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(211-212)
THE
WATCH
TOWER
BROOKLYN,
N.
Y.
has
been
s('rH'd
bv
the
Raqlr.
\\'
e
in
vi
te
the
assista
nee
allll
eo-operation
in
thi's
serviee'
of
all
\vho
la\'<,
the
Lord
and
the
truth.
Ordprs
may
he
s('nt
in
at
on('('.
Hut
we
advise
against
the
using
of
this
speeial
issue
in
other
plal'l's
whcl'<'
tllP
minis
tp]'s
h;I\'(,
not
Pllter('d
into
sl1<'.h
a
combinc
and
arc
not
thus
aetivcly
serving
the
adversary.
It
is,
and
should
always
be,
the
policy
of
God's
people,
so
far
as
possible,
to
live
peaceably.
\Ve
do
not
wish
to
make
an
attack
upon
anybody,
but
merely
to
rCI,el
attacks
and
to
set
the
pea
pIc
fre('
for
their
benefit.
VOL.
XXXIV
BHOOKLYN,
N.
Y.,
JULY
15,
1913
EVIL-DOERS
AND
BUSYBODIES
No.
14
BUSYBODYING
AN
EVIDENCE
OF
PRIDE
But,
says
one,
is
it
not
a
part
of
our
duty
to
help
keep
the
church
pure
~
And
in
order
to
do
so,
should
we
not
be
on
the
alert
~
If,
therefore,
we
see
a
husband
and
a
wife,
or
a
brothel'
and
a
sister,
or
parents
and
children
out
of
accord,
are
we
not
in
duty
bound
to
pry
into
their
affairs,
in
order
to
see
if
we
cannot
set
them
straight'
That
is
exactly
the
busybody's
spirit.
We
are
mentioning
it
because
a
great
many
of
the
Lord's
dear
people
who
mean
the
very
best
do
not
know
what
busy
bodying
is
while
they
are
doing
it.
Mind
your
own
affairs!
If
you
get
too
busy
watch
ing
others,
the
adversary
will
take
advantage
of
you.
So
long
as
the
outward
conduct
of
any
brother
or
sister
is
reasonahle
and
fair,
justice
and
love
both
say
that
you
should
not
meddle
with
them,
in
the
sense
of
trying
to
mind
their
businesp.
Content
yourself
with
setting
them
a
good
ex
ample
of
meekness,
faith,
patience,
brotherly-kindness,
love.
Then
if
they
ever
need
adviee,
they
may
voluntarily
come
to
you.
And
then
will
be
your
time
to
show
your
moderation
and
to
give
them
adviee
as
an
oracle
of
God,
in
harmony
with
:Matthew
18:15-17-and
nothing
more.
But.
says
another,
does
not
St.
Paul
eriticise
the
church
at
Corinth
because
they
had
in
their
midst
one
who
had
grievously
sinned
~
And
did
he
not
upbraid
the
ehurch
for
their
failure
to
judge
and
rid
themselves
of
such
a
person
f
Quite
true.
But
that
was
a
case
of
open,
wilful,
acknowledged
sin,
disgraceful
to
the
individual
and
to
all
with
whom
he
"But
let
none
of
you
suffer
as
...
an
evil-doer,
or
as
a
busybody
in
other
men's
matters.'
'-1
Peter
4:
15.
Assl1re,lIy
none
of
the
Lorl1
's
people
could
willingly
be
evil-
On
the
contrary,
he
has
told
us
to
"judge
nothing
before
(1
()(>rs.
lIe
who
would
wilfldly
do
evil
would
not
have
the
the
time,"
and
that
he
will
attend
to
this
matter.
Is
it
not
Lonl's
f-lpirit,
llilt
that
of
the
alh'ers:uy.
Snch
being
the
case,
written,
"The
Lord
will
judge
his
people"~
Are
we
afraid
the
won;t
that
('mIld
he
said
against
any
of
the
truly
conse-
that
he
is
incompetent~
Shall
we
attempt
to
be
wiser
than
natpd
sllndy
woul,l
be
that
he
hall
hepn
ovprtaken
in
a
fault,
he~
Shall
we
take
into
our
own
hands
matters
which
he
or
that
he
had
some
Wl'nkncss
of
the
flesh,
or
that
by
the
said
that
we
should
leave
in
his
hands~
If
\ve
do
so,
we
shall
snare
of
the
alhersary
he
harl
been
l,'d
into
doing
something
bc
sure
to
get
ourselves
into
difficulty,
and
perhaps
get
others
whirh
his
heart
diHapproved.
But
evil
rlce,lH,
even
though
un-
into
difficulty
as
well.
intentional,
are
to
be
guardl~,l
against
carefully.
"Let
none
\Vhoever
busybodies
will
suffer.
It
may
be
that
the
victim
of
you
suffl'r
as
an
evil-doer'
'--not
one-at
any
time-
under
also
will
suffer
and
that
many
will
be
defiled,
but
we
may
be
any
eircuJJlstances.
sure
that
the
busybodies
themselves
will
not
escape.
The
But
now
Ive
I~Olne
to
He
seeolH}
part
of
the
Apostle's
warn-
punishment
of
the
busybody
in
part
no
doubt
will
be
the
ing-onsybollying.
Tlw
saints
seem
as
lia
hIe
as
others
to
he-
rupture
of
his
own
relationship
with
God-the
loss
of
his
own
eome
bnsybodies
Hnd
to
snlrer
for
so
lloing.
\Ye
have
some-
peace
and
joy
and
fellowship
with
the
holy
Spirit.
This
will
tinIP
thonght
tha
t
tlIP
Lord's
eonseera
ted
people
are
more
he
his
reward
for
busybodying.
inclined
to
be
IJll~ybodip,;
than
arc
others.
Tht,y
have
higher
If
a
brothel'
and
a
sistcr
in
the
church
seem
to
have
standarlls
than
others.
Their
lovc
of
righteousness
is
greater
difficulty,
mind
your
own
business,
and
allow
them
to
settle
than
hefore,
an,}
their
hatre,}
of
iniquity
is
greater.
There
is
the
matter
between
themselves.
If
they
are
related
as
parents
continually
a
temptation,
thf'fefore,
not
to
be
content
with
anI}
children,
let
them
adjust
the
matter
by
themselves,
and
minlling
one's
own
lJUsin('ss,
111lt
to
advise
and
to
seek
to
regu-
learn
whatever
lessons
the
Lord
as
their
Judgc
and
Teacher
late
everylJO(}y
ana
everything.
will
give
them.
If
they
are
husband
and
wife,
the
matter
is
Of
course
then,
is
a
duty
devohing
upon
every
parent
to
the
same.
Let
them
alone.
Do
not
busybody.
Even
if
one
of
inquire
mol'('
or
less
into
the
:tffain;
of
his
children,
or
of
them
should
come
to
you
anI}
ask
advice,
be
slow
to
give
it-
those
in
any
Illanller
\l]uler
his
dired
care,
for
whom
he
is
decliue
to
heal'
the
case-follow
the
Lord's
counsel.
Advise
responsible.
TInt
even
in
this
he
shoull}
seek
to
reeognize
the
one
,vho
complains
that
the
Lord
has
given
instructions,
indi\Oidual
rights
a]J(l
priloaeies,
and
not
allon'
his
sense
of
duty
aw}
that
it
is
not
your
province
to
interfere-that
Matthew
and
responsi
bility
to
imllel
him
to
prohe
into
every
little
18:
15-17
directs
the
eourse
to
be
pursued.
matter.
A
eertain
reasonable
amount
of
responsihility
should
See
that
you
have
nothing
to
do
with
such
a
case
unless
it
be
thrown
ujJon
ehil,lren,
an,}
tlwy
should
have
a
general
idea
eome
to
you
directly
in
line
with
this
arrangement
which
the
of
what
is
pXl'el'ted
of
thpm.
They
should
be
rpquired
to
Lon}
has
provided.
Otherwise
you
are
busybodying
and
will
measure
up
to
that
stand:ll'l},
unless
something
positively
indi-
make
trouble
for
yourselves
and
for
others.
If
called
into
the
cates
to
the
eontrnry.
Thl'
~p:rit
of
bllsyhodying
is
eon-
family
mix-up,
rathl'r
regret
the
necessity
than
be
eager
to
dl'mIJel}
hy
the
Apostle,
and
all
of
God's
people
should
be
on
nose
into
their
affairs.
Advise
them
first
in
the
best
way
you
guard
against
it.
know
how,
to
adjust
matters
between
themselves,
reminding
Our
experience
is
that
husyho<1ying
is
a
fruitful
source
of
them
of
the
words
of
Jesus,
"That
which
God
hath
joined
to-
diffieulty
in
the
chureh-in
all
the
ece.lesias.
A
colpar
knowledge
gether
let
no
man
put
asunder,"
and
then
see
that
you
do
of
present
truth
seems
rather
to
innease
this
diffie.ulty.
As
in
nothing
to
put
them
asunder
or
to
help
to
complete
the
separa-
families
a
wrong
fpelillg
oftpn
ohtains,
which
imppls
eal'11
tion
of
spirit
which
already
has
started.
member
to
want
to
know
all
about
the
affairs
of
every
other
Remember
that
as
the
Lord's
representative
you
have
no
memher,
so
in
the
ehureh
thc'rl'
is
also
a
tenr}ency
to
me<1dle,
authority
whatever
to
be
in
the
least
a
disturber,
but
are
to
inquire
ahout,
to
iuterfere
in
the
matters
of
others--to
commissioned
only
to
be
a
peacemaker.
When
you
are
called
husybody.
III
sOllle
cases
there
seems
to
be
a
disposition
to
in,
in
such
a
case,
try
to
be
just,
fair,
reasonable,
in
full
try
to
hUllt
up
e\,('rythillg
eOllnecte<1
\Iith
eaeh
other,
and
to
sit
accord
with
the
Golden
Rule
in
every
word
that
you
shall
in
jurlglllpnt
upon
each
other.
utter.
Those
who
may
hope
to
be
entrusted
with
the
judg-
The
difTieultv
is
n
lack
of
10\'e.
"Love
wOl'keth
no
ill
to
ment
of
the
world
in
the
future
(1
Corinthians
6:2)
must
his
neighhor."
.
It
rp;joiees
110t
to
find
flaws;
it
seeks
not
for
qualify
now
by
a
development
of
a
high
sense
of
mercy
and
thelll.
It
surmises
no
eyil-r:lther
it
~urmisl's
good.
Let
eaeh
10\'1',
as
well
as
of
justice.
of
tIl('
Lord's
people
ju,lge
himself
in
this
matter
and
see
to
what
extent
he
h:ls
bePll
a
busybody
in
the
affairs
of
others.
Let
eaeh
dl'cille
iu
his
own
ease
that
the
fault,
in
jlroportion
as
he
has
it,
is
a
laek
of
the
spirit
of
love,
and
let
each
in
that
proportion
go
to
the
Lord
prayerfully,
earnestly
seeking
to
he
huilt
up
in
the
quality
of
love.
\Vdl
do
we
know
that
he
who
loves
not
a
brother
whom
ll(~
has
seen
has
110
assurance
that
he
really
loves
God
whom
hl'
has
not
seen.
\Ve
lIlay
safely
eone]ude
that
there
is
some
of
the
gall
of
bitterness
in
thl'
IH'art,
if
we
take
pleasure
in
seeking
flaws
in
the
flesh
of
the
mlmlhers
of
the
body
of
Christ.
Their
flesh,
justifiel}
hy
the
Redeemer
and
consecrated,
heeomes
his
flesh.
vVho('ycr,
thPrefore,
is
a
faultfinder
and
Imsyho<1y
in
the
affairs
of
the
brdhren
is
<1oing
this
against
the
flesh
of
.T
psus.
'
'T
:uu
.J
I'HIlS
whom
thou
persecntest.'
,
Ads
9:fi;
23:8.
ENSNARED
BY
THE
ADVERSARY
Our
eOllfi<1ew'e
in
the
hl'l,thl'l'lI
is
sueh
that
we
eanllot
he
lieVl'
tllat
any
of
them
,nl\ll,}
\\'illingly
HIll}
intention:111y,
or
of
prdc'H'lIee,
takp
the
lov('lpss
('oursl'
of
injury.
Our
thought
is
thnt
the
alh'Pl'S:llY
is
011
thl'
alert
to
ensnare
God's
people
and
to
dp\,plop
ill
theln
the
spirit
of
111lsyhodying
anel
lo\'e
lessness.
UDdl'!'
tllP
guise
of
duty,
love
of
rightpousness,
justice,
etc.
'fhl'v
oyerlook
the
fad
that
God
neitll('r
authorized
us
to
judge·
one
allothl'r,
nor
to
exad
justiee
from
each
other.
He
neither
authorizpd
his
peopl('
to
chastise
each
other,
nor
to
punish
eaeh
other
in
:I!ly
lIl:l1l!ler.
He
has
nen'r
authorized
hi~
people
to
become
inquisitors,
investigators,
busybodies.
[5274]
(211-212) THE has been served by the Hagle. We invite the assistanee and co-operation in this service of all who love the Lord and the truth, Orders inay be sent in at once. But we advise against the using of this special issue in other places where the ministers have not entered into such a combine and are not thus VoL. XXXIV WATCH TOWER ~ BROOKLY N,N. Y., Brooxiyn, N. Y. actively serving the adversary. It is, and should always be, the policy of God’s people, so far as possible, to live peaceably. We do not wish to make an attack upon anybody, but merely to repel attacks and to set the people free for their benefit. JULY 13, 1913 No. 14 ‘EVIL-DOERS AND BUSYBODIES ‘‘But let none of you suffer as... Assuredly none of the Lord’s people could willingly be evildoers. Ile who would wilfully do evil would not have the Lord’s Spirit, but that of the adversary. Such being the ease, the worst that could be said against any of the truly consecrated surely would be that he had been overtaken in a fault, or that he had some weakness of the flesh, or that by the snare of the adversary he had been led into doing something which his heart disapproved. But evil deeds, even though unintentional, are to be guarded against earefully. ‘‘Let none of you suffer as an cvil-doer’’—-not one—at any time—- under any circumstances. But now we come to the second part of the Apostle’s warning—busybodying, The saints seem as liable as others to become busybodies and to suffer for so doing. We have sometime thought that the Lord’s consecrated people are more inclined to be busybodies than are others. They have higher standards than others. Their love of righteousness is greater than before, and their hatred of iniquity is greater. There is continually a temptation, therefore, not to be content with minding one’s own business, but to advise and to seck to regulate everybody and everything. Of course there is a duty devolving wpon every parent to inquire more or less into the affairs of his children, or of those in any manner under his direct eare, for whom he is responsible. But even in this he should seek to recognize individual rights aud privacies, and not allow his sense of duty and responsibility to impel him to prohe into every little matter. A certain reasonable amount of responsibility should be thrown upon children, and they should have a general idea of what is expected of them. They should be required to measure up to that standard, unless something positively indicates to the contrary. The spirit of busybodying is condemned by the Apostle, and all of God’s people should be on guard against it. Our experience is that busybodying is a fruitful source of difficulty in the chureh—in all the ceelesias, A clear knowledge nf present truth seems rather to inerease this difficulty. As in families a wrong feeling often obtains, which impels each member to want to know all about the affairs of every other member, so in the church there is also a tendency to meddle, to inquire about, to interfere in the matters of others—to busybody. In some eases there seems to be a disposition to try to hunt up everything connected with each other, and to sit in judgment upon cach other. The difficulty is a lack of love. his neighbor.’’ Tt rejoices not to find flaws; it seeks not for them. Jt surmises no evil--rather it surmises good. Tet each of the Lord’s people judge himself in this matter and see to what extent he has been a busybody in the affairs of others. Let each decide in his own case that the fault, in proportion as he has it, is a Jack of the spirit of love, and Jet each in that proportion go to the Lord prayerfully, earnestly seeking to he built up in the quality of love. Well do we know that he who loves not a brother whom he has seen has no assurance that he really loves God whom he has not seen. We may safely conclude that there is some of the gall of bitterness in the heart, if we take pleasure in secking flaws in the flesh of the members of the body of Christ. Their flesh, justified by the Redeemer and consecrated, hecomes his flesh. Whoever, therefore, is a faultfinder and busybody in the affairs of the brethren is doing this against the flesh of Jesus, ‘‘Y am Jesus whom thou persecutest.’’— Acts 9:5; 22:8. ENSNARED BY THE ADVERSARY Our confidence in the brethren is such that we cannot heNeve that any of them would willingly and intentionally, or of preference, take the loveless course of injury. Our thought is that the adversary is on the alert to ensnare God’s people and to develop in them the spirit of busybodying and lovelessness, under the guise of duty, love of righteousness, justice, ete. They overlook the fact that God neither authorized us to judge one another, nor to exact justice from each other. He neither authorized his people to chastise cach other, nor to punish each other in any manner. He has never authorized his people to become inquisitors, investigators, busybodies. ‘Love worketh no ill to an evil-doer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.’’—1 Peter 4:15. On the contrary, he has told us to ‘‘ judge nothing before the time,’’ and that he will attend to this matter. Is it not written, ‘‘The Lord will judge his people’’? Are we afraid that he is incompetent? Shall we attempt to be wiser than he? Shall we take into our own hands matters which he said that we should leave in his hands? If we do so, we shall be sure to get ourselves into difficulty, and perhaps get others into difficulty as well. Whoever busybodies will suffer. It may be that the victim also will suffer and that many will be defiled, but we may be sure that the busybodies themselves will not escape. The punishment of the busybody in part no doubt will be the rupture of his own relationship with God—the loss of his own peace and joy and fellowship with the holy Spirit. This will he his reward for busybodying. If a brother and a sister in the church seem to have difficulty, mind your own business, and allow them to settle the matter between themselves. If they are related as parents and children, let them adjust the matter by themselves, and learn whatever lessons the Lord as their Judge and Teacher will give them. If they are husband and wife, the matter is the same. Let them alone. Do not busybody. Even if one of them should come to you and ask advice, be slow to give it— decline to hear the ease—follow the Lord’s counsel. Advise the one who complains that the Lord has given instructions, and that it igs not your provinee to interfere—that Matthew 18:15-17 directs the course to be pursued. See that you have nothing to do with such a case unless it come to you directly in line with this arrangement which the Lord has provided. Otherwise you are busybodying and will make trouble for yourselves and for others. If called into the family mix-up, rather regret the necessity than be eager to nose into their affairs. Advise them first in the best way you know how, to adjust matters between themselves, reminding them of the words of Jesus, ‘‘That which God hath joined together let no man put asunder, ?? and then see that you do nothing to put them asunder or to help to complete the separation of spirit which already has started. Remember that as the Lord’s representative you have no authority whatever to be in the least a disturber, but are commissioned only to be a peacemaker. When you are called in, in such a case, try to be just, fair, reasonable, in full accord with the Golden Rule in every word that you shall utter. Those who may hope to be entrusted with the judgment of the world in the future (1 Corinthians 6:2) must qualify now by a development of a high sense of merey and love, as well as of justice. BUSYBODYING AN EVIDENCE OF PRIDE But, says one, is it not a part of our duty to help keep the church pure? And in order to do so, should we not be on the alert? If, therefore, we see a husband and a wife, or a brother and a sister, or parents and children out of accord, are we not in duty bound to pry into their affairs, in order to see if we cannot set them straight? That is exactly the busybody’s spirit. We are mentioning it because a great many of the Lord’s dear people who mean the very best do not know what busybodying is while they are doing it. Mind your own affairs! If you get too busy watching others, the adversary will take advantage of you. So long as the outward conduct of any brother or sister is reasonable and fair, justice and love both say that you should not meddle with them, in the sense of trying to mind their business. Coutent yourself with setting them a good example of meckness, faith, patience, brotherly-kindness, love. Then if they ever need advice, they may voluntarily come to you. And then will be your time to show your moderation and to give them advice as an oracle of God, in harmony with Matthew 18:15-17—and nothing more. But, says another, does not St. Paul criticise the church at Corinth because they had in their midst one who had grievously sinned? And did he not upbraid the church for their failure to judge and rid themselves of such a person? Quite true, But that was a case of open, wilful, acknowledged sin, disgraceful to the individual and to all with whom he [5274]
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