Difference between revisions of "Page:The-higher-powers.pdf/4"

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9 If a worldly government can enact a law forbidding the use of certain drinks, that nation or government can also enact a law, and enforce it, forbidding the use of certain foods, even including bread. Jesus directed his followers to pray to God: "Give us this day our daily bread." Would God delegate to a nation or government a power that would permit that nation to make and enforce a law forbidding the use of the very thing for which the children of God were directed to pray? If it is lawful to drink beer while eating cheese in Germany, and unlawful to drink beer while eating cheese in the United States, which one of these nations is exercising the power delegated by the Lord? If the answer be, Both, then the question is properly asked: Is God declaring that the doing of a certain act is right in one part of the earth and wrong in another part of the earth?
 
9 If a worldly government can enact a law forbidding the use of certain drinks, that nation or government can also enact a law, and enforce it, forbidding the use of certain foods, even including bread. Jesus directed his followers to pray to God: "Give us this day our daily bread." Would God delegate to a nation or government a power that would permit that nation to make and enforce a law forbidding the use of the very thing for which the children of God were directed to pray? If it is lawful to drink beer while eating cheese in Germany, and unlawful to drink beer while eating cheese in the United States, which one of these nations is exercising the power delegated by the Lord? If the answer be, Both, then the question is properly asked: Is God declaring that the doing of a certain act is right in one part of the earth and wrong in another part of the earth?
  
10 Russia and the Cnited States are both pOYl'rs of
+
10 Russia and the United States are both powers of this world, otherwise called nations or governments; and both claim to be Christian nations, even though they are not. The fundamental law of the United States declares that a man may exercise his religion in any manner he may choose. Contrary to this fundamental law, some of the states enact a law that the gospel can not be preached in certain places or under certain conditions, and arrest and punish those who attempt thus to preach it. In Russia the law is that one can not preach the gospel at all without a permit from the government. God's commandment to his sons, which commandment is given through Jesus Christ, is that his gospel shall be preached in all the nations as a witness. (Matt. 24: 14) Shall the child of God be obedient to the law of the United States or of Russia, or to the law of God? Is it possible that God has delegated to these various nations the right and authority to make and enforce laws that are inconsistent with and in derogation of his own expressed will ?
this world, othC'rwise ealled nations or governments;
 
and both claim to be Christian nations, eYen thoug-h
 
they are not. The fundamental law of the l~nited
 
States declares that a man may exercise his rl'ligion
 
in any manner he may choose. Contrary to this fundamental law, some of the states enact a law that the
 
gospel can not be preached in certain places or under
 
certain conditions, and arrest and punish those who
 
  
BROOKLYN,
 
 
N. Y.
 
 
attempt thus to preach it. In Russia the law is that
 
one can not preach the gospel at all without a permit
 
from the government. God's commandment to his
 
sons, which eommandment is given through Jesus
 
Christ, is that his gospel shall be preached in all the
 
nations as a witness. (Matt. 24: 14) Shall the child of
 
God be obedient to the law of the Unitcd Statcs or
 
of Russia, or to the law of God 1 Is it possible that
 
God has dplt'g-ated to these various nations the' right
 
and authority to make and enforce laws that are inconsistent with and in derogation of his Ovn expressed
 
will ?
 
 
11 Is it not thel'cfol'e clear that there has been a deeidedly improper application of the words of the
 
11 Is it not thel'cfol'e clear that there has been a deeidedly improper application of the words of the
 
Apostle Paul v]1('n applird to the gO'ernments of this
 
Apostle Paul v]1('n applird to the gO'ernments of this

Revision as of 17:24, 23 March 2020

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164

                         The WATCH TOWER

different power or authority to these different nations? In the United States, in time of peace no citizen can, by law, be drafted and required to render military service. In Italy and other countries called Christian, even in time of peace all citizens are subject to military service, and refusing to render such service are subject to severe punishment. Which one of the nations is making and enforcing the military law in harmony with God's law, seeing that their laws are different?

7 In the United States, in time of war a law is made compelling persons within a certain age limit to engage in military service. Is the law of God different at different times and in different countries? The scripture answers: 'God changes not.' (Mal. 3:6) Of necessity God must be, and is, at all times consistent.

8 God says to his anointed sons: "Thou shalt not kill." (Matt. 5: 21, 22) He that kills is a murderer. Furthermore, it is written: "Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him." (1 John 3: 15) All the Gentile governments of the world in time of war compel their respective subjects or citizens to participate in war and to kill. Has God delegated the power to these governments to order men to kill each other, and are the anointed sons of God bound to obey the laws of the land which require killing, when at the same time God's own law commands that he shall not kill? If the child of God engages in war and deliberately kills, he precludes himself from entering the kingdom, according to God's law.

9 If a worldly government can enact a law forbidding the use of certain drinks, that nation or government can also enact a law, and enforce it, forbidding the use of certain foods, even including bread. Jesus directed his followers to pray to God: "Give us this day our daily bread." Would God delegate to a nation or government a power that would permit that nation to make and enforce a law forbidding the use of the very thing for which the children of God were directed to pray? If it is lawful to drink beer while eating cheese in Germany, and unlawful to drink beer while eating cheese in the United States, which one of these nations is exercising the power delegated by the Lord? If the answer be, Both, then the question is properly asked: Is God declaring that the doing of a certain act is right in one part of the earth and wrong in another part of the earth?

10 Russia and the United States are both powers of this world, otherwise called nations or governments; and both claim to be Christian nations, even though they are not. The fundamental law of the United States declares that a man may exercise his religion in any manner he may choose. Contrary to this fundamental law, some of the states enact a law that the gospel can not be preached in certain places or under certain conditions, and arrest and punish those who attempt thus to preach it. In Russia the law is that one can not preach the gospel at all without a permit from the government. God's commandment to his sons, which commandment is given through Jesus Christ, is that his gospel shall be preached in all the nations as a witness. (Matt. 24: 14) Shall the child of God be obedient to the law of the United States or of Russia, or to the law of God? Is it possible that God has delegated to these various nations the right and authority to make and enforce laws that are inconsistent with and in derogation of his own expressed will ?

11 Is it not thel'cfol'e clear that there has been a deeidedly improper application of the words of the Apostle Paul v]1('n applird to the gO'ernments of this yorld? 'YI1<'n he says, "The ]l()Y(.'rs that be are ordained of Cod," dol'S hr havl' an.' reference whatsoever to the (ientile natiOlls of tIll' earth? Is it not mon' reasonable that hl' dired.., his words exclm:i'ely to the powers po,;ses-;e,l and l'xercised in nod's organization, and llot to those that arc eXl']'cised in Satan's organization? GOD'S

ORGA~IZATIO~

12 Aside from Jehovah himsdf his organization consists of Jesus Cln'ist, his holy angels, cherubim, the resurrected members of the bod.- of Christ, and those who have been brought into the ehureh and anointed of the spirit and who arc diligently putting forth their best endeavors to be olJl'dil'nt to nod..A t the Jordan, at the time of his consecration, Jesus was anointed to the high office of "priest for ever after the order of lIelchizedek". lie was then and there elothed with eertain powers as the man Christ Jesm on earth. Speaking to his dis('iples .Jesus said tha~ "the Son of man hath power on C'arth to forgive sins". (Mark 2: 10) After Jesus had been raised from the dead he said to his disciples: ".ll power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." (1att. 28: 18) That pOWl'r he rC'ceived from Jehovah. lIanifestly God permitted Jl'SUS to grant some pover to his servants or disciples, because Jesus said: "For the Son of man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gaw authority to his serYants, and to every man his work, and eommanded the porter to watch."Mark 13: 34. 13 The word "po"'er'" is translated from the Greek rxousia: and Paul's arguml'nt set forth in the text and contC'xt shows that the power there mentioned has reference to the authority that is possessed and exercised in God's org'anization. It is the institution which .Jehovah himself employs to carry out his pur. post's. '1'he forpgoing sCl'iptlll'es are in point, as well as those that fullow: "For by him were all things crl'ated, that arc in h('a"('n, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were crcated by him, and for him." (Col. 1: 16) "Thou