3:17) The inspired proverb agrees with this in saying: “Happy is the man that has found wisdom.” Why? Because “its ways are ways of pleasantness, and all its roadways are peace.”—Prov. 3:13-17.

11. How does Paul state that peace is what unites the congregation, and so who do not deserve to be in the congregation?

¹¹ Yes, freedom from internal strife, dissension and disorder is what unites the Christian congregation of Jehovah’s witnesses. In witness thereof Paul writes: “But, besides all these things, clothe yourselves with love, for it is a perfect bond of union. Also let the peace of the Christ control in your hearts [the residence place of motive], for you were, in fact, called to it [to peace] in one body [not in two or more disunited bodies].” (Col. 3:14, 15) If we make it our continual pursuit, peace will serve as a uniting bond to those who have the spirit of God. Paul says so in these words: “Walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, with complete lowliness of mind and mildness, with long-suffering, putting up with one another in love, earnestly endeavoring to observe the oneness of the spirit in the uniting bond of peace. One body [under Christ] there is, and one spirit.” (Eph. 4:1-4) One who willfully, maliciously disturbs does not walk worthily of being in the Christian congregation of the God of peace.—Rom. 16:17, 18.

AN EFFECT OF THEOCRATIC ARRANGEMENT

12. (a) For the indulgence in what is the birth of God’s kingdom no reason? (b) To enjoy life and peace, what must we mind, and why?

¹² The evidence is that since 1914 we have been living under the kingdom of God, which was born in the heavens that year. This should be and has been a cause for great rejoicing among lovers of God and of life. This is no reason, however, for greedy, inconsiderate and materialistic eating and drinking, by which we could stumble others and tear them down spiritually. The enjoyment of the benefits of God’s long-awaited kingdom means things higher than sense-dulling excessive eating and drinking. “For,” says Paul, “the kingdom of God does not mean eating and drinking, but means righteousness and peace and joy with holy spirit. So, then, let us pursue the things making for peace and the things that are upbuilding to one another. Stop tearing down the work of God just for the sake of food.” (Rom. 14:17, 19, 20) The minding of our selfish flesh is no part of our Christian pursuit, but the cultivation of the fruitage of God’s spirit is. If we love life and good days under God’s kingdom, we will heed this warning: “The minding of the flesh means death, but the minding of the spirit means life and peace; because the minding of the flesh means enmity [lack of friendship] with God, for it is not under subjection to the law of God, nor, in fact, can it be. So those who are in harmony with the flesh cannot please God.” (Rom. 8:6-8) Hence, mind the spirit; be at peace with God.

13. What did the coming of God’s kingdom to power in 1914 mean for the congregation of its subjects, and when did this become true for them, in fulfillment of Isaiah 60:17?

¹³ Instead of loose gaiety, the coming of God’s kingdom to power in the heavens in 1914 means a stricter procedure on earth inside the congregation of the subjects of the Kingdom. In ancient days when there was no human king in Israel, what was right in his own eyes was what each Israelite was accustomed to do. But when God answered their request and gave them a human king, that personal loose freedom of action was changed, exactly as Jehovah God himself forewarned. (Judg. 21:25; 1 Sam. 8:9-18) This strictness became true with regard to Jehovah’s modern witnesses when they began to set up theocratic procedures and arrangements among themselves in 1919 when reorganizing themselves following the havoc-working first world war. This became particularly true from 1938 onward, after the Watchtower magazine published the two-part article entitled “Organization,” based on the Bible verse, Isaiah 60:17 (Ro): “Instead of bronze I will bring in gold; and instead of iron I will bring in silver; and instead of wood, bronze; and instead of stones, iron; and I will appoint the oversight of thee [God’s symbolic capital city or organization] to prosperity, and the setting of thy tasks to righteousness.”

14. How did the installing of the theocratic order result in improvement, and therefore what must all lovers of life loyally support and maintain?

¹⁴ As promised in this prophecy, the installing of the theocratic order of operation among Jehovah’s witnesses on earth fully from 1938 onward meant improvement. It did result in noticeable improvement. It made for great peace. It helped to maintain peace inside the organization. It standardized methods of operation and conduct throughout the earth in the 175 lands where Jehovah’s witnesses are now preaching the gladsome news of His kingdom, in fulfillment of Matthew 24:14. It removed dissimilarity, confusion, inequalities and disorder from the earth-encircling organization. It helped toward fulfilling God’s loving promise to his wifelike organization: “And all your sons will be persons taught by Jehovah, and the peace of your sons will be abundant.” (Isa. 54:13) Therefore in their sincere pursuit of peace all lovers of life will loyally support and maintain the theocratic setup of the organization.

15. How does this management apply also to meetings of the congregation, as outlined by Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:26, 29-33?

¹⁵ This management of the things of the organization theocratically or according to God’s rule applies also to the conducting of the meetings of the Christian congregation and the program for those attending such meetings. Paul, as a member of the theocratic governing body, spoke against disorderly meetings or meetings without good continuity, without a controlled program, where things may be said or done disconnectedly and without being explained or understood. He said: “Let all things take place for upbuilding. Further, let two or three prophets speak, and let the others discern the meaning. But if there is a revelation to another one while sitting there, let the first one keep silent. For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all be encouraged. And gifts of the spirit of the prophets are to be controlled by the prophets. For God is a God, not of disorder, but of peace.”—1 Cor. 14:26, 29-33.

16. In the pursuit of peace, what did David and Peter stress that we have to restrain, and how?

¹⁶ For the sake of the unity, harmony and restful calm of the congregation we must specially guard our tongues and lips. Did not the psalmist David, right after asking who it was that delighted in life and loved enough days to see what is good, say: “Safeguard your tongue against what is bad, and your lips against speaking deception”? (Ps. 34:13) Yes! And did not the apostle Peter quote those words of David right after he had advised his Christian brothers, saying: “Not paying back injury for injury or reviling for reviling, but, to the contrary, bestowing a blessing, because you were called to this course, so that you might inherit a blessing”? (1 Pet. 3:9) Yes! With the tongue and lips we can pay back injury for injury. With the tongue and lips we can revile the one reviling us. But with the tongue and lips we can, instead, bestow a blessing, even upon one doing us an injury or reviling us. The bestowing of a blessing has a better effect. It is a mild answer that turns away rage. (Prov. 15:1) It results in a spiritual benefit to at least the blesser. It saves him from becoming like the injurious speaker or reviler. It makes for peace inside the organization. Therefore the pursuit of peace unavoidably requires us to restrain our tongues from what is injurious and our lips from speaking deceitfully. We simply have to refrain from slander, backbiting, revilings.

17. What is the best safeguard against this, and why is the pursuit of peace not contrary in meaning to this?

¹⁷ The best safeguard for this is to teach and preach the precious truth about God’s kingdom, inside our meeting places and outside, publicly and from house to house. Do not be mistaken: Godly peace does not mean inactivity, careless ease, laziness. The God of peace has given his organized people, his witnesses on earth, a strenuous work to do. It is the work of bearing witness to Him and to his reigning Son Jesus Christ, in all the inhabited earth, to all the nations before these come to their calamitous end at Armageddon.

18. (a) As to this work to be performed, what vital fact do Jehovah’s witnesses from all extractions recognize? (b) Hence what command of Jesus do they obey, to the fulfillment of what prophecy of peace and brotherhood?

¹⁸ This work must be performed by his dedicated witnesses of all nationalities, tribes, peoples, colors and languages. They cannot unitedly perform this work while fighting and bickering among themselves because of external, naturally caused differences. They must co-operate peaceably. The harmonious carrying out of their God-given witness work earth-wide demands international, interracial, intertribal, intercongregational peace among themselves. Jehovah’s witnesses recognize this vital fact. So they obey the instruction of Jehovah’s Principal Witness, Jesus Christ: “Keep peace between one another.” (Mark 9:50) They harmonize their deeds and endeavors with the beautiful prophetic vision given in Isaiah 2:1-4 of this international peace and brotherhood in the united worship of Jehovah God. Hence their witness work prospers.—Jas. 3:18.

19. (a) For what warfare are they armed, and how? (b) In their house-to-house work for whom do they look, but whom do they leave?

¹⁹ Wherever they go with the Kingdom message they promote the abiding peace that is to adorn God’s new world of righteousness. They are armed only for a spiritual warfare, not a sanguinary war with flesh and blood. Consequently they equip themselves as the apostle Paul said to do: “with your feet shod with the equipment of the good news of peace.” (Eph. 6:11-15) In their house-to-house work they are looking for the friends of peace with God. Jesus Christ told them to do this, saying: “Wherever you enter into a house say first: ‘May this house have peace.’ And if a friend of peace is there, your peace will rest upon him. But if no such one is there, it will turn back to you.” (Luke 10:5, 6; Matt. 10:12, 13) If the householder proves to be an enemy of peace, they leave the house. They have no religious quarrel to pick with Jehovah’s foes.

20. Why, despite religious persecution, do they go on rejoicing, and what sure hope do they entertain as regards peace?

²⁰ Nevertheless, they encounter much religious persecution. In spite of it all they go on rejoicing. “Those counseling peace have rejoicing.” (Prov. 12:20) They know God’s promise that men who unjustly make tribulation for them will be destroyed at Armageddon. (2 Thess. 1:6-10) They are strengthened and comforted in the sure hope that their continual pursuit of peace will be rewarded with an endless measure of it after Armageddon in the new world promised by Jehovah God, the righteous Judge. “He will render to each one according to his works: everlasting life to those who are seeking glory and honor and incorruptibleness by endurance in work that is good; however, for those who are contentious and who disobey the truth but obey unrighteousness there will be wrath and anger, tribulation and distress, upon the soul of every man who works what is injurious, . . . but glory and honor and peace for everyone who works what is good.”—Rom. 2:6-10.

21. In answer to what inspired question do we each one want to identify ourselves, and accordingly what will we seek and pursue?

²¹ To the divinely inspired question, “Who is the man that is delighting in life, that is loving enough days to see what is good?” can we now each one answer, “I am”? If we can, then in Jehovah God’s way let us seek to find peace and pursue it.

“It’s Scriptures We Want”

“THIS is an experience I feel sure you will be happy to hear about; as Jesus said: ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.’

“Mrs. O————, after having learned the truth, found it no longer tolerable to leave her two children in the Catholic school, as they were obliged to go through all the Catholic ritual and teachings. Steps were taken through the Society’s legal department to register the girls in the English Protestant school. This was necessary because Mrs. O———— was separated from her husband, who was strongly opposed both to her new religion and to the transfer of his children to the Protestant school.

“Finally, the registering was completed without the consent of the father and all was thought to be fine. One week before school opened in September, Mr. O———— visited his wife and discussion ensued concerning the children, Mr. O———— again strongly opposing the change from the Catholic school and threatening to just simply pack up the girls and take them with him.

“He then urged his wife to make one last trip to see the Jesuit ‘fathers,’ who he felt sure could convince his wife that she was leading the entire family astray from the good religion. She consented to go with him, but she stated to her husband in advance that she was sure the Jesuits could not prove Scripturally that she did not now have the true religion from Jehovah’s witnesses. Also that what they would probably tell her would be something like this: ‘My dear little lady, don’t you know the Catholic Church has been established 2,000 years and that this man Russell was a very bad man?’ etc.

“They made an appointment to see the Jesuit ‘fathers’ (supposed to be the branch that specializes in Scriptures) and, after being ushered in, the husband explained to the priest that he would like the priest to explain with Scriptures why his wife should repent and be a good Catholic again. The priest’s first words were, ‘My dear little lady, don’t you know the Catholic Church has been established 2,000 years and that this man Russell. . . ?’ ‘No, No!’ broke in Mr. O————, ‘that’s not what we want at all. It’s Scriptures we want.’ ‘Well,’ said the priest, ‘that’s not my line; I specialized in theology. You want Father [so and so] upstairs.’

“They then went upstairs to see ‘Father so and so,’ and Mr. O———— explained to this second priest the situation. This second priest’s next words were the changing point in Mr. O————’s estimation of the Catholic Church, because the priest said: ‘My dear little lady, don’t you know the Catholic Church has been established 2,000 years?’ etc.

“Mr. O———— jumped up out of his chair, grabbed his wife’s hand and bounded out, calling after him, ‘I’m sorry, you just don’t have what we want.’

“From that point on Mr. O———— has been much more reasonable. He has accepted ‘Let God Be True’ and ‘The Truth Shall Make You Free’ in French as well as a copy of the Scriptures, which he is reading. He has also permitted his wife to let one of the children attend the Protestant school.

“Mrs. O———— was immersed at the Divine Will assembly in New York.

“In the meantime, because of Sister O————’s stand for the truth, her sister, Mrs. G————, is now studying and progressing rapidly.

“Also, Mr. G———— has decided that he will send his children to the English Protestant school. A study is being arranged for him.

“It is a real joy to us working here to see these French people throw off the yoke of the Catholic system and find real happiness and a hope in the New World society. We thank Jehovah for the increase he gives as these lost sheep are found.”—From a pioneer minister in Quebec.