Lesson 58

Image 1: A family calmly walks past a group of apostates who are jeering at people arriving at a convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses. — IMAGE 1: A family calmly walks past a group of apostates who are jeering at people arriving at a convention of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Remain Loyal to Jehovah

True Christians are determined never to allow anything or anyone to interfere with their worship of Jehovah. No doubt that is how you feel. Jehovah values your loyalty.

Read 1 Chronicles 28.9: “And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father and serve him with a complete heart and with a delightful soul, for Jehovah searches through all hearts, and he discerns every inclination of the thoughts. If you search for him, he will let himself be found by you, but if you leave him, he will reject you forever.

What situations could test your loyalty to him, and how can you deal with them?

1. How could others test our loyalty to Jehovah?

Some people will try to prevent us from serving Jehovah. Who would do such a thing? Some who have left the truth tell lies about God’s organization in order to destroy our faith. They are called apostates. Also, some religious leaders spread false information about us to cause unsuspecting ones to leave the truth. It is dangerous for us to argue with any opposers, to read their books or blogs, to go to their websites, or to watch their videos. Regarding those who try to discourage others from loyally serving Jehovah, Jesus said: “Let them be. Blind guides is what they are. If, then, a blind man guides a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”

2. What personal decisions may test our loyalty to Jehovah?

Love for Jehovah will move us to avoid having any involvement with false religion. Neither our job nor the organizations we belong to nor any activities we engage in should be connected with false religion. Jehovah warns us: “Get out of [Babylon the Great], my people.”

DIG DEEPER

Learn how you can avoid letting anyone weaken your loyalty to Jehovah. Also see how you can show loyalty by getting out of Babylon the Great.

3. Beware of false teachers

How should we react if we hear negative things about Jehovah’s organization?

Read Proverbs 14.15: The naive person believes every word, But the shrewd one ponders each step.

Discuss this question:

Why are we careful not to believe everything we hear?

Read 2 John 9-11: Everyone who pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God. The one who does remain in this teaching is the one who has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him. For the one who says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works.

Discuss these questions:

How should we treat apostates?

Even if we do not interact directly with apostates, how could we come into contact with their teachings?

How do you think Jehovah would feel if we were to pay attention to negative speech about him or his organization?

4. Remain loyal to God when a brother sins

If we learn that someone in the congregation has committed a serious sin, what obligation do we have? Consider a principle from God’s Law to ancient Israel.

Read Leviticus 5.1: “‘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.

As instructed in that verse, if we learn that a person has committed a serious sin, we should tell the elders what we know. Before doing so, however, it would be a kindness to urge the wrongdoer himself to go to the elders and confess his sin. If he fails to do so, our loyalty to Jehovah should prompt us to tell the elders what we know. How does such an approach demonstrate loyal love for...

Jehovah God?

the person who has sinned?

others in the congregation?

Image 2 Collage: A brother helps another brother who has done something wrong. 1. The brother is disturbed by what he sees on his cell phone. 2. The brother shows his cell phone to the other brother, but the other brother rejects his approach. 3. The brother shows his cell phone to two elders and talks with them. CAPTION: If a fellow believer is in trouble, help him! — IMAGE 2 Collage: A brother helps another brother who has done something wrong. 1. The brother is disturbed by what he sees on his cell phone. 2. The brother shows his cell phone to the other brother, but the other brother rejects his approach. 3. The brother shows his cell phone to two elders and talks with them.
CAPTION: If a fellow believer is in trouble, help him!

5. Stay out of Babylon the Great

Play the VIDEO.

Video Title: Get Out of Babylon the Great! (with Transcript) (Duration: 5:06).

Image 3: A scene from the video ‘Get Out of Babylon the Great!’ A Bible student walks away from a priest after she quit her job at a church. — IMAGE 3: A scene from the video ‘Get Out of Babylon the Great!’ A Bible student walks away from a priest after she quit her job at a church.

Read Luke 4.8: In reply Jesus said to him: “It is written, ‘It is Jehovah your God you must worship, and it is to him alone you must render sacred service.’”

Read Revelation 18.4, 5: And I heard another voice out of heaven say: “Get out of her, 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. For her sins have massed together clear up to heaven, and God has called her acts of injustice to mind.

and then answer these questions:

Is my name still on the membership rolls of a false religion?

Do I belong to an organization that is connected with another religion?

Does my work support false religion in any way?

Are there any other areas in my life where I need to separate from false religion?

If I answered yes to any of these questions, what changes should I make?

In all cases, make a decision that leaves you with a clean conscience and reflects your loyalty to Jehovah.

Image 4: A sister and her young son exiting a supermarket. They walk past a woman who is soliciting donations for a religious charity. CAPTION: What would you do if you were asked to contribute to a religious charity? — IMAGE 4: A sister and her young son exiting a supermarket. They walk past a woman who is soliciting donations for a religious charity.
CAPTION: What would you do if you were asked to contribute to a religious charity?

SOME PEOPLE SAY: “I need to know what apostates are saying about Jehovah’s Witnesses so that I can defend the truth.”

Would that be wise? Why, or why not?

SUMMARY

To remain loyal to Jehovah, we need to avoid associating with those who try to mislead us.

Review

Why should we not listen to the ideas of apostates?

If we learn that a brother has sinned seriously, what should we do?

How can we heed the warning to flee from false religion?

Lesson completed on:

Goal

If you are connected in any way with false religion, take steps to separate yourself from it.

Other: Memorizing Bible scriptures is vital for blind individuals to defend the truth using the Bible, build faith, provide comfort during difficult times, and keep God’s principles firm in heart and mind.

From lesson 58, memorize 2 John 9-11: Everyone who pushes ahead and does not remain in the teaching of the Christ does not have God. The one who does remain in this teaching is the one who has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your homes or say a greeting to him. For the one who says a greeting to him is a sharer in his wicked works.

EXPLORE

1. Learn how to react when others spread false reports about Jehovah’s Witnesses.

“Do You Have the Facts?” (The Watchtower, August 2018) Open explore 1 in new page

2. How can you identify organizations or activities that support Babylon the Great?

“Keep Busy During the Last of ‘the Last Days’” (The Watchtower, October 2019, paragraphs 16-18) Open explore 2 in new page

3. What have some opposers done to try to weaken our faith?

Beware of Deceit (9:32) Open explore 3 in new page

4. In the story “I Had Been Looking for God Since Childhood,” read about a Shinto priest who broke off ties with false religion.

“The Bible Changes Lives” (The Watchtower, July 1, 2011) Open explore 4 in new page

[End of lesson 58.]