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WHAT WE ARE TO EXPECT

WHILE IT MAY BE difficult to clearly prognosticate the future in respect to God’s “times and seasons” relating to the Church and her glorification, the world’s time of trouble and the New Epoch of “joy for all people,” we may surely expect all the time and increasingly tribulations: “Marvel not if the world hate you; ye know that it hated me before it hated you; if ye were of the world, the world would love its own”; “I have chosen you out of the world” and ordained you.

How should these attacks be received? may be a question with some. Our answer is, With patient endurance and without bitterness of heart, but with sympathy, recognizing that “they know not what they do.” The Lord’s people must never retaliate, must never render railing for railing, accusation for provocation, blow for blow, but must ever keep in memory the example of the Lord and the Apostles.

This, however, does not mean that the Lord’s people may not use means provided by law for their defense, when it seems wise for them to do so. Jesus protested against being stoned in violation of the Law. St. Paul defended himself in court before Felix, as well as upon other occasions. He became the plaintiff and aggressor in his dispute with the Jews when he appealed his case to Rome. Similarly we, if persecuted contrary to the law under which we live, are at liberty to appeal our case before the courts, but not at liberty to take matters into our own hands to judge and punish our enemies.

When the Apostle reproved some of the early Church for going to law with each other, the stress of his argument

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was that brethren should adjudicate their own troubles amongst themselves and not go to law before unbelievers—not ask unbelievers to judge between Christians. This has no bearing upon our dealing with unbelievers, who can be dealt with only through the public courts. If nominal Christians should set up the claim that they are believers, the answer then would be that in the same sense the courts are courts of believers and that, therefore, the action before them would not be before unbelievers.

We must expect that the opposition of the world, the flesh and the Devil will increase in virulence. Thus our faith in the Lord and in each other—our meekness, gentleness, patient endurance, long-suffering, brotherly kindness, love—will be in the crucible for refining. And the experiences, properly received, may be reckoned amongst the “all things” guaranteed to work together for good to all those who love the Lord, to the called according to his purpose.—Rom. 8:28.

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“In the furnace God may prove thee,
Thence to bring thee forth more bright,
But will never cease to love thee;
Thou art precious in His sight.”

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— December 15, 1911 —