# **Legalism

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Posted by Kent [KENT] on October 26, 1999 at 04:13:48 {c/rgKhj4NcOJikFWJ7tMBSwZlMEBKg}:

In Reply to: *Legalism posted by COMF on October 26, 1999 at 00:20:05:

# The reason is: Christian conscience!

### But the problem here is: who is defining this so called Christian conscience? And what is really Christian conscience? In this posting I have quoted what this is supposed to be, and here we can read how a "Christian Conscience" affects every tiny little detail in life

Let us take a little look at what this "Christian Conscience is all about :))))

`*** w93 8/1 23 Jehovah, My Confidence From Youth On ***
Our finances were low when we reached India, and finding employment was not easy. This resulted in a test of faith. I met a British officer who offered me a lucrative noncombatant job, but it involved serving as part of the military establishment. With Jehovah’s help, I was able to turn down the offer and thus keep a clear Christian conscience. (Isaiah 2:2-4) In other ways too, we felt the loving hand of Jehovah.`

*** w90 11/1 25 Our Relative Subjection to the Superior Authorities ***
Because our subjection is relative, and the authority does not always recognize that there are Biblically set limits to what it can demand. If the authority demands something that offends a trained Christian conscience, it is going beyond its God-given limit.

*** w89 3/1 31 Questions From Readers ***
While modern medicine might be able to help us extend our lives for a time, we certainly would not want to extend our present life by doing anything that would violate our Christian conscience or would displease our Life-Giver.—Matthew 16:25; 1 Timothy 1:18, 19.

*** w83 3/15 10 The Apostle Peter Speaks to You ***
IT IS not easy today to be a Christian. There are many pressures. In some lands the State tries to force us to do things that are against a Christian conscience.

*** w82 1/15 20 Happy Youth in a Corrupt World ***
Young people who calmly and respectfully explain the reason for a certain viewpoint based on their Christian conscience—and do this before the teacher has taken a position in front of the class and the matter has become an emotional one—find they have fewer problems in this regard.

*** w82 1/15 20-1 Happy Youth in a Corrupt World ***
10 A youngster who liked music and wanted to play in the school orchestra said: “I explained to the teacher at the beginning of school that I would like to be in the orchestra, but that there was some music I could not play, and I told her why.” When such music comes up, the teacher knows in advance that this student will sit quietly without playing. In fact, teachers have been known to rearrange an entire program to fit such a Christian conscience.

*** w82 8/1 22 Her Faith Was Unshakable ***
Renata’s Christian conscience would not permit her to accept a blood transfusion, in spite of a doctor’s insistence that she have one.

*** w79 3/15 8 Should You Follow the Custom? ***
A COUPLE from Rhodesia were visiting friends in Austria. While there, they were invited to an informal gathering in the home of some other people. Upon entering that house, they were invited to take off their shoes and were each handed a pair of slippers. At first, the couple were taken aback. They were not accustomed to taking off their shoes in front of strangers, especially in someone else’s home. However, they soon recovered their composure and readily complied with the request. Why? Because it apparently was the custom of that household.
This, of course, was a relatively easy decision to make, since no big issue was at stake. However, not all problems involving custom are that easily resolved, especially when they relate to matters of Christian conscience.

*** w79 8/15 11 Joyful, Despite My Handicap ***
Being a veteran, well-paying jobs were available to me. However, taking these jobs would have required my violating my Christian conscience, because the jobs were connected with activity described in the Bible as unacceptable for God’s servants

*** w79 9/15 6 Your View of Money Can Affect Your Life ***
Similarly, snatching at opportunities to gain materially at the expense of one’s Christian conscience may result in serious spiritual harm. (1 Tim. 6:9) Mere money can never benefit us in the way that faithful service to God does.

*** w76 10/15 615 The Secret of Happy Family Life ***
17 The good wife understands that, in a situation where she may think she is right, she should, nevertheless, submit to her husband’s decision if he sees the matter differently. She should not hypocritically claim to submit, while using devious means to try to control the situation. Of course, where a violation of Christian conscience may be involved, the Christian will obey God first.

*** w75 4/1 215 Are You Guided by a Sensitive Christian Conscience? ***
7 Employment is an area that brings up many problems calling for the exercise of Christian conscience. Some forms of employment, such as making idols, working in a gambling establishment or being employed by a false religious organization, are clearly contrary to the Scriptures. So Christians shun these.

*** w75 4/1 218 Are You Guided by a Sensitive Christian Conscience? ***
What explanation was offered for the outstanding creativity of these Witness children? The study specifically called attention to the fact that they do not just passively conform in patriotic exercises in school. Rather, they weigh the principles of God’s Word and cultivate responsiveness to a sensitive Christian conscience.

*** w75 4/1 219 Are You Guided by a Sensitive Christian Conscience? ***
If you have worked to cultivate a sensitive Christian conscience, that will help you. Be willing to listen carefully to the voice of your conscience, not feeling that if it is “up to your conscience” it does not matter what you do. It does.

*** w75 4/1 219 Are You Guided by a Sensitive Christian Conscience? ***
In a matter of serious concern, but still one that is up to your conscience, do not hesitate to speak with mature Christians, such as the elders in the congregation. Of course, they cannot decide for you. (One sincere Christian, when inquiring about a certain family matter, asked: “Is this against Christian conscience?”) No, an elder will not be able to tell you how your conscience should react, but he may be able to share with you balanced Bible counsel that you can evaluate.

*** w75 4/1 223 Questions from Readers ***
ó If, for taking a course in harmony with the Scriptures, a Christian were to be arrested and then sentenced by worldly authorities to pay a fine, would it be an act of compromise to pay it? If given the option of either paying the fine or serving a sentence in jail, would this alter matters?
Jesus Christ foretold that his followers would be ‘delivered up to local courts’ and be ‘put on the stand before governors and kings for his sake, for the purpose of a witness to them.’ (Mark 13:9) Such official action toward Christians may be due to their preaching the good news of the Kingdom or for some other action involving their Christian conscience. (Compare Acts 4:1-3, 18-21; 5:27-40; 1 Peter 4:15, 16.) A court may rule against them and the judgment may call for paying a fine. This may be the sole penalty or it may be as an option to going to jail or may be part of a combined punishment involving both jailing and the paying of a fine.

*** w75 11/15 698 Making Christianity Your Way of Life ***
It is possible, of course, that your firm stand for what is right might result in the loss of your job. In that event, other employment would have to be sought that requires no violation of Christian conscience. But Jehovah’s hand is not short.

*** w75 12/15 767 Subject Index for "The Watchtower," 1975 ***
Are You Guided by a Sensitive Christian Conscience? 214

*** w73 2/15 127 Questions from Readers ***
Is it compatible with maintaining a Christian conscience for one to accept employment that involves being armed, carrying either a gun or a club?—U.S.A.

*** w72 6/1 337 Take Time to Pray Every Day ***
If you want to enjoy the blessed close relationship with God, then you must be consistent and live in strict harmony with what you tell him. When decisions must be made, choose the course that will keep your trained Christian conscience clear and clean. (1 Tim. 1:5, 19) You should not reason that, since God already knows our inmost thoughts, it is not necessary to tell him anything. You should want to express yourself freely to him because of a heartfelt desire to enjoy the best of relations with him at all times.

*** w70 3/1 151 Youths, Prove Yourselves Christ's Disciples ***
23 All sorts of situations can arise in which Christian young people must allow Bible counsel to guide their actions in order to avoid doing something wrong in God’s eyes. Consequently they may find it necessary to give a Scriptural reason to outsiders for the actions they take or refuse to take. This may be at school when requested by a teacher to do something contrary to the Scriptures and their Christian conscience, or it may be in their relations with their fellow students. Their ability to give a Scriptural reason for what they do or refuse to do will depend on how well they have taken in the Bible instruction given them by their parents and God’s organization.

*** w68 4/1 224 Questions from Readers ***
If one has a debt, he ought to try hard to pay it. Remember, God approves the one “who, though it be to his loss, changes not his pledged word.”—Ps. 15:4, Confraternity.
In fact, some, even after being legally freed of certain debts, have conscientiously felt a moral urging to try to pay off the canceled debts if the former debtors would accept payment. In this, as in many matters, Christian conscience enters the picture. Each one can decide what he personally will do, striving always to maintain a good conscience.

*** w67 12/1 735 Questions from Readers ***
Also, she faces dangers as to maintaining her Christian integrity if the family puts pressure on her to compromise. The desire to avoid any embarrassment might exert a powerful influence on her and lead her to share in some apostate religious activity. Surely she would regret it if she did something that displeased Jehovah. So, it would be important to think the matter through in advance, taking these factors into consideration when making the decision.
In the final analysis she can weigh the factors and then make an individual decision. (Gal. 6:5) She would do well to decide in such a way as to retain a clear Christian conscience, to be able to say, as did Paul: “I am exercising myself continually to have a consciousness of committing no offense against God and men.”—Acts 24:16.

*** w66 12/1 720 Freedom of Worship ***
Subjection to the superior authorities cannot go so far as to violate Christian conscience and violate God’s truth as found in the Holy Bible.

*** w66 12/1 723 Freedom of Worship ***
19 In the midwar year of 1940 the Supreme Court rendered an adverse judgment by a vote of eight to one. But several years later the Court reconsidered its decision and on the national Flag Day, June 14, 1943, the Court reversed itself. It handed down a decision recognizing Christian conscience even when it considers the saluting of the flag of any country to be an act of idolatry and so a violation of God’s Supreme Law.

*** w65 11/1 670 Searching for and Finding God ***
Even the doctors who strenuously endeavored to make her take transfusions had to admire her faith. In trying to reason with the doctor, I explained that, even though this might extend my wife’s life for a short period of time, eventually, because of violating Jehovah’s law concerning the sanctity of blood, she would die and be dead forever, whereas if she died now, refusing to violate her Christian conscience trained by a study of God’s Word, she would be assured of a resurrection to everlasting life.

*** w64 3/1 155 Beware of Toying with Sexual Immorality! ***
While we do not adopt the customs of a land if they violate God’s commandments, at the same time we do not insist on breaking local customs that do not violate Christian conscience.

*** w64 3/15 183 The Privileges of the Christian Woman ***
So, in the following issue of The Watchtower, we will consider some of the circumstances where the question of head covering might arise, so that faithful women ministers in the New World society will know how to act appropriately in harmony with the Scriptures and with a good Christian conscience.

*** w64 8/15 488 Avoid the Ensnaring Fear of Man ***
It is just as easy today to be ensnared by fear of what others might think. For instance, you may be working in an office and someone may come around collecting money for a cause for which it would violate your Christian conscience to contribute. Everyone else may give; some perhaps because of a genuinely generous spirit. Others contribute because they feel they are being watched, and want to make a good impression. But what about yourself? Will you violate your Christian conscience so as not to be different?

*** w64 9/15 548 Wise Use of Freedom of Choice ***
Also to be taken into consideration is the Christian conscience. The Christian appreciates his freedom to choose the kind of music he will listen to, but he also appreciates that some songs are suggestive and demoralizing. So he avoids these. He fills his mind with what is righteous and chaste. He does not abuse his freedom of choice, and so harm himself spiritually.

*** w62 11/1 651 "Be in Subjection"-to Whom? ***
Did the apostle Paul mean that Christians should be in total subjection, in which a person simply takes orders from above and becomes a mere mechanical robot, not letting Christian conscience dictate what is right and what is wrong according to God’s written Word?

*** w62 11/1 652 "Be in Subjection"-to Whom? ***
What if the Christian wife, who preaches God’s Word to others, does not give her husband this relative subjection but defies him and fights over household things in which Christian conscience is not involved?

*** w62 11/1 655 "Be in Subjection"-to Whom? ***
The Christian subjection of oneself as a slave to a human slaveholder is thus proved to be a relative, comparative, limited subjection, dependent on Christian conscience. Pleasing the slaveowner does not include breaking God’s commandments.

*** w62 11/1 656 "Be in Subjection"-to Whom? ***
In every case the apostle Paul makes the subjection of Christian slaves to their human owners or masters a relative subjection. Things that slaves did previously in total obedience to their earthly owners they will do no more because of now having a Christian conscience. In spite of that, they will be better slaves and be more profitable to their owners in a loyal way. By sticking to the right Christian course in spite of the wishes of their masters, they will not harm their masters or hurt their interests, but will bring their masters around to respecting their educated, trained Christian conscience. Because of their being better slaves for their having adopted Christianity, they will be no shame or disgrace to what God teaches his dedicated witnesses.

*** w62 11/15 689 Subjection to "Superior Authorities"-Why? ***
35 Human laws differ from country to country and from time to time and may be contradictory, yet not all these Gentile laws are against the conscience of God’s people. Many of such laws are in line with Christian conscience, even though the Gentile lawmakers were not influenced by Judaism or by Christianity.

*** w62 12/1 712 Benefiting by Subjection to Authorities ***
Just as it is inside God’s own organization, so it is outside in Satan’s organization: persons in authority have their instructions for right conduct in office, certainly not instructions for bad, unjust conduct. Otherwise, how could we look to any official on earth for help? How could we do so if such official was not authorized to do right, to do good, to do justice? Some of the right-doing that they are authorized to do is in harmony with God’s law and can be approved by Christian conscience.

*** w62 12/1 714 Conscience and Subjection to Authorities ***
So as residents in the land they keep good order, not just to avoid the wrath that could be expressed through the superior authorities, but to live by their Christian conscience, which is enlightened by God’s Word.

*** w62 12/1 714 Conscience and Subjection to Authorities ***
A Christian conscience keeps us from doing wrong but impels us to do right, according to God’s Word. We do not want our conscience to sting us for doing what is bad in God’s sight. For this reason Christians have a restraining force that worldly people do not have against doing bad.

*** w62 12/1 714 Conscience and Subjection to Authorities ***
He points out that it ought to be the force that deters a person as a Christian from doing wrong or meddling in things that do not concern him. (1 Pet. 2:19; 3:16, 21) So a double force, namely, Christian conscience and fear of wrath, acts upon Christians to hold them in the path of doing good, in harmony with the State laws that are good, laws that show righteousness because of the bit of conscience that still remains in worldly men as an inheritance from God’s first human creation, the man Adam.

*** w62 12/1 719 Conscience and Subjection to Authorities ***
As Christians we should be debt-free toward worldly rulers by the prompt payment of our obligations. This preserves a good Christian conscience. The only debt that we should feel we have never fully discharged is that of love.

*** w62 12/1 720 Conscience and Subjection to Authorities ***
If we subjected ourselves to such authorities in everything, we should not in many cases be obeying God’s law; yes, we should not be doing the loving thing toward God or our neighbor, and we should be violating our Christian conscience.

*** w54 10/1 599 Christians Live the Truth ***
The Christian conscience, instructed by God’s Word, is a good guide to right doing, making the setting up of a Talmudlike code of rules unnecessary.

*** w51 9/15 574 Questions from Readers ***
As for jury duty, would you be acceptable for this service, say, in a divorce case where one might be granted on grounds other than adultery? Your Christian conscience might eliminate you, rendering you unacceptable to one or both sides of the case.

*** g94 3/22 18 How Can I Avoid Toying With Immorality? ***
For one thing, someone who really loves you will never pressure you into doing something that violates your Christian conscience or that makes you feel uncomfortable.

*** g78 6/22 28 How Can Law Be 'Handled Lawfully'? ***
Today Christians are living under the laws of various governments, and they must and do obey these laws when they know that they are right and for the common good. The only exception is where a man-made law is contrary to God’s commands to his people and where the Christian conscience would be violated.

*** g77 1/8 7 The Dilemma Facing Single People ***
Of course, there is nothing new in the idea of two people living together without first marrying. What is new is the number openly doing so. In the United States, a government report indicated that between 1960 and 1970 there was a 700-percent increase in unwed couples. More recent reports show an even greater jump.
Besides the obvious conflict for a Christian conscience, the question is: Are these couples enjoying “marriage”? Does this cohabitation lead them out of the confusion and into a meaningful, permanent relationship?

*** g76 9/8 6 The Attack Mounted Against Jehovah's Witnesses ***
At most places of work authorities began to set aside time each week for flag ceremonies, the singing of patriotic songs, and the shouting of political slogans. In addition to this, “ideology courses,” including also: premilitary training, were arranged.
In one district, during the first weekend of April employees from several places of work were scheduled to come together for one of these ideology courses. Some 300 or more persons worked at these places. Everyone was told to attend, including four Witness employees. The Witness men, S. A., C. A. and A. A., decided it would be best not to attend. The woman, J. T., attended but refused to participate in parts of the course that violated her Christian conscience.

*** g76 9/8 8 The Attack Mounted Against Jehovah's Witnesses ***
“We are neutral, and our Christian conscience doesn’t permit us to repeat political slogans.”

*** g76 9/8 10 The Attack Mounted Against Jehovah's Witnesses ***
When one young man was asked: “Why are you not singing or taking part in this flag ceremony?” he answered: “My Christian conscience does not permit it, and the Bible does not approve of such worship.”

*** g75 2/22 23 Pope Pius XII and the Nazis-A Fresh Viewpoint ***
Many are now taking advantage of the help that Jehovah’s witnesses freely offer to develop a Bible-trained Christian conscience that will not fail under test.

*** g75 12/8 11 A Beastly Record-When Will It End? ***
The government order seems to be designed to keep the Witnesses from attempting to escape to any other country, since they could not take their children along; or perhaps to subject the Witness mothers to such anguish that they will violate their Christian conscience and join the political party.

*** g74 12/8 22 The Netherlands Frees Imprisoned Witnesses ***
To many officials this marked the end of a problem that had bothered them for a long time—that of putting decent, clean-cut young men into prison alongside hardened criminals simply because they refused to violate their Christian conscience. To Jehovah’s witnesses it was another victory in the fight for the freedom to worship God in the way the Bible commands.

*** g72 9/22 21 If You Were the Judge, What Would Your Decision Be? ***
NOTE: About ten well-known Austrian specialists, including university lecturers, chief surgeons of pediatric clinical hospitals and directors of pediatric hospitals of universities in Austria declared, when questioned in connection with this case, that they personally were willing to respect the religious stand of Jehovah’s witnesses in the blood issue and that they would administer all other conceivable medical treatment, so as to help these patients. Such physicians are to be commended, for they are endeavoring to help their fellowman, and, at the same time, they show respect for the Bible-based dictates of Christian conscience.

*** km 5/82 5 1982 "Kingdom Truth" District Conventions ***
If we are holding a seat or two and the session starts, our Christian conscience should move us to relinquish any seat we are saving, unless we know that the one who is to sit there will arrive soon.

*** km 4/80 3 "Carry On as Men"! ***
In caring for their own families, the brothers have a large and important assignment. Sometimes it may appear to be a thankless one, especially when children seem to be negative about their responsibilities in attending meetings and developing a good Christian conscience.

*** km 5/77 3-4 "Joyful Workers" District Assembly ***
In many places it has been observed that large numbers of seats have been saved and were never occupied during entire sessions, forcing people to stand. How would we feel if this happened to us? Jesus stated: “All things, therefore, that you want men to do to you, you also must likewise do to them.” (Matt. 7:12) In harmony with this principle, our Christian conscience should move us to consider others.

*** km 2/76 2 Your Service Meetings ***
16 min: Song 4. Introduction. Comment on February theme, “Stay in the Way of Life with a Christian Conscience.” (1 Pet. 3:16; see April 1, 1975, Watchtower.) Include reference to how proper understanding of God’s Word together with a good conscience will cause us to make wise decisions in life. Keeping our dedication close in mind will help us do God’s will. Good personal study habits will help us train conscience properly. Participating regularly in field service helps us keep good conscience and stay in way of life.

*** km 3/76 3 "Sacred Service" District Assemblies ***
Thus, if we are holding a seat or two and the session starts, our Christian conscience should move us to relinquish any seats we are saving, unless we know that those who were sitting there will return soon. Please cooperate with the attendants in these matters.

*** km 9/76 3 Doing Work with a Good Conscience Before God and Men ***
Clearly there is a difference between doing work that benefits people just as fellow humans and work that directly fosters or directly gives support to wrong practices. The principal question is: “Does the work or activity to be performed in itself constitute an act condemned by God’s Word? Or, if it does not, is it nevertheless so directly linked to such condemned practices that it would make those doing such work actual accomplices or promoters of the wrong practice?” In such cases Christian conscience should surely cause them to reject such employment.

*** km 8/75 7 Endure Family Opposition with Understanding and Wisdom ***
By your spending time with your mate, accommodating him within the bounds of a Christian conscience and showing industriousness around the home, it will become apparent to the opposer that one’s being a Christian, rather than resulting in neglect of family and home, makes one a better husband or wife and contributes to a rich, warm family atmosphere.

*** km 2/74 3 Harmonizing Our Employment with 'Love of Neighbor' ***
Therefore, a person who owns a tobacco store, or one who has accepted employment in a factory devoted to producing tobacco products, or a salesman whose business is selling tobacco, or a farmer who controls the raising of crops on his farm and who chooses to raise tobacco should recognize that he has a responsibility for what he is doing. How can his Christian conscience allow him to bring harm to his neighbor when he is in a position to exercise control over what is being done?

*** km 2/74 4 Harmonizing Our Employment with 'Love of Neighbor' ***
Since he is the owner of the store and has control of what is sold there, the responsibility falls directly upon him, and his Christian conscience should move him to dispose of all tobacco stock and not replace it, even though this may result in some financial loss to him.

*** km 2/74 4 Harmonizing Our Employment with 'Love of Neighbor' ***
As The Watchtower of July 1, 1973, indicated, the Christian conscience should move one to do good toward others. Tobacco does not do good for the human family. Therefore, why should the Christian farmer be involved with the production and sale of a tobacco crop?

*** km 2/74 5-6 Harmonizing Our Employment with 'Love of Neighbor' ***
Inquiries have been received about employment on farms owned by someone else on which tobacco is produced. Here the position would be similar to employment in a worldly company where the Christian employee asks his employer if he may work with things that do not offend his Christian conscience, in this case with other crops that may be grown (grain, fruits and vegetables). On farms there may be livestock to handle or work in taking care of buildings not used for tobacco products. A Christian’s conscience and understanding of Bible principles will cause him to avoid sharing in tobacco production.

*** km 6/72 3 Assembly Time Is Here! ***
People were forced to stand or go to a place where they could not see or even hear well, thereby missing that whole portion of the program. If we are saving two or three seats and the session has begun, our Christian conscience should move us to relinquish any seats we are saving, unless they are for volunteer workers who will occupy them shortly after the session starts or for someone who has gone out to a washroom.

*** jv 317 19 Growing Together in Love ***
Republic by showing respect to the national flag when it is being hoisted or lowered at ceremonies by standing at attention.” But it was not required that they salute, in violation of their Christian conscience.

*** jv 669 29 "Objects of Hatred by All the Nations" ***
Soon other nations began to demand that everyone salute their flag. Jehovah’s Witnesses refused—not out of disloyalty but for reasons of Christian conscience. They respect the flag but regard the flag salute as an act of worship.

*** uw 158-9 20 Life and Blood-Do You Treat Them as Sacred? ***
9 To assure that your doctor will respect your decision to ‘abstain from blood,’ talk to him before any medical emergency arises. If it is necessary to check into a hospital for treatment, take the precaution of requesting in writing that no blood be used, also speak about it personally to the doctor that will be handling your case. But what if there is an unexpected emergency? Unpleasant confrontations can often be avoided by having a respectful, reasonable discussion with the doctor, urging him to use his skills to help, but with respect for your Christian conscience.

*** bw 64 6 Submission to Authority That Is Rewarding ***
7 At times governments may order citizens to register for various purposes, or they may call upon them to support certain community building and farming projects, perhaps in connection with construction of roads, dams or schools. (Compare Luke 2:1-3.) In all these matters, Christian conscience is, of course, to be considered. However, where there is no issue involved that would offend one’s Scripturally trained conscience, it can contribute to the advancement of the “good news” when the Christian does what he can to show himself both submissive and cooperative. It would be highly improper to agitate against any particular projects or to become outright rebellious toward governmental authority on any level.

*** bw 163 10 Safeguard Your Christian Hope ***
30 So there is need to keep our senses and avoid both extremes. There is an undeniable danger of being led into a course of heedless pursuit of pleasure. One can gradually be pulled into a whirlpool of parties that, over a period of time, deteriorate in quality, slipping more and more into extremes in dancing or drinking, or of viewing entertainment that glorifies sexual immorality and sadism. It is unreasoning to claim that these unwholesome influences pose no danger. They can hardly help but have a weakening effect on the Christian conscience, breaking down one’s moral fiber. Persons pretending otherwise often wind up as victims to drunkenness and sexual misconduct.—Proverbs 13:20.

*** si 209 Bible Book Number 45-Romans ***
Christians are to be in law-abiding subjection not only on account of the fear of punishment but on account of Christian conscience, therefore paying their taxes, rendering their dues, meeting their obligations, owing no one anything, “except to love one another.” Love fulfills the Law

*** yb95 105 Cyprus ***
An Issue of Christian Conscience
During 1978/79 there were various newspaper reports dealing with the neutral stand taken by Jehovah’s Witnesses with regard to military conscription. Because the law made no provision for conscientious objection, several Witnesses were sentenced to terms of imprisonment.

*** yb95 234 Mexico ***
As the number of publishers increased, pressure on the Witness children increased. Newspaper articles criticized the position taken by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Since we were now operating in Mexico as a religious organization, the time had come to embark upon a campaign in defense of the Christian conscience of Witness children in the schools.

*** yb93 162-3 Honduras ***
The Christian Conscience
The schoolchildren are the ones who bear the brunt of the flag-salute issue. Some teachers, in an effort to be understanding, are unwittingly deceitful. Some tell pupils that flag saluting is no more than a mark of respect. However, Witness children well know the difference between respect—which they show for the flags of all nations—and idolatry. They also know that the Honduran national anthem applies such expressions as “divine emblem” and “holy banner” to the flag, clearly giving it religious significance.

*** yb88 234 Costa Rica ***
FLAG-SALUTE PROBLEMS
In September 1959 the flag-salute issue came to the fore in the schools of Puerto Limón. Thirteen students, all Jehovah’s Witnesses, refused to participate in these ceremonies because that would violate their Christian conscience. Although they had not engaged in any disrespectful act and their conduct had been without reproach, the Witness children were charged with rebellion and insubordination and were expelled from school.

*** yb86 166 Netherlands ***
During October and November of 1944 the Devil did his best to throw fear into the hearts of the brothers. On October 11, three Witnesses were arrested in the eastern part of the country. When they refused to do work that would violate a Christian conscience, their execution was promptly ordered. The three were led into the garden of the burgomaster’s home where the Gestapo had their headquarters, and they were cut down with machine-gun fire. They were buried right there in the garden.

*** yb85 45 Lands Where Our Work is Restricted ***
Integrity in the Face of Brutal Persecution: In one land where the work is banned, scores of our brothers are imprisoned because of their Christian neutrality. A report says: “They are severely beaten, whipped and coerced in every way to violate their Christian conscience. Frequently, prison terms follow one after another.

*** yb83 228 Portugal ***
FAITH OF CHRISTIAN NEUTRALS TESTED
Brother Fernando Silva from Oporto vividly recalls the ordeal he faced to maintain integrity for refusing to do military service for reasons of Christian conscience: “I was arrested in December 1972 and put in prison for 15 months. Repeated efforts, including physical ‘persuasion,’ failed to make me compromise. I was transferred to the Trafaria Prison near Lisbon and my ‘treatment’ began to include whippings. Finally, I was put on a plane and taken to Angola.

*** yb79 158-9 Canada ***
FAVORABLE NATIONAL PUBLICITY
In 1977, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation’s program “Access” presented a half-hour television show dealing mainly with the misrepresentation of the blood transfusion issue. During that program millions of viewers across Canada saw three individuals who were supposed to be “dead” according to predictions. But there they were, alive and well! They or their parents were able to explain why they took the steps they did to preserve life and maintain a good Christian conscience.

*** yb78 126 The Philippines ***
However, on August 15, 1959, the Supreme Court of the Philippines ruled that children of Jehovah’s Witnesses may be required to salute the Philippine flag despite their religious objections to saluting any man-made emblem. In spite of this adverse decision, Jehovah’s Witnesses continued to follow their Bible-trained conscience in the matter. Where possible, the brothers have availed themselves of the education provided in the schools, but never at the expense of violating their Christian conscience. Where the schools have been denied them because of their religious scruples, parents have done their best to educate their children at home.

*** yb73 81 Brazil ***
THE PUBLIC SCHOOL PROBLEM
Our younger brothers also have had to stand up to severe tests of their integrity in the schools. One of the first cases on record occurred in 1950 when a sister sixteen years of age refused to participate in a civic ceremony that would violate her Christian conscience. Efforts were made to explain the motive of her refusal to the teachers and the director, but to no avail. Religious enemies used their influence to have this case included in the legal process formed by the Ministry of Justice that led to the decree suspending the activity of the legal Society (Tôrre de Vigia) for six months, preliminary to the possible banning of the Society. When this legal process was finally dropped in 1957 after a number of interviews with the authorities, the situation in the schools returned to normal and continued so for a number of years.

*** yb72 167 Dominican Republic ***
In the city lawlessness and disorder prevailed. Issues arose that put the Christian conscience to the test. Neutrality had to be maintained.

*** yb70 178 Country Reports (Part One) ***
Firmly, the youth stated that Jehovah’s witnesses are not like false religions and that he could not hide from his superiors for they were Jehovah God and Jesus Christ, who see all our acts. He explained that his own Christian conscience, rather than what some other Witness said, would not allow him to participate. The school authorities, angered by this, said that they would not grant him his diploma if he did not obey their wishes. The young lad explained that, even so, he could not obey them, for his record with Jehovah was far more important, resulting in everlasting life, whereas a diploma would not be useful after this system passed away. When this boy did not receive his diploma and the reason became known, it caused quite a stir in local circles. One person told him that he had become famous for his stand. His reply was that he was happy if the reason for this fame was due to keeping integrity to Jehovah. At the last circuit assembly this youth was baptized, and the next month he entered the vacation pioneer service.

*** ed 25 Moral Values That Merit Respect ***
Children’s Right to Freedom of Conscience
You should also know that Jehovah’s Witnesses attach much importance to the individual Christian conscience. (Romans, chapter 14) The Convention on the Rights of the Child, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1989, recognized a child’s right to “freedom of thought, conscience and religion” and the right “to express his or her opinion freely and to have that opinion taken into account in any matter or procedure affecting the child.”

In total disrespect
Kent

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