1941_God and State (Bóg a państwo).docx

GOD and THE STATE

GOD and THE STATE: your everlasting future hinges on how you decide this interesting issue, at a time when religious-totalitarian dictators put God second, frightening the politicians to cry for union of religion and state. How far may State laws go without encroaching on the claims of God? Should children be punished by the State for putting God first? World developments are forcing all inescapably to a personal decision!

Can you afford to pass by the Scriptural answers and vital information which this booklet presents for your safe guidance to a happy future?

THE PUBLISHER

Author: J. F. RUTHERFORD

COPYRIGHT, 1941 AND PUBLISHED BY

WATCHTOWER

BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETY, INC.

International Bible Students Association
Brooklyn, New York, U. S. A.

BRANCH OFFICES:

London, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, Oslo, Cape Town,
Berne, Buenos Aires, Shanghai, and other cities.

Made in the United States of America

GOD AND THE STATE

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WHEN there is a conflict between two authorities, which one must be obeyed?

The State inflicts punishment upon a person who fails or refuses to obey its law.

One who has agreed to obey God's law and then fails or refuses to obey is subject to punishment by death.

A person conscientiously believes that obedience to a certain law of the State is a flagrant violation of God's law. What shall that conscientious person do?

There is a wide distinction between a person who has made a covenant to do God's will and a person who has not made such a covenant.
Jehovah God requires of His children full obedience as a condition precedent to receiving everlasting life. (Proverbs 7:1, 2) By His Word He has emphasized that rule from the time of Adam when in Eden until this very day. Adam failed to obey the commandments of Jehovah God, and the result to him was death. The rules of God never change and are the same toward all — Malachi 3:6; Acts 10: 34.

Life with the right thereto can be had and maintained only by the grace of God. Life everlasting can be had by those only who are obedient unto God. The word "father" means the one from whom life emanates. God is the Father, therefore, of those who gain life everlasting. He is the fountain of life. (Psalm 36:9). He gives or administers life everlasting by and through Jesus Christ, His Executive Officer. "For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life, through Jesus Christ our

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Lord." (Romans 6:23) There is no other possible way of obtaining life. (Acts 4:12) Christ Jesus is the Beloved Son of God, and he says: "I delight to do thy will, O my God; yea, thy law is within my heart." (Psalm 40: 8) Because of his full and complete obedience unto his Father under the most trying conditions Jesus was given life immortal, the highest place in the universe next to Jehovah, and the administration of Jehovah's will. (Philippians 2:8-11) Because of his complete obedience Christ Jesus is made "the Author of eternal salvation" to all that obey him. (Hebrews 5:8,9) It is of the greatest importance to know these facts, if one would live.

All of the human kind were born in sin because of the sin committed by Adam, and therefore all of his children inherited death. (Romans 5:12) God has provided redemption and salvation of men from death by and through the sacrifice of the man Jesus unto death. God therefore provides the gift of life to all men who believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior and who then covenant to be obedient to the laws of God and hence obedient to Christ Jesus: "For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous." — Romans 5:19.

One becomes a child of God when he exercises faith in God and in Christ Jesus as his Savior, and then agrees to do the will of God, and with him God makes a covenant. The one making the covenant, or who is taken into the covenant with Jehovah God, is then in the way to receive the gift of life. Jehovah's command to his covenant people is (Proverbs 7:1, 2): "My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.

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Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye." The general rules announced in these texts apply to all men who shall ever gain life everlasting.

COVENANT PEOPLE

Jehovah God chose the Israelites as a "people for his name". In Egypt he made a covenant with that people and confirmed that covenant at Mount Sinai. The people of that nation, through Moses as their mediator, agreed to do whatsoever God commanded of them, and thus they voluntarily entered into the covenant. (Exodus 19:5,8) As a nation the Israelites broke their covenant and were cast away from God's favor, but there were some individuals who remained faithful unto the covenant. Only those who obeyed God's law, as Christ Jesus always does, were preserved unto life.

When the man Jesus became thirty years of age he presented himself to God and submitted to baptism in the Jordan, thus giving outward testimony that he had entered into a covenant with his Father by sacrifice. (Luke 3: 21-23) Jesus there became the head and chief of the antitypical spiritual Israelites. His disciples were Israelites by nature, eleven of whom continued faithful, and were taken into the covenant with Christ Jesus for the kingdom of God. Then in due time God began to take out from amongst the Gentiles, or other nations, a people for his name who would follow in the footsteps of Christ Jesus. (Acts 15:14) Each one thus taken into the covenant must become a footstep follower of Christ Jesus, suffer reproaches like those that came upon Jesus, and be faithful even unto death. Such faithful followers of Christ Jesus are spiritual Israelites, chosen of God to be witnesses unto his name and his kingdom. Concerning them it is written: "But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light; which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God; which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy." (1 Pe-

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ter 2: 9,10) "Ye are my witnesses," saith God. — Isaiah 43:12.

That which was written in the law and in the prophecies applies specifically to all Christians who follow . Christ Jesus. Upon this point there is not a possibility of doubt, as it is written: "Now all these things happened unto them [natural Israel] for ensamples; and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry." (1 Corinthians 10:11,12,14) "For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope." — Romans 15:4.

Such true followers of Christ Jesus are accepted by Jehovah and acknowledged by him as his children or sons, and these must be obedient to Jehovah God their Father, if they would receive life everlasting.
As children of God they must be obedient to his commandments; otherwise they could not live. To such Jehovah God says: "My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments." (Proverbs 3:1) "Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life." (Revelation 2:10, Am. Rev. Ver.) Such are and must be witnesses to Jehovah and bear testimony to his name and to his kingdom, and hence they are called by the Lord Jehovah "My witnesses".  — Isaiah 43:10-12.

The Lord announces his purpose to provide a "great multitude" with the opportunity of life everlasting on earth. (Revelation 7: 9-17) All who compose the "great multitude" must agree to do the will of God, and therefore, exercising faith in the shed blood of Christ Jesus as their Redeemer, must consecrate themselves to do the will of God, and must then serve him and obey the commandments of the Lord. They are commanded to "seek righteousness" and "seek meekness", which means that they must endeavor to learn what is God's will concerning them and then to do that which is right-

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eous by obeying the will of God. — Zephaniah 2:1-3.

DUTY OF PARENTS

To all persons who have agreed to do the will of God he says: "See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil." (Deut. 30:15) To his covenant people Jehovah says: "One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you." (Num. 15:16) "Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country; for I am the Lord your God." — Lev. 24: 22.

The "stranger" amongst the typical Israelites pictured those who are now on earth and who covenant to do the will of God and who, if faithful, shall form the "great multitude". Those who form the "great multitude" Jesus designates as his "other sheep", and when these are gathered unto the Lord and given life all shall be of "one fold" under Christ the great Shepherd. (John 10:16) God's announced purpose is to grant life everlasting to those only who believe on him and on the Lord Jesus Christ and who render themselves in obedience. This rule applies to both the spiritual Israelites and those of the "great multitude", that is, to all who shall live: "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." — John 3: 35, 36.

TEACHING CHILDREN

Marriage and child-bearing are God's arrangement for humankind. All parents who have agreed to do the will of God, and who have children, are bound by the commandments of Almighty God to teach their children the Word of God and to instruct them in the way of righteousness. To his consecrated or covenant people Jehovah says: "Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life; but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons." (Deuteronomy 4:9) "And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine

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heart; and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up." (Deut. 6: 6,7) "Observe and hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee for ever, when thou doest that which is good and right in the sight of the Lord thy God." — Deuteronomy 12: 28.

Addressing himself to his people who are in a covenant to do his will, Jehovah God gives this specific commandment: "Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law." — Deuteronomy 32: 46.
It cannot properly be said that these laws of God apply only to the ancient Israelites. Exactly the contrary is expressed in God's Word. His law is the same toward all who seek to live. Children seek knowledge and must be taught, and it is. the desire of all sane persons, both adults and children, to receive life everlasting. Obligation is laid by the Lord upon consecrated parents to see to it that their children are instructed in the law of God. They cannot disregard this obligation and expect God's favor. It is also the duty of the parents to have their children in subjection and to carefully guide them in the way of righteousness. Upon this point note these words of the Scriptures addressed to the consecrated parents and to their children: "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise, that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth. And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath; but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." —Ephesians 6:1-4.

Parents are the ones responsible for bringing children into the world, and it is their responsibility to properly instruct those children. The custom amongst the people of all nations of leaving the instruction of

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children to schools, presided over by persons as teachers, is man's way, but it is not God's way. Parents cannot escape their obligation laid upon them by the Lord by leaving the instruction of their children to others. In matters pertaining to worldly affairs it seems that instruction of children by a competent teacher in the schools is proper, but as to the Word of God it is the first and bounden duty of consecrated parents to teach their children. That instruction must be given in the manner God has commanded. The consecrated parents must bring up their children "in the nurture ... of the Lord"; which means as God has commanded. They must bring them up in the "admonition of the Lord"; which means that advice, counsel and instruction must be given to them in righteousness, as that instruction is set forth in the Word of God, the Bible. This is a sacred duty that no one has any right to interfere with and a duty that the parents have no right to ignore.
Life for the child is involved, and hence it is of great importance to the child that it be taught in the right way, that is, God's way. Otherwise it can never obtain life everlasting. Concerning this it is written in God's Word: "Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it." —Prov. 22: 6.

The foundation of the child's education must be laid in the Word of God, because that is the only way that leads to life everlasting. By nature a child's mind seeks information or knowledge. Only those persons who seek the way to life as the Lord has pointed out in his Word shall ever find it. This was emphasized by the Lord Jesus. Little children were being brought to Jesus by their parents that they might learn of him, and the religious-minded tried to prevent the children from being brought to Jesus: "But when Jesus saw it, he was moved with indignation, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me; forbid them not; for to such belongeth the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall in no wise enter therein.

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And he took them in his arms, and blessed them, laying his hands upon them." (Mark 10:14-16, A.R.V.) By these words the Lord clearly meant that those persons who seek knowledge from him, as the little children were seeking, can find the way of life; that the kingdom of God is for those and those only who seek the knowledge of truth found in God's Word and who then obey by doing what the Lord commands. It would be impossible to make it more emphatic concerning the obligation to teach the children, from their youth up, than what God has put in his Word.

COMMANDMENTS

The obligation upon the parents begins to be specially binding only after they have made a covenant to do the will of God and have been taken into a covenant with Jehovah God. Parents who are in a covenant to do the will of God must then inform themselves of his will or commandment toward themselves and toward their children, and then must obey those commandments and teach the same to their children, and admonish their children to obey. The state or nation, through its rules of education, has no right whatsoever to limit, interfere with, or hinder the instruction by parents of their children in the Word of God. By one inquiring how one might obtain eternal life by obeying God's commandments the question was propounded to Jesus: "Which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." — Matt. 22: 36-40.

To love God means that the person must be wholly and unselfishly devoted to Almighty God, seeking always to know and to do the will of God. This is well defined by the words of Jesus addressed to Jehovah God: 'I delight to do thy will, 0 my God; thy law is written in my heart.' (Psalm 40: 8) "Neighbour," within the meaning of the Scriptures, is one's fellow creature who

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is also a believer on Jehovah and Christ, and who has agreed to do the will of God. God's commandment requires that 'one love his neighbor, even as he loves himself, that is to say, puts his brother Christian on an exact equality with himself. The only way a person can prove his love for God is by fully and sincerely obeying the commandments of God; as it is written: "If ye love me, keep my commandments." (John 14:15) The Christian proves his love for God by joyfully obeying God's commandments. (1 John 5:3) Where the commandments of men are in conflict with God's commandment there is but one thing to do, and that is, to OBEY GOD FIRST.

ONE GOD

There is one God Eternal, The Almighty, whose name is Jehovah. (Ps. 83:18) He is "from everlasting to everlasting", and from him proceeds everything that is good. (Ps. 90: 2; Jas. 1:17) All the ways of God are perfect. (Deut. 32:4) God's commandments are perfect, and if a man could at all times deport himself exactly in harmony with God's law he would never make a mistake: "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple: the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes: the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether." — Ps. 19: 7-9.

Jehovah God is the fountain of life and the Giver of life everlasting to them that obey him. (Ps. 36:9) Necessarily it follows that, if man makes some creature or thing a god to which he renders obeisance and obedience, it is written, he could never find or possess life everlasting. By reason of the goodness and loving-kindness of Almighty God this unchangeable commandment is given to all who have hope of life everlasting, to wit:

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the

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earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me." — Exodus 20: 3-5.

The people who resided in Palestine at the time God sent his covenant people, the Israelites, there were worshipers of gods or demons; and in order to safeguard his covenant people from such demon-worship God commanded them that they should have nothing to do with other gods, lest they be ensnared by such. Again God emphasized this law or commandment to his covenant people by saying to them: "Neither shalt thou serve their gods; FOR THAT WILL BE A SNARE UNTO THEE." (Deuteronomy 7:16) Hi...