Why Do Jehovah's Witnesses Maintain Political Neutality?

Respect for governments.  Although we do not take part in politics, we respect the authority of the governments under which we live.  This is in harmony with the Bible's/God's command:  "Let everyone be in subjection to the superior authorities." (Romans 13:1)  We obey the law, pay taxes, and cooperate with efforts  of the government to provide for the welfare of its citizens.  Rather than participate in any attempts to subvert the government, we follow the Bible's counsel to par for "kings and all those who are in positions of authority," especially when they are making decisions that affect freedom of worship. - 1 TIMOTHY 2:1, 2. 

We also respect the rights of others to make their own decisions in political matters. For example, we do not disrupt elections or interfere with those who choose to vote. 

Is our neutrality a modern innovation? No. The apostles and other first-century Christians took an identical stand toward governmental authority. The book Beyond Good Intentions states:  "Though   they believed they were obligated to honor the governing authorities, the early Christians did not not belive in participatings in political affairs."  Similarly, the book On the Road to Civilization says that early Christians  "would not hold political office." 

Is our political neutrality a threat to national security?  No. We are peace -loving citizens from whom governmental authorities have nothing to fear.  Consider a 2001 report produced by the National Academy of Sciences in Ukraine.  Commenting on our political neutrality, the report stated:  "Today some may dislike this stand of Jehovah's Witnesses; it was a basic reason for their being accused by the totalitarian Nazi and Communist regimes of the past." Yet, even under Soviet repression, the Witnesses "remained law-abiding citizens.  They honestly and selfishly worked in collective farms and  at industrial plants and presented no threat to the Communist regime."  Likewise today, the beliefs and practices of Jehovah's Witnesses do not, the report concluded , "undermine the security and intergrity of any state."

Next time: Maintain Your Neutrality in a Divided World

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