Jehovah's Witnesses disfellowshipped for voting pre 1999?

Question

The WBTS changed its stance on voting in 1999 as per their Watchtower article, as follows:

"Number 1, voting is not a disfellowshipping offense. Isn't the Watchtower the official Jehovah's Witness magazine? Here is what it says there:

"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."--11/1/99 p. 29"

How many of you were disfellowshipped pre 1999 and if so, were you reinstated upon publication of this new attitude toward participating in governmental affairs of The World?"

because JWs who voted pre 1999 were disfellowshipped. Many in my congregation were. New attitudes (or in speak-ease "New Light") are not brought in with fanfare, but a subtle change so as not to cause uproar from such an about face in attitude.

Answer 1

My family went through a similar situation regarding military service. My sister who is no longer a JW was "Disassociated" back around the 1998 because she enlisted in the US Air Force. The JWs could not "Disfellowship" her because meting out punishment could have brought a sh*tstorm of legal trouble back on them because that could be construed as sedition which is closely related to treason. Instead, they simply made an announcement that my sister "has shown by her actions that she no longer wants to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses." The JWs didn't call it "Disassociating" because according to the elder, to give it a name implied that it was punishment; which in turn could cause legal issues of sedition. In this way, they figure they are not technically punishing her, but technically they are because she was treated as a disfellowshipped person. Actually, it's funny/sad because I had not left the organization yet, and I got in trouble several times because I refused to stop associating with her. In fact, I was counseled a few times for getting caught associating with a "disassociated" person to which I then requested written clarification of her punishment. Let's just say that arguing semantics with the upper echelons of the JW org is like trying to get a politician to tell the truth.

If it doesn't sound right to you then you're probably not a JW.

If you are a JW, I encourage you to do a little digging. Chances are the rug you're standing upon has quite a few dirty little secrets swept under it. But don't expect anyone in the organization to help you lift it up.

Answer 2

You probably need to look back at how spiritual he was before you both got disfellowshipped. I'm guessing he didn't do much bible studying before, maybe he has never made the truth his own. Perhaps he feels it was wrong what you did, but he's not truly sorry about it. Or his pride is getting in the way. You just need to do the right thing and if it is in his heart, he will come around and want to serve Jehovah. I don't know if you have had your Circuit Overseer recently, we just had ours last week. What great talks. One on "Are You Ready for the New World?" It really showed how we each need to work on our personality now, and be willing to work now, or we aren't going to make it in the new system. There is going to be a lot of work to be done. I had never thought about until we reach perfection, we will make mistakes, which is another good reason to work on our personality now. He brought out not to think we are going to slide into the new system without doing anything for Jehovah now. We also need to take responsibility for our actions, not blame others. If you haven't had your C.O., make sure you and your husband don't miss it. It maybe the push your husband needs to make a decision. Stay strong and rely on Jehovah.

Answer 3

I have read the whole Watchtower (11/1/99) text from my library.

You copied the paragraphs from Questions From Readers section of the Watchtower. So the Watchtower was just answering a question asked by a reader and was NOT an annoucement of any kind to change in the matters that affect baptized JW either before 1999 or after 1999.
What you copied was not an official JW statement of any change but rather just an answer that was long pre-existing.

I do not know or heard of any baptised JW that vote political parties not that it is my business anyway.



AGAIN PEDI C in your additional details: Again where do you get this alligation of change in the JW society happening in 1999?
The paragraphs you pasted, I repeat, are not official press statements of any change but just an answer to a question letter by a reader of the views the Society of Jehovah's Witnesses have had long before 1999 and maintain to this present day.


Cathy. JW do not make claims that all world governments are evil and never have, but they take the counsel in 2 Corinthians 4:4 that Satan is ruler of this world. The world lies under the influence of Satan but that is not difficult to see with the suffering, war and injustices we see daily.
Jesus said that his kingdom was no part of this world (under Satan's influence) but his kingdom will be over this world when Jehovah brings about the ending of wickedness on this earth. Jehovah's Witnesses are very obedient to it's worldly authorities unless it they are told to break God's law (Act 5:29) then they will only obey Jehovah.

Answer 4

This is not a conscience issue as Jesus said to be not part of the world. Political issues and voting are very much part of the world. Only Jehovah God can change the mess that man has gotten us into. Man doesn't have the right to even direct his own step without asking God what direction to place his foot.

If any Witness was disfellowshipped for voting, there must have been other things they were doing not in line with God's Standard's. No repentance would be something to consider also.

Answer 5

Jehovah's Witnesses have always considered voting to be a personal matter of conscience, and have never considered voting to be a disfellowshipping (or disassociating) offense.

It is sad but unsurprising when persecutors invent lies with which to "beat" true Christians (such as Jehovah's Witnesses).

(Matthew 24:48-51) But if ever that evil slave ...should start to beat his fellow slaves and should eat and drink with the confirmed drunkards, the master of that slave will come on a day that he does not expect...and will punish him with the greatest severity and will assign him his part with the hypocrites.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20000622/
http://watchtower.org/e/20030301/article_01.htm

Answer 6

I don't know anyone who has been disfellowshipped for voting. Nor do I know of any Witness that has ever voted. I do know that there was a question that if a woman was married to an unbeliever and he wanted her to vote, as her husband and head, that would be up to her conscience if she would vote. That is the only circumstance that I know of that a Witness would even consider voting.

Jesus told us to be no part of the world. If someone is getting involved in worldly affairs, by voting, they will have to answer to Jehovah for their decision. That is what the article is saying.

Answer 7

I'm confused for another reason. If as Cool says, JWs believe that governments are evil, why would they allow voting by their members? Voting makes a person a participant in government. If the government is evil, participating in that government by voting is evil as well.

I'd appreciate some clarification as well.

Edit:

Thanks, Webboffin!

Answer 8

WHAT AN INTENTIONALLY DECEPTIVE QUESTION!!!

NEXT TIME, PUT YOUR QUESTIONS INTO CONTEXT!

Here is the quote from the article in proper context:

"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." -11/1/99 Watchtower; Questions from Readers"

Answer 9

How can you make a world better by not participating in things even as small as voting? JW's claim that government organizations are evil because they are run by men. true they are run by men, but how else can you make life better then to support or change government. it's unavoidable, so why sit and do nothing, but yet complain about how bad it is. How about this, If you don't like something, then do something about it.

Answer 10

You know..it boggles my mind how the WT makes and changes rules and their followers continue to believe that they are the voice of God. They can't see how they are following man and not God.

They have a lot to answer for when judgement day comes..