WHY DO JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES NOT GO TO WAR?

Jehovah's Witnesses, wherever they live, have a long history of abstaining from carnal warfare between nations or between combatants within the same nation.  "Jehovah's Witnesses maintain a strict neutrality in time of war," noted the Australian Encyclopedia half a century ago. 

A major reason why the Witnesses refrain from taking part in war is that participating in such conflicts would violate their Christian conscience.  Their conscience has been shaped by the commands and example of the Lord Jesus Christ. He directed his followers to love thy neighbor. He also commanded: "Continue to love your enemies, to do good to those hating you."  (Luke 6:27; Matthew 22:39) When one of his disciples tried to defend him with a sword, Jesus told him:  "Return your sword to its place, for all those who take the sword will perish by the sword." (Matthew 26:52)  Thus, by word and example, he plainly showed this followers are not to wield weapons of carnal warfare.

Another reason Jehovah's Witnesses do not go to war is that they are members of a worldwide community of believers. War would pit brother against brother,  and that would fly in the face of Jesus' command to have 'love among themselves.' -John 13:35. 

Next time: Conclusion of WHY DO JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES NOT GO TO WAR? 

From the Watchtower magazine, 2008