dizzy whirlings both men and nations are soon unbalanced and toppled into Satan’s pitfalls. Christians will shun such snares by refusing to complete the first circle or set it in motion by returning evil for evil. Instead, they will counter with good. “Do not let yourself be conquered by the evil, but keep conquering the evil with the good.”—Matt. 5:44; Rom. 12:21, NW.

18. Toward whom will we practice such good principles, and with what example in mind?

¹⁸ In view of all of the foregoing, we strongly contend that it is highly practical for persons today to follow the principles of the Bible, not just toward fellow Christians, but in their dealings with all men. “If you love those loving you, of what credit is it to you? For even the sinners love those loving them. And if you do good to those doing good to you, really of what credit is it to you? Even the sinners do the same.” Rather, show unselfish love toward all, even as Jehovah is “kind toward the unthankful and wicked”. (Luke 6:27-36, NW) The good that you sow upon the seas of humanity will return to you manifold in due time, if not from the recipients then from Jehovah God.

19. What further protests fall flat, and when will all opposition to righteous principles vanish?

¹⁹ It is practical to live in accord with God’s Word. Some may protest that if all men did it would be fine, but since the majority do not it is useless for a few to do so. Yet these same men fight for their political and social convictions, even though they may be in a minority. Christians stand firm in their beliefs. Other worldlings may say Christ’s kingdom will be fine when it gets going, but until then they must do something to improve conditions. However, Christians do not sit idly by, awaiting the Kingdom’s full sway over earth. They are given so much work to do that it is imperative that they redeem the time in order to complete their gospel-preaching. Unimpressed, the worldlings continue absorbed in their own political and social schemes, dismissing the Bible as impractical. Actually, their dismissal of the Bible as impractical is only to justify their disagreement with it or their unwillingness to walk in its clean and narrow ways. They want to do things in their way, trusting in their own schemes, their own efforts, their own right. That is highly impractical, in view of the fact that Jehovah God is the wisest and mightiest force in the universe. At Armageddon, God will in a very practical way sweep into oblivion all who oppose him, and will make all who remain of like mind with him. Then people will be unified in the righteous principles of His Word. Everyone will put them into practice, and in that righteous new world all of the woes of this old world will have vanished like smoke in the wind.

Spirit of Crusades Appears in Truman Speech

● On January 8, 1951, President Truman addressed a joint session of the United States Eighty-second Congress to present his State of the Union message. Outlining the need for continued American support to countries in the North Atlantic Treaty in the mounting world crisis with communism, Mr. Truman said: “The defense of Europe is the basis for the defense of the whole free world—ourselves included. Next to the United States, Europe is the largest workshop in the world. It is also a homeland of great religious beliefs shared by many of our citizens—beliefs which are now threatened by the tide of atheistic communism.” Such words may revive as well the suspicion that the religion which makes its home in Vatican City has for some time been anxious to stir up some form of crusade to save its doorstep from the threatening Red tide. Before jumping on crusade band wagons, however, thoughtful persons will reflect on the bloodshed and suffering caused by the useless medieval crusades.