Part 2: Christian Living

In your study of the Bible, you have gained knowledge about what Jehovah asks of you and how to measure up to his righteous standards. Responding to what you have learned, you may have made a number of adjustments in your personal conduct and in your attitude toward life itself. Now that you have resolved to live by Jehovah’s righteous standards, you are in a position to render acceptable service as a minister of the good news.

A review of the following questions will help you fix clearly in mind Jehovah’s righteous requirements and will remind you of some of the things you can do in order to be one of his approved servants. This information will impress on you the importance of doing all things with a good conscience and to Jehovah’s honor.​—2 Cor. 1:12; 1 Tim. 1:19; 1 Pet. 3:16, 21.

Having reached this point in your study, you are no doubt eager to be submissive to Jehovah’s rule and to become part of his organization. The questions and Scripture references will help you to examine your own understanding of submission to Jehovah’s arrangement, whether in the congregation, in the family, or in regard to the political elements of this system of things. You will no doubt deepen your appreciation for Jehovah’s arrangements to educate and build up his people spiritually. These include congregation meetings that you will want to attend and participate in as your circumstances allow.

Additionally, this section will consider the importance of having a regular share in the Kingdom-preaching work, helping others to come to know Jehovah and what he is doing for mankind. (Matt. 24:14; 28:19, 20) Finally, it will impress on your mind the seriousness of your dedication to Jehovah God and your baptism. You can be certain that Jehovah appreciates your sincere response to his undeserved kindness expressed in your behalf.

1. What is the Christian standard for marriage? What is the only basis for a Scriptural divorce?

• “Have you not read that the one who created them from the beginning made them male and female and said: ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and his mother and will stick to his wife, and the two will be one flesh’? So that they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has yoked together, let no man put apart. . . . Whoever divorces his wife, except on the grounds of sexual immorality, and marries another commits adultery.”​—Matt. 19:4-6, 9.

2. Why should those living together as husband and wife be legally married? If you are married, are you sure that your marriage is legal and recognized by the government?

• “Continue reminding them to be in subjection and to be obedient to governments and authorities.”​—Titus 3:1.

• “Let marriage be honorable among all, and let the marriage bed be without defilement, for God will judge sexually immoral people and adulterers.”​—Heb. 13:4.

3. What is your role in the family?

• “Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, and do not forsake the instruction of your mother.”​—Prov. 1:8.

• “A husband is head of his wife just as the Christ is head of the congregation . . . Husbands, continue loving your wives, just as the Christ also loved the congregation.”​—Eph. 5:23, 25.

• “Fathers, do not be irritating your children, but go on bringing them up in the discipline and admonition of Jehovah.”​—Eph. 6:4.

• “You children, be obedient to your parents in everything, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord.”​—Col. 3:20.

• “You wives, be in subjection to your husbands.”​—1 Pet. 3:1.

4. Why should we show respect for life?

• “[God] gives to all people life and breath and all things. . . . By him we have life and move and exist.”​—Acts 17:25, 28.

5. Why should we not kill anyone, including an unborn baby?

• “If men should struggle with each other and they hurt a pregnant woman and . . . if a fatality does occur, then you must give life for life.”​—Ex. 21:22, 23.

• “Your eyes even saw me as an embryo; all its parts were written in your book regarding the days when they were formed, before any of them existed.”​—Ps. 139:16.

• “Jehovah hates . . . hands that shed innocent blood.”​—Prov. 6:16, 17.

6. What is God’s command regarding blood?

• “Keep abstaining . . . from blood [and] from what is strangled.”​—Acts 15:29.

7. Why must we love our Christian brothers and sisters?

• “I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples​—if you have love among yourselves.”​—John 13:34, 35.

8. To avoid transmitting an infectious, potentially fatal disease to others: (a) Why should an infected person not initiate displays of affection, such as hugging and kissing? (b) Why should he not react negatively if some choose not to invite him into their home? (c) Why should a person who may have been exposed to an infectious disease voluntarily choose to have a blood test before beginning a courtship? (d) Why should a person with an infectious disease inform the coordinator of the body of elders before getting baptized?

• “Do not owe anything to anyone except to love one another. . . . ‘You must love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does not work evil to one’s neighbor.”​—Rom. 13:8-10.

• “Look out not only for your own interests, but also for the interests of others.”​—Phil. 2:4.

9. Why does Jehovah expect us to forgive others?

• “Continue putting up with one another and forgiving one another freely even if anyone has a cause for complaint against another. Just as Jehovah freely forgave you, you must also do the same.”​—Col. 3:13.

10. What should you do if a brother slanders or defrauds you?

• “If your brother commits a sin, go and reveal his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two more, so that on the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. If he does not listen to them, speak to the congregation. If he does not listen even to the congregation, let him be to you just as a man of the nations and as a tax collector.”​—Matt. 18:15-17.

11. How does Jehovah view the following sins?

▪ Sexual immorality

▪ Use of images in worship

▪ Homosexuality

▪ Stealing

▪ Gambling

▪ Drunkenness

• “Do not be misled. Those who are sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, men who submit to homosexual acts, men who practice homosexuality, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners will not inherit God’s Kingdom.”​—1 Cor. 6:9, 10.

12. Regarding sexual immorality, which includes a variety of sexual acts outside of marriage, what are you determined to do?

• “Flee from sexual immorality!”​—1 Cor. 6:18.

13. Why should we abstain from the nonmedical use of addictive or mind-altering substances?

• “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, a sacred service with your power of reason. And stop being molded by this system of things, but be transformed by making your mind over, so that you may prove to yourselves the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”​—Rom. 12:1, 2.

14. What are some of the demonic practices that God forbids?

• “There should not be found in you . . . anyone who employs divination, anyone practicing magic, anyone who looks for omens, a sorcerer, anyone binding others with a spell, anyone who consults a spirit medium or a fortune-teller, or anyone who inquires of the dead.”​—Deut. 18:10, 11.

15. If a person commits a serious sin and wants to be restored to Jehovah’s favor, what should he immediately do?

• “I confessed my sin to you; I did not cover my error. I said: ‘I will confess my transgressions to Jehovah.’”​—Ps. 32:5.

• “Is there anyone sick among you? Let him call the elders of the congregation to him, and let them pray over him, applying oil to him in the name of Jehovah. And the prayer of faith will make the sick one well, and Jehovah will raise him up. Also, if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.”​—Jas. 5:14, 15.

16. If you know that a fellow Christian has committed a serious sin, what should you do?

• “If someone sins because he has heard a public call to testify and he is a witness or has seen or learned about it and he does not report it, then he will answer for his error.”​—Lev. 5:1.

17. If an announcement is made that someone is no longer one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, how should we treat him?

• “Stop keeping company with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral or a greedy person or an idolater or a reviler or a drunkard or an extortioner, not even eating with such a man.”​—1 Cor. 5:11.

• “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him.”​—2 John 10.

18. Why should your close friends be those who love Jehovah?

• “The one walking with the wise will become wise, but the one who has dealings with the stupid will fare badly.”​—Prov. 13:20.

• “Do not be misled. Bad associations spoil useful habits.”​—1 Cor. 15:33.

19. Why are Jehovah’s Witnesses politically neutral?

• “They are no part of the world, just as I [Jesus] am no part of the world.”​—John 17:16.

20. Why should you obey the government?

• “Let every person be in subjection to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except by God; the existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God.”​—Rom. 13:1.

21. If there is a conflict between a human law and God’s law, what would you do?

• “We must obey God as ruler rather than men.”​—Acts 5:29.

22. What scriptures can help you to remain separate from the world when choosing a job?

• “Nation will not lift up sword against nation, nor will they learn war anymore.”​—Mic. 4:3.

• “Get out of her [Babylon the Great], my people, if you do not want to share with her in her sins, and if you do not want to receive part of her plagues.”​—Rev. 18:4.

23. What kind of entertainment and recreation will you choose, and what kind will you reject?

• “Jehovah . . . hates anyone who loves violence.”​—Ps. 11:5.

• “Abhor what is wicked; cling to what is good.”​—Rom. 12:9.

• “Whatever things are true, whatever things are of serious concern, whatever things are righteous, whatever things are chaste, whatever things are lovable, whatever things are well-spoken-of, whatever things are virtuous, and whatever things are praiseworthy, continue considering these things.”​—Phil. 4:8.

24. Why do Jehovah’s Witnesses not worship with other religious groups?

• “You cannot be partaking of ‘the table of Jehovah’ and the table of demons.”​—1 Cor. 10:21.

• “‘Separate yourselves,’ says Jehovah, ‘and quit touching the unclean thing’; ‘and I will take you in.’”​—2 Cor. 6:17.

25. What principles will help you decide whether to participate in a celebration?

• “They mingled with the nations and adopted their ways. They kept serving their idols, and these became a snare to them.”​—Ps. 106:35, 36.

• “The dead know nothing at all.”​—Eccl. 9:5.

• “They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world.”​—John 17:16.

• “The time that has passed by is sufficient for you to have done the will of the nations when you carried on in acts of brazen conduct, unbridled passions, overdrinking, wild parties, drinking bouts, and lawless idolatries.”​—1 Pet. 4:3.

26. How do Bible examples help you decide whether to celebrate birthdays?

• “The third day was Pharaoh’s birthday, and he made a feast for all his servants, and he brought out both the chief cupbearer and the chief baker in the presence of his servants. And he returned the chief cupbearer to his post of cupbearer . . . But he hanged the chief baker.”​—Gen. 40:20-22.

• “When Herod’s birthday was being celebrated, the daughter of Herodias danced for the occasion and pleased Herod so much that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. Then she, at her mother’s prompting, said: ‘Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.’ So he sent and had John beheaded in the prison.”​—Matt. 14:6-8, 10.

27. Why do you want to follow the guidance of the elders?

• “Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you and be submissive, for they are keeping watch over you as those who will render an account, so that they may do this with joy and not with sighing, for this would be damaging to you.”​—Heb. 13:17.

28. Why is it important for you and your family to set aside time regularly to read and study the Bible?

• “His delight is in the law of Jehovah, and he reads His law in an undertone day and night. He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, a tree that produces fruit in its season, the foliage of which does not wither. And everything he does will succeed.”​—Ps. 1:2, 3.

29. Why do you love attending and participating in the meetings?

• “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.”​—Ps. 22:22.

• “Let us consider one another so as to incite to love and fine works, not forsaking our meeting together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you see the day drawing near.”​—Heb. 10:24, 25.

30. What is the most important work that Jesus has given us to do?

• “Go, therefore, and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them . . . , teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you.”​—Matt. 28:19, 20.

31. When we make donations to the Kingdom work or help our brothers and sisters, what attitude pleases Jehovah?

• “Honor Jehovah with your valuable things.”​—Prov. 3:9.

• “Let each one do just as he has resolved in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”​—2 Cor. 9:7.

32. What difficulties do Christians expect to experience?

• “Happy are those who have been persecuted for righteousness’ sake, since the Kingdom of the heavens belongs to them. Happy are you when people reproach you and persecute you and lyingly say every sort of wicked thing against you for my sake. Rejoice and be overjoyed, since your reward is great in the heavens, for in that way they persecuted the prophets prior to you.”​—Matt. 5:10-12.

33. Why is it a special privilege to be baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses?

• “Your word became to me the exultation and the rejoicing of my heart, for your name has been called on me, O Jehovah God.”​—Jer. 15:16.