ANCHORED BY HOPE, IMPELLED BY LOVE

Weathering the "Sect Scare" Storm

In recent years, there have been several horrendous cases of mass suicides, murders,  and terrorist attacks involving esoteric sects.  Understandably, many individuals, including sincere political leaders, have shown concern about protecting innocent people, particularly minors, from such dangerous sects.  "The god of this system of things,"  doubtless being behind these  heinous crimes, has thus created what some call a sect scare, and he is using this against Jehovah's people.  (2 Corinthians 4:4; Revelation 12:12) Some have exploited this situation to arouse opposition to our work.  In certain countries, they have mounted  a campaign aimed ostensibly at protecting  people from "dangerous sects" but erroneously naming Jehovah's Witnesses and thus arousing us by innuendo.  This has made  house-to-house witnessing difficult in some European countries and has caused some people who were studying the Bible with us to stop their study.  In turn, this has had a negative effect on some of our brothers.

Far from discouraging us, however, opposition should strengthen our conviction that we are practicing true Christianity.  (Matthew 5:11, 12)  The early Christians were accused of being a seditious sect, and they were "spoken against" everywhere.  (Acts 24:5; 28:22) But the apostle Peter reassured his fellow believers, writing:  "Beloved ones, do not be puzzled at the burning among you, which is  happening to you for a trial, as though a very strange thing were befalling you.  On the contrary, go on rejoicing forasmuch as you are sharers in the sufferings of Christ, that you may rejoice and be overjoyed, also during the revelation of his glory."  (1 Peter 4:12, 13)  Similarly, a member  of the first-century governing body wrote:   "Consider it all joy, by brothers, when you meet with various  trials, knowing as you do that this tested quality of your faith works out endurance.  But let endurance have its work complete, that you
 may be  complete and sound in all respects, not lacking in anything."  (James 1:2-4)  Just as  gale-force winds test the seaworthiness of a vessel, storms of opposition will reveal any weaknesses  in our ship of faith.

Next time: Tribulation Produces Endurance

Watchtower, 2000