Page:The-higher-powers-part-2.pdf/4

180 The WATCH TOWER BROOKLYN, N.Y.

without any exception. This alone would confine the judgment to God's organization by the authorities in God's organization constituted to do judging.

6 For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt haw praise of the same." (Verse 3) Who are the rulers here mentioned? The word "ruler" is derived from the Greek archoon, and is also translated prince or princes. Satan is the chief ruler or prince of this world. If the word "rulers" used In' Paul in Romans 13:3 does not apply to the arrangement in the church, then the word must apply to Satan and his organization. Is Satan, the prince of evil, or any part of his organization a terror to evil workers in the church? Most assuredly not. If a man in the church does that which is evil and therefore against God's organization, that is the very thing that Satan the prince of this world would have him do. Did not the rulers of the Gentile powers induce members of the early church to do evil by joining alliance with the Devil's organization? Instead of the Devil's organization or Gentile powers punishing men for so doing, they were commended and exalted for so doing.

7 Furthermore, can it he said that the rulers of the present governments of earth "are not a terror to good works"? Fully consecrated and anointed ones of God go about the country doing good by preaching the good news concerning God and his kingdom, and the rulers of the Gentile powers arrest, fine and imprison them for so doing good. Do faithful colporteurs and class workers, who go from door to door and thus do good by carrying the message of the kingdom to the people of the earth, 'receive praise' from the princes or rulers of this world? No one ever heard of their receiving praise for so doing. When Paul says, "Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power?" can it be said that he meant that the anointed of God are to fear the princes of this world and the rulers in his organization? If that be true, then every one would refrain from being a witness to the glory of God. That is exactly what the Devil would want them to do.

8 As an illustration: Recently the Society's representative, and one of God's children, in the far away country of Liberia. Africa, began to preach the gospel by word of mouth and by placing in the hands of the people of that land the printed books containing the gospel. The government informed him that he must desist, that the must circulate no books or pamphlets or literature, or give any public addresses, until such time as the ruling powers should grant a permit therefor. He went on anyway and placed in the hands of the people a great number of books. Had he obeyed the Gentile powers, he would not have preached the gospel. He obeyed the Lord and was protected. He did good, but he received no praise from the Gentile governors.

9 It is therefore apparent that Paul's words mean this: You who are anointed of God should fear the power (Christ the Judge); that the rulers (Christ, and those who act under his direction) are not terrors to good works but to evil, and if you do that which is good you will receive praise of that power (Christ, and those of his organization clothed with authority to praise). One may ask. Are we to expect praise of the powers in the church for doing good? In answer to such question, and in proof that the apostles had authority to praise the doers of good, and did praise them, and that the doers of good shall have praise, note the following texts: "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God." (1 Cor. 4:5) "And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches." (2 Cor. 8:18) "Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you." - 1 Cor. 11: 2.

10 When the members of the church come together for any purpose other than to do good, they do not receive praise, as the apostle stated: "Now in this that I declare unto you, I praise you not, that ye come together, not for the better, but for the worse." (1 Cor. 11: 17) It is therefore manifest from the scriptures above cited that the evil-doers receive judgment by God's arrangement, and that those who do good receive praise by the same arrangement.

11 "For he [the power] is the minister of God [God's servant: see Diaglott and Rotherham translations] to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid: for he [the power] beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God [God's servant], a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil." (Rom. 13: 4) This text could have no reference to the power that the Gentiles execute. Surely God has not committed to Satan or any one in Satan's organization the power to act as G~d's servant or minister for good in the church. Nor has he appointed any of that same wicked organization to act as avenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil in the church. What, then, do the words of Paul in this text mean?

12 The answer is, that the authority and order in the church is arranged by the Lord for good to those who are of the church and for the judgment of those who do evi1. (2 Cor. 10: 8; 13: 10) What is evil in the church is illustrated by the following scriptures: " Alexander the coppersmith did me much evil; the Lord reward him according to this works." (2 Tim. 4:14) "For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it." (1 Pet. 3: 10,11) "But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart,