Publication date
2/1/13
Volume
34
Number
3
The WatchTower
The Cost of Discipleship
The Watchtower Magazines
../literature/watchtower/1913/3/1913-3-1.html
 
 
 
 
 
 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y 
followers. 
Some 
are 
"blind 
leaders 
of 
the 
blind," 
while 
others 
apparently 
are 
"willingly 
ignorant." 
Like 
the 
Pharisees 
of 
old, 
some 
hav,e 
taken 
away 
from 
their 
too 
trustful 
followers 
the" 
key 
of 
knowledge," 
and 
are 
grieved 
that 
the 
people 
are 
now 
being 
taught 
better. 
However, 
the 
result 
is 
that 
some 
are 
getting 
awake 
and 
learning 
to 
think, 
and 
to 
study 
the 
Bible 
for 
themselves, 
who 
otherwise 
might 
have 
slept 
on. 
It 
is 
God's" 
due 
time" 
for 
his 
faithful 
to 
be 
awakened 
and 
to 
come 
to 
a 
knowledge 
of 
the 
truth; 
and 
for 
aught 
we 
know 
he 
is 
using 
the 
wrath 
of 
man 
to 
praise 
himself. 
A 
still 
more 
despicable 
course 
is 
followed 
by 
some 
claiming 
to 
be 
ministers 
of 
Christ. 
Unable 
to 
controvert 
Pastor 
Rus­ 
sell's 
teachings 
they 
slander 
him 
shamefully. 
Professing 
to 
be 
Christians, 
they 
insinuate 
and 
come 
as 
close 
as 
possible 
to 
infracting 
the 
lowest 
standards 
of 
human 
law 
respecting 
slan­ 
der 
and 
libel. 
They 
that 
preach 
the 
Golden 
Rule 
and 
profess 
to 
believe 
that 
everybody 
who 
breaks 
it 
is 
going 
to 
everlasting 
torture, 
do 
they 
forget 
the 
words 
of 
St. 
John 
that 
their 
course 
is 
in 
the 
sight 
of 
our 
Lord 
really 
"murder"~-l 
John 
3:15. 
VOL. 
XXXIV 
BROOKLYN, 
N. 
Y., 
FEBRUARY 
1, 
1913 
No.3 
THE 
COST 
OF 
DISCIPLESHIP 
"Being 
reviled, 
we 
bless; 
being 
persecuted, 
we 
suffer 
it. 
"-1 
Cor. 
4: 
12. 
Since 
God 
himself 
is 
love, 
the 
very 
highest 
ideal 
of 
per- 
This 
spirit 
of 
generosity 
and 
benevolence 
should 
be 
the 
fection 
which 
he 
has 
given 
to 
his 
people 
is 
the 
standard 
of 
spirit 
of 
the 
Lord's 
people. 
We 
are 
to 
bless 
those 
who 
revile 
love. 
We 
cannot 
imagine 
a 
higher 
standard 
than 
this, 
nor 
one 
and 
persecute 
us 
by 
doing 
them 
good 
and 
by 
explaining 
to 
more 
diflicult 
to 
attain. 
It 
is 
the 
special 
characteristic 
without 
them, 
if 
possible, 
the 
situation, 
which 
evidently 
they 
havo 
which 
none 
will 
get 
the 
prize 
of 
the 
high 
calling 
of 
God 
in 
misunderstood. 
We 
are 
to 
bless 
them 
by 
helping 
them, 
if 
Christ 
JeHUs. 
This 
mark 
of 
perfection 
was 
stamped 
on 
our 
opportunity 
offers, 
out 
of 
darkness 
into 
light. 
Lord. 
He 
delighted 
to 
do 
the 
Father's 
will 
in 
all 
respects, 
Our 
faith 
is 
greatly 
strengthened 
by 
considering 
the 
course 
even 
to 
the 
extent 
of 
laying 
down 
his 
life 
for 
those 
who, 
on 
of 
our 
Lord 
and 
noting 
the 
similarity 
between 
his 
experiences 
account 
of 
Adam's 
sin, 
were 
under 
the 
sentence 
of 
death. 
and 
ours. 
Both 
he 
and 
his 
apostles 
were 
persecuted 
by 
the 
Our 
Lord 
did 
not, 
however, 
need 
to 
run 
toward 
this 
mark 
Jewish 
household 
of 
faith. 
The 
whole 
Jewish 
nation 
professed 
of 
perfect 
love; 
for 
he 
was 
always 
perfect-" 
holy, 
harmless, 
to 
be 
God's 
people; 
and 
our 
Lord 
recognized 
them 
as 
his 
own, 
undefiled, 
separate 
from 
sinners." 
(Heb. 
7: 
26) 
The 
church, 
as 
it 
is 
written. 
(John 
1: 
11) 
Yet 
when 
"he 
came 
unto 
his 
on 
the 
contrary, 
are 
naturally 
imperfect 
and 
fallen 
by 
hered- 
own," 
they 
received 
him 
not, 
but 
persecuted 
him 
and 
even 
ity; 
but 
we 
have 
been 
washed 
from 
all 
stain 
of 
guilt 
in 
the 
crucified 
him. 
Later, 
they 
persecuted 
his 
apostles 
and 
their 
blood 
of 
the 
Lamb. 
The 
mark 
of 
perfect 
love 
we 
attain 
followers. 
gradually. 
We 
first 
reach 
perfection 
of 
heart 
intention, 
and 
Apparently 
the 
household 
of 
faith 
has 
had 
a 
monopoly 
of 
then 
we 
pass 
through 
experiences 
which 
crystallize 
our 
char- 
persecutions. 
All 
down 
the 
Gospel 
age, 
those 
who 
have 
pro- 
acters 
in 
righteousness. 
In 
all 
of 
these 
trials 
and 
difficulties, 
fessed 
to 
be 
God's 
people 
have 
persecuted 
others. 
Both 
Catho- 
we 
must 
demonstrate 
that, 
if 
our 
physical 
organism 
were 
per- 
lics 
and 
Protestants 
have 
persecuted 
each 
other 
and 
the 
Jews, 
fect, 
we 
would 
always 
do 
God's 
holy 
will. 
God's 
chosen 
people. 
The 
majority 
of 
persecutions 
have 
been 
As 
we 
see 
this 
quality 
of 
love 
in 
our 
Lord 
Jesus, 
we 
by 
those 
who 
professed 
to 
be 
the 
people 
of 
God, 
many 
of 
whom 
appreciate 
it, 
even 
though 
we 
realize 
that 
we 
are 
not 
up 
to 
really 
thought 
they 
were. 
the 
standaf<] 
which 
God 
requires. 
Nevertheless, 
our 
great 
The 
persecutions 
of 
today 
are 
of 
the 
same 
kind. 
They 
come 
desire 
is 
that 
we 
have 
perfect 
love 
for 
everything 
in 
harmony 
from 
those 
who 
profess 
to 
be 
the 
Lord's 
people. 
In 
harmony 
with 
the 
will 
of 
God. 
After 
we 
have 
reached 
perfection 
of 
with 
this 
fact 
is 
the 
Scripture 
which 
says, 
"Your 
brethren 
heart 
intention, 
the 
test 
is 
no 
longer 
upon 
us 
of 
attaining 
the 
that 
hated 
you, 
that 
cast 
you 
out 
for 
my 
name's 
sake, 
said, 
mark, 
but 
of 
pressing 
down 
upon 
that 
mark 
until 
our 
char- 
Let 
the 
Lord 
be 
glorified: 
but 
he 
shall 
appear 
to 
your 
joy, 
acter 
has 
been 
crystallized. 
As 
the 
Apostle 
Paul 
says, 
"Hav- 
and 
they 
shall 
be 
ashamed." 
(Isa. 
66: 
5) 
This 
statement 
ing 
done 
all, 
stand." 
(Eph. 
6 
:13) 
We 
do 
not 
progress 
applies 
also 
to 
the 
members 
of 
our 
own 
families, 
who 
are 
not 
beyond 
perfect 
love; 
for 
no 
one 
can 
do 
more 
than 
to 
have 
a 
in 
sympathy 
with 
the 
truth; 
that 
is 
to 
say, 
any 
persecutions 
full 
desire 
that 
God's 
will 
be 
done 
in 
him. 
He 
could 
do 
no 
coming 
from 
the 
members 
of 
our 
families 
are 
usually 
from 
more, 
whether 
he 
lived 
five 
years 
longer 
or 
fifty 
years. 
Per- 
those 
who 
profess 
to 
be 
Christians. 
As 
a 
rule, 
their 
opposi- 
fect 
love 
is 
the 
mark 
toward 
which 
he 
pressed, 
and 
he 
can 
tion 
is 
not 
for 
personal 
reasons, 
but 
on 
account 
of 
some 
doc- 
attain 
no 
higher 
standard. 
trinal 
point, 
which 
they 
do 
not 
see 
in 
the 
same 
light 
as 
do 
While 
one 
stands 
at 
the 
mark 
of 
love, 
the 
tests 
grow 
those 
whom 
they 
persecute. 
stronger. 
We 
pass 
through 
experiences-often 
trivial 
enough 
It 
behooves 
the 
Lord's 
people 
to 
look 
with 
great 
sympathy 
-which 
tempt 
us 
to 
malice, 
envy, 
anger 
and 
strife. 
If 
we 
are 
upon 
those 
who 
may 
be 
their 
persecutors. 
We 
recall 
instances 
overcome 
by 
these 
tests, 
anel 
fall 
away 
from 
the 
condition 
of 
where 
persecution 
has 
been 
carried 
on 
with 
the 
thought 
that 
perfect 
love, 
we 
shall 
lose 
the 
prize 
for 
which 
we 
are 
running. 
the 
persecutors 
were 
doing 
the 
will 
of 
God. 
Those 
who 
per- 
(Phil. 
:);14) 
One 
who 
thus 
falls 
away 
may 
get 
into 
the 
great 
secuted 
the 
Lord 
Jesus 
were 
to 
some 
degree 
ignorant 
of 
who 
eompany 
for 
devdopment; 
but 
if 
he 
were 
to 
lose 
all 
love, 
he 
he 
was. 
In 
Acts 
3: 
17, 
St. 
Peter 
says, 
"And 
now, 
brethren, 
I 
would 
go 
into 
the 
socon(] 
death. 
In 
either 
of 
these 
cases, 
wot 
that 
through 
ignorance 
ye 
did 
it, 
as 
did 
also 
your 
rulers." 
the 
person 
has 
moyo(] 
away 
from 
the 
mark 
of 
perfect 
love, 
St. 
Paul 
says, 
"Had 
they 
known 
it, 
they 
would 
not 
have 
the 
only 
standard 
for 
those 
who 
desire 
to 
be 
in 
the 
kingdom 
crucified 
the 
Lord 
of 
glory." 
(1 
Cor. 
2:8) 
When 
Saul 
of 
and 
to 
participate 
in 
the 
glorious 
things 
which 
God 
has 
in 
Tarsus 
persecuted 
St. 
Stephen 
and 
others 
of 
the 
early 
church, 
store 
for 
those 
who 
love 
him 
supremely. 
he 
verily 
thought 
that 
he 
did 
God 
service, 
as 
he 
himself 
after- 
GENEROSITY 
AND 
BENEVOLENCE 
CHARACTERISTIC 
OF 
GOD'S 
wards 
tells 
us.-Acts 
26:9-11. 
PEOPLE 
FIDELITY 
TO 
THE 
TRUTH 
A 
CAUSE 
OF 
PERSECUTION 
Our 
Lord 
desires 
to 
see 
in 
his 
followers 
the 
disposition 
All 
down 
through 
the 
Gospel 
age, 
those 
who 
have 
been 
to 
overcome 
the 
weaknesses 
and 
tendencies 
of 
the 
fallen 
con- 
faithful 
to 
the 
truth 
of 
God 
have 
been 
put" 
out 
of 
the 
syna- 
clition 
and 
to 
follow 
in 
his 
footsteps. 
Of 
him 
it 
is 
written, 
gogne." 
The 
creeds 
of 
men 
have 
been 
barriers 
to 
keep 
out 
"Christ 
also 
suffered 
for 
us, 
leaving 
us 
an 
example, 
that 
those 
who 
understood 
the 
Word 
of 
God. 
There 
was 
a 
time 
ye 
should 
follow 
in 
his 
steps; 
... 
who, 
when 
he 
was 
reviled, 
when 
many 
were 
excommunicated 
as 
heretics 
because 
of 
con- 
reviled 
not 
again; 
when 
he 
suffered, 
he 
threatened 
not." 
(1 
science. 
One 
of 
these 
was 
Michael 
Servetus, 
a 
brother 
Chris- 
Peter 
2 
:21-2:3) 
To 
bc 
roviled 
is 
to 
be 
made 
to 
appear 
vile. 
tian, 
whose 
horrible 
death 
at 
the 
stake 
was 
brought 
about 
by 
to 
be 
edl 
spoken 
of, 
slandered. 
The 
natural 
tendency 
of 
all 
John 
Calvin. 
This 
course 
of 
conduct 
literally 
fulfilled 
the 
is 
to 
resent 
injustice, 
to 
rcnder 
evil 
for 
evil, 
to 
give 
as 
good 
Scripture 
which 
says, 
"They 
shall 
put 
you 
out 
of 
the 
- 
syna- 
as 
we 
get-and 
a 
little 
more 
if 
possible. 
This 
is 
the 
natural 
gogue: 
yea, 
the 
time 
cometh, 
that 
whosoever 
killet~l 
you 
will 
inclination 
beeause 
we 
are 
in 
the 
fallen 
condition, 
unbalanced 
think 
that 
he 
doeth 
God 
service.' 
'-John 
16: 
2. 
in 
our 
minds. 
Those 
who 
had 
charge 
of 
the 
synagogues 
were 
not 
always 
Our 
Lord's 
teaching 
is 
all 
the 
opposite 
of 
the 
spirit 
of 
bad 
people, 
but 
they 
were 
mistaken, 
as 
was 
Saul 
of 
Tarsus 
reviling. 
No 
matter 
how 
much 
we 
are 
reviled, 
we 
are 
not 
to 
when 
he 
haled 
men 
and 
women 
to 
prison. 
(Acts 
8:3) 
The 
revile 
in 
return; 
no 
matter 
how 
much 
we 
are 
persecuted, 
we 
same 
conditions 
exist 
today. 
The 
darkness 
hateth 
the 
light. 
are 
not 
to 
persecute 
in 
return. 
This 
is 
the 
law 
of 
the 
new 
When 
any 
become 
enlightened 
in 
the 
·Word 
of 
God, 
they 
are 
creation. 
Instead 
of 
reviling 
again, 
we 
are 
to 
bless. 
This 
does 
told," 
If 
you 
stay 
with 
us, 
you 
must 
not 
present 
these 
mat- 
not 
mean 
that 
when 
one 
has 
said 
a 
slanderous 
thing 
of 
us, 
ters." 
Those 
who 
are 
loyal 
to 
God 
are 
in 
this 
way 
forced 
out 
we 
are 
to 
say, 
,. 
God 
bless 
you"; 
but 
that 
if 
the 
person 
is 
of 
the 
synagogues. 
in 
difficulty 
and 
needs 
help, 
we 
are 
to 
overlook 
altogether 
what 
Our 
day 
has 
a 
peculiarity, 
however, 
that 
other 
days 
have 
he 
has 
done 
to 
us, 
and 
be 
just 
as 
ready 
to 
help 
him 
as 
any 
not 
had. 
The 
divine 
plan 
is 
so 
beautiful 
that 
by 
its 
light 
we 
other 
person. 
see 
that 
others 
are 
in 
darkness. 
The 
voice 
of 
God, 
the 
voice 
[15172] 
(31-36) followers. Some are ‘‘blind leaders of the blind,’’ while others apparently are ‘‘willingly ignorant.’’? Like the Pharisees of old, some have taken away from their too trustful followers the ‘‘key of knowledge,’’ and are grieved that the people are now being taught better. However, the result is that some are getting awake and learning to think, and to study the Bible for themselves, who otherwise might have slept on. It is God’s ‘‘due time’’ for his faithful to be awakened and to come to a knowledge of the truth; and for aught we know he is using the wrath of man to praise himself. THE WATCH TOWER Brooxtyn, N. Y¥ A still more despicable course is followed by some claiming to be ministers of Christ. Unable to controvert Pastor Russell’s teachings they slander him shamefully. Professing to be Christians, they insinuate and come as close as possible to infracting the lowest standards of human law respecting slander and libel. They that preach the Golden Rule and profess to believe that everybody who breaks it is going to everlasting torture, do they forget the words of St. John that their course is in the sight of our Lord really ‘‘murder’’?—1 John 3:15. Vou. XXXIV BROOKLYN, N. Y,, FEBRUARY 1, 19138 No. 3 THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP ‘‘Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it.’’—1 Cor. 4:12. Since God himself is love, the very highest ideal of perfection which he has given to his people is the standard of love. We cannot imagine a higher standard than this, nor one more difficult to attain. It is the special characteristic without which none will get the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. This mark of perfection was stamped on our Lord. He delighted to do the Father’s will in all respects, even to the extent of laying down his life for those who, on account of Adam’s sin, were under the sentence of death. Our Lord did not, however, need to run toward this mark of perfect love; for he was always perfect—‘‘holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners.’’?’ (Heb. 7:26) The church, on the contrary, are naturally imperfect and fallen by heredity; but we have been washed from all stain of guilt in the blood of the Lamb. The mark of perfect love we attain gradually. We first reach perfection of heart intention, and then we pass through experiences which crystallize our characters in righteousness. In all of these trials and difficulties, we must demonstrate that, if our physical organism were perfeet, we would always do God’s holy will. As we see this quality of love in our Lord Jesus, we appreciate it, even though we realize that we are not up to the standard which God requires. Nevertheless, our great desire is that we have perfect love for everything in harmony with the will of God. After we have reached perfection of heart intention, the test is no longer upon us of attaining the mark, but of pressing down upon that mark until our character has heen crystallized. As the Apostle Paul says, ‘‘Having done all, stand.’’ (Eph. 6:13) We do not progress beyond perfect love; for no one can do more than to have a full desire that God’s will be done in him, He could do no more, whether he lived five years longer or fifty years. Perfect love is the mark toward which he pressed, and he can attain no higher standard. While one stands at the mark of love, the tests grow stronger. We pass through experiences—often trivial enough —which tempt us to malice, envy, anger and strife. If we are overcome by these tests, and fall away from the condition of perfect love, we shall lose the prize for which we are running. (Phil. 3:14) One who thus falls away may get into the great company for development; but if he were to lose all love, he would go into the second death. In either of these cases, the person has moved away from the mark of perfect love, the only standard for those who desire to be in the kingdom and to participate in the glorious things which God has in store for those who love him supremely. GENEROSITY AND BENE V OTN Gn gy HARACTERISTIC OF GOD’S Our Lord desires to see in his followers the disposition to overcome the weaknesses and tendencies of the fallen condition and to follow in his footsteps. Of him it is written, ‘‘Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps; ... who, when he was reviled, reviled | not again; when he suffered, he threatened not.’’ (1 Peter 2:21-23) ‘To be reviled is to be made to appear vile, to be evil spoken of, slandered. The natural tendency of all is to resent injustice, to render evil for evil, to give as good as we get—and a little more if possible. This is the natural inclination beeause we are in the fallen condition, unbalanced in our minds. Our Lord’s teaching is all the opposite of the spirit of reviling. No matter how much we are reviled, we are not to revile in return; no matter how much we are persecuted, we are not to persecute in return. This is the law of the new creation. Instead of reviling again, we are to bless. This does not mean that when one has said a slanderous thing of us, we are to say, ‘'God bless you’’; but that if the person is in difficulty and needs help, we are to overlook altogether what he has done to us, and be just as ready to help him as any other person. This spirit of generosity and benevolence should be the spirit of the Lord’s people. We are to bless those who revile and persecute us by doing them good and by explaining to them, if possible, the situation, which evidently they have misunderstood. We are to bless them by helping them, if opportunity offers, out of darkness into light. Our faith is greatly strengthened by considering the course of our Lord and noting the similarity between his experiences and ours, Both he and his apostles were persecuted by the Jewish household of faith. The whole Jewish nation professed to be God’s people; and our Lord recognized them as his own, as it is written, (John 1:11) Yet when ‘‘he came unto his own,’’ they received him not, but persecuted him and even crucified him. Later, they persecuted his apostles and their followers. Apparently the household of faith has had a monopoly of persecutions. All down the Gospel age, those who have professed to be God’s people have persecuted others. Both Catholies and Protestants have persecuted each other and the Jews, God’s chosen people. The majority of persecutions have been by those who professed to be the people of God, many of whom really thought they were. The persecutions of today are of the same kind. from those who profess to be the Lord’s people. In harmony with this fact is the Seripture which says, ‘‘Your brethren that hated you, that cast you out for my name’s sake, said, Let the Lord be glorified: but he shall appear to your joy, and they shall be ashamed.’’ (Isa. 66:5) This statement applies also to the members of our own families, who are not in sympathy with the truth; that is to say, any persecutions coming from the members of our families are usually from those who profess to be Christians. As a rule, their opposition is not for personal reasons, but on account of some doctrinal point, which they do not see in the same light as do those whom they persecute. It behooves the Lord’s people to look with great sympathy upon those who may be their persecutors. We recall instances where persecution has been carried on with the thought that the persecutors were doing the will of God. Those who persecuted the Lord Jesus were to some degree ignorant of who he was. In Acts 3:17, St. Peter says, ‘‘And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.’’ St. Paul says, ‘‘Had they known it, they would not have erucified the Lord of glory.’’ (1 Cor. 2:8) When Saul of Tarsus persecuted St. Stephen and others of the early church, he verily thought that he did God service, as he himself afterwards tells us.—Acts 26:9-11. FIDELITY TO THE TRUTH A CAUSE OF PERSECUTION All down through the Gospel age, those who have been faithful to the truth of God have been put ‘‘out of the synagogue.’’ The creeds of men have been barriers to keep out those who understood the Word of God. There was a time when many were excommunicated as heretics because of conscience. One of these was Michael Servetus, a brother Christian, whose horrible death at the stake was brought about by John Calvin. This course of conduct literally fulfilled the Scripture which says, ‘‘They shall put you out of the synagogue: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.’’—John 16:2. Those who had charge of the synagogues were not always bad people, but they were mistaken, as was Saul of Tarsus when he haled men and women to prison. (Acts 8:3) The same conditions exist today. The darkness hateth the light. When any become enlightened in the Word of God, they are told, ‘‘If you stay with us, you must not present these matters.’’ Those who are loyal to God are in this way forced out of the synagogues, Our day has a peculiarity, however, that other days have not had. The divine plan is so beautiful that by its light we see that others are in darkness. The voice of God, the voice They come [5172]

This website uses cookies to improve the website and your experience. By continuing to browse this website, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. If you require further information or do not wish to accept cookies when using this website, please visit our Privacy Policy    Terms of Use    .