Theocratic Aid To Kingdom Publishers

BIBLE HELPS

Lesson 56

NON-THEOCRATIC REFERENCES

"Non-Theocratic references" does not necessarily mean references that are against The Theocracy. The term as it is here used merely means those reference works that are not from the Lord through his Theocratic organization or channel. It means that they are not to be given the weight or consideration or confidence as are the Theocratic Bible helps published by the Society. Nevertheless, they do contain a wealth of information that may be used in support of the Theocratic message. Therefore reference works, such as concordances, Bible dictionaries, Bible cyclopedias, etc., may be used to good advantage in locating texts, in giving technical definitions and the etymology of words, in describing historical events or giving historical background,etc.

Reference works are those publications prepared for consultation rather than for consecutive reading. However, works prepared for consecutive reading may also be used for reference, as in the case of the Watchtower publications. Generally speaking, reference books are for professional people, or, more correctly, for specialization. Jehovah's witnesses specialize in doing the one thing of preaching this gospel of the Kingdom. They are interested in knowing how non-Theocratic references will better equip them for the fulfillment of their profession.

Truth should be welcome for its own sake regardless of the channel. Many times the truth gleaned from non-Theocratic references supports the Theocratic truths already learned. Bible dictionaries may define and clarify certain words, phrases, and other statements, assisting the student to grasp what is portrayed in the Bible. By objectively discussing local conditions or historical facts relative to the event, depth and richness may be given to a prophetic drama. Any information that can be acquired that is in harmony with the Theocratic message should be welcomed; it will aid us to effectively wield the "sword of the spirit". The Watchtower publications oftentimes glean factual information from non-Theocratic references to round out the presentation of Theocratic truth.

In the use of such non-Theocratic references as Bible concordances there can be nothing but constructive help for the Theocratic minister. However, other reference works, such as Bible dictionaries or Bible cyclopedias, which give much extended comment upon Bible characters and events and related matters, must be used with extreme caution. This is particularly true in the case of the more recent Bible-study aids. An example of helpful information taken from a Bible cyclopedia (not of modern publication) is here given, and it will be followed by an example of higher criticism, as found in a more recent publication.

Some good information on ordination is found in McClintock and Strong's Cyclopaedia, Volume VII, under "Ordination". "A scriptural investigation of this subject can hardly fail to impress any ingenuous mind with the great significance of the fact that neither the Lord Jesus Christ nor any of his disciples gave specific commands or declarations in reference to ordination. The facts of the institution of the ministerial office in the Church and of the ordination, in the sense of the appointment, of faithful or believing men to serve in that office, stand forth prominently throughout the New Testament. But the manner in which those facts are stated suggest the inference that ministerial ordination, like the more comprehensive subject of Church organization itself, was not designed to be a matter of minute prescription or of constrained uniformity, but rather was to be left open, within the range of certain great principles, to minor variations of detail that might be appropriate to the circumstances of the future. Had any particular form of ordination been essential to the perpetuity of the Church, the validity of the sacraments, or the salvation of men, it seems but reasonable to infer that the Head of the Church himself would have appointed that special form, and have given precepts for its continuance. . . . The appointment of the Jewish prophets was by direct command or inspiration from God, without any ceremonial induction to their sacred office. In this feature the appointment of the holy prophets prefigured the Messianic period, and Christ's own mode of appointing his disciples to their ministry." Here is seen how a non-Theocratic reference can be used to show that a lavish ceremony is not a part of ordination, as religionists would have it, but is received from Jehovah God through a knowledge and understanding of his Word and purposes, as the Scriptures prove.

An instance of higher criticism is found in Davis' dictionary of the Bible (fourth edition, 1924, page 676). Under the heading "Analysis of the Book of Samuel" it says,

"Samuel as a youth. He is in training for the priesthood, and he foretells the collapse of the government which existed before the kingdom was established (1 Sam. 1-3)." This was the destruction of Eli and his household that was revealed to Samuel by the Lord. Davis' dictionary then continues, "The story was invented after Samuel's career had made him noted." Bible dictionaries are quite good when they treat their subjects objectively, but when they enter the field of doctrine and speculation and interpretation they are likely to lead one astray and into a maze of "higher criticism".

There is no reason, however, for the Theocratic-minded servant of the Lord to fall into any such pitfalls in non-Theocratic references. Why so? Because Jehovah through his Theocratic organization has instructed his people. They know the sound of Kingdom truth and can readily recognize words that are not framed in harmony therewith. (Judg. 12:6) They are able to apply the Theocratic rule to all such material, which rule is recorded at Isaiah 8: 20: "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them." Thus they are able to sidestep and shun erroneous information. This means that the first reference works that the Theocratic minister will consult will be Theocratic ones, the Watchtower publications. He will go to the subject indexes and Scripture indexes and determine the mind of the Lord on the matter. So armed, he is then ready to go to non-Theocratic references for further information, rejecting that which is false and holding fast to that which is good. This careful approach in the use of non-Theocratic references is in harmony with Proverbs 14:15, which reads: "The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going." A prudent man looks well to examine the claims of non-Theocratic authors by applying to them the Theocratic law and testimony. If they pass this test the student may use with con-

fidence the material he finds in non-Theocratic references available to him.