"THERE IS NO POSSIBLE CODE OF CONDUCT THAT IS NOT CONDEMNED ONCE AND PLACE AND THAT THE OTHER TIME AND THE OTHER PLACE BECAME DISPUTED AS AN OBLIGATION."
With this observation, the Irish historian William Lecky sums up the changing nature of humans. Your comments may also relate to customs and traditions over the centuries. In fact, many practices that were once considered an integral part of daily life were later condemned. This is not surprising because, as the Christian apostle Paul pointed out, "the scene of this world is changing" (1 Corinthians 7:31).
Yes, human society is constantly changing. This usually leads to significant changes in social attitudes and habits. Christians should not "be part of the world", that is, remain separated from human society that has been alienated from God. However, the Bible recognizes that Christians are "in the world" and does not command them to be isolationists. Therefore, it is important to have a balanced view of the customs (John 17:11, 14-16); 2 Corinthians 6: 14-17; Ephesians 4: 17-19; 2 Peter 2:20.
What are customs?
Customs are practices that apply to social life and are the same for a particular place or group of people. Some customs, such as table manners and etiquette, may arise from the need to regulate people's behavior during group activities so that they can be civilized and respectful of one another. In such cases, social courtesy can be compared to oil for lubricating the gears of human relationships.
The customs were strongly influenced by religion. In fact, many were born out of ancient superstitions and non-written religious ideas. For example, giving flowers to those affected may stem from religious superstition. * The color blue, often associated with boys, was also believed to drive demons away. Mascara served as a protection against the evil eye, while lipstick was used to prevent demons from entering a woman's mouth and owning it. Even a habit as harmless as covering your mouth while yawning can stem from the idea that your soul can escape through a wide-open mouth. However, over the years religious associations have disappeared and today these practices and customs no longer have any religious significance.
The concern of Christians
When a Christian has to decide whether or not to follow a particular custom, his main concern must be: What is God's view expressed in the Bible? In the past, God condemned certain practices that some churches may have tolerated. This included child sacrifice, blood abuse and various sexual practices. (Leviticus 17:13, 14; 18: 1-30; Deuteronomy 18:10.) It is also evident that some common customs today are inconsistent with biblical principles. These include unbiblical traditions associated with religious holidays such as Christmas and Easter, or superstitious practices associated with spiritualism.
But what about customs that used to be associated with questionable practices but are now viewed as a predominantly social label? For example, many popular wedding customs, including exchanging rings and eating cake, can be of pagan origin. Does this mean that Christians are forbidden from observing these customs? Are Christians obliged to carefully examine all the customs of the church to see if they have had negative connotations anywhere or at any time?
Paul emphasizes that “where Jehovah's spirit is, there is freedom”. (2 Corinthians 3:17; James 1:25.) God wants us not to use this freedom as an incentive for selfish impulses, but to train our perceptual skills to distinguish right from wrong. (Galatians 5:13; Hebrews 5:14; 1 Peter 2:16.) Therefore, Jehovah's Witnesses do not create a strict rule in a case where there is no clear violation of Bible principles. Instead, every Christian must weigh the current circumstances and make a personal decision.
Seek the benefit of others
Does this mean that it is still appropriate to engage in a particular custom as long as it is not directly against the teachings of the Bible? No (Galatians 5:13) Paul pointed out that a Christian should seek not only his own benefit "but that of many". They must "do everything for the glory of God" and not lead to stumbling. (1 Corinthians 10: 31-33) For example, a person seeking God's approval may ask, “How do others see this custom? Does the community give it a reprehensible meaning? Would my participation mean accepting a practice or idea that displeases God? ”- 1 Corinthians 9:19, 23; 10:23, 24.
While generally safe, some local customs can be practiced in ways that contradict biblical principles. For example, in certain cases the delivery of flowers can take on a special meaning that contradicts biblical teaching. So what should a Christian be concerned about first and foremost? While there may be reasons to investigate the origin of a particular custom, in some cases it is more important to consider what the custom meant to people then and where you live now. . When a custom has unscriptural or negative connotations at a certain time of year or under certain circumstances, Christians can be careful to avoid them.
Paul prayed that Christians would continue to allow his love to abound with accurate knowledge and full discernment. By maintaining a balanced view of the customs of the people, Christians "provide the most important things so that [they] may be perfect and not deceive others". (Philippians 1: 9,10). At the same time, they will “inform all men of their reasonableness” (Philippians 4: 5).