GB 2025 Update #4

[Dark King]

When I watch ⌚ the update I was thinking 🤔 about this saying about fishing 🎣.

 

Jehovah wants all of us to know how to fish 🐟. He doesn't want to have to look over his shoulder wondering what we are doing all the time.

 

 

Quote Origin: Give a Man a Fish, and You Feed Him for a Day. Teach a Man To Fish, and You Feed Him for a Lifetime – Quote Investigator® https://share.google/RFH2sIi268NQLJtn2

[Michał]

I was just thinking last week about toasting, how it is viewed in my community and nothing unscriptural came to my mind so I was wondering if there’s going to be an adjustment and voila!  
 

The chariot:

https://tenor.com/bES1f.gif

Edited 19 hours ago by Michał

[Dolce vita]

Honestly, we can also find it 'useless' to toast when we are among ourselves, I don't know, we may not find any meaning in the gesture, but what is certain is that from now on, we will avoid moments of embarrassment when, surrounded by those who do not share our faith, we were until now obliged to show our reserve and sometimes explain why we did not participate. In any case, a question of conscience to be respected.

[Brazilian2024]

Will there be adjustments related to birthdays?

😶👀😏

[Dolce vita]

2 hours ago, Dages said:

L'chaim  

☺️

[daydream]

2 hours ago, Dages said:

L'chaim

L'Chaim means "to life" in Hebrew and is a common Jewish toast.

[Dustparticle]

10 minutes ago, Brazilian2024 said:

Will there be adjustments related to birthdays?

😶👀😏

 

 A couple months ago, I did some research on birthdays. I came up to about 5 references and all stipulated that has PAGAN backgrounds.

[Dolce vita]

12 minutes ago, Brazilian2024 said:

Will there be adjustments related to birthdays?

😶👀😏

This is something to follow IMO

[Tortuga]

27 minutes ago, Brazilian2024 said:

Will there be adjustments related to birthdays?

😶👀😏

Birthdays and tattoos...

[Dages]

Unlike toasting, that isn't found in the Bible, all the occurrences of birthdays in the Bible are negative.

I would not expect that.

[Sweet Tooth]

Beautiful update.
 

Cheers! 🤭 

[jwzhang]

It's basically just clinking glasses that was specifically mentioned.
Anything else we can think of that are in a similar boat?

For me, I've always found it weird when bachelors parties/trips are organized. I associate it with having a bad connotation and origin, but since none of the publications mention it, I just kept it to myself (but I didn't do it when I got married, same with my wife)

The update has a lot of good points, there are no point in setting rules for things since we come from so many different cultures and backgrounds, with scriptural principles to teach us that unity is the most important.

[Tortuga]

12 minutes ago, Dages said:

Unlike toasting, that isn't found in the Bible, all the occurrences of birthdays in the Bible are negative.

I would not expect that.

A common argument from non-witnesses is that birthdays and holidays have changed and are innocent customs. I can see some non-witness family members using this update to pressure their witness family members to celebrate birthdays and holidays. 

[johnnyjw01]

well, it actually opens up this question but I have to meditate on that 

7 minutes ago, Tortuga said:

A common argument from non-witnesses is that birthdays and holidays have changed and are innocent customs. I can see some non-witness family members using this update to pressure their witness family members to celebrate birthdays and holidays. 

 

[Sheep]

I don't think I've ever seen Brother Lett wearing glasses before. 

[Tortuga]

6 minutes ago, Sheep said:

I don't think I've ever seen Brother Lett wearing glasses before. 

He won't be wearing glasses in his next assignment! 

[WilliamChew]

2025 GB Update #4 Transcript

 

Spoiler

2025 GB Update #4.pdf

2025 GB Update #4.docx

2025 GB Update #4.epub

 

[Brazilian2024]

2 hours ago, Brazilian2024 said:

Haverá ajustes relacionados a aniversários?

😶 👀 😏

I knew it would be a controversial issue.🤣🤣

I wanted to see everyone's reaction. 🤭

[Adam!]

 I can imagine most people saying right now... "Cheers" to the GB for that update!

[Badger]

I haven't watched the update yet (just got home) but it appears it's going to discuss toasting or something like that? Its going to be very exciting it seems.

[Michał]

Btw, when someone sneezes and others say something like „Bless you!”, „Jesus!”, „Na zdrowie!” (Be healthy/Cheers), how this practices is viewed in your community? (You can state language or country). Is it something like good manners (as with covering your face while yawning) or does it have superstitions meaning?

[jwhess]

The admonition to refrain from "toasting" goes as far back as my association with Jehovah's people. Here is a 1952 QFR.

 

*** w52 5/15 p. 319 Questions From Readers ***
In shunning this custom of toasting, along with many other objectionable customs, we may appear narrow-minded to worldlings. So we are. But never forget for a moment that our Christian narrowness is our salvation, just as the world’s broadness is its destruction.—Matt. 7:13, 14.

 

That was the year my father began studying.  He was baptized in 1954.

Change is upon us...♥️

 

Oh my. That emoji is a former religious symbol...😁

 

 

[Violin]

17 minutes ago, jwhess said:

The admonition to refrain from "toasting" goes as far back as my association with Jehovah's people. Here is a 1952 QFR.

 

*** w52 5/15 p. 319 Questions From Readers ***
In shunning this custom of toasting, along with many other objectionable customs, we may appear narrow-minded to worldlings. So we are. But never forget for a moment that our Christian narrowness is our salvation, just as the world’s broadness is its destruction.—Matt. 7:13, 14.

 

That was the year my father began studying.  He was baptized in 1954.

Change is upon us...♥️

 

Oh my. That emoji is a former religious symbol...😁

 

 

A few weeks ago my husband was telling our children that when we toast we are calling upon demons.  Not sure how we're going to back track on that one 😆

Edited 15 hours ago by Violin

[Jimi-L]

2 hours ago, Dages said:

Unlike toasting, that isn't found in the Bible, all the occurrences of birthdays in the Bible are negative.

I would not expect that.

 

At first, when I read this topic, I was scared. I thought that br.Lett would have ascended to the next level! To the final level! Luckily (or sadly?) no. Its somehow a unique feeling isnt it, to be sad and happy at same time.

 

Somehow, I don't think most Christians would suddenly start celebrating any pagan feasts or holidays at all, even if they were in future  considered a matter of conscience. But i doubt that very much.

 

I wasn't aware that raising a toast was considered a sin. It's probably not a very common custom in Finland.

 

 

 

 

Edited 15 hours ago by Jimi-L

[BLEmom]

32 minutes ago, Michał said:

Btw, when someone sneezes and others say something like „Bless you!”, „Jesus!”, „Na zdrowie!” (Be healthy/Cheers), how this practices is viewed in your community? (You can state language or country). Is it something like good manners (as with covering your face while yawning) or does it have superstitions meaning?

That’s the one I was thinking of while listening. For the most part I think people view it as good manners. I just say thank you if it’s said to me but I am not looking to pick up the practice of saying it.