Publication date
7/15/13
Volume
34
Number
14
The WatchTower
Evil-Doers and Busybodies
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1913/14/1913-14-1.html
 
 
(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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