True or false: The main difference seems to be that JWs' participation in Kingdom Hall politics?

Question

will not get you kicked out of town, but participation in Town Hall politics will get you kicked out of the religion/ Kingdom Hall and shunned by family and friends ordered by the Watchtower Society.

Answer 1

Doubt you'll see anyone admit to the existence of Kingdom Hall politics, but it is there. One thing I've noticed about the JW's after I became Catholic is a difference in mindset of the clergy. With JW's, becoming an elder or ministerial servant is like getting a job promotion. If you do well and they like you, you get upped; if you do badly, you're fired.

With the Catholic Church, there is none of that. Once a person is ordained, they are ordained. No one and nothing can change that. Clerical offices in the Church are the result of God's call, not because one or two men deemed you worthy to join their club.

Answer 2

customarily, there are territories, assigned in line with the place one lives. occasion, in case you reside in Macon Ga, it rather is stated which you flow to a Kingdom hall in Macon Ga, for countless motives. For one element, that is often demanding to truly be slightly of a congregation, if all you time is taken up in traveling. That stated, for numerous years, I lived "exterior" of the component to the KH I frequently attended. there's a distinction of a few million? minute commute time. when I flow decrease back to Macon, that is been presumed, by utilising myself, and others, that i'd be attending that hall lower back. If there replaced into an appearant want (IE, there have been not adequate Brothers in the component to yet another hall) or it replaced into seen that it would make issues much less complicated, i'd gladly flow to a distinctive hall. all of them practice an analogous element, and have Brothers and Sisters there, in spite of if i don't rather comprehend all of them yet.

Answer 3

Jesus Christ never participate in politics in his time but only everything related of his folks, exactly we follow that example.

the most imporrtant thing to Jesus was and is God´s kingdom (Matthew 6:33) and the preaching of that kingdom (matthew 24:14), exactly the sme for us that is why you don´t see JWs in the congress requesting money or pushing their believe in the political field.

A Christian should keep separate from world Jas. 4:4; 1 John 2:15; John 15:19; 17:16

Obey human laws that do not conflict with God's laws Matt. 22:20, 21; 1 Pet. 2:12; 4:15

Jehovah's Witnesses are an influence in a right direction. The Bible teaches them to respect marriage. Their children are trained in right principles. The importance of the family is stressed. United families are a boon to your community, even to your nation. History is filled with examples of world powers crumbling when family ties weakened and immorality increased. The more individuals and families that Jehovah's Witnesses influence to live by Christian principles, the less delinquency, immorality, and crime you will have in your community

Answer 4

Kingdom Hall politics plays key roles in almost every aspect of JW lives, from having any responsibility in the hall to becoming a ministerial servant or elder, to whether or not you are disfellowshipped or just publically or privately reproved.

They won't talk about it openly or even amongst themselves, but from my experiences it an understood FACT.

In the realm of "worldly" politics, just HAVING or voicing an opinion about anything withing the political arena will get you called on the carpet with a meeting with the judicial committee.

So, the answer is TRUE!

Answer 5

False.

It would be naive to pretend that so-called "politics" does not exist anywhere among the 100,000 local congregations compromising nearly seven million Jehovah's Witnesses. Admittedly, some small measure of that must be God-dishonoring. The bible has prepared true Christians, however, that they cannot expect a perfect implementation of God's "administration" on earth as long as humans are plagued by their own Adamic imperfection and by influences from the Satanic world around them.

(Ephesians 1:8-10) [God] caused to abound toward us in all wisdom and good sense, in that he made known to us the sacred secret of his will. It is according to his good pleasure which he purposed in himself for an administration at the full limit of the appointed times, namely, to gather all things together again in the Christ


Even many years after Jesus' ascension, it must be admitted that even the apostles continued to struggle with issues of "politics", favoritism, and ethnic bias. Perhaps it was with a view toward correcting the modern congregation that God allowed that first century situation to escalate to the point that it did, so that Christians today can learn from the mistakes of those elders who literally walked with Christ. If God and Christ tolerated those ancient errors in judgment and continued to use those men for privileges, then perhaps it is a mistake in our day to judge one's brothers too harshly. None today have been trained at the hip and by the lips of our Lord in the flesh.

(Galatians 2:11-14) However, when Cephas [that is, the apostle Peter] came to Antioch, I [that is, the apostle Paul] resisted him face to face, because he stood condemned. For before the arrival of certain men from James, he used to eat with [non-Jews]; but when they arrived, he went withdrawing and separating himself, in fear of those of the circumcised class. The rest of the Jews also joined him in putting on this pretense, so that even Barnabas was led along with them in their pretense. But when I saw they were not walking straight according to the truth of the good news, I said [words of correction] to Cephas before them all


The bible plainly teaches that true Christians must be neutral with regard to nationalism and human governments.
...(Philippians 3:18-20) The enemies of the torture stake of the Christ, and their finish is destruction, and their god is their belly, and their glory consists in their shame, and they have their minds upon things on the earth. As for us, our citizenship exists in the heavens
...(John 15:18-19) If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were part of the world, the world would be fond of what is its own. Now because you are no part of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, on this account the world hates you.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/20011015/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_07.htm

Answer 6

Mark 12:17 Then Jesus said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God." And they were amazed at him.
I think that means whatever the government lays down, God wants us to follow. Whatever God lays down, we also must follow. God gave us our life and blessings so in return we give Him back our life by living by His words and teachings. We give back blessings we received by being a blessing to others. Fair enough for me.

Answer 7

Danny summed it up pretty will...except that they take the separation of church and stat to a whole new level. If you get involved in anything that is not completely politicaly neutral, you can be disfellowshipped.

Answer 8

Jesus said that they will kick you out because they kicked him out, we were warned that they will do the same to us because of his name.

Answer 9

don;t think so

Answer 10

If this is true, then this is just another example of the gnostic heresy that is pervasive in the Russellite religion. Gnosticism is the view that the spirit is more valuable that the flesh, and that the world is corrupt, but not the spirit of man, as long as one keeps oneself from defilement in the world. (This unfortunately is similar with monasticism and the Amish.) The cause for sin and corruption is always ultimately externalized (being those others in the world) and never ultimately an internal problem with one's own heart, as Jesus said, "But things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make man unclean. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander." (Matthew 15:18-20)

So, the Gnostic answer to living a godly life would be to remove oneself from the world. This is not only unBiblical, but childish as well. This means that the cause to any of one's problem would have to be to their unwillingness to withdraw, and their unwillingness to rely on and listen to their leaders, (rather than their own conscience made by God Himself), who bind their consciences with particular abstenance stipulations, such as this one regarding political activities, rather than the cause being from within them; their wicked heart.

Growing up involves no longer playing the blame game of placing fault on others (i.e., the world), trusting ultimately in God, and not men, including your spiritual leaders (because they are not your parents) and taking ownership and responsibility as an adult for both the cause and choice of sinning, as well as your choice to obey the Lord! Sadly, I don't sense this is the case with those who choose to become members of cultic organizations, such as the Russellites. They refuse to grow up, and allow the Lord and His Word illuminated by His Holy Spirit, rather than certain others, to be their ultimate guide and say in life. This is why they pridefully boast in the form of godliness and unity of mind that they say they have. It is more like an oppressive and undifferentiated ego mass, and guess who's ego it is? You guessed it; it's their leaders, not their's, nor the Lord's!

Yes, Jesus never got involved with politics. Neither did he ever become a soldier, nor a farmer, nor a grazer, nor a merchant. He became what He and His Father predetermined for Him to accomplish; being His ministry to save and seek the lost, and free up the captives' hearts from their either indulgences and/or their legalism, as in this situation. Now, let's be consistent here if we are going to be legalistic about the fact that Jesus didn't involve Himself in politics. Since He didn't involve Himself in these other occupations, doesn't this mean that the Russellites should only become and do what He did, in order to be safe from violating this very demanding principle of not involving themselves in the world (whatever that inevitably and inconsistently does and doesn't mean to them)?

See the trouble that this way of thinking leads to? No, the correct understanding is that we are not called to the very same vocational call (actually that would be impossible, wouldn't it?) as Jesus, nor anyone elses for that matter, but our own. The call from God our Father is very personal, for each one of us, whether we are to be a carpenter, a baker, a candle stick maker, or something else. This means that it does not eliminate being a politician, no more than being a minister, doesn't it? Jesus said, "My prayer is not that You take them out of the world, but that You protect them from the evil one." (John 17:15) In other words, He says that we are not to be OF the world, but we are definitely to be IN the world! Wasn't Jesus IN the world much of the time within His particular call?

All the verses quoted so far by the Russellites refer to not being OF the world. OK, I agree. But, what about still being IN it, representing Him IN it in your vocation? That would be part of your ministry in the world, would it not? Not to do so would be sin, don't you think? The Apostle Paul confirms this by saying, "I have written to you not to associate with sexually immoral people - not at all meaning the people of this world......In that case, you would have to leave this world." (1 Corithians 5:9-10a,c). Now by associating ourselves in the affairs and people of the world, but also not being of them or it, as both the Lord Jesus and the Apostle Paul prescribe, doesn't that involve placing ourselves strategically in all vocations which are clearly not inherently evil (i.e., prostitution, drug dealing), in order to be a light amidst the darkness? How is politics inherently evil? Doesn't Jesus tell us to not hide His light in us under bowl (i.e., monastic life), but to place it out on a stand to light the whole house (i.e., the world)? (Matthew 5:15)

It is the same in the profession of politics and being called to a position in the government of a local community, county, state, or nation, such as a judge, lawyer, coucilman, assemblyman, and senator. What makes us exempt from obeying these calls to minister in them too? Aren't we called to obey the government officials, because they are God's ministers and instruments of justice? (Romans 13:1-5) The Apostle Paul even calls these politicians and government officials "God's servants" in verse 4! So, what's the big fuss over abstaining from politics? You pay taxes don't you? Well, if you do so, you are already involved in politics and the government, since you are the one who pays them! So then what's the big deal about not running for an office as a government representative, since they are called "God's servants"? This prohibition just doesn't make any sense at all, other than for the goal and purpose of maintaining some false kind of security from others who are hypocritically labeled as evil (can you say "projection"!), exercising one's selfish pride in false humility and religion, and putting leaders who bind others' consciences in this manner on some kind of power trip!