WEBVTT

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Welcome, dear brothers and sisters,

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to our program.

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Today, we’ll consider

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how we can use Bible principles

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to make good decisions.

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But first, let’s enjoy
some encouraging updates.

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We’re pleased to share news
about two recent special conventions.

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On the weekend of May 23-25, 2025,

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a special convention was held
in Santa Cruz, Bolivia.

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This was the largest theocratic event
ever held in Bolivia.

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Over 1,900 delegates came
from some 10 countries.

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The peak attendance was 19,233,

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and 277 got baptized.

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Then, on June 13-15,

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a special convention
was held in Tiranë, Albania.

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The peak attendance

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was 8,987,

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including nearly 2,000 delegates
from 17 countries.

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This was the largest
convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses

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ever held in Albania,

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and 83 were baptized.

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What a delight to see
Jehovah’s people sharing together

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in pure worship!

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These occasions remind us of the words

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of Psalm 133:1:

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“Look! How good and how pleasant it is

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for brothers to dwell together in unity!”

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But now let’s discuss
how we as Christians

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can make wise decisions
using Bible principles

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rather than relying on a list of rules.

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Consider this simple illustration:

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As children, our parents
gave us rules to keep us safe.

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They likely said, “Always hold my hand

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when crossing the street.”

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Our parents made that rule
to protect us from real danger.

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But as we got older,

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we no longer needed to hold
Mom or Dad’s hand.

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Did the danger go away?

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No.

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Instead, we learned to look
at the traffic in front of us

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and cross the road safely.

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After all, it would seem odd

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if a healthy, 30-year-old man

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still needed to hold
his mother’s hand to cross the street.

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Likewise, mature Christians

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don’t need a rule for every situation.

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Instead, we look at each situation

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and consider Bible principles.

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If no Bible law is directly involved,

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then we use our Bible-trained conscience

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to make a good decision.

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For example, consider the use
of symbols or customs

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that may have roots in false religion.

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In our vast organization

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that spans 240 lands,

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can you imagine how many
different symbols and customs

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our brothers encounter?

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How can we make good decisions

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about the use of a certain symbol or custom?

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Well, here are three
basic principles to consider.

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(1) Would Jehovah be offended by this?

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At 2 Corinthians 6:17,
Jehovah gives us clear direction:

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“‘Therefore, get out from among them,

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“and separate yourselves,’

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“says Jehovah,
‘and quit touching the unclean thing’;

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‘and I will take you in.’”

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This principle emphasizes

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that Christians must stay far away

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from any symbol or custom
related to false religion

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or spiritism.

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(2) How would this affect others

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in the congregation?

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Romans 14:19 and 21 remind us:

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“So, then, let us pursue
the things making for peace

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and the things that build one another up.”

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“It is best not to eat meat or drink wine

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or do anything
over which your brother stumbles.”

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Even if a symbol
or custom isn’t wrong in itself,

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we need to consider

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how others in the congregation might view it.

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We would never want our actions

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to offend others needlessly.

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At the same time,
as mature Christians we respect the right

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that others have to make their own decisions

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based on their Bible-trained conscience.

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(3) How is this symbol or custom

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viewed by people
in my culture or community?

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The Bible principle at

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1 Corinthians 9:20, 21, and 23 is:

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“To the Jews I became as a Jew

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“in order to gain Jews;

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“to those under law I became as under law,

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“though I myself am not under law,

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“in order to gain those under law.

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“To those without law
I became as without law,

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“although I am not without law toward God

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“but under law toward Christ,

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in order to gain those without law.”

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“But I do all things
for the sake of the good news,

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in order to share it with others.”

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The principle here
is that we take into account

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how others feel about and view matters.

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Knowing how a certain symbol or custom

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is viewed in our own country or community

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is very important.

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Something that is very offensive
in our land or culture

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may be viewed as completely innocent

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in another land or culture.

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Back in 1976,

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the <i>Awake! </i> magazine
posed this important question:

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“What should be a Christian’s attitude

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“toward shapes and designs
that have at some time or place

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“been connected with false religion?

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“This question may be involved

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“when you choose wallpaper for your home,

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“the print on a necktie or dress,

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“or jewelry such as

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“cuff links, a bracelet
or a necklace to purchase.

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“It may even be of concern
regarding the design of lamps or dishes.

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“You might wonder, ‘Is this design

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somehow connected
with idolatrous worship?’”

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Then it offered this key thought:

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“Many times a design will change

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“in significance
according to location and time.

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“A certain shape may have
a particular meaning

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“to an observer at one time and place,

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“but a different meaning
to an observer elsewhere

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or in another age.”

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“So the Christian needs to be
primarily concerned about what?

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“Not what a certain symbol or design

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“possibly meant thousands of years ago

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“or how it might be thought of
on the other side of the world,

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but what it means now
to most people where he lives.”

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The article gave examples
of common symbols

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that at one time were associated
with false worship

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but no longer have that meaning today.

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The examples mentioned
included the heart,

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the fleur-de-lis, and the pomegranate.

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The article concluded
with this practical advice:

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“With so many different designs

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“having been used in false worship,

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“if a person went to the trouble
and took the time

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“he might find an undesirable connection

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“with almost every design
he sees around him.

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“But why do that?

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“Would it not be needlessly upsetting?

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“And is that the best use
of one’s time and attention?

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“If a particular design or shape
is commonly understood where you live

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“to be a religious symbol,
there is good reason to avoid it.

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“Or if <i>many</i> people locally
have become especially sensitive

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“about some shape or decoration,

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“the mature Christian
might choose to shun it

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so as to avoid needless disturbance
or stumbling.”

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Those are helpful principles, aren’t they?

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The same is true with customs.

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The way they are viewed
can change over time.

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The <i>Awake!</i>  of January 8, 2000,

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featured an article entitled

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“A Balanced View of Popular Customs.”

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It observed:

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“Customs have been
profoundly influenced by religion.

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“Many, in fact, arose from old superstitions

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and non-Biblical religious ideas.”

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The article mentioned several examples.

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Some of these customs may have had
false religious origins.

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Yet, the article noted:

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“Over the years, however,

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“the religious associations have faded,

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“and today these practices and customs

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have no religious significance.”

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Then it asked: “So, what should a Christian

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“primarily be concerned about?

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“Although there may be reason

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“to examine the origin
of a particular custom,

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“in some cases
it is more important to consider 

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<i>“what the custom means</i>
<i> to people at the time</i>

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<i>“and in the place where one now lives.</i>

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“If a custom has unscriptural

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“or otherwise negative connotations

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“during a particular period of the year

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“or under certain circumstances,

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Christians may wisely decide
to avoid it at that time.”

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What are some common examples today?

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What about covering your mouth
when yawning?

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In ancient times, some people did so

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because they thought it would prevent
one’s soul from escaping.

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But what about today?

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Today, it is commonly viewed
as a way of being polite

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and does not have a spiritistic meaning.

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What about wedding rings?

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Some historians claim
wedding rings have pagan roots.

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Yet, today most people
simply view wedding rings

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as a sign that the wearer is married.

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An example that illustrates
the importance of timing

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is string lights.

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Many Bethelites here at Warwick

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enjoy putting white string lights

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on their balconies as decorations

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—except during November and December.

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Why not then?

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Because in this region of the world,

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string lights are closely associated
with Christmas,

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a false religious holiday.

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So our Bethel family
avoids even the appearance

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of participating
in that false religious celebration.

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Another example
is toasting

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or clinking glasses.

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For years, Jehovah’s Witnesses
have avoided this practice

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because it may have had origins
in false religion.

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However, now in most places,

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toasting or clinking glasses

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no longer has any religious association.

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It is viewed simply as a friendly custom.

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Therefore, after prayerful consideration,

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the Governing Body has concluded

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that there is no need to make a rule

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regarding toasting and clinking glasses.

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Each Christian should use the principles

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that we have discussed in this update

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and his own Bible-trained conscience
to make a good decision.

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What does this mean?

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Are we saying that toasting is OK now

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at all times and in every situation?

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Of course not.

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We are simply saying
that there is no need to make a rule.

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Each Christian will need
to use Bible principles

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to make a good decision in each instance.

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Since there are so many different situations

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that could arise in the 240 lands
where Jehovah’s people serve,

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what a blessing
that Jehovah has given us

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these Bible principles!

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Let’s briefly review them.

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First, and most important,

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we love Jehovah
and always want to please him<b>.</b>

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So we might ask ourselves,

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‘Would Jehovah
be offended by the toast?’

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For example, is it associated
with a religious or nationalistic holiday?

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Or is it a simple expression or gesture

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promoting friendship or health?

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Second, we love our brothers and sisters

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and would not want
to needlessly offend them.

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We respect their feelings
and their conscience.

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And third,

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because we love
Jehovah and people,

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we are sensitive
to how any custom is viewed

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in our own local culture or community.

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Well, what have we learned?

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Jehovah doesn’t burden us
with endless rules.

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Instead, he lovingly
provides principles in his Word.

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These help us make wise, thoughtful,

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and loving decisions

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regarding symbols and customs.

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We’re also reminded
to respect the conscience of others

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and avoid imposing
our personal views on others.

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Jehovah has given us freedom,

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and we respect the freedom
that others have too.

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By applying Bible principles
with love and discernment,

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we remain united
and avoid stumbling others.

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What is our earnest prayer?

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It is just as the apostle Paul expressed

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at Ephesians 4:13,

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that “we all attain
to the oneness of the faith

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“and of the accurate knowledge
of the Son of God,

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“to being a full-grown man,

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“attaining the measure of stature

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that belongs to the fullness of the Christ.”

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Brothers and sisters,

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please know
that we love you all very much.

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From the World Headquarters
of Jehovah’s Witnesses,

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this is JW Broadcasting®.