Whats up with Witnesses being allowed to VOTE now?

by runningrussianboy 18 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

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  runningrussianboy

  I read somewhere that JW's can vote now? It was in a kingdom ministry a few years back. I remember being told that voting for anything but Jehovah was a sin. Brothers have gone to jail and been beaten in some countries for not voting. But now they can? JW's and that ever growing light of convenience
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  oldflame

  I have not heard anything about witnesses being allowed to vote.
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  misanthropic

  Neither have I
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  the_classicist

  I remember seeing in a Questions from Readers article that voting was a decision one should make personally based on one's "bible-based conscience", or something like that. This particularly stood out to me (though I don't know where to find it!).
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  AudeSapere

  It might be one of those "of course they are allowed to...(accept blood transfusions, join the military, vote). It's a 'conscience' matter." But when someone does, it means that they have, by their actions, disassociated themselves.

  Don't know for sure. Seems I heard something about this but can't think of any active witness who would even think of voting.

  Maybe it's a new breed of urban legend?

  -Aude.
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  Stephanus

  There have been a few "Bible-trained-conscience" articles about voting. This was to alleviate some of the problems the Dubs were having with the European Union (particularly France, IIRC) and Russia, I believe.
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  Alwayshere

  THE ARTICAL ABOUT VOTING IS IN THE 1999 WATCHTOWER NOVEMBER 1 PAGE.28.WHICH SAYS "IF YOU SEE A SISTER VOTING YOU SHOULDN'T SAY ANYTHING" DON'T NO WORD FOR WORD WHAT IT SAID BUT THE THOUGHT WAS, IT IS OK TO VOTE. BUT NOW THEY SAY CHRISTAINS DO NOT VOTE. THE LIGHT GET'S BRIGHTER AND BRIGHTER. FUNNY HOW THEY CHANGE THEIR VIEW ON MATTERS AND SO MANY STILL BELIEVE IT'S GOD'S ORGANIZATION. MY SON WAS ALREADY LABELED AN APOSTATE WHEN THAT CAME OUT BECAUSE HE HAD DISAGREED WITH THE ORGANIZATION ON ANOTHER DOCTRINE. I WAS STILL IN AND MY SON TOLD ME ABOUT BEING ABLE TO VOTE AND I TOLD HIM I STILL THOUGHT IT WAS WRONG. HE SAID YOU BETTER NOT SAY THAT IN FRONT OF AN ELDER BECAUSE IF YOU DISAGREE WITH THE ORGANIZATION YOU ARE LABELED AN APOSTATE. I STAYED IN FOR ABOUT 3 MORE YEARS AND DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT IT WAS A CULT AND GOT OUT.
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  jwfacts

  *** w99 11/1 pp. 28-29 Questions From Readers ***

  Questions

  From Readers

  How

  do Jehovah’s Witnesses view voting?

  There are clear principles set out in the Bible that enable servants of God to take a proper view of this matter. However, there appears to be no principle against the practice of voting itself. For example, there is no reason why a board of directors should not take a vote in order to arrive at decisions affecting their corporation. Congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses often make decisions about meeting times and the use of congregation funds by voting with a show of hands.

  What, though, of voting in political elections? Of course, in some democratic lands, as many as 50 percent of the population do not turn out to vote on election day. As for Jehovah’s Witnesses, they do not interfere with the right of others to vote; neither do they in any way campaign against political elections. They respect and cooperate with the authorities who are duly elected in such elections. (Romans 13:1-7) As to whether they will personally vote for someone running in an election, each one of Jehovah’s Witnesses makes a decision based on his Bible-trained conscience and an understanding of his responsibility to God and to the State. (Matthew 22:21; 1 Peter 3:16) In making this personal decision, the Witnesses consider a number of factors.

  First, Jesus Christ said of his followers: "They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world." (John 17:14) Jehovah’s Witnesses take this principle seriously. Being "no part of the world," they are neutral in the political affairs of the world.—John 18:36.

  Second, the apostle Paul referred to himself as an "ambassador" representing Christ to the people of his day. (Ephesians 6:20; 2 Corinthians 5:20) Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Christ Jesus is now the enthroned King of God’s heavenly Kingdom, and they, like ambassadors, must announce this to the nations. (Matthew 24:14; Revelation 11:15) Ambassadors are expected to be neutral and not to interfere in the internal affairs of the countries to which they are sent. As representatives of God’s heavenly Kingdom, Jehovah’s Witnesses feel a similar obligation not to interfere in the politics of the countries where they reside.

  A third factor to consider is that those who have a part in voting a person into office may become responsible for what he does. (Compare 1 Timothy 5:22, The New English Bible.) Christians have to consider carefully whether they want to shoulder that responsibility.

  Fourth, Jehovah’s Witnesses greatly value their Christian unity. (Colossians 3:14) When religions get involved in politics, the result is often division among their members. In imitation of Jesus Christ, Jehovah’s Witnesses avoid becoming involved in politics and thus maintain their Christian unity.—Matthew 12:25; John 6:15; 18:36, 37.

  Fifth and finally, their keeping out of politics gives Jehovah’s Witnesses freeness of speech to approach people of all political persuasions with the important message of the Kingdom.—Hebrews 10:35.

  In view of the Scriptural principles outlined above, in many lands Jehovah’s Witnesses make a personal decision not to vote in political elections, and their freedom to make that decision is supported by the law of the land. What, though, if the law requires citizens to vote? In such a case, each Witness is responsible to make a conscientious, Bible-based decision about how to handle the situation. If someone decides to go to the polling booth, that is his decision. What he does in the polling booth is between him and his Creator.

  The November 15, 1950, issue of The Watchtower, on pages 445 and 446, said: "Where Caesar makes it compulsory for citizens to vote . . . [Witnesses] can go to the polls and enter the voting booths. It is here that they are called upon to mark the ballot or write in what they stand for. The voters do what they will with their ballots. So here in the presence of God is where his witnesses must act in harmony with his commandments and in accordance with their faith. It is not our responsibility to instruct them what to do with the ballot."

  What if a Christian woman’s unbelieving husband insists that she present herself to vote? Well, she is subject to her husband, just as Christians are subject to the superior authorities. (Ephesians 5:22; 1 Peter 2:13-17) If she obeys her husband and goes to the polling booth, that is her personal decision. No one should criticize her.—Compare Romans 14:4.

  What of a country where voting is not mandated by law but feelings run high against those who do not go to the voting booth—perhaps they are exposed to physical danger? Or what if individuals, while not legally obliged to vote, are severely penalized in some way if they do not go to the polling booth? In these and similar situations, a Christian has to make his own decision. "Each one will carry his own load."—Galatians 6:5.

  There may be people who are stumbled when they observe that during an election in their country, some Witnesses of Jehovah go to the polling booth and others do not. They may say, ‘Jehovah’s Witnesses are not consistent.’ People should recognize, though, that in matters of individual conscience such as this, each Christian has to make his own decision before Jehovah God.—Romans 14:12.

  Whatever personal decisions Jehovah’s Witnesses make in the face of different situations, they take care to preserve their Christian neutrality and freeness of speech. In all things, they rely on Jehovah God to strengthen them, give them wisdom, and help them avoid compromising their faith in any way. Thus they show confidence in the words of the psalmist: "You are my crag and my stronghold; and for the sake of your name you will lead me and conduct me."—Psalm 31:3.
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  jwfacts

  Here are some interesting quotes in regards to the stand prior to 1999, including the lives lost as a result of the stand.

  KS91 (elders manual) p.96 (Reasons for disfellowshipping)

  Non-neutral activities (John 6:15) 15 Therefore Jesus, knowing they were about to come and seize him to make him king, withdrew again into the mountain all alone.

  *** w89 12/1 p. 13 par. 16 Why We Need Accurate Knowledge *** Regarding apostates

  Those who reject an accurate knowledge of the truth often choose the pathway of expediency. They no longer accept the responsibility of regularly attending Christian meetings or of participating in the house-to-house ministry. Some even go back to smoking! Others are happy that they no longer have to stand out as different over the issue of Christian neutrality and the misuse of blood. Oh, what freedom! Now they can even vote for one of the political parties of the "wild beast."

  *** w89 2/15 p. 21 Insight on the News ***Although matters might have turned out differently if Jehovah’s Witnesses shared in political elections, they cannot be dissuaded from their neutral stand on political issues—no matter how great the prize. For true Christians the position is clear. Jesus said: "They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world."—John 17:16

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  w01 3/15 pp. 8-9 Courageous Integrity Keepers Triumph Over Nazi Persecution ***

  Witnesses believed in political neutrality, which meant they would not vote for Hitler nor give the Hitler salute." This, adds the same source, provoked the anger of the Nazis and put the Witnesses in harm’s way because "National Socialism would not tolerate such a refusal."

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  w02 1/1 p. 28 Jehovah Has Provided "Power Beyond What Is Normal" ***

  They spoke at length about the cruel measures the regime had taken against them. They mentioned the case of a dear brother who was determined to remain politically neutral in an upcoming vote. Since the State controlled everything, this meant that his family would not receive any food rations. His married children and their families would all be sent to prison, although they had nothing to do with his religious beliefs. It was reported that members of this brother’s family, because of fear, killed him the night before the vote, dumped his body in a well, and later claimed that he got scared and killed himself.

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  jv chap. 29 pp. 673-674 "Objects of Hatred by All the Nations" ***

  In some lands, voting in political elections is viewed as an obligation. Failure to vote is punished by fine, imprisonment, or worse. But Jehovah’s Witnesses support the Messianic Kingdom of God, which, as Jesus said, "is no part of this world." Therefore, they do not participate in the political affairs of the nations of this world. (John 18:36) The decision is a personal one; they do not force their views on others. Where religious toleration is lacking, government officials have seized on the Witnesses’ nonparticipation as an excuse for vicious persecution. During the Nazi era, for example, this was done in lands under their control. It has also been done in Cuba. However, officials in many lands have been more tolerant
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  TheListener

  From what I understand most of the friends got the right WTS impression from the article. You can go into the polling booth if you're HAVE to and what you do in there is between you and God. But, you better just stand there and not pull any levers or mark any computer screens.

  For those who didn't get the right WTS impression they may not get DF'd but you can be sure they'll be watched and counseled.

  I'm not positive but since Nov. 99 I haven't seen anything that says voting is wrong but I have seen life experiences where the individuals did everything possible to avoid voting because they felt is was wrong. You get the point - good christians don't vote, but it's up to your conscience.