LET US BE THE SORT THAT HAVE FAITH

THE next time you are in a Kingdom Hall full of worshipers of Jehovah, pause to look at those around you. Think of the many ways in which they show faith. You may see elderly ones who have served God for decades, youths who daily stand up to peer pressure and parents who work hard to raise God-fearing children. There are congregation elders and ministerial servants, who shoulder many responsibilities. Yes, you may see spiritual brothers and sisters of every age who surmount all manner of obstacles in order to serve Jehovah. How precious the faith of each one! -1 Peter 1:7.

Few imperfect humans, if any, have understood the importance of faith better than did the apostle Paul. In fact, he noted that genuine faith leads to the preserving alive of the soul." (Hebrews 10:39) Paul knew, though, that faith is subject to attack and erosion in this faithless world. He was deeply concerned about the Hebrew Christians in Jerusalem and Judea, who were struggling to preserve their faith. As we look at parts of Hebrew chapters 10and 11, let us take note of the methods that Paul used to build up their faith. In the process, we will see how we can build stronger faith in ourselves and in those around us.

Next time: Express Confidence in One Another

Watchtower, 1999

LET US BE THE SORT THAT HAVE FAITH

MAY WE NEVER SHRINK BACK TO DESTRUCTION

Conclusion of Why We Should Never Shrink Back to Destruction

Now, consider a contrast. Today, pure worship has already lasted longer than the period until the apostles died. From the time of the publication of the first issue of this journal back in 1879, Jehovah has blessed us with increasingly purified worship. Jehovah and Christ Jesus entered the spiritual temple in 1918 for the purpose of cleansing it. (Malachi 3:1-5) Since 1919, the arrangement for worshiping Jehovah God has been progressively refined. Our understanding of Bible prophecies and principles has become clearer. (Proverbs 4:18) To whom does the credit go? Not to mere imperfect humans. Only Jehovah, with his Son as head of the congregation, could protect his people from corruption, during these corrupt times. Let us never fail, then, to thank Jehovah for allowing us to take part in pure worship today. And let us be firmly resolved never to shrink back to destruction!

Like those Hebrew Christians, we have a second reason for rejecting a cowardly , shrinking course-our own record of endurance. Whether we have begun to serve Jehovah in recent years or have been doing so, faithfully for decades, we have built up a record of Christian works. Many of us have suffered persecution, be it imprisonment, ban, brutality, or loss of property. Many more have faced family opposition, scorn, ridicule and indifference. All of us have endured continuing our faithful service to Jehovah despite life's challenges and tests. By doing so, we have built up a record of perseverance that Jehovah will not forget, a storehouse of treasures in heaven. Surely, then, this is no time to shrink back to the corrupt old system we left behind! why render all our hard work worthless? Especially is this true today, w hen only "a very little while" is left behind before the end. -Hebrews 10:37.

Yes, let us be resolved that "we are not the sort that shrink back to destruction!" Let us, rather, be "the sort that have faith." (Hebrews 10:39) How can we make sure that we fit that description, and how can we help fellow Christians to do the same? Our next article will consider this matter.

Next time: LET US BE THE SORT THAT HAVE FAITH

Watchtower, 1999

MAY WE NEVER SHRINK BACK TO DESTRUCTION

Why We Should Never Shrink Back to Destruction

True Christians today have equally powerful reasons for not shrinking back. First, let us remember what a blessing we have in the pure for of worship that Jehovah has given us. Like the first-century Christians, we live at a time when members of the more popular religions sneer at us and mock us, pointing proudly to their impressive religious edifices and the antiquity of their traditions. Jehovah assures us, though, that he approves of our form of worship. In fact, we enjoy blessings today that the first-century Christians did not have. You might wonder, 'How can that be?' After all, they lived when the spiritual temple came into operation. Christ became its High Priest upon his baptism in 29 C.E. Some of them had seen the miracle-working Son of God. Even after his death, there were more miracles. As foretold, though, such gifts eventually ceased. -1Corinthians 13:8)

However, we live during a significant fulfillment of the extensive temple prophecy of Ezekiel chapters 40-48. Thus, we have seen the restoration of God's arrangement for pure worship. that spiritual temple has been cleansed of all forms of religious pollution and idolatry. (Ezekiel 43:9; Malachi 3:1-5) Think of the advantages that this cleansing has given us.

During the first century, the future looked dark for the organized Christian congregation. Jesus had foretold that it would be as if a newly planted wheat field were oversown with weeds, making the wheat virtually indistinguishable from the weeds. (Matthew 13:24-30) And so it was. By the end of the first century, when the aged apostle John was acting as the final restraint against corruption, apostasy was already flourishing. (2 Thessalonians 2:6; 1John 2:18) Not long after the death of the apostles, a separate clergy class arose, oppressing the flock and wearing distinctive garb. Apostasy spread like gangrene. How discouraging for faithful Christians! They saw the newly established arrangement for pure worship become overwhelmed by a corrupted form. This developed less than a century after Christ founded the congregation.

Next time: Continue with: Why We Should Never Shrink Back to Destruction

Watchtower, 1999

MAY WE NEVER SHRINK BACK TO DESTRUCTION

Why They Should Never Shrink Back to Destruction

Let us examine two reasons that Paul gave his brothers and sisters there in Judea for never shrinking back to destruction. The first- superiority of the Christian system of worship-pervades the letter to the Hebrews. Throughout his letter, Paul developed this theme. The temple in Jerusalem was merely a copy of a far greater reality, Jehovah's spiritual temple, a building "not made with hands." (Hebrews 9:11) Those Christians had the privilege of serving in that spiritual arrangement for pure worship. They served under a better covenant, the long-promised new covenant, which had a Mediator superior to Moses, Jesus Christ. -Jeremiah 31:31-34.

Those Christians also had a far better High Priest, Jesus Christ. No, he had not descended from Aaron. Rather, he was a High Priest "according to Melchizedek, whose lineage was unrecorded, was king of ancient Salem as well as its high priest. He thus made a fitting prophetic type of Jesus, whose priesthood depended, not on any imperfect human ancestry, but on something far greater-Jehovah God's own oath. Like Melchizedek, Jesus serves not only as High Priest, but also as King, one who will never die. -Hebrews 7:11-21.

Furthermore, unlike the high priest at the temple in Jerusalem, Jesus did not have to offer sacrifices year after year. His sacrifices was his own perfect life, which he offered once for all time. (Hebrews 7:27) All those sacrifices offered at the temple were only shadows, pictures of what Jesus offered. His perfect sacrifice provided for real forgiveness of the sins of all who exercised faith. Heartwarming, too, are Paul's comments showing that this High Priest is the same unchanging Jesus whom the Christians in Jerusalem had known. He was humble, kind, and one who can sympathize with our weaknesses." (Hebrews 4:15; 13:8) Those anointed Christians had the prospect of serving as Christ's underpriests! how could they even think of shrinking back to "the weak and beggarly" things of corrupt Judaism? -Galatians 4:9.

As if that were not enough, Paul gave the Hebrews a second reason never to shrink back to destruction-their own record of endurance. He wrote: "Keep on remembering the former days in which , after you were enlightened, you endured a great contest under sufferings." Paul reminded them that they had been "exposed as in a theater" to reproaches and tribulations. Some had suffered imprisonment; others had sympathized with and supported those in prison. Yes, they had shown exemplary faith and perseverance. (Hebrews 10:32-34) Yet, why did Paul ask them to "keep on remembering" such painful experiences? Would that not proved discouraging?

On the contrary, "remembering the former days" would remind the Hebrews of how Jehovah had sustained them under trial. With his help, they had already resisted many of Satan's attacks. Paul wrote: "God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work and the love you showed for his name." (Hebrews 6:10) Yes, Jehovah remembered all their faithful works, storing them in his limitless memory. We are reminded of Jesus' exhortation to store up treasures in heaven. No thief can steal these treasures; no moth or rust can consume them. (Matthew 6:19-21) In fact, these treasures can be destroyed only if a Christian shrinks back to destruction. That would squander any treasures he had stored up in heaven. What a powerful reason Paul gave the Hebrew Christians for never pursuing such a course! Why waste all their years of faithful service? It would be right and far better to keep on enduring.

Next time: Why We Should Never Shrink Back to Destruction

Watchtower, 1999

MAY WE NEVER SHRINK BACK TO DESTRUCTION

How Christians Were Pressured to Shrink Back

the evidence indicates that Paul wrote his letter to the Hebrews about 61 C.E. The congregation in Jerusalem had a tumultuous history. After the death of Jesus, a wave of vicious persecution struck, forcing many Christians in the city to scatter. A periods of peace ensued, however, allowing the number of Christians to multiply. (Acts 8:4; 9:31) As the years passed, other persecutions and hardships came and went. It seems that by the time Paul wrote the letter to the Hebrews,the congregation was once again enjoying a period of comparative peace. Still, there were pressures. Nearly three decades had passed since Jesus had foretold the destruction of Jerusalem. There were likely some who felt that the end had delayed beyond reason and might not come in their lifetime. Others, especially those newer in the faith, had not yet been tested by severe persecution and knew little of the need for endurance under trial. (Hebrews 12:4) Satan surely sought to take advantage of such circumstances. What "crafty acts" did he use?

The Jewish community in Jerusalem and Judea viewed the fledgling Christian congregation with contempt. Judging from the content of Paul's letter, we get some idea of the taunts that the arrogant Jewish religious leaders and their followers directed at the Christians. They may, in effect, have said: 'We have the great temple in Jerusalem, standing for centuries! We have a noble high priest officiating there, along with his underpriests. Sacrifices are offered daily. We have the Law, transmitted by angels to Moses and established with great signs upon Mount Sinai. This upstart sect, these Christians, who have apostatized from Judaism, they have none of these things!' Did such scorn find its mark? Some Hebrew Christians were evidently troubled by the attacks. Paul's letter came to their aid at just the right time.

Next time: Whey They Should Never Shrink Back to Destruction

Watchtower, 1999

MAY WE NEVER SHRINK BACK TO DESTRUCTION

What It Means to Shrink Back to Destruction

When Paul wrote of "the sort that shrink back," he did not mean those who may suffer a momentary lapse of courage. Paul surely knew of Peter's experience and of other similar cases. Elijah, a bold and outspoken prophet, once gave in to fear and fled for his life because of a death threat from wicked Queen Jezebel. (1 Kings 19:1-4) The prophet Jonah had a more serious bout with fear. Jehovah assigned him to travel to the notoriously violent, wicked city of Nineveh. Jonah promptly boarded a boat headed for Tarshish-2,200 miles in the opposite direction! (Jonah 1:1-3) Yet, neither of these faithful prophets nor the apostle Peter could rightly be described as the sort that shrinks back. Why not?

Note the full phrase that Paul used: "Now we are not the sort that shrink back to destruction." What did he mean by "destruction?" The Greek word he used refers at times to eternal destruction. This definition fits the context. Paul had just warned: "If we practice sin willfully after having received the accurate knowledge of the truth, there is no longer any sacrifices for sins left, but there is a certain fearful expectation of judgment and there is a fiery jealousy that is going to consume those in opposition." -Hebrews 10:26, 27.

So when Paul said to his fellow believers, "We are not the sort that shrink back to destruction," he meant that he and his faithful Christian readers were determined never to turn away from Jehovah and stop serving him. To do so could lead only to eternal destruction. Judas Iscariot was one who shrank back to such destruction, as did other enemies of the truth who willfully worked against Jehovah's spirit. (John 17:12; 2Thessalonians 2:3) Such individuals are among "the cowards" who suffer eternal destruction int he symbolic lake of fire. (Revelation 21:8) No, we do not ever want to be of that sort!

Satan the Devil wants us to shrink back to destruction. A master of "crafty acts," he knows that such a ruinous course often starts in small ways. (Ephesians 6:11) If direct persecution fails to achieve his ends, he sees to erode the faith of true Christians through subtler means. He wants to see bold, zealous Witnesses of Jehovah silenced. Let us see what tactics he used against the Hebrew Christians to whom Paul wrote.

Next time: How Christians Were Pressured to Shrink Back

Watchtower, 1999

MAY WE NEVER SHRINK BACK TO DESTRUCTION

THE apostles must have been shocked when their beloved Master, Jesus, told them that they would all scatter and abandon him. How could such a think be -in this, his hour of greatest need? Peter insisted: "Even if all the others are stumbled, yet I will not be." In truth, Peter was a brave bold man. But when Jesus was betrayed and arrested, the apostles-including Peter-scattered. Later, while Jesus was being interrogated in the house of the High Pries Caiaphas, Peter lingered anxiously in the courtyard. As the cold night wore on, Peter likely came to fear that Jesus and anyone associated with him might be executed. When some bystanders recognized Peter as one of Jesus' close associates, panic seized him. Three times he disavowed his connection with Jesus. Peter denied even knowing him! -Mark 14:27-31, 66-72.

That was a low point in Peter's life, a moment he no doubt regretted for the rest of his days. But did Peter's course that night make him a coward? Did it make him one of "the sort," that the apostle Paul later described when he wrote: "Now we are not the sort that shrink back to destruction?" (Hebrews 10:39) Most of us would likely agree that Paul's words do not apply to Peter. Why? Because Peter's fear was temporary, a brief lapse in a life marked by outstanding courage and faith. Similarly, many of us have moments in our past that we recall to some degree of shame, moments when fear caught us by surprise and kept us from standing as boldly for the truth as we would have liked. (Compare Romans 7:21-23) We can be assured that such momentary lapses do not make us the sort that shrink back from destruction. Still, we need to be determined never to become of that sort. Why? And how can we avoid becoming such a person?

Next time: What It Means to Shrink Back to Destruction

Watchtower, 1999

CHRISTMAS IN THE ORIENT

Scriptural Insight Into Christmas

What do we learn from such historical background and developments? if a shirt or blouse is buttoned unevenly from the start, the only way to correct the situation is to begin again. Is that not true? Despite that truth, some argue that notwithstanding its pagan roots in sun worship, Christmas has been accepted by Christendom. So they feel that the holiday has been sanctified as the birthday of Christ and imbued with new significance.

We can learn a valuable lesson from a historical event that took place In ancient Judah. In 612 B.C.E., the Judeans introduced pagan worship of the sun into the temple in Jerusalem. Was such pagan worship sanctified by being carried on in the place devoted to clean worship of Jehovah God? The Bible writer Ezekiel wrote of the sun worship practiced at Jerusalem's temple: "Look! At the entrance of the temple of Jehovah, between the porch and the altar, there were about twenty-five men with . . . their faces to the east, and they were bowing down to the east, to the sun. And he went on to say to me: 'Have you seen this, O son of man? Is it such a light thing to the house of Judah to do the detestable things that they have done here, that they have to fill the land with violence and that they should offend me again, and here they are thrusting out the shoot to my nose?' " -Ezekiel 8:16, 17.

Yes, rather than being sanctified, that pagan form of worship put the whole temple in jeopardy. Such practices permeated Judah and contributed to the prevalence of violence and moral degradation in that land. It is similar in Christendom, where practices rooted in the sun worship of Saturnalia come to the fore at Christmas. Significantly, a few years after Ezekiel received that vision, Jerusalem experienced God's judgment -it met destruction at the hands of the Babylonians. -2 Chronicles 36:15-20.

You might have found the description of the young Jesus by a Korean scholar, related in the preceding article, amusing. But the fact is that coming from a person without an accurate knowledge of Christ, the reaction has considerable validity. It might make people who celebrate Christmas think seriously. Why? Because Christmas falls far short of representing Christ correctly. Christ was born when the shepherds kept their animals outside when it was warm, not in December as everyone was led to believe by all the false prophets in this world There were also in that same country shepherds living out of doors and keeping watches in the night over their flocks. (Luke 2:8) In fact, it obscures his true standing now. Jesus is no longer a babe in the manger.

Over and over, the Bible highlights that Jesus is now the Messiah, the powerful King of God's heavenly Kingdom. (Revelation 11:15) He is ready to put an end to the poverty and misery that some people have not forgotten during the Christmas season as they give to charity.



Frankly, Christmas has benefited neither the lands of Christendom nor other countries, including those in the Orient. Rather, it has diverted attention from the true Christian message about the Kingdom of God and the end of the present wicked system. (Matthew 24:14) We invite you to inquire of Jehovah's Witnesses about how that end will come. And you can learn from them about the lasting blessings that then will follow on earth, under the direction of God's Kingdom and the reigning King, Jesus Christ. -Revelation 21:3,4.


Note: Also, birthdays are not to be celebrated either. Christ never celebrated his birthday; But those who did, ended up in death.

Next time:MAY WE NEVER SHRINK BACK TO DESTRUCTION!

Watchtower, 1999

CHRISTMAS IN THE ORIENT

The Origin of Christmas

A wild animal that is moved into a cage in a zoo is still a beast. And it would be a grave mistake to believe that it has been domesticated just because it has been in a cage for awhile and seemingly enjoys itself with its young ones. You may have heard reports of zoo workers being attacked.

In some ways we can say much the same about the celebration of Christmas. At first it was a "beast" living outside of Christianity. Under the subheading "Relation to the Roman Saturnalia," The Christian Encyclopedia (in Korean) observes regarding Christmas: "The pagan Saturnalia and Brumalia were too deeply entrenched in popular custom to be set aside by Christian influence. The recognition of Sunday (the day of Phoebus and Mithras as well as the Lord's Day) by the emperor Constantine . . . may have led Christians of the fourth century to feel the appropriateness of making the birthday of the Son of God coincide with that of the physical sun. The pagan festival with its riot and merrymaking was so popular that Christians were glad of an excuse to continue its celebration with little change in spirit or in manner.

Do you think that such a development could come about without any opposition? The same encyclopedia says: "Christian preachers of the West and the Nearer East protested against the unseemly frivolity with which Christ's birthday was celebrated, while Christians of Mesopotamia accused their Western brethren of idolatry and sun-worship for adopting as Christian this pagan festival. "Truly, something was wrong from the beginning. "Yet the festival rapidly gained acceptance and became at last so firmly established that even the Protestant revolution of the sixteenth century was not able to dislodge it," the encyclopedia notes.

Yes, a festival of the sun-god, outside of true Christianity, was brought into the prevailing church. It got a different name-yet its pagan character remained. And it helped to infuse paganism into nominally Christian churches and to corrupt individuals' spiritually. History bears out that as Christendom developed, the original attitude of "love thy enemies gave way to moral degradations and violent wars.

In time, it was clear that despite its counterfeit name, Christmas reflected its pagan origin with revelry, heavy drinking, merrymaking, dancing, gift-giving and the decorating of homes with evergreens. for the sake of commercialism's ultimate goal-more sales-Christmas has been exploited in every way possible way. The mass media praise it; the public is simply amused. In downtown Seoul, a store that specializes in underwear made television news by displaying in its window a Christmas tree decorated only with underwear. The atmosphere of Christmas was noticeable, but any sign of welcoming the Christ was not.

Next time: Scriptural Insight Into Christmas

Watchtower, 1999