From the forthcoming volume 2 of our Separate Identity:
Russell wrote a commentary on the
First Psalm, saying said that the “righteous man” pictured “those … justified
by faith … new creatures, walking in their Master’s footsteps.” They were “sometimes
imperfect” through fleshly weakness. The Psalm says the righteous should avoid:
“(1) the ungodly – literally, the wicked, (2) sinners or transgressors, and (3)
scorners or the conceited and unteachable.” “The proper course is to have no
fellowship (sympathy and common interest) with people of any of these classes.”
Russell wrote that this did “not mean that we are to treat them unkindly or
discourteously, nor that we are never to be seen walking, standing or sitting with
such; but it does imply that our company should, as far as possible, be select,
and of those who reverence our God, and that other fellowships should not be
encouraged.”
Russell felt most believers would avoid common sinners
and the unquestionably wicked. But most were “in danger of getting into
fellowship with the scorners or unteachable.” Association with them would lead “to
the same spirit, and that leads gradually to violation of the covenant with
God; and that leads to open wickedness and willful sin.” The safe way was to
have “no fellowship with darkness: it is never profitable.” This affected
church affiliation:
"In
all the nominal churches there are many who have a form of godliness, but who
are really ungodly – far from being in harmony with God and his plan. In the
nominal churches are also many sinners, living in known violation of their
covenant with God. And there, too, may be found, alas! sometimes even in the
pulpits, those who are of an unteachable, haughty spirit, who even scoff at God’s
Word and make it void through their traditions. Come out from among them; and
neither sit, nor stand, nor walk in fellowship with such. (Rev. 18:4; Isa.
52:11.) Stand with God, even if that should seem to imply standing alone. The
Lord knoweth them that are his, and he has yet more than seven thousand who bow
not to the idol of sectarianism."[1]
Obedience to the principals of good
fellowship brought happiness rather than social isolation:
"Some
might suppose that one thus isolated would have an unhappy lot; but no, he is
truly said to have a delightful experience. He delights day and night in
meditating upon God’s will and plan. In this he finds a joy and a peace which
the world and a worldly church can neither give nor take away. One thus
consecrated and full of the spirit of the Lord finds that God’s laws of
righteousness are not restraints which he would fain be freed from; but, like
the Master, he can say, “I delight to do thy will, O my God: thy law is
engraven in my heart.”"[2]
[1] The seven thousand who do not bow to sectarianism
comment is a reference to 1 Kings 19:18.
[2] C. T. Russell: The King of Zion, Zion’s Watch Tower,
March 15, 1892, pages 90-91.
