My wife recently became a citizen and when she was registered to vote, she was very excited....now she is with the mindset that though earthly governments are important due to keeping some semblance of order, voting only brings one farther from Jehovah because it makes one more of this world....what is the current view on voting, is it one of those things that is stated to be a matter of conscience, but one is strongly frowned upon if they actually make a decision to do it?
Voting - what is the current position?
by insearchoftruth 8 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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blondie
*** w99 11/1 pp. 28-29 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, TheNewEnglishBible.) 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 TheWatchtower, 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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blondie
http://www.freeminds.org/doctrine/voting2.htm
Governing Body Casts Its Ballot for "New Light" on Voting
by Keith and Becky Walker
Can you imagine being brutally beaten by government officials because you believed that God would rather have you beaten than vote in a political election? Jehovah’s Witnesses can, because this is exactly what happened in the spring of 1970 in Cameroon, Africa.
In the Oct. 15, 1970 issue of The Watchtower, we learn about this awful persecution in an article entitled "Cameroon says ‘No!’ to Freedom of worship." The article describes how JWs in Cameroon were beaten, starved, arrested, imprisoned, tortured, and consigned to slave labor because of their refusal to vote in political elections. It explains that "the witnesses refrain from participation in political affairs in all countries of the world" because of their "Bible-trained consciences" and their "Bible-based stand." Much of what is described in the article is comparable to what took place in Nazi concentration camps. When JWs suffered this persecution, they thought they were honoring God by obeying His organization. Their loyalty has been betrayed 30 years later by a simple flick of the "new light" switch. (the Watchtower’s excuse for doctrinal changes) Before examining this new teaching, let’s thoroughly examine what the Watchtower has said in the past regarding voting.
Historically, Jehovah’s Witnesses have been forbidden to participate in politics. They interpret John 17:14 "because they are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world" to mean that God absolutely will not allow His followers to mix with "this world." They are to recognize Jehovah God only as their ruler, but not earthly governments. Participating in politics, and particularly voting, has been classified as a sin that makes one worthy of disfellowhipping. ( Pay Attention to Yourselves and All the Flock, 1977 p. 57-59.) A disfellowshipped Jehovah’s Witness is totally ostracized by his family and friends and considered as if he were dead.
Over the past 30 years, the Watchtower Society has made many statements regarding how offensive voting is to God. In WT 12/1/89 p. 13-14 the Society states that those who reject truth, "can even vote for one of the political parties of the 'wild beast.' (Revelation 13:1,7) Thus, as unsteady souls, some have been seduced and misled from the straight path of accurate knowledge by those who, while ‘promising them freedom, are themselves existing as slaves of corruption.' 2 Peter 2:15-19." This quote indicates that those who vote are "unsteady," "seduced," "misled," and "slaves of corruption." Does this lead the Witness to believe that this doctrine may change someday?
Obedient Jehovah’s Witnesses are described as follows: "They do not seek or offer compromises…To serve in the army, to vote, or to give the Hitler salute would have meant a recognition of the claims of this world as dominant over the claims of God." (WT 9/1/86 p. 21.) This clearly states that a JW who chooses to vote is recognizing the claims of this world as dominant over the claims of God. The Watchtower rhetorically asks JWs if they will, "vote for political leaders or support nationalistic schemes, will we compromise and get disqualified and sidetracked from the race for life?" This statement indicates that if a JW votes, they are "compromising" and being "disqualified and sidetracked from the race for life." (WT 8/15/75 p. 496-7.) Would this be an acceptable condition for a Jehovah's Witness?
Lastly, the article "Earth’s Rulers for a Thousand Years" from p. 741 of the Dec. 15, 1973 Watchtower describes the "spiritual brother" as follows: "They do not have the "mark upon their forehead and upon their hand. That is, they do not have the identification as slaves of the state and do not lend an active hand in carrying on its worldly activities, often beastly. They do not run for political offices, or vote for political candidates." Does this mean, then, that if Witnesses ever voted, they would have the mark of the beast that identified them as "slaves of the state?" This would associate them not only with the government rulers, but also with Satan himself. The position taken by the Watchtower Society was that voting is strictly forbidden by God. It was not an issue that was up for debate…until…
November 1, 1999 Watchtower p.28-29
The section is entitled "Questions from Readers" and the question that is presented asks "How do Jehovah’s Witnesses view voting?" Although the answer given by the Watchtower Society gives 5 negative factors to be considered, the overall tone of the answer leaves the decision up to the individual JW. This is so drastically different than the staunch stand against voting that is so graphically laid out and demonstrated in the article about Cameroon, Africa mentioned earlier. The 1999 article states six times that the JW has to make their own personal decision regarding whether or not to vote in a political election. If this is the case, why did so many dedicated followers of Jehovah have to suffer such physical brutality in the spring of 1970? The article mentions the same "Bible-trained conscience" that the JWs are to use to make this "personal decision." What has changed in the Bible’s teachings in the last 30 years that now gives the JW freedom to vote? Would the Witnesses in Cameroon have subjected themselves to this persecution, if they knew then what they know now? Did those who suffered in Cameroon know that "in matters of individual conscience such as this, each Christian has to make his own decision before Jehovah God?"
The question each JW must consider is whether or not something that they are willing to die for today will be changed tomorrow. What a tragedy for those JWs who have lost friends and loves ones because of the Watchtower’s past rulings, only to have these rulings softened or completely overturned in 1999. These Witnesses suffered for nothing! Since the God of the Bible is unchanging, obviously, these actions were not inspired by the true and living God, but by the sinful, fallible humans who govern the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Keith and Becky Walker are the founders of Evidence Ministries, a missionary outreach to Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons. They can be reached at Evidence Ministries, P.O. Box 690371, San Antonio, TX 78269
210-340-TRUE or [email protected]NOTE: Read this article as well. The summary:
The Watchtower has most recently compromised its LONG-HELD principles regarding neutrality.
Governments in Europe are promised by the WT that the WT will not prohibit their members from voting in elections.
Governments in Europe are promised by the WT that the WT will not automatically disfellowship a member for taking a blood transfusion.
This is actually a hypocritical move on the part of the Watchtower leadership to gain acceptance as a legitimate religion in Eastern block countries. In essence the fact of the matter is, YOU are DISASSOCIATING YOURSELF by voting, we don't need to disfellowship you! If you really vote in an election, you will still be shunned. - Randy
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Quirky1
Vote. Do your part.
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insearchoftruth
There is no doubt that I shall vote....trying to get her to vote as well!!
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james_woods
Blondies research quote pretty much tells it all -
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.
In other words, "clear principles set out in the Bible" means that there is absolutely nothing said in the Bible that could remotely have anything to do with the practise of democratic governmental voting today.
In other words, it is perfectly OK for the governing body to vote on things (2/3 majority for these spirit annointed dimwits), OK for a cong to vote on financial matters (send it to the society or else), but if you vote on a dog leash ordinance at city hall, you are part of the world.
Hooray for us, screw everybody else.
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White Dove
I'm pissed again with them.
My daughter said last night that she does want to register to vote, after all. She favors a certain presidential candidate and wants to do her part in bringing him into office.
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littlerockguy
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.
so much for their "obeying god as ruler rather than men"
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insearchoftruth
Yes that is a question, and when she took the oath, she did not take the modified oath that some may take due to religious objections, it was the full blown oath with miltary service etc. in it.