| Servants of God love what is good. But they must also learn to hate what is bad. (Psalm 97:10) That means avoiding certain practices that God hates. What are some of those practices? |
Psalm 97:10 Let those who love the LORD hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. |
This means avoiding certain practices that God hates. God hates any practice that springs from self-pride. While a list is helpful, it is better to teach a person to study his or her motives before taking part in an activity. This is a much more comprehensive method for knowing God’s will than any list can be. |
| Fornication: Sex before marriage, adultery, bestiality, incest, and homosexuality are all serious sins against God. (Leviticus 18:6; Romans 1:26, 27; 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10) If a couple are not married but are living together, they should separate or else get legally married. (Hebrews 13:4) |
Leviticus 18:6 No one is to approach any close relative to have sexual relations. I am the LORD. Romans 1:26, 27 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 1 Corinthians 6:9, 10 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders, nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. Hebrews 13:4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. |
...bestiality... This is not mentioned in the listed passages (although I am not disagreeing with the fact that it is wrong, it should have scriptural support). ...are all serious sins against God. All sins are serious sins. All sins spring from choosing Self over God, and are equally damaging to a person’s relationship with God. In this way, the term serious is unnecessary at best and misleading at worst. If a couple are not married but are living together... The scripture passage does not deal with this situation. |
| Lying, Gambling, Stealing: Jehovah God cannot lie. (Titus 1:2) Persons who want his approval must avoid lying. (Proverbs 6:16-19; Colossians 3:9, 10) Every form of gambling is tainted by greed. So Christians do not take part in any kind of gambling, such as lotteries, horse racing, and bingo. (Ephesians 5:3-5) And Christians do not steal. They do not knowingly buy stolen property or take things without permission. (Exodus 20:15; Ephesians 4:28) |
Titus 1:2 ...a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time... Proverbs 6:16-19 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers. Colossians 3:9, 10 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Ephesians 5:3-5 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person--such a man is an idolater--has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Exodus 20:15 "You shall not steal." Ephesians 4:28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. |
Jehovah God cannot lie. The passage says does not, not cannot. However, if Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that God’s nature is such that He cannot lie, it shows that they are claiming that God does not change over time. This is a useful teaching, despite the inaccurate use of the scripture passage. Every form of gambling is tainted by greed. No mention of Gambling occurs in the scripture reference. Greed is certainly disdained, but the assertion that every form of gambling is tainted by greed is not at all supported either scripturally or logically. So Christians do not take part in any kind of gambling, such as lotteries, horse racing, and bingo. Again, the scripture reference does not list any form of gambling. As a counter-point, many times lotteries are used as fund-raisers for charities, and bingo is used as a social event rather than an event centered on greed. On the subject of horse racing, I can’t speak from personal knowledge, but I am fairly certain that there are a good number of people that are more interested in the breeding of horses and the training it takes to ride well rather than just the money that can be won. They do not knowingly buy stolen property... This assertion, though it may be true, is not mentioned in the scripture. |
| Fits of Anger, Violence: Uncontrolled anger can lead to acts of violence. (Genesis 4:5-8) A violent person cannot be God's friend. (Psalm 11:5; Proverbs 22:24, 25) It is wrong to take revenge or to return evil for the bad things that others might do to us. (Proverbs 24:29; Romans 12:17-21) |
Genesis 4:5-8 ...but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. Psalm 11:5 The LORD examines the righteous, but the wicked and those who love violence his soul hates. Proverbs 22:24, 25 Do not make friends with a hot-tempered man, do not associate with one easily angered, or you may learn his ways and get yourself ensnared. Proverbs 24:29 Do not say, "I'll do to him as he has done to me; I'll pay that man back for what he did." Romans 12:17-21 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. |
*See note on point 7. |
| Magical Spells and Spiritism: Some people call on the power of the spirits to try to heal sicknesses. Others cast spells on their enemies to make them sick or even to kill them. The power behind all these practices is Satan. So Christians must not take part in any of them. (Deuteronomy 18:9-13) Staying close to Jehovah is the best protection from spells that may be cast on us by others. (Proverbs 18:10) |
Deuteronomy 18:9-13 When you enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, do not learn to imitate the detestable ways of the nations there. Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD, and because of these detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you. You must be blameless before the LORD your God. Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe. |
Staying close to Jehovah is the best protection from spells that may be cast on us by others. Staying close to God is not for physical protection, but rather for protection from the temptations of pride. God never promises physical safety, but He does promise to provide a way out from under temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13). |
| Drunkenness: It is not wrong to drink a little wine, beer, or other alcoholic beverage. (Psalm 104:15; 1 Timothy 5:23) But heavy drinking and drunkenness are wrong in God's eyes. (1 Corinthians 5:11-13; 1 Timothy 3:8) Drinking too much can ruin your health and disrupt your family. It can also cause you to give in very quickly to other temptations. (Proverbs 23:20, 21, 29-35) |
Psalm 104:15 ...wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart. 1 Timothy 5:23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses. 1 Corinthians 5:11-13 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you." 1 Timothy 3:8 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. Proverbs 23:20, 21, 29-35 Do not join those who drink too much wine or gorge themselves on meat, for drunkards and gluttons become poor, and drowsiness clothes them in rags. ... Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has strife? Who has complaints? Who has needless bruises? Who has bloodshot eyes? Those who linger over wine, who go to sample bowls of mixed wine. Do not gaze at wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup, when it goes down smoothly! In the end it bites like a snake and poisons like a viper. Your eyes will see strange sights and your mind imagine confusing things. You will be like one sleeping on the high seas, lying on top of the rigging. "They hit me," you will say, "but I'm not hurt! They beat me, but I don't feel it! When will I wake up so I can find another drink?" |
1 Timothy 5:23 - When read in context, this verse could very easily be interpreted to have nothing to do with the actual drinking of wine. (Please note, this is my personal interpretation.) The passage is talking about helping only the widows that are really in need (too old to take care of themselves and with no family to help them) and using caution when selecting elders (test them over time before electing them as elders). It seems that the instruction to "stop drinking only water" is meant to tell the church to stop blindly following the letter of the law ("give help to the widows" and "elect elders who meet certain qualifications") and to start considering more carefully how to behave. The frequent illnesses may refer to the fact that the church struggles under the burden of supporting widows who do not really need support and being led by elders that are not worthy of their role. Drinking too much can ruin your health and disrupt your family. These assertions, though medically sound, are not implied by the scripture references. This brings to mind another issue for me: Are the instructions in this lesson meant to bring us closer to God or just to keep us healthy, happy, and looking good to our neighbors? |
| Persons who practice things that God says are bad will "not inherit God's kingdom." (Galatians 5:19-21) If you really love God and want to please him, you can break free from these practices. (1 John 5:3) Learn to hate what God says is bad. (Romans 12:9) Associate with people who have godly habits. (Proverbs 13:20) Mature Christian companions may prove to be a source of help. (James 5:14) Above all, rely on God's help through prayer. (Philippians 4:6, 7, 13) |
Galatians 5:19-21 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 1 John 5:3 This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome... Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Proverbs 13:20 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. James 5:14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. Philippians 4:6, 7, 13 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. ... I can do everything through him who gives me strength. |
If you really love God... These passages point out that love must be sincere. The sincerity of love is shown through acts. But acts do not imply love. Unfortunately, this entire lesson seems to be focused on the idea of "acts implying love" rather than "love leading to acts." So, while I agree that most of the "rules" are sound and good, simply following these rules will not bring a person any closer to God or salvation. It is love for God that brings you closer to Him, and from that love, acts of goodness will automatically spring. |
