The content displayed below is for educational and archival purposes only.Unless stated otherwise, content is © Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
You may be able to find the original on wol.jw.org
Video above © Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsylvania
00:03 Every day we make choices 00:05 that can affect our relationship with Jehovah. 00:08 When there’s a clear Scriptural command, 00:10 the right choice may seem easy. 00:14 But what if there’s not? 00:18 How can we be sure we’re making a wise decision? 00:23 An invitation to our niece’s wedding arrived. 00:28 Thomas was excited about it. 00:34 I was excited too. 00:38 But the ceremony 00:40 was being held at a local church. 00:44 I wondered if it would still be OK for me to attend. 00:49 Even though Thomas wasn’t yet willing 00:51 to accept a Bible study, he gradually softened over the years 00:54 since I came into the truth. 00:57 I knew he understood why I would never enter a church for worship, 01:01 but what about attending a wedding? 01:03 Jehovah approves of weddings. 01:09 That afternoon, 01:10 I went to help Amy plan a menu 01:12 for the pioneer school lunch coming up. 01:18 She noticed I was a bit distracted, 01:22 so I told her my concerns about the wedding. 01:25 But you’re not thinking of going, are you? 01:28 Amy sure had a strong opinion on the matter, 01:31 but I didn’t feel she really understood my situation. 01:37 Although I appreciated her concern, 01:40 I felt like she was judging me. 01:45 The next day, I decided to visit Charlotte and Allan 01:48 and ask their advice. 01:52 Like me, Charlotte had come into the truth 01:55 many years before Allan, so they really understood my situation. 02:00 Is Amy right? 02:02 Would it be wrong to attend the wedding? 02:04 What would you do if you were me? 02:07 Charlotte explained that in situations 02:10 where there’s no specific Bible command, 02:12 it becomes a matter of conscience. 02:16 And what one person’s conscience allows 02:19 may be different from another. 02:23 The important thing 02:25 is that we make decisions that leave us with a good conscience. 02:41 But how do I do that? 02:44 Dear Emma, it’s really a matter of training. 02:49 Allan showed me the scripture at Hebrews 5:14, 02:52 where the apostle Paul wrote: 02:54 “Solid food belongs to mature people, 02:56 “to those who through use 02:58 “have their powers of discernment trained 03:01 to distinguish both right and wrong.” 03:06 But Paul didn’t just write those words; 03:11 he lived them. 03:15 He carefully studied the principles in God’s Word. 03:20 And as a result, he was able to make decisions 03:24 that left him with a good conscience. 03:30 So even when there’s no stated law on a matter, 03:33 we can always find a Bible principle 03:36 that can give us insight into God’s thinking. 03:42 So I made it a matter of prayer, and then I got to work. 03:51 I researched articles 03:54 in the Watch Tower Publications Index and the Research Guide. 03:59 I found a really good thought in chapter 2 of the “God’s Love” book. 04:08 I also read about others who faced similar situations 04:11 and what Bible principles they found helpful. 04:15 Then I meditated on all these. 04:26 As I kept studying, I was able to bring my conscience 04:29 in harmony with Jehovah’s spirit, 04:32 not just with my heart. 04:45 I realized that having a Bible-trained conscience 04:48 doesn’t mean everyone will always think exactly alike 04:52 —and that’s OK. 04:55 But if we train our conscience by applying Bible principles, 04:59 it will guide us along in life, so that each of us 05:02 can remain in God’s love.
00:03 Every day we make choices 00:05 that can affect our relationship with Jehovah. 00:08 When there’s a clear Scriptural command, 00:10 the right choice may seem easy. 00:14 But what if there’s not? 00:18 How can we be sure we’re making a wise decision? 00:23 An invitation to our niece’s wedding arrived. 00:28 Thomas was excited about it. 00:34 I was excited too. 00:38 But the ceremony 00:40 was being held at a local church. 00:44 I wondered if it would still be OK for me to attend. 00:49 Even though Thomas wasn’t yet willing 00:51 to accept a Bible study, he gradually softened over the years 00:54 since I came into the truth. 00:57 I knew he understood why I would never enter a church for worship, 01:01 but what about attending a wedding? 01:03 Jehovah approves of weddings. 01:09 That afternoon, 01:10 I went to help Amy plan a menu 01:12 for the pioneer school lunch coming up. 01:18 She noticed I was a bit distracted, 01:22 so I told her my concerns about the wedding. 01:25 But you’re not thinking of going, are you? 01:28 Amy sure had a strong opinion on the matter, 01:31 but I didn’t feel she really understood my situation. 01:37 Although I appreciated her concern, 01:40 I felt like she was judging me. 01:45 The next day, I decided to visit Charlotte and Allan 01:48 and ask their advice. 01:52 Like me, Charlotte had come into the truth 01:55 many years before Allan, so they really understood my situation. 02:00 Is Amy right? 02:02 Would it be wrong to attend the wedding? 02:04 What would you do if you were me? 02:07 Charlotte explained that in situations 02:10 where there’s no specific Bible command, 02:12 it becomes a matter of conscience. 02:16 And what one person’s conscience allows 02:19 may be different from another. 02:23 The important thing 02:25 is that we make decisions that leave us with a good conscience. 02:41 But how do I do that? 02:44 Dear Emma, it’s really a matter of training. 02:49 Allan showed me the scripture at Hebrews 5:14, 02:52 where the apostle Paul wrote: 02:54 “Solid food belongs to mature people, 02:56 “to those who through use 02:58 “have their powers of discernment trained 03:01 to distinguish both right and wrong.” 03:06 But Paul didn’t just write those words; 03:11 he lived them. 03:15 He carefully studied the principles in God’s Word. 03:20 And as a result, he was able to make decisions 03:24 that left him with a good conscience. 03:30 So even when there’s no stated law on a matter, 03:33 we can always find a Bible principle 03:36 that can give us insight into God’s thinking. 03:42 So I made it a matter of prayer, and then I got to work. 03:51 I researched articles 03:54 in the Watch Tower Publications Index and the Research Guide. 03:59 I found a really good thought in chapter 2 of the “God’s Love” book. 04:08 I also read about others who faced similar situations 04:11 and what Bible principles they found helpful. 04:15 Then I meditated on all these. 04:26 As I kept studying, I was able to bring my conscience 04:29 in harmony with Jehovah’s spirit, 04:32 not just with my heart. 04:45 I realized that having a Bible-trained conscience 04:48 doesn’t mean everyone will always think exactly alike 04:52 —and that’s OK. 04:55 But if we train our conscience by applying Bible principles, 04:59 it will guide us along in life, so that each of us 05:02 can remain in God’s love.
