WHAT THE BIBLE ADVISES

To the contrary, the apostle Peter himself advised Christians to be “always ready to make a defense before everyone that demands of you a reason for the hope in you.” The Bible advises a very diligent search be made to acquire knowledge: “If thou cry after discernment, and lift up thy voice for understanding; if thou seek her as silver, and search for her as for hid treasures: then shalt thou understand the fear of Jehovah, and find the knowledge of God. Then shalt thou understand righteousness and justice, and equity, yea, every good path. Discretion shall watch over thee; understanding shall keep thee: to deliver thee from the way of evil, from the men that speak perverse things.”—1 Pet. 3:15, NW; Prov. 2:3-5, 9, 11, 12, AS.

“The mind of the righteous ponders how to answer,” says the Bible. And if this pondering mind has searched out the answers and has the knowledge of God it will not be confounded by men who speak perverse things. Listening to questions will not be so “deeply disturbing” to it that its possessor will have to refuse to talk to the questioner. Jesus is the model for Christians, and he did not fear to discuss religion nor was he deeply disturbed by such discussions. He had the truth; his opponents did not. So they were the ones deeply disturbed and refusing to talk further: “And nobody was able to say a word in reply to him, nor did anyone dare from that day on to question him any further.”—Prov. 15:28, RS; Matt. 22:46, NW.

Does the Bible advise “an assumed air of empty-headed politeness” when reasoning with others? It does not advise assuming airs of any kind, for that is hypocritical. And it specifically condemned the empty-headed reasonings of some who claimed to know God but who used images in worship: “Although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God nor did they thank him, but they became empty-headed in their reasonings and their unintelligent heart became darkened. Although asserting they were wise, they became foolish and turned the glory of the incorruptible God into something like the image of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed creatures and creeping things.”—Rom. 1:21-23, NW.

Well, surely there can be no objection to the advice to offer the witness “a cup of tea and a piece of cake,” can there? Ordinarily that would be a commendable thing, a response to a generous impulse from the heart. But is that the spirit behind this advice? Is it not a planned and premeditated rebuke, a pose of saintliness toward an opposer, a part of the assumed air of empty politeness? There is a Bible objection to such sham hospitality: “Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainties: for as he thinketh within himself, so is he: eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up.”—Prov. 23:6-8, AS.

APPEAL TO FAIRNESS

When met by empty-headed politeness and a parroted request for more proof, the witness of Jehovah could give additional proof, read from the Catholic’s own Bible, and a spark of interest might be kindled. But if no such spark is struck the experienced witness will soon sense the insincerity in the requests for more proof and will do well to meet the problem with a frank appeal. The witness of Jehovah might say:

“Yes, I do have more proof, but I have a feeling you don’t really want it. You listen, but your mind seems closed. Many times persons have closed their minds to us, and usually it is because of what a friend or relative or clergyman has said about us. Sometimes they will tell what has been said, sometimes they just shut up. I don’t know whether that is the case here or not, but if it is, just let me say this. Be fair and let me hear the charges. The Bible says you should. God’s law said that if one man was accused by another they should be brought face to face and both sides heard by judges. It is at Deuteronomy 19:17, 18 (NW): ‘The two men who have the dispute must stand before Jehovah, before the priests and the judges who will be acting in those days. And the judges must search thoroughly.’ You must decide in this case, but before you do, search thoroughly. Hear my side. The Bible says it’s a shame if you don’t: ‘If one gives answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.’—Prov. 18:13, RS.

“It’s only fair. But more than that, it’s only Christian to do so. If I am wrong and you are right, as a Christian you should show me my error. The Bible says at Proverbs 3:27 (RS): ‘Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.’ If you have the truth, please don’t withhold it from me. If God has comforted you with the truth, it is so you can comfort others with it: ‘The God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those in any kind of tribulation through the comfort with which we ourselves are being comforted by God.’ (2 Cor. 1:3, 4, NW) If you have God’s truth and I don’t, comfort me with it. Isaiah 1:18 (AS) says: ‘Come now, and let us reason together, saith Jehovah: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.’ If my sins are as scarlet, reason with me and show me my errors so I can clean up and become like snow in God’s sight.

“The Bible says to do unto others as you would have others do unto you. If you didn’t have the truth and others did, you’d want them to tell it to you. If you do have it and I don’t, please tell me. Do unto me as you would be done by. I think I have the truth; I came here to tell it to you. If I don’t have it, I want it. Peter changed his religion to become a Christian. I’ll change mine to become one, if need be. Now I’ve been frank with you. Will you please, in a spirit of fairness and Christian love, be frank with me and tell me your objections so I can either answer them or be helped?”

It is believed that such a Scriptural appeal will reach the heart of sheeplike persons and will dissolve any ill-advised, hypocritically assumed airs of empty-headed politeness.

“The Showy Display of One’s Means of Life”

● To keep up with one’s neighbor in the material things of life is a popular practice. Observing this, Benjamin Franklin once said: “Of what use is this pride of appearance for which so much is risked, so much is suffered? It cannot promote health, or ease pain; it makes no increase of merit in the person, it creates envy, it hastens misfortune.” True it is. Misfortune and disaster will devour those who plunge into the snare of trying to keep up with their neighbors, just as surely as this demon-controlled world will pass out of existence at Armageddon: “Everything in the world—the desire of the flesh and the desire of the eyes and the showy display of one’s means of life—does not originate with the Father, but originates with the world. Furthermore, the world is passing away and so is its desire, but he that does the will of God remains forever.”—1 John 2:16, 17, New World Trans.