CHRISTMAS IN THE ORIENT

The Role of Gift-Giving

Gift-giving is one custom that has never faded away. For a long time, Koreans have found much joy in giving and receiving gifts. This was one reason for the popularizing of the Christmas celebration in Korea.

After World War II, for the U.S. soldiers stationed in Korea who wanted to strengthen their ties with the people, churches were places to meet and to distribute gifts and relief aid. Especially on Christmas Day did this occur. Many children visited churches out of curiosity, and there they had their first exposure to gifts of chocolate. As you can understand, many of them then looked forward to the next Christmas.

For such children, Santa Claus was an American soldier in a red stocking cap. Proverbs 19:6 says: "Everybody is a companion to the man making gifts." Yes, gift-giving proved to be very effective. But as you can conclude from that verse, such gifts do not guarantee a lasting friendship. Even in Korea, many are those whose experiences with the church amounted to nothing more than a taste of chocolate in their younger years. Christmas, though, was not forgotten. Along with Korea's rapid economic growth, commercialism grew, and Christmas gift-giving was a simple means for boasting consumer spending. Businesses exploited Christmas to increase profits.

That provides you with insight into Christmas in the Orient today. Aiming at the Christmas shopping spree, new products are developed. Plans for advertisements begin in midsummer. Sales figures peak at year-end, supported by all the purchasing of Christmas gifts, cards and musical recordings. Why, advertisement would make the average youth feel miserable if he or she stayed at home and did not get any presents on Christmas Eve!

As Christmas Day draws near, stores and shopping malls in Seoul get crowded with people who are there to buy gifts, and the story is the same in other Oriental cities. There are traffic jams, Hotels, business districts, restaurants and nightclubs are flooded with customers. Sounds of revelry-loud singing-can be heard. On Christmas Eve, drunken men and women are seen making their way through streets that are littered with trash.

So it is, Christmas in the Orient is no longer a holiday led by professed Christians. Obviously, in Korea as elsewhere, commercialism has taken the lead in making the most of this holiday of Christendom. . Is the commercialism, then, solely to blame for a Christmas that has become so out of line with the spirit of Christ? True Christians need to probe deeper into the serious issues involved.

Next time: The Origin of Christmas

Watchtower, 1999

CHRISTMAS IN THE ORIENT

CHRISTMAS Why Even in the Orient?

An old Oriental belief is reminiscent of the Santa Claus of Christmas. That is the Korean belief in one named Chowangshin, and something similar can be found among some Chinese and Japanese.

Chowangshin was considered a god in charge of the kitchen, a god of fire who was related to the ancient Korean worship of fire. (In olden times, Koreans transported live charcoals carefully, making sure that these were never extinguished.) This god was believed to keep watch over the conduct of the family members for a year, after which he ascended to heaven through the kitchen stove and chimney.

Supposedly, Chowangshin reported to the king of heaven on the 23rd of the lunar month of December. He was expected to come back at the end of the year through the chimney and the stove, bringing rewards and penalties in accord with each one's conduct. On the day of his return, the members if the family were to light candles in the kitchen and elsewhere in the house. Portraits of that kitchen god bear another similarity to Santa Claus-he was depicted in red! It used to be a custom for the daughter-in-law to make a pair of traditional Korean socks and on the winter solstice give them to her mother-in-law . That was meant to symbolize her wish that the mother-in-law would have a long life, since the days get longer after that date.

Do you not see some similarities between the foregoing points and Christmas? They share stories and customs: the chimney, candles, gift-giving, socks, an old man in red clothing, and the date. Still, such similarities alone do not account for the easy acceptance of Christmas in Korea. The belief in Chowangshin had almost faded away by the time Christmas was first introduced to Korea. In fact, most Koreans today do not know that such a belief ever existed.

Nonetheless, this illustrates how customs related to the winter solstice and the end of the year spread all over the world through different paths. In the fourth century C.E., the prevailing church in the Roman Empire changed the name of the Saturnalia, the pagan Roman festival of the birth of the son-god, and made this par of Christmas. The Christmas celebration amounted to a revival of local customs with a different name tag. How was that possible?

Next time: The Role of Gift -Giving

Watchtower, 1999

CHRISTMAS IN THE ORIENT

SOME TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO, a prominent Korean scholar visited Peking, China. Starting at a painting on the ceiling of a cathedral, he saw a scene of Mary with the child Jesus in her arms. He said of this startling painting: "A lady held a sickly-looking child, about five or six years old, on her lap. She seemed to have little strength in her neck, as if she couldn't bear to watch her son for pity. And far behind them there were a lot of ghosts and babies with wings flying around. As I stared at them above me, it looked as if they would drop down on me at any moment. Startled, I put my hand out to take them."

THAT occurred long after the Reformation began in Europe, long after the dark era of the Middle Ages. But to most Orientals, Christianity, was as unfamiliar as the painting itself. How that situation has changed! Every Christmas season, scenes of the baby Jesus are featured . The Orient has become used to such scenes , and many streets there now resemble those in Europe.

On the evening of November 25, 1998, a month prior to Christmas, the Champs Elysees in Paris is brightly lit by over 100,000 bulbs in the 300 trees lining that famous avenue. Comparably, on the downtown street in Seoul, Korea, a giant Christmas tree is featured by a major department store and begins to brighten the night in that capital city. Soon its trees are adorned with Christmas decorations.

Television, radio and newpapers present Christmas related programs day after day. Stirred by the Christmas mood, the whole country becomes occupied with welcoming the end of the year. The churches in Seoul, the number of which astonishes may visitors, get decorated in a hurry. Thus, Korea and other countries in the Orient are engulfed by the Christmas spirit about the time the United States is involved in its Thanksgiving Day celebration in late November.

Most countries of the Orient are not considered part of the Christendom. For instance, only 26.3 percent of the population of Korea professes to be Christian. In Hong Kong it is 7.9 percent, in Taiwan 7.4 percent, and in Japan only 1.2 percent. Clearly most Oriental do not practice Christianity, but they seem to have not objection in celebrating Christmas. In fact, they often seem to be more enthusiastic about than their Western counterparts are. Hong Kong, for instance, is well-known for its flamboyant Christmas celebration, even though most of its inhabitants are either Buddhists or Taoists. Even in China, where only0.1 percent professes to be Christian, Christmas is very rapidly gaining in popularity.

Why is Christmas celebrated so widely in the Orient? Why do people who do not accept Jesus as the Messiah join in celebrating Christmas, which most professing Christians view as his birthday? Should true Christians imitate their view of Christmas? We shall find the answers as we consider how Christmas become popularized in Korea, an age-old country of the Orient.

Next time: CHRISTMAS Why Even in the Orient?

Watchtower, 1999

A MILESTONE FOR LOVERS OF GOD'S WORD

Conclusion with Reaching Non-English Readers

The United Bible Societies reports that of the world's 6,500 languages, portions of the Bible are available in only 2,212. Hence, some 100 translators are working to produce the New World Translation of the Hebrew and Greek Scriptures in 11 and 8 languages respectively. God's will is "that all sorts of men should be saved and come to an accurate knowledge of truth." (1 Timothy 2:4) The New World Translation will not doubt continue to play a major role in this regard.

We therefore rejoice that this translation has passed a milestone of 100 million copies, and we pray that many more millions will be produced in the future. We encourage you to examine for yourself. You will enjoy numerous special features: clear type, page headings, an index that can help you to locate familiar verses, detailed maps and fascinating appendix material. More important, you can read the this Bible with confidence that it accurately transmits the very sayings of God in your language.

Next time: Christmas in the Orient

Watchtower, 1999

A MILESTONE FOR LOVERS OF GOD'S WORD

Reaching Non-English Readers

Between 1963 and 1989, the New World Translation became available, in whole or in part, in ten additional languages. However, the work of translation was laborious, with some projects lasting 20 years or more. Then in 1989 the Translation Services Department was established at the world headquarters of Jehovah's Witnesses. Under the direction of the Writing Committee of the Governing Body, this department set out to speed up Bible translation. A method of translation was developed that combined Biblical word study with computer technology. How does this system work

Once the Writing Committee has approved the translation of the Bible into a new language, it appoints a group of dedicated Christians to serve as a translating team. Teams can produce more balanced translations than can an individual working alone. (Compare Proverbs 11:14) Generally, each team member has had experience in translating the Society's publication. The team then receives thorough training in the principles of Bible translation and in the use of specially developed computer programs. A computer does not do actual translation work, but it can give a team access to important information and help them to keep track of their decisions.

A Bible translation project has two stages. During the first stage, the translators are given a list of words and expressions used in the English New World Translation. Related English terms, such as "atone," "atonement," and "propitiation," are grouped together, alerting the translators to subtle shades of meaning. They compile a list of vernacular equivalents. At times, though, a translator may have difficulty rendering a verse. The computer research system provides the translator with information on Greek and Hebrew terms and gives access to Watchtower publications.

When the project moves into it second stage, the selected vernacular terms are automatically inserted into the Bible text. This builds considerable accuracy and consistency into the translation. However, the text resulting from this "search and replace" operation is hardly readable. Considerable work must be done to edit and rephrase Bible verses so that they read smoothly.

This translation system has proved to be remarkably effective. One group was able to translate the entire Hebrew Scriptures in just two years. Compare this to a group that worked on a related language without computer support. It took them 16 years. to date, the Christian Greek Scriptures have been printed in 18 additional languages since 1989. The New World Translation is now available,in whole or in part, in 34 languages. Thus over 80 percent of Jehovah's Witnesses have at least the Christian Greek Scriptures available in their mother tongue.

Next time: Continue with Reaching Non-English Readers

Watchtower, 1999

A MILESTONE FOR LOVERS OF GOD'S WORD

Restoring God's Name

An outstanding feature of the New World Translation involved the restoration of God's name, Jehovah. In ancient copies of the Hebrew Bible, the divine name is represented by four consonants that may be transliterated as YHWH or JHVH. This distinctive name appears 7,000 times in the so-called Old Testament alone. (Exodus 3:15; Psalm 83:18) Clearly, our Creator intended his worshipers both to know and to use that name.

However, superstitious fears caused the Jewish people to cease using the divine name. Following the death of Jesus' apostles, copyists of the Greek Scriptures began replacing God's personal name with the Greek words Ky'-ri-os (Lord) or The-os' (God). Sad to say, modern translators have perpetuated this God-dishonoring tradition, eliminating God's name from most Bibles and even concealing that God has a name. For example, at John 17:6 are Jesus' words: "I have made your name manifest." Today's English Version, however, renders this: "I have made you known.

Some scholars defend the elimination of the divine name because its exact pronunciation is unknown. However, such familiar Bible names as Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Jesus are routinely rendered in ways that bear little resemblance to their original Hebrew pronunciation. Since the form Jehovah is a legitimate way of rendering the divine name-and one familiar to many people-objections to using it ring hollow.

The New World Bible Translation Committee took the bold step of using the name Jehovah in both the Hebrew and Greek portions of Scripture. They had a precedent for this in early missionary translations for people in Central America, the South Pacific, and the Orient. Such use of God's name is not merely of academic interest, however. Knowing God's name is critical to coming to know him as a person. (Exodus 34:6, 7) The New World Translation has encouraged millions of readers to use his name!

Next time: Reaching Non-English Readers

Watchtower,1999

A MILESTONE FOR LOVERS OF GOD'S WORD

Unique Features

Millions of readers have done just that and have discovered the New World Translation to be not only readable but scrupulously accurate. Its translators worked from the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek languages, using the best texts available. Unusual care was also exercised to render the ancient text as literally as possible but in language that would readily be understood. Accordingly, some scholars praised this translation for its integrity and accuracy. For example, the Andover Newton Quarterly of January 1963 said: The translation of the New Testament is evidence of the presence in the movement of scholars qualified to deal intelligently with the many problems of Biblical translation.

The translators opened up a new world of Biblical understanding. Bible texts that had previously been only dimly understood became dramatically clear. For example, the perplexing text at Matthew 5:3, "blessed are the poor in spirit"(King James Version) was rendered in a way that made sense: "Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need." The New World Translation is also quite consistent and uniform in its rendering of key terms. The Greek word psy-khe', for example, was translated "soul" in each of its occurrences. As a result, readers can quickly discern that contrary to religious theories, the soul is not immortal! -Matthew 2:20; Mark 3:4; Luke 6:9; 17:33.

Next time: Restoring God's Name

Watchtower, 1999

A MILESTONE FOR LOVERS OF GOD'S WORD

THIS feat is particularly remarkable considering that upon its release, this translation was subjected to severe criticism. Yet, it has not only survive but thrived, making its way into millions of homes-and hearts-all over the world! What is the origin of this unique translation? Who is behind it? And how might you benefit from using it?

Why a New Translation?

For over a hundred years, the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the legal agency representing Jehovah's Witnesses, has distributed Bibles. Why, though, did Jehovah's Witnesses see the need to produce another version of God's Word? The book So Many Version? By Sakae Kubo and Walter Specht, observes: "No translation of the Bible can ever be considered final. Translation must keep pace with the growth in biblical scholarship and the changes in language."

This century has seen considerable growth in the understanding of Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic-the language in which the Bible was originally penned. Also, Bible manuscripts have been discovered that are older and more accurate than those used by previous generation of Bible translators God's Word can thus be rendered more accurately today than ever before! It was for good reason, then, that the New World Bible Translation Committee was formed to undertake the translation of the Bible into modern-day languages.

In 1950 the English-language version of the New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures was published. The title itself was a bold departure from tradition, rejecting the designation of the Bible as made up of "Old" and "New" testaments. During the next decade, portions of the Hebrew Scriptures were published in installments. In 1961 the complete Bible in English was released in one volume.

Just who translated this remarkable Bible? The Watchtower of September 15, 1950, said: "The men who compose the translation committee have indicated their desire . . . to remain anonymous, and specifically do not want their names to be published while they are in life or after death. The purpose of the translation is to exalt the name of the living, true God." Some critics charged that the work should be summarily dismissed as the product of amateurs, but not all took such an unreasonable stance. Writes Alan S. Duthie: "If we know who the translators or the publishers of a particular Bible translation are, does it help us to decide whether that translation is good or bad? Not directly. There is not substitute for examining the characteristics of each translation itself."

Next time: Unique Features

Watchtower, 1999

YOU MAY GAIN YOUR BROTHER

A Final Effort to Gain Him

If step two fails to settle the matter, congregation overseers are definitely involved in the third step. "If he does not listen to [the one or two], speak to the congregation, if he does not listen even to the congregation, let him be to you just as a tax collector." What does this entail?

We do not understand it as a directive to bring up the sin or wrong at a regular or special meeting of the whole congregation. We can determine the appropriate procedure from God's Word. See what was to be done in ancient Israel in a case of rebellion, gluttony and drunkenness: "In case a man happens to have a son who is stubborn and rebellious, he is not listening to the voice of his father or the voice of his mother, and they have corrected him but he will not listen to them, his father and his mother must also take hold of him and bring him out to the older men of his city and to the gate of his place, and they must say to the older men of the city, 'This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious; he is not listening to our voice, being a glutton and a drunkard.' Then all the men of his city must pelt him with stones." -Deuteronomy 21:18-21.

The man's sins were not heard and judged by the whole nation nor by all of his own tribe. Rather, the recognized "older men" dealt with it as representatives of the congregation. (Compare Deuteronomy19:16, 17) about a case handled by 'priests and the judges who were acting in those days.') Similarly today, when it is necessary to take the third step, the elders, who represent the congregation, handle the matter. Their goal is the same, to gain the Christian brother if at all possible. They reflect this by showing fairness, not prejudging the case or being partial.

They will strive to weigh the facts and hear the witnesses needed to establish whether sin truly has been committed (or continues to be committed). They want to protect the congregation from corruption and to keep the spirit of the world out. (1 Corinthians 2:12; 5:7) In line with their Scriptural qualifications, they will endeavor "to exhort by the teaching that is healthful and to reprove those who contradict." (Titus 1:9) Hopefully, the wrongdoer will not be like the Israelites of whom Jehovah's prophets wrote: "I called, but you did not answer; I spoke, but you did not listen; and you kept doing what was bad in my eyes, and thing in which I took no delight you chose." -Isaiah 65:12.

In a relatively few cases, however, the sinner reflects that same attitude. If so, Jesus' direction is clear: "Let him be to you just as a man of the nations and as a tax collector." The Lord did not recommend being inhuman or desirous of any hurt. There is, though, no ambiguity about the apostle Paul's direction to exclude unrepentant sinners from the congregation. (1 Corinthians 5:11-13) Even this may eventually result in the goal of gaining the sinner.

We can see that potential from Jesus' parable of the prodigal son. As illustrated, after a period of living outside the loving fellowship of his father's house, that sinner "came to his senses." (Luke 15:11-18) Paul mentioned to Timothy that some wrongdoers would in time repent and "come back to their proper senses out from the snare of the Devil." ( 2 Timothy 2:24-26) We would certainly hope that nay who unrepentantly sin and must be excluded from the congregation will feel their loss-both of God's approval and of the warm fellowship and social contact with loyal Christians-and then come to their senses.

Jesus did not consider people of the nations and tax collectors as being beyond redemption. One of the latter, Matthew Levi, repented, sincerely 'followed Jesus,' and was even chosen as an apostle. (Mark 2:15; Luke 15:1) Consequently, if a sinner today does "not listen even to the congregation" and is excluded from it, we can wait to see if he, in time, will repent and make straight his paths for his feet. When he does and is again a member of the congregation, we will then be happy to have gained our brother back in the fold of true worship.

Next time: A MILESTONE FOR LOVERS OF GOD'S WORD

Watchtower, 1999

YOU MAY GAIN YOUR BROTHER

Getting Mature Help

Would you want others to give up on your quickly if you were guilty of a serious wrong? Hardly. Accordingly, Jesus showed that after the first step, you should not give up trying to gain your brother, to keep him united with you and others in worshiping God acceptably. Jesus outlined a second step: "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."

He said to take "one or two more." He did not say that after taking the first step, you are free to discuss the problem with many others to contact a traveling overseer, or to write to brothers about the problem. Convinced as you may be about the wrong, it has not really been fully established. You would not want to spread negative information that could turn out to be slander on your part. (Proverbs 16:28; 18:8) But Jesus did say to take along one or two others. Why? And who could they be?

You are trying to gain your brother by convincing him that a sin has been committed and by moving him to repent so as to be at peace with you and with God. To that end, the ideal situation would be if the "one or two" were witnesses to the wrong. Perhaps they were present when it occurred, or they have valid information about what was done (or not done) in a business matter. If such witnesses are not available, those who bring may have experience in the field at issue and therefore be able to establish whether what occurred was truly a wrong. Moreover, should it late be needed, they could be witnesses to what was said, confirming the facts presented and effort made. (Numbers 35:30; Deuteronomy 17:6) So they are not simply neutral parties, referees; yet, their being present is to help gain your brother and theirs.

You need not think that those you bring must be men who are elders in the congregation. However, mature men who are elders may be able to contribute by their spiritual qualifications. Such elders are "like a hiding place from the wind and a place of concealment from the rainstorm, like streams of water in a waterless country, like the shadow of a heavy crag in an exhausted land." (Isaiah 32:1, 2) They have experience in reasoning with and readjusting brothers and sisters. And the wrongdoer has good reason for showing confidence in such "gifts in men." (Ephesians 4:8, 11, 12) Talking the matter out in the presence of such mature ones and sharing in prayer with them can create a new atmosphere and resolve what seemed irresolvable. -Compare James 5:14, 15.

Next time: A Final Effort to Gain Him

Watchtower, 1999