Are they allowed to accept gifts or eat treats from these celebrations? A vendor recently brought us a gift basket that had the holiday theme, some of my co-workers who are Jehova's witnesses ate the treats from these baskets, so what gives?
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It seems rather obvious that many or most vendors which give gift baskets do so with a view to improving their own prospects for future business and profits, rather than in some effort to celebrate a holiday. A typical Jehovah's Witness would understand his brother or sister's decision regarding such baskets to be his or her own, to make according to his or her conscientious and actual understanding of the "gift" (or perhaps "bonus"). It is well-known that Jehovah's Witnesses do not celebrate pagan holidays, but they also do not superstitiously reject something merely because it has been tagged by someone else with a holiday nickname (or not, as seems to be the case with an unnamed vendor gift basket). For example, fruitcake does not become unacceptable simply because it is sometimes called Christmas cake. Of course, Jehovah's Witnesses work to please God and Christ, and understand that no seeming "loophole" could ever deceive the divine judges who can read the heart. ...(1 Samuel 16:7) Mere man sees what appears to the eyes; but as for Jehovah, he sees what the heart is. ...(Jeremiah 17:10) I, Jehovah, am searching the heart, examining the kidneys, even to give to each one according to his ways ...(Mark 2:8) Jesus, having discerned immediately by his spirit that they were reasoning that way in themselves, said to them: "Why are you reasoning these things in your hearts? ...(Genesis 18:25) Is the Judge of all the earth not going to do what is right? A Jehovah's Witness may choose to accept a bonus or a gift if he sincerely believes that the giver intends it to be something other than an aspect of a pagan celebration. It would seem that a critic who pretends some special insight into the conscientious thoughts of another may benefit from professional counseling and the bible's practical advice. ...(Psalm 119:69,70,78) The presumptuous have smeared me with falsehood. As for me, with all my heart I shall observe [God's] orders. Their heart has become unfeeling... Let the presumptuous ones be ashamed ...(Proverbs 11:27) He that is looking for good will keep seeking goodwill; but as for the one searching for bad, it will come upon him. Learn more: http://watchtower.org/e/20000622/
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