before the great flood, so true worshipers of God today feel the urgency of the situation. They know Jesus foretold for our days that “this good news of the kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations; and then the end will come.” Before the end comes at Armageddon, the good news of God’s established kingdom must be declared to all the nations. The warning witness must be given. If one knows about God’s purpose to destroy this world and yet does not warn others, then the principle established at Ezekiel 3:17, 18, shows that God will hold that person responsible—responsible because he kept silent when he should have used his powers of expression to warn others. Because the apostle Paul did not hold back from speaking God’s truths to others but even taught “from house to house,” he could say: “I am clean from the blood of all men, for I have not held back from telling you all the counsel of God.” May we be clean from “the blood of all men” by speaking of the Kingdom hope and what the kingdom will soon do to this wicked world.—Matt. 24:14; Acts 20:20, 26, 27.

WHAT TO DO

What if one finds himself having the tendency to decline speaking about the Bible? Take immediate steps to remedy the situation. For one thing, take steps to take in more knowledge of God’s Word, because many persons refuse to discuss their hope because they lack knowledge. If one’s religion is too intimate to be discussed, then that religion is not based on the Bible but on feeling, sentiment, emotion. The true religion of the Bible is reasonable, factual and communicable; but the Christian must take in knowledge so that he can speak to others of his hope.

How, then, should you react when someone of another faith approaches you to talk about religion? If you worship the God of the Bible, you will calmly listen, and then, at the appropriate time, take the opportunity to express your hope. Ask questions, when other people speak to you, as to why they believe a certain thing. Let them show you from the Bible what their hope is. “With a mild temper” show other persons your Kingdom hope.

If you should talk to someone about your hope and they say: “I don’t discuss religion because it is too personal,” you might say: “Well, religion certainly does involve personal conviction; but since I have no objection to discussing my belief—in fact, it is part of my belief to discuss it—I would like to tell you what has brought me hope and happiness.”

True Christians simply “cannot stop speaking about the things” concerning God and his kingdom. If a person refuses to discuss religion, he is not worshiping the God of the Bible, and he is going in a way directly opposite from what the Scriptures teach. The heart is involved, yes, “but with the mouth one makes public declaration for salvation.”—Rom. 10:10.

Misunderstood Laity

In a talk over the Danish radio a theologian, Prof. K. E. Skydsgaard, made the following remark about the laity of the church: “In my opinion it is a wrong and disastrous understanding which arises from an incorrect view of what the church is. If we do not make progress toward a completely different understanding of these words . . . we will never get out of the stagnant condition we are in. . . . It is the whole congregation which conducts divine services, not just the priest. On Sunday it is the assembly of the people. But from here they should be sent out . . . and in this we see the peoples’ unique apostolate.”—Menighedsrådenes blad, December, 1960.