Is Your Conscience a Reliable Guide?

BE REASONABLE

The Bible encourages us to avoid harmful practices and to be moderate in habits, such as in eating and drinking. (Proverbs 23:20;  2 Corinthians 7:1)  As we apply Bible principles, we will be safeguarding our health to a degree, even if advancing age and infirmity may still affect us.  In some lands, both conventional medicine and a range of alternative therapies are available.  Branch offices regularly receive letters from brothers and sisters who are considering one form of treatment or another. Many ask, "Can a servant of Jehovah accept such treatment?"

Neither a branch office nor the local congregation elders are authorized to make health-care decisions for a Witness, even if he asks what to do.  (Galatians 6:5)  They can, of course, call attention to what Jehovah has said that may have a bearing on the decision.  For example, a Christian needs to remember the Biblical command  "to keep abstaining from . . . blood."  (Acts 15:29) That would clearly rule out medical treatments that involve taking in whole blood or any of its four major components.  This knowledge could even influence  a Christian's  conscience when he makes a personal decision  regarding minor infractions derived from one of those four components. But what other Bible advice can guide us when we are contemplating medical treatment? 

Proverbs 14:15 says:  "The naive person believes every word, but the shrewd one ponders each step."  For some illnesses there may be no known cure. So it is  wise to be cautious when it comes to treatments that feature  stunning claims but that are promoted merely with hear-say testimonials. Paul was inspired to write: "Let your reasonableness become known to all men." (Philippians 4:5)  Reasonableness also holds us back from devoting so much time to health care that spiritual matters are forced into the background. Were we to allow health care to become  the main focus of our life, we would ruin the risk   of becoming self-centered.  (Philippians 2:4) Spiritual matters are most important, and with regard to health, our expectations  should remain reasonable. -Read Philippians 1:10.

A Christian who is reasonable does not impose his views on others. In one European land, a married couple were zealously advocating certain food supplements and a diet.  They persuaded some brothers to use the supplements, but others chose not to. In time, the results fell short of expectations, and there was widespread resentment.  The couple has a right to choose for themselves whether  they would follow a certain diet and take the supplements, but was it reasonable to put the unity of the congregation  at risk over health care?  For a time, Christians in ancient Rome had differing opinions  with regard to eating certain foods and observing certain days. What advice did Paul  give them?  Regarding the latter, he said:  "One man  judges one day the same as all the others; let each one be fully convinced in his own mind."  It was important not to put a stumbling block before others. -Read Romans 14:5, 13, 15, 19, 20. 

If we cannot understand the conscientiousness decision of a fellow believer on some personal matter, we should not quickly judge him or feel that we ought to  pressure him to change his mind. Perhaps his conscience is still "weak" an din need of more training or is too sensitive on certain issues.   (1 Corinthians 8:11, 12) On the other hand, it may be that we need to examine  our own conscience, which may need further training in line with divine principles. On matters like health care, each of us should be willing to make a personal decision and accept the responsibility that comes with it. 

Next time: Is Your Conscience a Reliable Guide? - ENJOY UPBUILDING RECREATION

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