Data publicării
01.11.1909
Volumul
30
Numărul
21
Turnul de veghe
"Them That Are Contentious"
Revistele originale Turnul de veghe în limba engleză
../literature/watchtower/1909/21/1909-21-2.html
(323-324) 
THE 
WATCH 
TOWER 
BROOKI,YN. 
N. 
Y. 
There 
are 
plenty 
of 
opportunities 
for 
sacrificing 
self 
in 
the 
interest 
of 
the 
Priesthood. 
Not 
only 
are 
some 
of 
the 
brethren 
in 
darkness, 
in 
ignorance 
and 
superstition, 
and 
need 
our 
assist­ 
ance 
out 
into 
the 
glorious 
light 
of 
present 
truth, 
but, 
addi­ 
tionally, 
some 
of 
them 
have 
weaknesses 
and 
blemishes, 
and 
need 
our 
consoling 
sympathy 
and 
strengthening 
encourage­ 
ments, 
or 
loving 
rebukes. 
To 
the 
extent 
of 
our 
faithfulness 
in 
these 
matters, 
we 
are 
self-sacrificers, 
pleasing 
and 
accept­ 
able 
to 
our 
heavenly 
Father 
and 
our 
Redeemer. 
The 
Apostle 
explained 
to 
TImothy, 
an 
elder, 
that 
he 
should 
in 
meekness 
reprove 
those 
who 
opposed 
themselves, 
and 
not 
render 
evil 
for 
evIl, 
nor 
railing 
for 
railing, 
nor 
accusation 
for 
accusation, 
but 
contrariwise 
by 
meekness 
and 
gentleness, 
patience 
and 
love, 
should 
show 
the 
brethren 
the 
more 
excellent 
way, 
and 
should 
develop 
ourselves 
in 
Christlikeness 
of 
char­ 
acter. 
It 
is 
by 
such 
"patient 
continuance 
in 
well 
doing," 
by 
such 
patient 
dcvelopment 
of 
Christlike 
character, 
that 
we 
may 
successfully 
seek 
the 
glory, 
honor 
and 
immortality 
which 
God 
has 
promised 
only 
to 
such. 
For, 
as 
the 
Apostle 
points 
out, 
God 
has 
predestmated 
that 
all 
who 
will 
be 
of 
the 
elect 
church, 
of 
the 
bride 
class, 
must 
be 
copies 
of 
his 
Son 
in 
character, 
in 
heart.-Rom. 
8:29. 
Alas! 
that 
there 
scem 
to 
be 
so 
few 
well 
developed 
along 
these 
line'! 
of 
Christ's 
character-likeness. 
Alas 
I 
that 
so 
many 
seem 
to 
be 
cultivating 
the 
wrong 
spirit 
which 
they 
know 
God 
will 
not 
approve-the 
contentious 
spirit, 
the 
fault-finding 
dis­ 
position 
WhICh, 
instead 
of 
building 
one 
another 
up 
in 
the 
most 
holy 
faith, 
is 
destructive 
of 
faIth, 
destructive 
of 
peace, 
destructive 
of 
every 
good 
quality. 
Alas! 
that 
amongst 
those 
who 
are 
in 
the 
truth 
these 
con­ 
tentious 
persons 
are 
to 
be 
found 
in 
considerable 
numbers, 
doing 
a 
destructive 
work, 
an 
injurious 
work, 
instead 
of 
a 
helpful 
work. 
Surely 
they 
must 
know 
that 
they 
are 
injuring 
and 
blemishing 
their 
characters 
and 
making 
themselves 
less 
and 
less 
fit 
for 
the 
kingdom, 
or 
for 
eternal 
life 
on 
any 
plane. 
Surely 
they 
must 
know 
that 
they 
are 
doing 
a 
destructive 
work 
in 
the 
body 
of 
Christ, 
which 
is 
the 
church. 
Surely 
they 
must 
know 
that 
they 
are 
sowing 
seeds 
of 
discord, 
and 
planting 
roots 
of 
bitterness, 
WhICh 
are 
sure 
to 
bring 
forth 
an 
evil 
fruitage, 
hurtful 
to 
many. 
Surely 
they 
must 
know 
that 
God 
has 
expressed 
a 
special 
reprobation 
for 
tl.ose 
who 
thus 
do 
injury 
to 
the 
chureh.-l\Iatt. 
18:6; 
Luke 
17:2. 
What 
will 
be 
the 
reward 
to 
these? 
Not 
glory, 
honor 
and 
immortality 
but 
indignation, 
wrath, 
tribulation, 
and 
anguish, 
says 
the 
Apostle. 
He 
does 
not 
say 
that 
this 
means 
an 
eternity 
of 
wrath, 
and 
anguish, 
nor 
do 
we. 
On 
the 
contrary, 
knowing 
that 
the 
extreme 
penalty 
of 
opposition 
to 
God 
is 
the 
"second 
death," 
we 
must 
snppose 
that 
the 
tribulation 
and 
anguish 
will 
be 
more 
or 
less 
cOllnrctc<! 
with 
the 
present 
life-either 
by 
their 
participation 
in 
the 
"great 
company," 
and 
passing 
through 
the 
great 
time 
of 
trouble 
and 
there 
learning 
the 
lessons 
they 
neglected 
to 
learn 
previously, 
or, 
sourcd 
in 
disposition, 
robbed 
of 
the 
peace, 
and 
joy. 
and 
love, 
which 
they 
might 
have 
possessed 
as 
spirit-begotten 
ones, 
these 
will 
die 
the 
"second 
death" 
as 
incorrigible, 
as 
having 
received 
the 
grace 
of 
God 
and 
the 
instructions 
of 
his 
Word 
in 
vain. 
Instead 
of 
develop­ 
ing 
character 
symbolized 
by 
the 
fruitful 
vine, 
they 
are 
develop­ 
ing 
the 
characteristics 
of 
the 
briar 
and 
the 
thorn, 
whose 
end 
is 
destruction. 
developed 
proper 
characters. 
We 
urge 
them 
to 
take 
the 
matter 
at 
once 
to 
the 
Lord 
III 
prayer, 
and 
by 
his 
assisting 
grace 
to 
immediately 
begm 
to 
reverse 
all 
these 
wrong 
currents 
of 
their 
lives. 
They 
should 
hearken 
dIligently 
to 
the 
Apostle's 
words, 
and 
"seek 
peace 
and 
ensue 
it," 
and 
so 
far 
as 
possIble 
hence­ 
forth 
"live 
peaceably 
with 
all 
men," 
and 
"let 
the 
peace 
of 
God 
rule 
in 
their 
hearts," 
and 
be 
thankful 
for 
blessings 
already 
received. 
In 
such 
a 
condition 
of 
heart 
they 
wIll 
have 
little 
disposition 
to 
find 
fault 
wIth 
the 
Lord 
or 
his 
providences 
in 
connection 
with 
his 
people 
and 
his 
work. 
They 
will 
"learn 
of 
him" 
instead 
of 
finding 
fault 
with 
everybody 
and 
every­ 
thing 
which 
the 
Lord 
does 
not 
order 
to 
their 
pleasement. 
We 
urge 
all 
such 
to 
take 
note 
of 
the 
fact 
that 
the 
mur­ 
murers 
and 
complainers 
in 
typical 
Israel 
were 
not 
permItted 
to 
enter 
into 
Canaan's 
blessings. 
(1 
Cor. 
10:10) 
We 
remind 
them 
of 
the 
Apostle's 
words 
to 
the 
effect 
that 
murmurings 
against 
the 
Divine 
arrangements 
are 
really 
murmurings 
against 
the 
Lord 
himself. 
Let 
us 
do 
with 
our 
might 
what 
our 
hands 
find 
to 
do, 
without 
murmuring, 
without 
complain­ 
ing, 
without 
fault-finding. 
(Phil. 
2: 
14) 
Let 
us 
leave 
to 
God 
the 
management 
of 
his 
work. 
Let 
us 
humbly 
realize 
that 
if 
he 
would 
commit 
it 
all 
to 
our 
care 
we 
would 
be 
unable 
to 
manage 
it 
and 
would 
be 
oblIged 
to 
take 
it 
back 
to 
him 
and 
to 
solicit 
his 
supervision 
of 
his 
own 
work. 
If 
the 
thought 
comes 
to 
us 
that 
we 
could 
manage 
better 
than 
the 
Lord; 
that 
we 
could 
guide 
the 
harvest 
work 
better 
than 
he 
has 
arranged 
it, 
let 
us 
fiee 
that 
thought 
as 
a 
snare 
of 
the 
adversary 
by 
which 
he 
would 
entrap 
us. 
Instead 
of 
fault-finding 
and 
endeavormg 
to 
change 
the 
divine 
arrange­ 
ments 
let 
us 
do 
our 
own 
parts 
as 
faithfully 
as 
we 
know 
how, 
uncomplainingly, 
co-operating 
to 
the 
extent 
that 
our 
conscience 
and 
talents 
will 
permit 
in 
the 
work 
which 
the 
Lord 
is 
carry­ 
ing 
on 
and 
directing. 
Surely 
we 
do 
not 
know 
that 
if 
the 
Lord 
should 
give 
the 
entire 
management 
of 
his 
harvest 
work 
into 
our 
hands 
that 
we 
could 
do 
it 
better 
than 
he; 
surely, 
therefore, 
we 
should 
humble 
ourselves 
under 
the 
mighty 
hand 
of 
God, 
that 
he 
may 
exalt 
us 
in 
due 
time. 
Let 
us 
be 
assured 
that 
only 
those 
who 
do 
thus 
humble 
themselves, 
and 
realize 
the 
wisdom 
and 
grace 
of 
God, 
and 
fall 
in 
line 
therewith, 
will 
have 
any 
part 
in 
the 
kingdom 
work. 
The 
heady, 
the 
high-minded, 
the 
self-conscious, 
the 
contentious, 
the 
dissatisfied 
shall 
have 
neither 
the 
good 
of 
the 
present 
nor 
the 
honors 
of 
the 
future. 
n 
SHALL 
REOEIVE 
THE 
SEVERER 
TRIAL 
The 
Apostle 
James 
admonishes 
the 
brethren 
respecting 
the 
peculiar 
dangers 
which 
beset 
those 
ambitious 
to 
be 
teacllers, 
saying, 
"My 
brethren, 
be 
not 
many 
masters 
(teachers), 
know­ 
ing 
that 
we 
(teachers) 
shall 
receive 
the 
greater 
condemnation 
(judgment, 
or 
trial). 
For 
in 
many 
things 
we 
offend 
all"-we 
are 
all 
imperfect.-J 
ames 
3: 
1. 
While 
all 
recognize 
the 
truth 
of 
the 
Apostle's 
words, 
few 
seem 
to 
be 
in 
any 
great 
degree 
deterred 
by 
them. 
As 
a 
conse­ 
quence, 
we 
find 
many 
seeking 
the 
office 
of 
teacher 
in 
the 
church, 
and 
perceive 
also 
the 
truth 
of 
the 
A:postle's 
words 
that 
as 
teachers 
they 
are 
subject 
to 
severer 
trIals, 
and 
that 
the 
majority 
of 
those 
who 
appear 
to 
stumble 
and 
fall 
from 
the 
truth 
are 
of 
this 
class. 
We 
write 
thus 
not 
to 
suggest 
that 
teachers 
are 
unnecessary 
or 
contrary 
to 
the 
divine 
arrange­ 
ment, 
but 
to 
suggest 
that 
whoever 
enters 
upon 
the 
work 
of 
BE 
TRANSFORMED 
teaching 
should 
do 
so 
with 
a 
realization 
of 
the 
grave 
responsi- 
It 
would 
be 
of 
no 
avail 
for 
us 
to 
call 
attention 
to 
these 
bility 
which 
he 
assumes, 
and 
the 
temptations 
or 
trials 
which 
matters 
of 
divine 
writ, 
nor 
for 
the 
Apostle 
to 
have 
penned 
beset 
his 
pathway 
toward 
the 
heavenly 
city. 
these 
words 
of 
condemnation, 
if 
there 
were 
not 
a 
possibility 
St. 
Paul 
wrote, 
"He 
that 
seeketh 
the 
office 
of 
a 
bishop 
(of 
of 
change 
on 
the 
part 
of 
those 
who 
are 
well-doing 
and 
well- 
a 
shepherd, 
of 
an 
overseer) 
seeketh 
a 
good 
service," 
and 
so 
seeking, 
and 
also 
on 
the 
part 
of 
those 
who 
are 
evil-doing 
and 
we 
should 
recognize 
that 
whoever 
out 
of 
a 
pure 
heart 
seeks 
contentious. 
Such 
condemnations, 
on 
the 
contrary, 
are 
intend- 
to 
serve 
the 
Lord's 
cause 
as 
an 
under-shepherd 
of 
the 
sheep, 
ed 
to 
help 
us 
to 
establish 
our 
characters 
in 
the 
right 
direction. 
and 
as 
a 
co-laborer 
with 
the 
Redeemer, 
is 
engaging 
in 
a 
most 
Whoever, 
therefore, 
realizes 
while 
reading 
this 
article 
that 
he 
noble 
service. 
If 
he 
approach 
this 
service 
from 
this 
standpoint 
is 
going 
in 
the 
wrong 
direction, 
cultivating 
a 
contentious 
and 
of 
earnest 
desire 
to 
serve 
the 
flock, 
an 
earnest 
desire 
to 
be 
in 
fault-finding 
spirit, 
and 
a 
disposition 
to 
pull 
down 
the 
faith 
full 
accord 
with 
the 
Great 
Shepherd, 
he 
should 
not 
be 
ashamed 
and 
obedience, 
and 
spirit 
of 
love, 
in 
the 
body 
of 
Christ, 
will 
to 
rejoice 
that 
he 
has 
to 
this 
extent 
the 
Spirit 
of 
the 
Lord. 
do 
well 
to 
immediately 
resolve 
by 
the 
grace 
of 
God 
to 
take 
But 
if 
he 
find 
himself, 
in 
either 
great 
or 
small 
measure, 
a 
the 
opposite 
course. 
And 
whoever 
is 
seeking 
the 
glory, 
honor 
spirit 
of 
ambition, 
a 
spirit 
of 
pride, 
a 
spirit 
01 
boastfulness, 
and 
immortality 
of 
the 
heavenly 
calling 
along 
the 
right 
lines 
the 
desire 
to 
lord 
it 
over 
the 
brethren 
of 
the 
household 
of 
of 
patient 
perseverance 
in 
well 
doing, 
should 
be 
encouraged, 
faith, 
then 
let 
him 
fear. 
With 
trembling 
heart 
either 
let 
and 
made 
watchful, 
that 
he 
might 
persevere 
in 
the 
right 
way, 
him 
resign 
the 
service, 
or 
at 
the 
throne 
of 
grace 
rid 
hiDl8elf, 
and 
become 
more 
and 
more 
blessed, 
and 
more 
and 
more 
secure 
purge 
himself, 
of 
the 
evU 
ambitione 
of 
his 
heart, 
and 
be 
filled 
and 
entrenched, 
and 
fixed, 
in 
the 
character 
which 
God 
will 
with 
the 
Spirit 
of 
the 
Master. 
That 
holy 
Spirit 
is 
the 
spirit 
approve, 
and 
to 
which 
he 
will 
say, 
"Well 
done, 
good 
and 
faith- 
of 
meekness, 
gentleness, 
patience, 
longsuffering, 
brotherly 
ful 
servant; 
enter 
into 
the 
joys 
of 
thy 
Lord." 
kindness. 
love; 
to 
desire 
simply 
and 
only 
the 
glory 
of 
God 
To 
those 
who 
fiIfd 
themselves 
possessed 
of 
a 
cantankerous 
and 
the 
blessing 
of 
his 
people--the 
spirit 
that 
is 
ready 
to 
disposition, 
fault·finding, 
and 
nagging, 
destructive 
instead 
of 
sacrifice 
self 
at 
any 
moment 
for 
the 
peace 
of 
the 
body 
of 
constructive, 
quarrelsome 
instead 
of 
peaceable, 
we 
urge 
reform 
Christ, 
or 
the 
assistance 
of 
the 
flock. 
in 
gTeat 
haste. 
We 
remind 
them 
that 
we 
are 
nearing 
the 
end 
Some 
wonder 
why 
the 
Apostle 
should 
thus 
write 
of 
special 
of 
the 
church's 
condition 
of 
trial; 
that 
we 
are 
already 
in 
the 
dangers 
to 
those 
brethren 
who 
would 
attempt 
to 
teach 
in 
the 
testing 
time, 
and 
that 
many 
are 
falling 
because 
of 
not 
having 
church. 
We 
answer 
that 
we 
accept 
his 
words 
as 
those 
of 
[4502] 
(323-324) There are plenty of opportunities for sacrificing self in the interest of the Priesthood. Not only are some of the brethren in darkness, in ignorance and superstition, and need our assistance out into the glorious light of present truth, but, additionally, some of them have weaknesses and blemishes, and need our consoling sympathy and strengthening encouragements, or loving rebukes. To the extent of our faithfulness in these matters, we are self-sacrificers, pleasing and acceptable to our heavenly Father and our Redeemer. The Apostle explained to Timothy, an elder, that he should in meekness reprove those who opposed themselves, and not render evil for evil, nor railing for railing, nor accusation for accusation, but contrariwise by meekness and gentleness, patience and love, should show the brethren the more excellent way, and should develop ourselves in Christlikeness of character. It is by such “patient continuance in well doing,” by such patient development of Christlike character, that we may successfully seek the glory, honor and immortality which God has promised only to such. For, as the Apostle points out, God has predestinated that all who will be of the elect church, of the bride class, must be copies of his Son in character, in heart.—Rom. 8:29. Alas! that there seem to be so few well developed along these lines of Christ’s character-likeness, Alas' that so many seem to be cultivating the wrong spirit which they know God will not approve—the contentious spirit, the fault-finding disposition which, instead of building one another up in the most holy faith, is destructive of faith, destructive of peace, destructive of every good quality. Alas! that amongst those who are in the truth these contentious persons are to be found in considerable numbers, doing a destructive work, an injurious work, instead of a helpful work. Surely they must know that they are injuring and blemishing their characters and making themselves less and less fit for the kingdom, or for eternal life on any plane. Surely they must know that they are doing a destructive work in the body of Christ, which is the church. Surely they must know that they are sowing seeds of discord, and planting roots of bitterness, which are sure to bring forth an evil fruitage, hurtful to many. Surely they must know that God has expressed a special reprobation for tlose who thus do injury to the church.—Matt. 18:6; Luke 17:2. What will be the reward to these? Not glory, honor and immortality but indignation, wrath, tribulation, and anguish, says the Apostle. He does not say that this means an eternity of wrath, and anguish, nor do we. On the contrary, knowing that the extreme penalty of opposition to God is the “second death,” we must suppose that the tribulation and anguish will be more or less connected with the present life—either by their participation in the “great company,” and passing through the great time of trouble and there learning the lessons they neglected to learn previously, or, soured in disposition, robbed of the peace, and joy, and love, which they might have possessed as spirit-begotten ones, these will die the ‘“‘second death” as incorrigible, as having received the grace of God and the instructions of his Word in vain. Instead of developing character symbolized by the fruitful vine, they are developing the characteristics of the briar and the thorn, whose end is destruction. BE TRANSFORMED It would be of no avail for us to call attention to these matters of divine writ, nor for the Apostle to have penned these words of condemnation, if there were not a possibility of change on the part of those who are well-doing and wellseeking, and also on the part of those who are evil-doing and contentious. Such condemnations, on the contrary, are intended to help us to establish our characters in the right direction. Whoever, therefore, realizes while reading this article that he is going in the wrong direction, cultivating a contentious and fault-finding spirit, and a disposition to pull down the faith and obedience, and spirit of love, in the body of Christ, will do well to immediately resolve by the grace of God to take the opposite course. And whoever is seeking the glory, honor and immortality of the heavenly calling along the right lines of patient perseverance in well doing, should be encouraged, and made watchful, that he might persevere in the right way, and become more and more blessed, and more and more secure and entrenched, and fixed, in the character which God will approve, and to which he will say, “Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joys of thy Lord.” To those who find themselves possessed of a cantankerous disposition, fault-finding, and nagging, destructive instead of constructive, quarrelsome instead of peaceable, we urge reform in great haste. We remind them that we are nearing the end of the church’s condition of trial; that we are already in the testing time, and that many are falling because of not having THE WATCH TOWER Brooxziyrn, N. Y. developed proper characters. We urge them to take the matter at once to the Lord in prayer, and by his assisting grace to immediately begin to reverse all these wrong currents of their lives. They should hearken diligently to the Apostle’s words, and “seek peace and ensue it,” and so far as possible henceforth “live peaceably with all men,” and “let the peace of God rule in their hearts,’ and be thankful for blessings already received. In such a condition of heart they will have little disposition to find fault with the Lord or his providences in connection with his people and his work. They will “learn of him” instead of finding fault with everybody and everything which the Lord does not order to their pleasement. We urge all such to take note of the fact that the murmurers and complainers in typical Israel were not permitted to enter into Canaan’s blessings. (1 Cor. 10:10) We remind them of the Apostle’s words to the effect that murmurings against the Divine arrangements are really murmurings against the Lord himself. Let us do with our might what our hands find to do, without murmuring, without complaining, without fault-finding. (Phil. 2:14) Let us leave to God the management of his work, Let us humbly realize that if he would commit it all to our care we would be unable to manage it and would be obhged to take it back to him and to solicit his supervision of his own work. If the thought comes to us that we could manage better than the Lord; that we could guide the harvest work better than he has arranged it, let us flee that thought as a snare of the adversary by which he would entrap us. Instead of fault-finding and endeavoring to change the divine arrangements let us do our own parts as faithfully as we know how, uncomplainingly, co-operating to the extent that our conscience and talents will permit in the work which the Lord is carrying on and directing. Surely we do not know that if the Lord should give the entire management of his harvest work into our hands that we could do it better than he; surely, therefore, we should humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt us in due time. Let us be assured that only those who do thus humble themselves, and realize the wisdom and grace of God, and fall in line therewith, will have any part in the kingdom work. The heady, the high-minded, the self-conscious, the contentious, the dissatisfied shall have neither the good of the present nor the honors of the future. YE SHALL RECEIVE THE SEVERER TRIAL e Apostle James admonishes the brethren respecting: the peculiar dangers which beset those ambitious to be teachers, saying, “My brethren, be not many masters (teachers), knowing that we (teachers) shall receive the greater condemnation (judgment, or trial). For in many things we offend all’——we are all imperfect.—James 3:1. While all recognize the truth of the Apostle’s words, few seem to be in any great degree deterred by them. As a consequence, we find many seeking the office of teacher in the church, and perceive also the truth of the Apostle’s words that as teachers they are subject to severer trials, and that the majority of those who appear to stumble and fall from the truth are of this class. We write thus not to suggest that teachers are unnecessary or contrary to the divine arrangement, but to suggest that whoever enters upon the work of teaching should do so with a realization of the grave responsibility which he assumes, and the temptations or trials which beset his pathway toward the heavenly city. St. Paul wrote, “He that seeketh the office of a bishop (of a shepherd, of an overseer) seeketh a good service,” and so we should recognize that whoever out of a pure heart seeks to serve the Lord’s cause as an under-shepherd of the sheep, and as a co-laborer with the Redeemer, is engaging in a most noble service. If he approach this service from this standpoint of earnest, desire to serve the flock, an earnest desire to be in full accord with the Great Shepherd, he should not be ashamed to rejoice that he has to this extent the Spirit of the Lord. But if he find himself, in either great or smal] measure, a spirit of ambition, a spirit of pride, a spirit of boastfulness, the desire to lord it over the brethren of the household of faith, then let him fear. With trembling heart either let him resign the service, or at the throne of grace rid himself, purge himself, of the evil ambitione of his heart, and be filled with the Spirit of the Master. That holy Spirit is the spirit of meekness, gentleness, patience, longsuffering, brotherly kindness. love; to desire simply and only the glory of God and the blessing of his people—the spirit that is ready to sacrifice self at any moment for the peace of the body of Christ, or the assistance of the flock. Some wonder why the Apostle should thus write of special dangers to those brethren who would attempt to teach in the church. We answer that we accept his words as those of [4502]

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