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Pleasing God While at SchoolAwake!—1972 | September 8
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The faithful stand of young Christians in these matters often impresses and gains the respect of teachers and fellow students alike. For example, a youth at a Christian assembly at Asahikawa, Japan, related:
“When I was in my second year in high school the class elected me to their committee. So I explained that Jehovah’s witnesses as Christians cannot take part in worldly politics. My classmates brought up many objections, but finally they reluctantly took me off the committee.
“Shortly afterward the teacher in charge of my class called me and said he wanted to know about my faith. He did not believe that there was any connection between the existence of God and human living. He said that belief in God is only for weak people. However, with full reliance on Jehovah I witnessed to him. Finally he said, ‘I would like to know all about your faith,’ and gladly contributed for some Bible literature.”
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Pleasing God While at SchoolAwake!—1972 | September 8
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What can a youth do if his Bible-trained conscience does not permit him to salute emblems or sing songs that exalt the nation or his school?
Where such situations are foreseen, it would be proper for a youth to explain his beliefs to his schoolteacher or principal ahead of time. It will impress the teacher if he makes matters plain in his own words. A reasonable teacher, who respects the individual’s conscience, will arrange for a student to be excused from such ceremonies. The experience of a young Christian in Sapporo, Japan, illustrates how such situations may be handled.
“During my second year in middle school, a gymnastic meeting was held, and this included a flag-raising ceremony. Knowing this ahead of time, I immediately went after class dismissal to the teacher’s room and made my position plain to the teacher, telling him that I could not take part in the flag-raising ceremony. The teacher seemed taken aback, and told me that this was not worshiping the flag, but was just a matter of paying it respect.
“I explained that taking one’s hat off and other such services toward the flag amounted to worship, and that I could give this only to Jehovah God. At last, after some discussion, the teacher kindly excused me. At the gymnastic meet, I did not take part in the ceremony, but only in the races. Afterward, I was able to witness from the Bible to my fellow students concerning my reason for not taking part in the ceremony. I was very happy that the teacher showed respect for my stand.”
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Pleasing God While at SchoolAwake!—1972 | September 8
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However, suppose schools make participation in kendo, judo, boxing or other martial arts compulsory, what should the Christian do? He will want to follow his Bible-trained conscience. The following experience of a young person who graduated from high school in Fukui City, Japan, and became a full-time pioneer preacher illustrates the blessing that can come to one who does.
“I went ahead of time to the physical culture teacher and explained that, since Christians do not strive with one another, I wanted to do extra reading during the judo hour. However, he did not grant this permission. So I explained to him the words of 2 Timothy 2:24, that ‘a slave of the Lord does not need to fight, but needs to be gentle toward all,’ and Isaiah 2:4, that ’they will learn fighting no more.’ But still he refused to acknowledge my position, stating that judo was required as a group exercise, and that if I did not take part I would not be able to graduate.
“Being determined, I once again explained my position. I had the teacher read the June 15, 1964, Watchtower article ‘Youths, Keep Your Integrity While at School.’ Appreciating that there was nothing rebellious in my attitude, the teacher then did some investigating. Finally, he told me, ‘It will be all right to refrain. Just put on the judo uniform, and that will be sufficient.’ However, that would have looked to other people as though I were taking part in judo. It smacked of compromise. So I refused to put on the uniform. For a time the teacher insisted, but when he saw my firm stand he did not say anything more. I got very low marks for sports, but this did not prevent my graduating.”
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