Sometime back I thought that I read voting is a conscience matter for the dubs. Is this true and if so does anyone have a scan of the magazine? Blessings......
I thought I read voting is a conscience matter...is the a scan of this?
by middleman 9 Replies latest watchtower bible
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freeme
heard it too. any proof? i havent heard or seen something officially and i still have some contact to the congregation.
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blondie
It is only a conscience matter to a degree in countries where voting is required by law or the non-jw husband of a jw woman insists she vote. Remember that the WTS says taking a blood transfusion is a personal decision, yet there are WTS consequences, shunning from the community. The WTS is dancing around the legal and community uproar if they state it too strongly that jws can't vote. They have said differently before.
No scan but here is the article.
*** 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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uw (United Worship book) chap.21p.166par.12"TheyAreNoPartoftheWorld"***In sharp contrast, the clergy of Christendom are very much involved in the political affairs of the world. In some lands they actively campaign for or against candidates. Some of the clergy themselves hold political office. Others exert great pressure on politicians to favor programs that the clergy approve. Elsewhere the "conservative" clergy are close allies of the men in power while "progressive" priests and ministers may be supporting guerrilla movements working for their overthrow. However, Jehovah’s Witnesses do not meddle in politics, no matter what the country in which they live. They do not interfere with what others do as to joining a political party, running for office or voting in elections. But, since Jesus said that his disciples would be "no part of the world," Jehovah’s Witnesses take no part whatsoever in political activities.
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WTWizard
Technically, as of the above article, voting is a personal conscience matter. Of course, they have strong admonition about stumbling others. And, the hounders are likely to miss this, and could still view it as a judicial matter (or, in lieu of missing it, they could just decide that voting will not be tolerated in their congregation and take it as a judicial issue).
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middleman
Hey Blondie, thanks for that nugget of wisdom. Would you or anyone have that scan by chance? Blessings...............
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Atlantis
( Credit goes to Blondie) *** w99 11/1 pp. 28-29 Questions From Readers *** http://imgurl.filetac.com/img/73496280.jpg http://imgurl.filetac.com/img/73496930.jpg
***uw (United Worship book) chap.21p.166par.12"TheyAreNoPartoftheWorld"*** http://imgurl.filetac.com/img/73498150.jpg N.
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Atlantis
The scans will print out much larger than the scans show. They will print out 100 to 110 %.
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daniel-p
It's basically just an allowance for those in countries where they'd be under threat of violence if they didn't vote.
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neverendingjourney
This info. was in a QFR years ago. I used to read all that magazines back then. I remember I called up an elder to ask him about the article and he had nothing intelligent to say about it. The way I read it, it was clear that voting was a conscience matter. Not long after that the D.O. at an assembly (or was it a Bethel speaker?) gave a scathing talk lambasting brothers who were going around saying that voting was okay. They were weak in the faith and stumbling others. It should be clear to everyone that the article, so said the D.O., applied only to those who were being forced to vote under the threat of violence.
Again, it was the brothers' fault for "reading too much into the material." The WT was not to blame for putting out a carefully-worded, deceptive piece of propaganda. Oh no. It was the brothers' fault for running ahead of the organization.
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S3RAPH1M
To vote, or not to vote.... hmmm.... shall I? or shall I not?
