Study of the Book of the congregation, Week of May 1 to 7, 2023, Does God accept all parties?, Lesson: 44 points 5, 6, summary, review and "Resolve this", Answers.

Study of the Book of the congregation, 1-7-May-2023, Lesson: 44 points 5, 6, summary, review and "Resolve this", Answers.

Congregation Bible study (30 min.): lff lesson 44 points 5, 6, summary, review, and “Aim for this.”

5. Do your part so that others respect your beliefs

VIDEO: Express our beliefs with respect (2:01)

Read Matthew 7:12 and discuss the following:

According to this verse, should you tell a family member who does not share your beliefs not to have a party?

We should not since, although we know that the celebration is against Biblical Principles, the family's beliefs may allow it. Rather, what we can do is explain with the Bible the reasons why we, Jehovah's Witnesses, do not celebrate this holiday.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

This text helps us see that we have to have empathy and we must think that we cannot impose our beliefs on other family members, because they may get angry and then do not want to listen, so we must find ways to show them that we still love them and tell them because we don't accompany them at those parties.

Based on this principle, no, each person is in their own process, in their own way and it is not up to us, so to speak, to establish how others should live their lives, it is very different to impose our opinions and our beliefs on them and very apart is to respond if they approach us and have any questions regarding our beliefs. So it is true that there are stories of brothers, perhaps it happened to us too, where we realize that they had great zeal for the congregation, for the Bible, for knowledge, and they were very direct when the issue of beliefs came up with family members. non-believers, and this sometimes turned into offensive discussions on the part of the witness towards their relatives, so we must be very careful with that. 

How can you show your family members that you value and love them even if you don't celebrate a certain holiday with them?

We can show our family and friends that we value and love them by being generous to them throughout the year, and not just on a specific day. We will also do this when our family members want to know why we no longer celebrate certain holidays. On these occasions, we will not try to appear to win the argument or force ourselves to think like ourselves. On the contrary, we will try to help us see that we have made a personal decision taking into account factors and what Jehovah says in his word, the Bible.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Well, as we can see in the video, we can send them letters, perhaps we can also invite them to a meal, but we must bear in mind that if we invite them, it must be at times when no party is being held. So they can be sure that this meal is not for that party and that it is rather something that we have made from the heart.

It is important how the sister did to maintain good communication, write to them, call them, give them gifts, invite them to eat not exactly on the day of the party, it could be another day and continue sharing quality time with them, they possibly have the image or idea of that we are now in a religion where we have completely distanced ourselves from them, we can show them that it is not that way, that they are understanding it in another way. Well, this can help, as point 5 says, for some to respect our beliefs.

6. Jehovah wants us to be happy

Jehovah likes us to enjoy good times with our family and friends. Read Ecclesiastes 8:15 and discuss the following:

How does this verse show that Jehovah wants us to be happy?

Well we know because Jehovah inspired King Solomon to write that there was nothing better than spending time with family.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

The text says that God wants it to be this way and the people who work also enjoy their food, that is what we have left and the text mentions it.

In this verse he demonstrates it because it makes us see that Jehovah God wants his human creation to enjoy and be happy. Therefore, he has given us the means to achieve it. Examples of eating, drinking and enjoying the fruit of hard work are shown in the text. These are blessings from Jehovah for us to be happy.

Jehovah also wants his servants to have fun and spend quality time together. Watch the VIDEO to verify that this is obvious in our international assemblies.

VIDEO: Hospitality at International Assemblies (5:40)

Read Galatians 6:10 and discuss the following:

Do we need to celebrate certain holidays to do something good for other people?

Well, you don't have to be together with them at parties, because there are other ways to do good. For example, preaching to them and talking about Jehovah is one of the greatest things we can do to show love to people.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

No, since many times there are occasions when we can help others. There may be an older brother who needs a ride to meetings or perhaps a widowed sister's house needs some repairs or we could think of a good word, to revive someone who is depressed. What we have to do is, as the text says, While we have the opportunity, do good to everyone.

The answer is no. In fact, every day we can live, so to speak, with that mentality in that frequency of doing good to others and to our neighbor, but we cannot exclude anyone who comes across us because they are simply not brothers, we could not think like that. However, the recommended priority that the text is, is starting with our brothers, our family, brothers of the congregation.

What kind of gifts do you prefer to give: those that are given out of obligation on a certain date, or those that are given when it comes from your heart?

Those that are given when it comes from the heart, because it generates happiness by being generous and willingly giving it, especially when the gift we give is something that the other person needs or appreciates a lot. That is a reason for joy for each of us who are willing to give gifts that come from the heart.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

Better are the gifts that come from the heart, without expecting anything in return and not reluctantly or as forced. So joy-producing gifts do not depend on a calendar or customs, since these gifts are given for the wrong reasons.

In the world it is normal that if one gives a gift on a certain date, this creates a good name and reputation, but it is definitely better to give something when it comes from the heart instead of out of obligation. Many siblings sometimes organize activities for their children, and even surprise them with a gift. If we have children, what special things could you do for them? Well, there are many special things: spend time with them, share with them, share quality time, be with them, talk with them, eat together at home, go out to eat, walks, trips. This will leave memorable memories in the minds and hearts of the little ones, and when they grow up they will remember that example.

Many Witnesses sometimes organize special activities for their children, even surprising them with a gift. If you have children, what special things could you do for them?

The special things that we could do for them is to organize walks, meetings with friends, give them gifts even when it is not a special date. That way, we'll show them that we love them, that we care, and that by not celebrating the world's festivities, you're not missing out on anything.

ADDITIONAL COMMENT

Well, there are many special things, spending time with them, sharing with them, sharing quality time, being with them or talking with them, eating together at home, going out for lunch together. This will leave memorable memories in the minds and hearts of the little ones, and when they grow up they will remember that legacy, that example that their parents left them.

WHAT SOME SAY: “It doesn't matter the origin of the festivities. What matters is having a good time with family and friends.”

What would you say?

Actually, the origin does matter, since many holidays have pagan origins or promote political ideas that go against the will of Jehovah. In addition, we can willingly show generosity on any day of the year.

We can use the Illustration that showed the book teaches that if there was a candy in a sewer. Would you eat it? Of course not. It's dirty. Like that candy, since likewise, these parties can be attractive but they promote unclean, or dirty places. So if we want to be sincere and worship God from the heart, we will avoid these parties.

Well the Bible does not approve of that, the Bible is clear. Many for thinking like this ended up being swallowed by the earth at the party in the desert for celebrating the golden calf. So we can definitely do things the way we think it is, or we can do it God's way. It is not the most popular way for people, they will not like us for what we are, but we will be doing the right thing in the eyes of Jehovah.

SUMMARY

Jehovah wants us to have good times with family and friends, but he does not want us to participate in parties that he does not accept.

Review

What questions should we ask ourselves to know if Jehovah approves a celebration?

We could ask ourselves if: Is this celebration based on the teachings of the Bible? Yes, does humans, organizations or national symbols give too much honor? And also if what is done in them is against biblical norms ?

How can we help our family and friends understand our decisions about the holidays?

We can help them understand our decisions about the holidays in a respectful and loving way. That is why we will explain why we do not celebrate it and what biblical texts we base ourselves on to make that personal decision.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS

First explain to them the decision we have made and with respect to talking about why we did not decide to take part in these parties. In addition, put ourselves in their place and not try to force them not to celebrate it, and also remind them that although we do not celebrate these holidays, we still want them.

First of all, guarantee that we continue to love him, we continue to love him. And this is in the sense that we have been in a family where there were strong ties to relatives. There are families where they are simply families by name, but there are no such links either. So in these types of cases it won't affect that much because there won't really be a difference, but not all families are like that. They are not Jehovah's Witnesses but they are very close, so to speak, they like to spend time together and share.

So it's important to assure them, to confirm to them that we love them more than ever, and that maybe they don't understand it at the moment, but we would like to explain to them and that there is a good reason, there is a good explanation of why we now make certain decisions but that let us guarantee that we continue to love him, we continue to love him and that we would like them to give us that opportunity to explain to them that it is not that they are forcing us, that it is not simply because of religion, but that this transcends to another level in our personal relationship with the creator .

And apart from that, give them gifts, spend time with them, invite them to eat, share time with them. This will depend on each family and each circumstance, since we cannot generalize either.

How do we know that Jehovah wants us to be happy and have fun?

We know this because he gave us the means to achieve it, for example, there is enjoying the fruit of hard work, being able to share with friends and family and above all, he gave us the opportunity to serve him and the opportunity to enjoy a beautiful earthly paradise throughout the eternity.

We know this because it inspired King Solomon to write that there was nothing better than spending time with family.

Well, because that's how we saw it in the Bible, in Ecclesiastes we see in the gospels, that Jesus surely even joked with his disciples, he was a balanced person, a person, so to speak, from a good environment. It was something that the Bible and the gospels convey to us. So Jehovah is a happy God, he wants us too. It is true that you have to preach and you have to go to meetings, but it is also important to set aside time for a healthy recreation with ourselves, sometimes it can be alone and at other times it could be with other brothers, close friends and family.