Can witnesses now vote???

shamus

WHA-WHA-WHAAAAT????

They can vote in elections now? Have I gone totally insane????

Is this true???????????????

Please, tell me I'm not nuts!

UnDisfellowshipped

Here is the Article on Voting:

The Watchtower, November 1, 1999 Issue, Pages 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, 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.
_______________________________________________________

MY COMMENTS: For 50+ years, the Watchtower Society forbade the Jehovah's Witnesses from Voting in Political Elections, with the threat of being Disfellowshipped or Disassociated if they disobeyed the Watchtower Society.

In fact, hundreds of Jehovah's Witnesses were tortured, raped, and murdered in Malawi because the Watchtower Society forbade them from buying a 25-Cent Political Party Card in a Country that has only ONE Political Party!

One Watchtower Article in the 1970's or 1980's said that if an Anointed Jehovah's Witness were to Vote, he would lose out on going to Heaven, and he would also be Disfellowshipped.

However, this 1999 Article may just be "Theocratic Warfare Strategy" (Watchtower "Code Words" for Lies and Deception) in order to show the Governments and the Media that Voting is a "Personal Decision", when in actuality, Elders may still Disassociate or Disfellowship JWs who Vote.

Here is what Bill Bowen (Founder of http://www.SilentLambs.org) told me about this 1999 Voting Article:

" six months after this article was written all Circuit Overseers gave a special talk in all congregations. They basically said this article was for other countries and it was to help with the preaching work. The policy on voting did not change and if you did vote you would be Disassociated. Of course they did not put that in writing nor did they send any letter to the elders to clarify that position. Gives you a warm fuzzy feeling dosen't it?

Regards,
bill"

Below is a list of Watchtower Quotes before 1999, which forbade JWs from Voting:

The Watchtower, November 15th 1950 Issue, Page 445:

21. In view of not recognizing worldly political powers as the “superior authorities” ordained by God, but recognizing only God and Jesus Christ to be such now, the Christian witnesses conscientiously refrain from taking part in the politics of this world, yes, even from voting.
_____________________________________________

The Watchtower, September 1st 1952 Issue, Page 526:

“Voting is compulsory, and because the brothers have refused to vote they have been frequently beaten and imprisoned.
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The Watchtower, July 15th 1954 Issue, Page 446:

The clergy say we are to blame for corrupt government by not voting; we say they share the blame by their voting. (1 Tim. 5:22) We must not enter politics to clean it up; we must escape its plagues by staying out. (Rev. 18:4) To shun politics puts us on the defensive before men; by entering it the clergy are on the defensive before God. For separateness we may be accused of sedition against Caesar, but for mixing in the clergy are guilty of adultery against God.
_____________________________________________

The Watchtower, November 1st 1956 Issue, Page 648:

Today the Christian witnesses of Jehovah, like the witnesses of Jehovah in the early days of Christianity, keep unspotted from the world. They conscientiously refrain from taking part in the politics of this world, yes, even from voting. They know that political participation not only would be futile but would bring God’s disapproval. Maintaining the true Christian view of politics will help you keep unspotted from this wicked system of things and gain everlasting life under the perfect government of the post-Armageddon new world.
_____________________________________________

The Watchtower, July 1st 1959 Issue, Page 398:

The refusal of Jehovah’s witnesses in the past to fulfill such patriotic duties as voting, saluting a flag or participation in the armed forces, is an insurance to every country that Jehovah’s witnesses will not endanger the security of that nation, because they have been refraining from the same activities in all other countries at the same time.
_____________________________________________

The Watchtower, May 15th 1964 Issue, Page 308:

20. To mature Christians, the question of what attitude should be taken in the matter of political elections presents no issue. In totalitarian countries oftentimes people are forced by law to go to the election polls and sometimes persons are even picked up at home and brought to the polls. Even in certain democracies the law makes it compulsory for the citizens to go to the election places. In no country do Jehovah’s witnesses take part in politics. They are not of this world. (John 17:14) Therefore they do not take part in voting at elections. They do not compromise their neutral standing in matters of politics, however, if they go to the polls and make the ballot void in some manner, either by crossing it out or by putting down, for example, the words “For God’s Kingdom.” That is telling what he is for. By doing this their ballot will become void; it will not count in the election of a man. They have complied with the law and gone to the polls and likely avoided punishment. Remember Jesus’ counsel: “Look! I am sending you forth as sheep amidst wolves; therefore prove yourselves cautious as serpents and yet innocent as doves.” (Matt. 10:16) No one should be condemned for acting so. “But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you also look down on your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of God.”--Rom. 14:10.
_____________________________________________

The Watchtower, June 15th 1964 Issue, Pages 380-381:

Now, how do Christians view these elective offices and positions? Would they accept a position if voted in by their classmates? Would they participate in the voting, either by a show of hands or by balloting?

Well, what is the purpose of this voting in school? In most cases it is to familiarize young persons with the machinery of worldly politics. So what Bible principle applies? Why, separateness from the world and its politics. Since Jehovah’s witnesses as adults do not mix in politics, it is only reasonable that children of Jehovah’s witnesses do not mix in politics on a school level, either by accepting an elective office or participating in conferring such an office upon others. What, then, would a Christian youth do if he were nominated to an office? He could tactfully decline the nomination or, if elected without his assent, he could tactfully decline the office; so following the example of Jesus, who withdrew when the people wanted to make him king.
_____________________________________________

The Watchtower, October 15th 1973 Issue, Page 627:

Jehovah’s witnesses keep separate from all politics, not even voting_____________________________________________

The Watchtower, February 15th 1974 Issue, Page 107:

Accordingly, if they should get involved in the affairs of this world, taking part in political activities, holding office or voting, they would lose their status as ambassadors and brothers of Christ, and would never attain to heavenly rulership with him.
_____________________________________________

The Watchtower, November 15th 1977 Issue, Page 686:

The Witnesses are neutral as to warfare and strife between the nations, as well as being clean from all political involvement, not even voting, because they fulfill Jesus’ description of them as being “no part of the world.” (John 17:14) For the same reason they do not salute the flag or emblem of any nation.
_____________________________________________

Proclaimers Book (1993), Page 195:

In the 1960’s and the 1970’s, the Witnesses’ neutrality underwent brutal tests in connection with the demand that all citizens of Malawi buy a card signifying membership in the ruling political party. Jehovah’s Witnesses saw it as contrary to their Christian beliefs to share in this. As a result, they were subjected to persecution that was unprecedented in its sadistic cruelty. Tens of thousands were forced to flee the country, and many were in time forcibly repatriated to face further brutality.

Page 674:

In Malawi, there is only one political party, and possession of a party card indicates membership. Although the Witnesses are exemplary in paying their taxes, in harmony with their religious beliefs, they decline to buy political party cards. To do so would be a denial of their faith in God’s Kingdom. Because of this, late in 1967, with the encouragement of government officials, gangs of youths throughout Malawi launched an all-out attack on Jehovah’s Witnesses that was unprecedented in its obscenity and sadistic cruelty. Over a thousand devout Christian women were raped. Some were stripped naked before large mobs, beaten with sticks and fists, and then sexually assaulted by one person after another. Nails were driven through the feet of the men and bicycle spokes through their legs, and then they were ordered to run. Throughout the country their homes, furniture, clothing, and food supplies were destroyed.

Again, in 1972, there was a renewed outbreak of such brutality following the annual convention of the Malawi Congress Party. At that convention it was officially resolved to deprive Jehovah’s Witnesses of all secular employment and drive them away from their homes. Even appeals of employers to keep these trusted workers availed nothing. Homes, crops, and domestic animals were confiscated or destroyed. Witnesses were prevented from drawing water from the village well. Large numbers were beaten, raped, maimed, or murdered. All the while, they were mocked and ridiculed for their faith. Upwards of 34,000 finally fled the country to avoid being killed.

______________________________________________

The Watchtower, January 1st 1996 Issue, Page 26:

Tested on the Issue of Neutrality

Although the war ended in 1945, our difficulties continued and even grew worse. Compulsory voting was enforced during the election of December 2, 1946. Anyone who dared to abstain was considered an enemy of the State. Those in our congregation in Përmet began to ask, “What should we do?”

“If you trust in Jehovah,” I answered, “you don’t have to ask me what to do. You already know that Jehovah’s people are neutral. They are no part of the world.”—John 17:16.

Election day arrived, and government delegates came to our house. They began calmly, “Oh, let’s have a cup of coffee and talk. Do you know what today is?”

“Yes, today elections are being held,” I answered.

“You’d better hurry, or you’ll be late,” one officer said.

“No, I don’t plan to go. Our vote is for Jehovah,” I replied.

“All right, then come and vote for the opposition.”

I explained that Jehovah’s Witnesses are absolutely neutral. When our position became well-known, greater pressure was exerted upon us. We were ordered to stop holding our meetings, so we began to meet secretly.
__________________________________________

InquiryMan

Interestingly, the new option given to witnesses in the QfoR in the Watchtower, does not seem to be taken into consideration, even in countries with severe opposition towards the JW stance, as seen from this news report on Eritrea (taken from AllAfrica.com) The Eritrean government has issued a statement on freedom of religion in the country amid criticism by human rights watchers that it is restricting the right to worship. In its statement outlining the "basic facts" of religious freedom in Eritrea, the government said "all religions are equal and no religion is more equal than others". It noted that according to the (still-to-be-implemented) constitution, "every person shall have the freedom to practise any religion and to manifest such practice". "No groups or persons are persecuted in Eritrea for their beliefs or religion," the statement said. "People are free to worship according to their wish, or to refrain from worshipping or practising religion." However, in a report on religious freedom in Eritrea, the US State Department said this had "deteriorated" during 2002 and the government had closed religious facilities not belonging to the country's four main faiths - Orthodox Christian, Muslim, Catholic, and Evangelical Christian. It said members of the Jehovah's Witnesses were particularly subjected to harassment and discrimination. Many of them have refused to take part in military service or to vote "on religious grounds", despite the government's proclamation that no-one is exempt from national service on the basis of religion. In May 2002, the government issued a decree ordering all religious groups to register. "Comments from senior government officials indicate that groups without significant historical ties to the country will not be licensed to operate," the State Department report said.

be wise

Just another one in the never ending falsehood of the GB. Again real people suffer as a consequence of the GB's policy, that they change when they see fit and apply bible principles to prove they are right no matter what they decide to believe in the end.

Exellent work, Undisfellowshiped.

They really do dig their own hole with their own words, you don' really need anything else, the truth speaks for itself.

be wise.

BluesBrother

Excellent work, undisfellowsgipped.

One has to read between the lines of the recent article. No doubt it is written that way to avoid any potential repercussions of forbidding it's members to vote.

It is similar to statements about blood transfusions "A personal decision"

In fact , Witnesses must not cast a vote. If they do they are considered dissassociated. Note the sly suggestion that if need be the dubs enter the polling booth and then deface the voting slip .

rocketman

I agree and in fact also heard that CO talk given as follow-up, and confusion still was evident. I called one elder and he tolld me that if a jw votes, he will be df'd. It's a typical case of decptive writing to cover their butts legally.

shamus

I am just stunned!

Thank you for the excellent answer! That was incredible work on your part.

I am so pissed off right now I could scream. How dare they fill our heads with lies over the years!

MrMoe

Ok, this is sick. I loathe that religion. loathe.

freedom96

The WTS has their own agenda's when stating whether or not a rank and file witness can vote.

So, they now say concience matter. Ok, wait till you see a dub go ahead and vote. Then we will see if it really is ok or not.

Guarantee that witness will not have privledges in the hall, if they are still in.

garybuss

It's a small step to:

What if a Christian woman’s unbelieving husband insists that she take a blood transfusion? Well, she is subject to her husband . . . .

What if a Christian woman’s unbelieving husband insists that she salute the flag? Well, she is subject to her husband . . . .

What if a Christian woman’s unbelieving husband insists that she commit a little fornication? Well, she is subject to her husband . . . .

Hahahaha Yeah! Right! Watch Tower Corporation, you did it again! Hahahahaha

Can witnesses now vote???

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