Return Evil for Evil to No One

1. Why are these “critical times hard to deal with”?

WHEN we are reading reports in the daily newspapers these days it is not difficult to reach the conclusion that men are lovers of themselves, lovers of money, self-assuming, haughty, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, disloyal, having no natural affection, not open to any agreement, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, without love of goodness, betrayers, headstrong, puffed up with pride, lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God, having a form of godly devotion but proving false to its power. There appear to be many wicked men going from bad to worse. In making such a realistic appraisal of world conditions you are not being negative in your thinking but, rather, are facing up to the facts of our day. You may be surprised to know that you are not the first to make such an appraisal. A man who lived nearly 2,000 years before this time was inspired by Jehovah God to write prophetically about the days in which we live. This man, the apostle Paul, called these the last days and said: “But know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here,” and then went on to describe the attitudes and actions of people of this day using the words mentioned before.—2 Tim. 3:1-5, 13.

2. What conditions in the days of Noah were similar to today’s, and what did Jesus have to say about them?

² Was there ever another time in history when the badness of man was so abundant in the earth? Yes, the history of man, Genesis 6:5, 11 and 12, reports: “Consequently Jehovah saw that the badness of man was abundant in the earth and every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only bad all the time. And the earth came to be ruined in the sight of the true God and the earth became filled with violence. So God saw the earth and, look! it was ruined, because all flesh had ruined its way on the earth.” It is comforting to note that the Almighty God Jehovah did not let all this badness go unnoticed but stepped in to take action and rid the earth of such evildoing. This and other statements in the Bible comfort those who hate evildoing because they prove that God takes action in such evil times. For us living now, these critical times are one of the evidences of the presence of Christ Jesus as a heavenly king ruling in the midst of his enemies. When on earth, Jesus prophesied, in Matthew 24:37-39: “For just as the days of Noah were, so the presence of the Son of man will be. For as they were in those days before the flood, eating and drinking, men marrying and women being given in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark; and they took no note until the flood came and swept them all away, so the presence of the Son of man will be.” In the same chapter (Mt 24 vs. 34) Jesus also said: “Truly I say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.” So since the end of this wicked system of things is near at hand, we can see why the apostle Paul called these the last days.—Ps. 110:1, 2.

3. How do world events now affect some people?

³ With the conditions mentioned by the apostle Paul prevailing and advancing from bad to worse, there are many evil influences abroad in the earth, with much suffering among the people. Many injustices are carried on and great injury or harm has been done to many people. In this troubled age of violence people react in different ways according to their feelings and their knowledge. There continue to be warring, strikes, protests, riots, demonstrations and efforts at retaliation for actual or supposed mistreatment. Nationalism causes many difficulties too. Some men band together for the purpose of violence. Others try to organize ways to reform this system of things. Each individual is faced with a decision as to how he will react and what course he will take.

4. What is the Christian reaction to present world conditions?

⁴ There is no doubt that the events we may hear about or even personally experience can cause indignation, but one who is really a Christian has to take into consideration the fact that true Christians are in the world but no part of it and are not like it is. (John 15:17–16:4) The Christian reaction is to give even more serious consideration to the Scriptures, watching the unfolding of world events in harmony with the Bible prophecies recorded centuries ago and at the same time not getting sidetracked from following the course of action and work that true Christians were destined to perform in this particular time. It helps us to keep our balance when we remember the example of Christ Jesus, who saw many wrongs and much evil in the system of things, even including the unjust beheading of the good man John the Baptist, but he did not try to reform the world in his day. He did the work God sent him to do. He kept on preaching the Kingdom message.—John 9:4.

5. What is the basis for loving one’s enemies?

⁵ Jesus practiced what he preached. One of the early teachings as recorded in the sermon on the mountain showed good reasons why sons of God will show love even for their enemies. “You heard that it was said, ‘You must love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ However, I say to you: Continue to love your enemies and to pray for those persecuting you; that you may prove yourselves sons of your Father who is in the heavens, since he makes his sun rise upon wicked people and good and makes it rain upon righteous people and unrighteous. For if you love those loving you, what reward do you have? Are not also the tax collectors doing the same thing? And if you greet your brothers only, what extraordinary thing are you doing? Are not also the people of the nations doing the same thing? You must accordingly be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt. 5:43-48) Obviously, doing this requires a great amount of mature thinking and self-control, plus being long-suffering, but it can be accomplished with the help of God’s spirit; in fact, as the apostle Paul stated in Galatians chapter 5, self-control and long-suffering are fruitage of the spirit of God.

6, 7. What are some examples of Jesus in his exercising of self-control under suffering?

⁶ Christ Jesus had the ability to think calmly and dominate his actions; even when he was personally abused and persecuted he did not retaliate. When he was going to be unjustly arrested and one of those with Jesus cut off the ear of a slave of the high priest, “then Jesus said to him: ‘Return your sword to its place, for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword. Or do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father to supply me at this moment more than twelve legions of angels?’” (Matt. 26:52, 53) Thus, although he had the opportunity to call for the aid of at least 60,000 angels, he continued to exercise self-control.

⁷ Later, after having experienced much humiliation and pain, when dying on the torture stake Jesus did not show hatred. “But Jesus was saying: ‘Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.’ Furthermore, to distribute his garments, they cast lots. And the people stood looking on. But the rulers were sneering, saying: ‘Others he saved; let him save himself, if this one is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.’ Even the soldiers made fun of him, coming close and offering him sour wine and saying: ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’ There was also an inscription over him: ‘This is the king of the Jews.’ But one of the hung evildoers began to say abusively to him: ‘You are the Christ, are you not? Save yourself and us.’ In reply the other rebuked him and said: ‘Do you not fear God at all, now that you are in the same judgment? And we, indeed, justly so, for we are receiving in full what we deserve for things we did; but this man did nothing out of the way.’ And he went on to say: ‘Jesus, remember me when you get into your kingdom.’ And he said to him: ‘Truly I tell you today, You will be with me in Paradise.’”—Luke 23:34-43.

8. What may followers of Jesus Christ expect?

⁸ In the same chapter where Paul wrote about the last days he said concerning Christians:. “In fact, all those desiring to live with godly devotion in association with Christ Jesus will also be persecuted.” (2 Tim. 3:12) So it is part of the life of a real Christian to have some personal experience with reproach and persecution or suffering, and that is why it is so important for us to take into account the example of good understanding and self-control of Jesus. Peter tells us: “In fact, to this course you were called, because even Christ suffered for you, leaving you a model for you to follow his steps closely. He committed no sin, nor was deception found in his mouth. When he was being reviled, he did not go reviling in return. When he was suffering, he did not go threatening, but kept on committing himself to the one who judges righteously.”—1 Pet. 2:21-23.

9. What is the counsel in Romans chapter 12 for those living in an evil time?

⁹ Those who followed Christ as God’s servants in the first century of our Common Era experienced considerable ill-treatment as a result of the activities of evildoers. The Roman Empire was notorious for its persecution of Christians. Christians living in those days became quite numerous, but, when they were persecuted, they did not follow the course that sinful men think is “natural,” namely, to retaliate. They had to overcome such reaction, making their minds over, as the often-persecuted apostle Paul explained to them: “Consequently I entreat you by the compassions of God, brothers, to present your bodies a sacrifice living, holy, acceptable to God, a sacred service with your power of reason. And quit being fashioned after this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Rejoice in the hope ahead. Endure under tribulation. Persevere in prayer. Keep on blessing those who persecute; be blessing and do not be cursing. Return evil for evil to no one. Provide fine things in the sight of all men. If possible, as far as it depends upon you, be peaceable with all men. Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but yield place to the wrath; for it is written: ‘Vengeance is mine; I will repay, says Jehovah.’ But, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by doing this you will heap fiery coals upon his head.’ Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good.”—Rom. 12:1, 2, 12, 14, 17-21.

10. How can we avoid committing the sin of retaliation?

¹⁰ Acquiring the same mental attitude Jesus had is the only way to avoid committing the serious sin of retaliation. It is a kind of armor that serves as a protection. Peter advised: “Therefore since Christ suffered in the flesh, you too arm yourselves with the same mental disposition; because the person that has suffered in the flesh has desisted from sins.”—1 Pet. 4:1.

11. (a) What happened to Dinah, and why did she get into this trouble? (b) What sin did Simeon and Levi commit in reacting to the abuse of their sister? (c) What resulted to Simeon an Levi because of this retaliation?

¹¹ As we study the Bible, we can learn reasons why this is good counsel for evil days. For example, there is the case of Dinah recorded at Genesis chapter 34. Very unwisely this daughter of Jacob set out to have association with those who were not worshipers of Jehovah God or keepers of God’s law. This led to her being sexually assaulted by a young man named Shechem. Thus evil was done to Dinah. Her father Jacob did not show the spirit of retaliation, but his sons became very angry and made a plan to take vengeance on the people of Shechem. Simeon and Levi killed all the men of the city where their sister Dinah had been violated and were joined by their brothers in plundering the city. Simeon and Levi in particular brought bloodguilt upon themselves, which displeased their father. Later, when Jacob was dying and the time came for him to give his sons blessings, Jacob said this about them: “Simeon and Levi are brothers. Instruments of violence are their slaughter weapons. Into their intimate group do not come, O my soul. With their congregation do not become united, O my disposition, because in their anger they killed men, and in their arbitrariness they hamstrung bulls. Cursed be their anger, because it is cruel, and their fury, because it acts harshly. Let me give them a portion in Jacob, but let me scatter them in Israel.” (Gen. 49:5-7) In the case of Simeon and Levi, returning evil for evil was a sin that brought no good.

12. (a) While Jacob did not speak well of Simeon and Levi, what blessing did Joseph receive from him? (b) What course of life did Joseph pursue to merit such a blessing?

¹² On the other hand, Joseph showed a different spirit and received a blessing from his father: “The blessings of your father will indeed be superior to the blessings of the eternal mountains, to the ornament of the indefinitely lasting hills. They will continue upon the head of Joseph, even upon the crown of the head of the one singled out from his brothers.” (Gen. 49:26) Prior thereto Joseph had been done great evil by his brothers who sold him into slavery that brought him down to Egypt. Because of Jehovah’s blessing, Joseph gained great prominence and power in the land of Egypt. When famine came, his brothers traveled to Egypt in search of food. Powerful Joseph did not show a spirit of vengeance against them. He did not return evil upon them, but showed love and a spirit of forgiveness. “Then he fell upon the neck of Benjamin his brother and gave way to weeping, and Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he proceeded to kiss all his brothers and to weep over them, and after that his brothers spoke with him.” (Gen. 45:14, 15) The results of this course of action were very good. The entire family were reunited and with the help of Joseph were able to survive the famine period.

13. (a) In ancient Israel, what class of people suffered much evil? (b) What experiences of David well illustrate this? (c) In the light of those experiences, what is the counsel of James?

¹³ Descendants of Jacob did not all take the same course when it came to evil. Some caused evil, but others suffered evil. Among those who suffered the most evil were the prophets of Jehovah who spoke in his name. Their suffering originated mainly from those of their own nation who had lost the spirit of Jehovah and yielded to the inclinations of the flesh. Highly honored among men of the nation was Saul, who became the first king. He had opportunities to do much good, but instead acted foolishly, did not keep God’s commandments and so did not enjoy the favor of Jehovah. His contemporary David proved to be blessed by Jehovah with victory over Goliath. So Saul was afraid of David, came to hate him and schemed to have David die. Personally, Saul tried to spear David, but David escaped. Time and again Saul endeavored to do evil to David. Nevertheless, David showed the spirit of God and would not let himself be provoked into returning evil upon Saul. David felt sorry for Saul and determined to leave the settling of matters in the hands of Jehovah God. (1 Sam. 18:15, 25; 19:10, 11; 24:4-15) David was but one of the prophets who suffered evil; there were many others who have also left a good example for us to copy. It is evident that those who were patient with evildoers are the ones who gained the favor of God. Let us do likewise: “Brothers, take as a pattern of the suffering of evil and the exercising of patience the prophets, who spoke in the name of Jehovah. Look! We pronounce happy those who have endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome Jehovah gave, that Jehovah is very tender in affection and merciful.”—Jas. 5:10, 11.

Conquering the Evil with the Good in Modern Times

1, 2. (a) What have been some of the evils suffered by Jehovah’s witnesses in this century? (b) Have these things drawn them away from doing their work? (c) Why have Jehovah’s witnesses gone into the courts? (d) What words of Jesus have comforted them?

JEHOVAH’S WITNESSES of the present day have an obligation to spread the good news of God’s kingdom and live in accord with God’s Word and law. Because of their sincere worship of Jehovah God, they have often been subjected to strong persecution. Some have been killed because of their faith. Others have been forced to endure many reproaches and suffer injustices. They have been lied about and denied their lawful rights. Their children have been expelled from schools. Their homes and properties have been destroyed. Illegal blood transfusions have been forced upon them. Some have had their business ruined or have lost their secular employment because of their faith. Theirs has been an outstanding history of being done evil. But through it all the New World society of Jehovah’s witnesses have not lost sight of their commission to preach the good news of the Kingdom. Christians do have the right to defend themselves legally in times of persecution and Jehovah’s witnesses have gone to great expense to defend and legally establish the good news.—Phil. 1:7.

² Jehovah’s witnesses are thankful for the good counsel and instruction of God’s Word, which has helped them to avoid having a spirit of vengeance, so that they have not gone into the courts of the land with the purpose of taking vengeance but have remembered the words of Jesus in Matthew 10:18-28: “Why, you will be haled before governors and kings for my sake, for a witness to them and the nations. However, when they deliver you up, do not become anxious about how or what you are to speak; for what you are to speak will be given you in that hour; for the ones speaking are not just you, but it is the spirit of your Father that speaks by you. Further, brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise up against parents and will have them put to death. And you will be objects of hatred by all people on account of my name; but he that has endured to the end is the one that will be saved. When they persecute you in one city, flee to another; for truly I say to you, You will by no means complete the circuit of the cities of Israel until the Son of man arrives. A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple to become as his teacher, and the slave as his master. If people have called the householder Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household so? Therefore do not fear them; for there is nothing covered over that will not become uncovered, and secret that will not become known. What I tell you in the darkness, say in the light; and what you hear whispered, preach from the house-tops. And do not become fearful of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; but rather be in fear of him that can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.” They appear before rulers and courts to give a witness even as Jesus himself did.

3. Give an example showing why it is practical not to assault persecutors.

³ While Christians rely entirely upon Jehovah God and are not fearful of those who kill the body, they never become so fleshly minded as to organize assaults against their persecutors. One of the outstanding persecutors of the early Christians was Saul the Pharisee of the tribe of Benjamin. While the Christians knew Saul as an enemy and persecutor, never did they try to kill him. If the Christians had struck the persecutor Saul and killed him in retaliation, it would indeed have been evil. As long as men are alive, even though they may be persecutors, the Christian can live in hope that the persecutor may someday learn the facts about the ones he is persecuting and, if he has a good heart, he may become like Saul, who, when he saw the light, took up pure worship as a Christian. We can always hope there will be many more like him who may turn around and worship the true God, Jehovah.—Acts chap. 9.

4. What is the proper viewpoint of God’s servants toward evildoers?

⁴ As for those who do not have the kind of sincere heart that Saul had and are really wicked men, incorrigible evildoers, even in the case of these men it is important for a Christian to keep the right position of faith, waiting on Jehovah, who says: “Do not show yourself heated up because of the evildoers. Do not be envious of those doing unrighteousness. For like grass they will speedily wither, and like green new grass they will fade away. Let anger alone and leave rage; do not show yourself heated up only to do evil. For evildoers themselves will be cut off, but those hoping in Jehovah are the ones that will possess the earth.” (Ps. 37:1, 2, 8, 9) There is no doubt that Jehovah will take action. Jehovah knows what is in the hearts of all men and will deal with the evildoers in his good way. We can be certain about it. Jesus encouraged us to think this way: “Certainly, then, shall not God cause justice to be done for his chosen ones who cry out to him day and night, even though he is long-suffering toward them? I tell you, He will cause justice to be done to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man arrives, will he really find the faith on the earth?”—Luke 18:7, 8.

ADVANTAGES OF SELF-CONTROL

5. Why is self-control desirable?

⁵ Jehovah’s being long-suffering with evildoers has been outstanding and is the example for us, his creatures on the earth. Jehovah knows man’s frame, that he is weak and imperfect, but he judges each one according to what is in his heart. If Jehovah can be long-suffering toward imperfect men, then this is something we must also try to learn. It is part of the fruitage of the spirit that goes along with self-control. There are definite advantages in our learning to put up with the offenses of others and to have self-control. Even Christians are imperfect men and have the possibility of committing an offense against others. A little self-examination may help to illustrate the point. Is there anyone who can say he has never lost his temper with someone in his own family? Do you recall such a time when you may have lost your temper? Think about it and ask yourself, What good did it do? Did any benefit result from losing control of myself? Did it result in shouting or argument? Did I take a mature point of view on what had occurred?

6. How should disciplining of misbehaving children be handled?

⁶ As a matter of fact, it is really bad for the health to have a loss of temper. Beyond one’s doing some personal damage to oneself and one’s health, if parents are accustomed to losing their tempers with their families, it can cause children to become very nervous, perhaps introverted, or even very seriously ill. This is not to say that parents always must excuse their children of any offense committed. That would be contrary to the Scriptures. Discipline is needed at times and it is Scripturally proper to use it. However, the wise parent will be calm as he disciplines his children. Some who have lost their temper have injured children and even killed children when administering discipline. But the undisciplined child will be a failure all his life and a disappointment to his parent as he grows older; so discipline is valuable and a spanking to small children is necessary at times. Let us take into consideration the advice of the Scriptures: “And you, fathers, do not be irritating your children, but go on bringing them up in the discipline and authoritative advice of Jehovah.” “Let all malicious bitterness and anger and wrath and screaming and abusive speech be taken away from you along with all injuriousness. But become kind to one another, tenderly compassionate, freely forgiving one another just as God also by Christ freely forgave you.”—Eph. 6:4; 4:31, 32.

7. What is the proper way to view offenses of others in the congregation?

⁷ What Paul said in Ephesians 4:31, 32 is also applicable in the congregation. As we draw nearer to the end of this evil system of things, we must learn to be very close together in the congregation, to love one another and be glad to see others. The Devil is angry and knows his time is short, so he is causing many difficulties for God’s people, but in the congregation there is a place to get love and comfort and to be built up to face the next day’s tests or problems. Peter put it this way: “But the end of all things has drawn close. Be sound in mind, therefore, and be vigilant with a view to prayers. Above all things, have intense love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Pet. 4:7, 8) Peter very maturely took into account the fact that there will be some sins or offenses, but this is where Christian love comes in. Some people make errors, others are inconsiderate, but as we grow to maturity and have Jehovah’s spirit, we certainly learn how to forgive one another. All the benefits of this forgiveness may go immediately to the offender or wrongdoer, but then it is also reflected back on us. By having rendered evil for evil or like for like instead of giving forgiveness, we can become offenders before our heavenly Father. That is why Jesus counseled: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; whereas if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”—Matt. 6:14, 15.

8. What is the right way to settle a problem with a brother or sister?

⁸ Even when it comes to some serious offense where someone in the congregation has done something that one may consider extremely offensive or evil, Jesus gave the formula for settling these problems when he said: “Moreover, if your brother commits a sin, go lay bare his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two more, in order that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. If he does not listen to them, speak to the congregation.” (Matt. 18:15-17) This is very good counsel for the Christian family as well as the congregation. In both congregation and family, talking over difficulties is the best way to overcome an offense. Retaliation or doing injury for injury can break up the unity of the congregation and it can also break up a family. So when an offense is committed, if it cannot be forgiven (which also means forgetting) then it is best to talk about it and have the matter settled and not let it take away joy, which should be found in every dedicated family and congregation. One can pray to Jehovah for courage and strength to follow his advice; then on this basis proceed toward a settlement of a problem, and the end result will be good.

OVERSEERS

9. Even if an overseer may come under much pressure in connection with his work, how is he counseled to deal with his problems?

⁹ Sometimes overseers in the congregation have to contend with a person who is erring in doctrine. There are those who very foolishly or ignorantly question the truth or disagree with the Bible and cause some real problems in the congregation. But here again Jehovah’s direction would be to exercise self-control and handle matters calmly. There is no need to cause a battle. No good would be accomplished by it. Under inspiration of God’s spirit, Paul counseled Timothy: “Further, turn down foolish and ignorant questionings, knowing they produce fights. But a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be gentle toward all, qualified to teach, keeping himself restrained under evil, instructing with mildness those not favorably disposed; as perhaps God may give them repentance leading to an accurate knowledge of truth, and they may come back to their proper senses out from the snare of the Devil, seeing that they have been caught alive by him for the will of that one.” (2 Tim. 2:23-26) By following this counsel the overseer shows his Christian maturity.

10. How is Paul an example in dealing with those causing injury?

¹⁰ Even in the case of those who may go so far as to lose their faith and try to cause injury it is necessary to be restrained and mild. The apostle Paul had experience with such individuals and the evidence is that he dealt with the matter calmly, as he says in 1 Timothy 1:19, 20 and 2 Timothy 4:14: “Holding faith and a good conscience, which some have thrust aside and have experienced shipwreck concerning their faith. Hymenaeus and Alexander belong to these, and I have handed them over to Satan that they may be taught by discipline not to blaspheme.” “Alexander the coppersmith did me many injuries—Jehovah will repay him according to his deeds.” So Paul discharged his duties as overseer correctly without personally injuring the evildoer.

11. If an overseer does not receive support in what he is doing, how should he react toward his brothers?

¹¹ Sometimes an overseer does not receive the support he might expect from others in the congregation. This can put quite a test on his self-control and spirit of long-suffering. Here again Paul is an example. When Paul was suffering the evil of persecution, other dedicated ones failed to give him any help or support. Did he then wish evil for them? Not at all, but again he demonstrated Christian maturity and gained his comfort and help from a heavenly source. About this experience he says: “In my first defense no one came to my side, but they all proceeded to forsake me—may it not be put to their account—but the Lord stood near me and infused power into me, that through me the preaching might be fully accomplished and all the nations might hear it; and I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.” (2 Tim. 4:16, 17) He showed a spirit of forgiveness and did not want this thing to be on their account before Jehovah.

12. What spirit should the overseer continue to cultivate in the congregation?

¹² Not only must the overseer have this spirit of calm, mature thinking and nonretaliation, but he must also try to show others in the congregation how to so conduct themselves. The cooperation of the congregation in all spiritual things is very much appreciated by the overseer. Paul as an overseer encouraged the right spirit, saying: “Now we request you, brothers, to have regard for those who are working hard among you and presiding over you in the Lord and admonishing you; and to give them more than extraordinary consideration in love because of their work. Be peaceable with one another. On the other hand, we exhort you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, speak consolingly to the depressed souls, support the weak, be long-suffering toward all. See that no one renders injury for injury to anyone else, but always pursue what is good toward one another and to all others.”—1 Thess. 5:12-15.

13. How is the fruitage of the spirit beneficial to all in a congregation?

¹³ If the overseers and all in the congregation show the fruitage of the spirit, the congregation will be strong, united and at peace. Note the things Paul says are the fruitage of the spirit: “On the other hand, the fruitage of the spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faith, mildness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. Moreover, those who belong to Christ Jesus impaled the flesh together with its passions and desires. If we are living by spirit, let us go on walking orderly also by spirit.” (Gal. 5:22-25) All of these things are for the good of the Christian and benefit those around him. An orderly congregation is a blessing to all.

14. (a) How are works of the flesh injurious to others? (b) How are such practices dealt with if found among those in a congregation?

¹⁴ In contrast, every one of the works of the flesh results in injury to one’s self and others and so should be avoided. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, and they are fornication, uncleanness, loose conduct, idolatry, practice of spiritism, hatreds, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, contentions, divisions, sects, envies, drunken bouts, revelries, and things like these. As to these things I am forewarning you, the same way as I did forewarn you, that those who practice such things will not inherit God’s kingdom.” (Gal. 5:19-21) For anyone to introduce any of these evil things into the ranks of the congregation would be an offense not only against the congregation but also against Jehovah. Then the congregation would have to step in to administer discipline, not in a spirit of vengeance or paying back evil for evil, but, rather, carrying out God’s justice and preserving the righteousness and cleanness of the congregation. And, indeed, if one does have self-control, one will not practice these things.

THE RIGHT VIEWPOINT

15. How must Christians view their persecutors and the persecution?

¹⁵ It may seem very difficult to learn this self-control about which the Scriptures tell us, but it can be done and has been done by God’s servants for many centuries. (Jas. 5:10, 11) None of us like to see anyone practice evil of any kind. In a way we feel sorry for the multitude of people who are practicing evil throughout the world in these “last days.” They are really to be pitied. No doubt many who abuse God’s people and do evil to them do so because of wrong information. Some have had bad education or very wrong training. Some are only following the inclinations of the flesh without any thought to whether something is good or bad, right or wrong. Jesus said about the persecutors: “Men will expel you from the synagogue. In fact, the hour is coming when everyone that kills you will imagine he has rendered a sacred service to God. But they will do these things because they have not come to know either the Father or me.” (John 16:2, 3) By this we can see how Jesus looked upon the persecutors. They lacked knowledge of the Father and Christ, and it was on that basis that they would become killers. In these circumstances it is always wise for a Christian to pray to Jehovah and ask for help and guidance and for God’s spirit to be with him. This is what early Christians did when persecuted. (Acts 4:24-31) And because they understood the issues, they were able to endure evil and still rejoice without being sidetracked from their commission. The persecutors “summoned the apostles, flogged them, and ordered them to stop speaking upon the basis of Jesus’ name, and let them go. These, therefore, went their way from before the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy to be dishonored in behalf of his name. And every day in the temple and from house to house they continued without letup teaching and declaring the good news about the Christ, Jesus.”—Acts 5:40-42.

16. Explain the use of right speech under difficulties.

¹⁶ To retaliate in some way or engage In abusive speech can complicate one’s problems and bring hurt to one sometimes. So it is good to remember the counsel at Proverbs 15:1: “An answer, when mild, turns away rage, but a word causing pain makes anger to come up.” This will be true whether one is dealing with persecution or problems in the family or congregation. Feuding benefits no one; whole families have been wiped out sometimes because of feuding, fighting and the spirit of retaliation. There are others who have fallen into a spirit of not wanting to speak to each other. But failure to communicate also works for disunity in family and congregation. Remember what happened at the Tower of Babel? As soon as the people could not communicate, everything they were trying to do came to a stop. So we can learn from this. It is beneficial to communicate when we are trying to do something together and deal with each other in a spirit of mildness.—Gen. 11:7, 8; Mal. 3:16.

17, 18. How may the truth and Christian patience affect our enemies?

¹⁷ Let God’s Word and spirit be our guide. As we go through life, we must keep in mind that the truth can change persecutors into worshipers of God, criminals can become law-abiding, fighters can become peaceable, but first the truth must penetrate into their minds and hearts. Always be ready to do good to all. This can result in many blessings, in harmony with Proverbs 25:21, 22. The 1967 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses presented this good illustration:

“By showing hospitality Jehovah’s witnesses sometimes have the opportunity of helping persons to come to a knowledge of the truth. (Heb. 13:2) The following example is proof of this: Returning to her home after conducting a home Bible study, a sister met the mother of a young woman with whom she conducted a study. Seeing that this woman was pale and trembling, and thinking that she was ill, the sister invited her into her home and showed her as much kindness as possible, even though this woman was opposed to the truth.

“Suddenly this lady burst into tears and said to the sister: ‘Why do you treat me like this? . . . If only you knew . . . ’ The sister replied that as one of Jehovah’s witnesses she was trying to show love to her neighbor, and believing her to be sick, she was trying to give her some care. Then this woman cried out: ‘I am not sick. I came here to kill you because you have stolen the love of my daughter who prefers God.’ The sister explained to this woman that the Bible exhorts children to honor their parents and, rather than separate mother and daughter, the Bible only draws them nearer to each other. After a moment of reflection, the woman replied: ‘You deprive me of my daughter’s presence one afternoon each week, because you go to see her.’ The sister then suggested that this lady attend the study, made an appointment for the following week and then took her home.

“The sister had some trouble at the beginning, but she did get some results. This woman is now a Witness and so is her husband. Being elderly, this sister cannot move around as she would like, but she makes herself useful taking care of her daughter’s children, thus allowing her daughter often to take up the vacation pioneer service. And what is more, her love of the truth has enabled her to help one of her neighbors who has also become a Kingdom publisher.”

¹⁸ Had the sister failed to do good even though the woman in the case was opposed to the truth she would not have been in harmony with the counsel of Jesus in Matthew chapter 5. But by her not returning evil, but showing love to even an enemy, she was blessed with good results. There are good reasons why Jehovah wants us to prove that we are his children by loving our enemies.

19. How do we show that we have not been conquered by the evil of these “last days”?

¹⁹ Surrounded though Christians may be with all sorts of evil in these closing days of Satan’s rule over this system of things, let us keep conquering the evil with the good. Let us not be sidetracked by evil from doing our assigned benevolent work as Christians, telling about the good news of God’s kingdom. Think about Paul’s words: “Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good.” According to this, the only way one would be conquered by the evil is if one lets oneself be so conquered. So it is something that we can control with the help of Jehovah, and we should continue praying for his help. Therefore, do not be conquered by evil. Return evil for evil to no one.—Rom. 12:17-21.

Who Is Really Poor?

◆ That materialism had not warped the thinking of the early post-apostolic Christians can be seen from what one of them wrote: “That many of us are called poor, this is not our disgrace, but our glory; for as our mind is relaxed [weakened] by luxury, so it is strengthened by frugality. Yet who can be poor if he does not want, if he does not crave for the possessions of others, if he is rich towards God? He rather is poor, who, although he has much, desires more.”—The Octavius of Minucius Felix, chap. 36, The Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol. 4, p. 195.