Today, mankind’s problems are often on a worldwide
scale. In some nations, most people are poor and oppressed. In others,
many people seem to have more than they need. Only a global
administration could distribute the earth’s resources fairly.—Read Ecclesiastes 4:1;8:9.
2. Who could be trusted with a world government?
The idea of a world ruler is unpopular because no
man or woman could do the job well. No human could gain the acceptance
of everyone. Also, who is above being corrupted by power? The thought of
a single tyrant ruling all mankind is terrifying.—Read Proverbs 29:2;Jeremiah 10:23.
Jehovah God has chosen his Son, Jesus, to rule mankind forever. (Luke 1:32, 33) Jesus has experience in living on earth. While here, he cured the sick, taught the meek, and spent time with children. (Mark 1:40-42; 6:34; 10:13-16) So Jesus is the ideal Ruler.—Read John 1:14.
3. Is a world government really feasible?
God has appointed his Son to rule the earth from heaven. (Daniel 7:13, 14)
Just as a human ruler does not have to be present in every city he
rules, Jesus does not need to be physically present on earth in order to
rule mankind.—Read Matthew 8:5-9,13.
Will everyone accept Jesus as Ruler? No. Only
people who love what is good will accept him. Jehovah will clear the
earth of those who reject the loving and righteous Ruler whom he has
appointed.—Read Matthew 25:31-33,46.
4. What will the world Ruler do?
As a shepherd gathers his sheep, Jesus is already gathering meek people from all nations and teaching them God’s ways of love. (John 10:16; 13:34) Such people become eager supporters of Jesus and his kingship. (Psalm 72:8; Matthew 4:19, 20) Worldwide, Jesus’ loyal subjects are unitedly announcing that Jesus has become King.—Read Matthew 24:14.
Jesus will soon act with power to relieve
mankind of corrupt government. He has chosen some of his loyal followers
to rule over the earth as kings with him in heaven. (Daniel 2:44; 7:27)
Jesus’ Kingdom will fill the earth with the knowledge of Jehovah and
will establish the kind of paradise that was lost at the beginning of
human history.—Read Isaiah 11:3,9;Matthew 19:28.
An emotional crutch is a form of self-deception
that causes a person to ignore reality and prevents him from reasoning
logically. For example, some people use alcohol as a crutch. Initially,
alcohol may make them feel more self-confident and able to cope with
life’s challenges. But in the long run, those who lean on the crutch of
alcohol harm themselves. Can the same be said about religious faith?
Some equate faith with gullibility. They say that
people who resort to faith do not want to think for themselves or allow
hard evidence to influence their beliefs. Such skeptics imply that those
with strong religious faith ignore reality.
The Bible has much to say about faith. Yet nowhere
does it encourage us to be gullible or naive. Nor does it condone
mental laziness. On the contrary, it labels people who put faith in
every word they hear as inexperienced, even foolish. (Proverbs 14:15, 18)
Really, how foolish it would be for us to accept an idea as true
without checking the facts! That would be like covering our eyes and
trying to cross a busy street just because someone tells us to do it.
Rather than encouraging blind faith, the Bible urges us to keep our figurative eyes open so that we are not deceived. (Matthew 16:6) We keep our eyes open by using our “power of reason.” (Romans 12:1)
The Bible trains us to reason on evidence and reach sound conclusions
that are based on facts. Consider some examples from the writings of the
apostle Paul.
When Paul wrote to those in the congregation in
Rome, he did not want them to believe in God just because he told them
to. Rather, he encouraged them to consider the evidence that God is
real. He wrote: “His [God’s] invisible qualities are clearly seen from
the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things
made, even his eternal power and Godship, so that they [those who deny
God’s authority] are inexcusable.” (Romans 1:20)
Paul used a similar line of reasoning when writing his letter to the
Hebrews. “Of course, every house is constructed by someone,” he said,
“but he that constructed all things is God.” (Hebrews 3:4)
In a letter to Christians living in the city of Thessalonica, Paul
encouraged them to be selective in what they believed. He wanted them to
“make sure of all things.”—1 Thessalonians 5:21.
Faith can be a shield that protects us
Religious faith that is not built on
sound evidence can become a crutch, one that causes a person to be
misled and suffer harm. Concerning some religious people in his day,
Paul wrote: “I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God; but not
according to accurate knowledge.” (Romans 10:2)
How vital it is, then, that we follow Paul’s advice to the Roman
congregation! He wrote: “Be transformed by making your mind over, that
you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of
God.” (Romans 12:2)
Faith based on accurate knowledge of God becomes, not a crutch, but a
“large shield” that protects us from emotional and spiritual harm.—Ephesians 6:16.
Various religions describe God as omnipresent, a
term suggesting that God dwells in all places simultaneously. For
example, the New Catholic Encyclopedia refers to God as the one
“who is actually present in all existing places and things.” Likewise,
John Wesley, founder of the Methodist Church, wrote a sermon entitled
“On the Omnipresence of God” in which he stated that “there is no point
of space, whether within or without the bounds of creation, where God is
not.”
What does the Bible teach? Is God omnipresent,
existing in all places in heaven, on earth, and even in humankind at the
same time?
Actually, the Bible speaks of God as having a
specific place of dwelling—the heavens. It records a prayer of King
Solomon in which he called upon God: “May you yourself listen from the
heavens, your established place of dwelling.” (1 Kings 8:43) When teaching his disciples how to pray, Jesus Christ told them to address their prayers to “Our Father in the heavens.” (Matthew 6:9) After his resurrection, Christ entered “into heaven itself, now to appear before the person of God,” states the Bible.—Hebrews 9:24.
These verses clearly indicate that Jehovah God
dwells, not everywhere, but only in heaven. Of course, “the heavens”
mentioned in these passages does not refer to the atmosphere surrounding
the earth nor to the vast expanse of outer space. The physical heavens
cannot contain the Creator of the universe. (1 Kings 8:27) The Bible tells us that “God is a Spirit.” (John 4:24) He resides in the spiritual heavens, a realm independent of the physical universe.—1 Corinthians 15:44.
What, though, of Bible passages that seem to suggest that God is present everywhere? For example, as recorded at Psalm 139:7-10,
David said regarding God: “Where can I go from your spirit, and where
can I run away from your face? If I should ascend to heaven, there you
would be; and if I should spread out my couch in Sheol, look! you would
be there. Were I to take the wings of the dawn, that I might reside in
the most remote sea, there, also, your own hand would lead me.” Do these
verses indicate that God is, in fact, omnipresent, dwelling in each of
the places mentioned?
Note that David first asked: “Where can I go from your spirit?”*
By means of his holy spirit, God can see anything and exert his power
anywhere, without literally going there or dwelling there. To
illustrate: In recent years scientists have been able to examine soil on
the planet Mars, millions of miles (kilometers) from Earth. How? Not by
traveling there personally, but by studying detailed photos and other
information transmitted back to Earth by probes sent to Mars’ surface.
Likewise, Jehovah God does not have to be present
everywhere, or omnipresent, in order to perceive what is happening at
any point in the universe. God’s Word says: “There is not a creation
that is not manifest to his sight.” (Hebrews 4:13)
Yes, Jehovah’s powerful active force, or holy spirit, can extend
anywhere, allowing him to be all-seeing and to accomplish his purpose
from a fixed location, his “holy dwelling” in the heavens.—Deuteronomy 26:15.
Around the world, nearly two billion people
celebrate Christmas each December 25, while at least 200 million others
celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ on January 7. However, there are
also millions who choose not to celebrate Christmas at all. Why?
For one thing, they may belong to a religion that
is not part of Christendom. They may be of the Jewish, Hindu, or Shinto
faith, to name a few. Others, such as atheists, agnostics, freethinkers,
or secular humanists, view the Christmas story as a myth.
Surprisingly, though, a sizable number of people
who believe in Jesus reject the Yuletide traditions. Why? They point to
at least four reasons.
First, they do not believe that Jesus was born in
either December or January. The Bible does not give a specific date. It
simply states: “There were also in that same country shepherds living
out of doors and keeping watches in the night over their flocks. And
suddenly Jehovah’s angel stood by them, and . . . the angel said to
them: ‘. . . There was born to you today a Savior, who is Christ the
Lord.’”—Luke 2:8-11.
Facts point to Jesus’ birth at approximately the
beginning of October when shepherds with their flocks would still spend
the night in the fields. The countryside around Bethlehem experiences
the coldest weather during the months of December and January. Hence, to
keep them warm at night, flocks are herded into protective shelters.
A second reason: The only event Jesus specifically
instructed his followers to commemorate was his death, not his birth,
and this was to be done as a simple communion meal. (Luke 22:19, 20) Note, too, that the Gospels of Mark and John are silent about Jesus’ birth.
The only event Jesus specifically instructed his followers to commemorate was his death, not his birth
A third reason: There is no historical evidence
that the early Christians celebrated the birth of the Christ. But they
did memorialize his death. (1 Corinthians 11:23-26)
It was not until more than 300 years after Jesus’ birth that
Christendom officially began to observe Christmas on December 25.
Interestingly, in the mid-17th century, an act of parliament banned
Christmas celebrations in England. In the United States, the
Massachusetts General Court did the same. Why? The book The Battle for Christmas, says:
“There is no biblical or historical reason to place the birth of Jesus
on December 25.” It adds that to the Puritans, “Christmas was nothing
but a pagan festival covered with a Christian veneer.”
That brings us to a fourth reason: The unsavory
origin of the celebration itself. The roots of Christmas can be traced
back to pagan Rome with its mixture of festivals for honoring the
agricultural god Saturn and the sun god Sol Invictus, or Mithra.
Anthropologists Christian Rätsch and Claudia Müller-Ebeling, coauthors
of the book Pagan Christmas, write: “Like many pre-Christian
customs and beliefs, the old feast commemorating the yearly return of
the sun was rededicated to the birth of Christ.”
In view of the foregoing, can you see why true Christians do not celebrate Christmas?
“It’s easy to get caught up in the hubbub of the season.
Holiday traditions become tasks to check off a list, time with family
and friends can be cut short by busy schedules. The joy we should
experience is sometimes obscured by the stress we do
experience.”—FORMER OKLAHOMA [U.S.A.] GOVERNOR BRAD HENRY, DECEMBER 23,
2008.
AS THE Christmas season approaches, songs, films,
and TV programs promote a jolly and exciting holiday mood—the Christmas
spirit. What do you think should be the most important element of that
spirit? Would it be
Remembering Jesus Christ?
Sharing in the joy of giving?
Helping the needy?
Spending time with family?
Promoting peace?
As Governor Henry, quoted earlier, put it,
many who celebrate Christmas find it difficult to achieve any of those
goals during the holiday season. Christmastime often tends to be hectic,
stressful and, above all, commercial. Is cultivating the Christmas
spirit—or at least what it is supposed to be—a lost cause?
The Bible does encourage all of us to remember
Jesus Christ, to be liberal in giving, to help the needy, and to spend
time with our families. It also teaches us how to be peaceable.
Therefore, rather than discuss why some do not celebrate Christmas,* this series of articles will consider the following questions:
What do some feel should be the reason for celebrating Christmas?
Why is it a challenge to achieve what they hope for in Christmas?
What Bible principles have helped millions to find something better than Christmas?
On June 14, 2007, the Estonian National Post Office issued a
commemorative postage stamp, shown at right. The release was accompanied
by an announcement: “This souvenir sheet was issued to commemorate
victims of the Stalinist genocide of the Estonians.” Between 1941 and
1951, tens of thousands of Estonians were forcibly deported.
“HISTORY does not lie.” That is a well-known
saying in Estonia, and there are similar sayings in other lands. Yes, we
cannot change the past, but we can certainly learn from it. Wise King
Solomon of ancient Israel said: “I saw all this when I thought about the
things that are done in this world, a world where some men have power
and others have to suffer under them.”—Ecclesiastes 8:9, Today’s English Version.
A powerful testimony to the truth of this Biblical
statement was seen some decades ago in Estonia, as well as in many
other parts of Eastern Europe. Human rule brought suffering to countless
innocent people who were forcibly deported to faraway places to be
resettled or imprisoned in labor camps.
According to local historians, more than 46,000
civilians were deported from this small country between 1941 and 1951.
Most were targeted for their political affiliation, others for their
nationality or social status. Jehovah’s Witnesses, however, were singled
out for their religious beliefs.
Attack on God-Fearing People
In a study published by Tartu University Press in
2004, historian Aigi Rahi-Tamm stated: “From 1948 to 1951, 72 of
Jehovah’s Witnesses were arrested, including people associated with
them. However, a deportation on a far wider scale was planned and
carried out on the night of April 1, 1951, not just in the Baltic States
but also in Moldova, western Ukraine, and Belorussia.”
Before 1951, Jehovah’s Witnesses in Estonia were
subjected to arrest, psychological pressure, interrogation, and
imprisonment. This new campaign of deportation was apparently an all-out
effort to wipe Jehovah’s Witnesses out of Estonia altogether.
The date April 1, 1951, appears on the stamp
mentioned above. The number 382 on the stamp refers to the number of
Witnesses and their children who were deported on that day. This number
includes some relatives and neighbors who were not Witnesses. During the
day, arrests were made throughout the country. That night, those arrested—young and old—were herded into animal boxcars on trains headed for Siberia.
Ella Toom
Ella Toom,*
25 years old at the time, was one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. Recalling a
typical interrogation, she says: “An officer tried to frighten me and
demanded that I stop preaching. Once he asked: ‘Do you want to live? Or
do you want to die with your God on the fields of Siberia?’” Ella,
however, fearlessly continued to preach the good news. She was sent to
Siberia and was transferred from one labor camp to another over a period
of almost six years.
Among the hundreds of individuals who were
deported without a court hearing was another young Witness woman, Hiisi
Lember. Recalling the events of April 1, 1951, she related: “They came
totally unexpectedly at night, ordering us: ‘You have half an hour. Pack
your things!’” Under the cover of darkness, Hiisi and her six-year-old
daughter were then taken to the train station. The creaky train traveled
from station to station and picked up more Witnesses. “We were thrown
into an animal boxcar. Thankfully, the animal dung was frozen;
otherwise, it would have been difficult to stand in it. We were like
animals stuffed into a container.”
The grueling two-week train trip was traumatic.
The boxcars were overcrowded and unsanitary. Young and old were
humiliated and disgraced in every possible way. Some of them wept and
refused to eat. However, the Witnesses encouraged and helped one another
by singing songs of worship, and they shared what food they had. They
were sent to a “permanent settlement” and were told that this was a
“one-way trip.”
Hiisi Lember and her daughter, Maaja
Hiisi recalled the heartwarming support that she
received from fellow believers during this ordeal: “At one station, our
train stopped next to a train from Moldova. Through the wall of the
boxcar, we heard a man ask who we were and where we were going. We
explained that we didn’t know where we were going and that we were
Jehovah’s Witnesses from Estonia. Fellow Witnesses in the train from
Moldova overheard the conversation. Through an opening in the boxcar,
they threw us a big loaf of bread and some prunes.” She added: “Then we
began to understand the extent of the roundup of Jehovah’s
Witnesses—that it was from all the republics of the Soviet Union!”
Two teenage Witness girls—Corinna and her
sister, Ene—were separated from their mother for more than six years.
Their mother, also one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, had been arrested earlier
and sent to a labor camp. Then, on that infamous April night, the two
young girls were snatched from their home and herded into a boxcar.
Corinna reflects with thankfulness, “On the train, a Witness with two
children offered to care for us and assured us that we could live
together as a family with her and her children.”
What happened at the final destination? The day
after reaching the cold Siberian wilderness, a humiliating “slave
market” began. Men from nearby collective farms came to choose workers
for their farms. Corinna recalls: “We
overheard them bickering among themselves, saying: ‘You already have a
driver for your tractor. This one is mine,’ or, ‘I already took two old
ones. You have to take some old ones too.’”
Ene and her sister, Corinna
Corinna and Ene were brave girls. They said
later: “We missed our mother very much, and oh, how we yearned just to
be in her warm embrace again!” Even so, they maintained their spiritual
strength and sense of humor. Corinna added: “In a way, it was good that
mother did not see us because sometimes we had to work outside in the
bitter cold without proper clothing.”
To be sure, innocent people in Estonia and
elsewhere have suffered gross injustice, and Jehovah’s Witnesses as a
group have been among them. (See the box “Unimaginable ‘Scale of
Terror.’”) Despite such mistreatment and suffering in the past,
Jehovah’s Witnesses in Estonia are still an active and happy group of
people.
A Bright Future Ahead
The Bible assures us that Jehovah God hates
injustice. It says: “Everyone doing these things, every doer of
injustice, is something detestable to Jehovah your God.” (Deuteronomy 25:16)
Though God has tolerated wickedness in the past, the time will soon
come when he will bring injustice and wickedness to an end. “Just a
little while longer,” says the psalmist, “and the wicked one will be no
more; and you will certainly give attention to his place, and he will
not be. But the meek ones themselves will possess the earth, and they
will indeed find their exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.”—Psalm 37:10, 11.
Yes, a bright future awaits us! Though we cannot
change the past, we can take steps to assure our future. Draw close to
God and see how you can be part of the wonderful future when true
righteousness will prevail.—Isaiah 11:9.
We must pray to God in Jesus’ name because this is the only way God has approved for us to approach Him. Jesus said: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) Jesus also told his faithful apostles: “Most truly I say to you, If you ask the Father for anything he will give it to you in my name.”—John 16:23.
