truth or against the brethren. How careful we should be to watch for the leadings of the Lord’s providences, not only in our own experiences, but also in the words and experiences of others, and particularly to measure every thing by the divine standards and not by our own opinions and preferences! [4033]

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