“faithful and discreet slave,” and showing due respect to those in authority. It means ‘proving ourselves what we really are.’ In substance this all means to “observe the commandment in a spotless and irreprehensible way.”—2 Cor. 13:5; 1 Tim. 6:14, NW.

21. How will keeping pace with the New World society benefit us?

²¹ If we do this, we shall mature by Jehovah’s undeserved kindness. We shall become aware of the bountiful blessing it is to keep in step with his organization. We shall thrill in theocratic expansion. We shall glow with the spirit at the increase of knowledge and understanding. We shall reap with joy what we have sown. Our conviction will be strong, our faith immovable, our appreciation deep, our joy will abound with the full assurance that we are in step with the New World society of God, whose guidance and direction not only will feed us well spiritually in the last days of this old world, but will keep us alive on into the New World of righteousness and for evermore.

Preaching to Fellow Workers

Ever since the Society held its 1955 series of international assemblies in Europe it has been receiving glowing letters of appreciation and reports of interesting experiences enjoyed by the writers because of their having attended these conventions. Among such is the following by a witness in Virginia, who was among the 795 passengers on the chartered ship the Arosa Kulm: “For sixteen years I have been employed at the D.P. Manufacturing Company and all my fellow employees know that I am one of Jehovah’s witnesses. Upon my telling of my plans to attend the European assemblies this summer, the company gave me a fine write-up in its monthly magazine. As a result, upon my return many asked questions about the trip. In fact, I had the opportunity to speak to six different shop groups, with a total of 220 attending, the largest group having 114. I was given thirty minutes for these talks and took advantage of the opportunity to witness to them concerning Jehovah’s name and kingdom. Three of the shops invited me to give the talk in place of their usual safety meeting and at the other three I took the place of their regular Bible classes, which were being conducted by Sunday School teachers during lunch hours.”

Ridicule Proves Nothing

Recently a reader of Our Sunday Visitor, “The Most Widely Circulated Catholic Weekly in the World,” wrote it relative to its slur on Jehovah’s witnesses. In reply the associate editor of the paper, “Rev.” R. Ginder, said: “But if you have had much to do with the Witnesses you must by now have realized that it’s not a religion—it’s a disease of the mind. I mean it. It’s a frenzy that seems to eat out certain sections of their intelligence. It makes them bullheaded, impervious to argument, and utterly incapable of handling the truth.” It was that way when Jesus was on the earth. Unable to answer his argument his opposers said: “He has a demon and is mad.” And Paul had the same experience even as Jesus foretold his followers would have. When Paul was making his defense before Governor Festus, in the presence of King Agrippa, Festus interrupted him to exclaim: “You are going mad, Paul! Great learning is driving you into madness!” It is therefore not surprising that the Christian witnesses of Jehovah today receive like reproach.—John 10:20; Acts 26:24, NW.