Do All Celebrations Please God? -

5. Help others to respect your beliefs

It can hard to resist when others pressure you to participate in celebrations that displease Jehovah.  Explain your decisions patiently and tactfully. To see an example, play the video on jw.org. 

Read Matthew 7:12, and then discuss these questions:

* Based on this verse, should you tell your unbelieving family members that they cannot celebrate a holiday?

* What might you do to reassure your family that even though you will not celebrate with them, you love and appreciate them?

6. Jehovah wants us to be happy

Jehovah wants us to enjoy good times with your family and friends. Read Ecclesiastes  8:15, and then discuss this question:

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

Jehovah wants his  people to have fun and enjoy good times together.  Play the video on jw.org to see how this has been very evident at our international conventions.

Read Galatians 6:10,  and then discuss these questions:

* Do we need to celebrate popular holidays to do "what is good to others? 

* What kind of giving would make you happier-feeling obligated to give on a holiday or giving spontaneously?

* Many Witnesses occasionally organize something special for their children and even surprise them with gifts, if you have children. what are some special things that you could do for them? 

Some People Say: "A holiday's origins don't really matter, its about having a good time with family and friends." 

* What would you say?

Note: I would say, the world does not revolve around what us and what we  want.  It is what Jehovah God wants us to do, if we want to have the hope of everlasting life on paradise earth.   Your fun can happen any other day of the week, month, year, why pick one day to have fun? Why pick one day to be thankful, when we should be thankful everyday.  Why pick one day or two to give presents when you can do that any  time.   Just remember that Our heavenly God, Jehovah is the one who will be judging all of us, not man.  He is the Creator of all things beautiful.  

SUMMARY

Jehovah wants us  to enjoy time with family and friends. But he also wants us to avoid celebrations that displease him. 

Goal

Use what you learned in this lesson to evaluate the holidays that are popular in your area.

Next time: What It Means to Be Neutral

From the jw.org publications