Watchtower Neutrality Refuted

 

The so-called Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that separation from the world means that Christians must not vote or otherwise participate in politics or public affairs or serve in the military (not even to defend their country against aggression). The separation taught in the Bible is godly conduct, distinctions, and relationships within society, separation from the sins of society, and is not isolation from society or neutrality concerning politics, community affairs, or even war. (Matthew 22:21; Romans 13:1-7; Ephesians 5:3-11; I Timothy 2:1-2; I Peter 2:11-12)

Man is a natural-born sinner, inherently depraved. It is not human government that is sinful or wicked but rather those who comprise human government, which is why Christian influence is essential. Christians are the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Salt cleanses, purifies, preserves, and makes people thirsty, and light dispels darkness. Christians are supposed to be a cleansing and illuminating influence, impacting society and culture for righteousness. (Matthew 5:13-16)

Should we interpret the words of Christ in Matthew 6:9-11 to mean that He was promoting laziness and idleness? No, a good job should be considered an answer to prayer for necessities. The exhortation to pray for all men and for all that are in authority does not imply neutrality regarding politics and community affairs; opportunities to influence society and culture and participate in politics and community affairs should be considered answers to such prayers. (I Timothy 2:1-2)

The Watchtower Society forbids JWs from joining the armed forces for any reason, and they will not baptize a member of the armed forces until he leaves the armed forces. (Anyone remember Cornelius? -Acts 10) Where in the Bible is any soldier told to resign from the armed forces? God ordained human government to protect the people and punish criminals, including criminal nations, and having armed forces is part of God's purpose for human government. A soldier merely doing his duty is not a murderer; a soldier is a representative of the government and it is the government that bears responsibility for the killing involved. (Romans 13:1-4; I Peter 2:13-14) Granted, sometimes human governments (being composed of humans) abuse or exceed their authority, but that is another issue. The same God who said "Thou shalt not kill" also told His people to fight wars and execute various criminals, and a passage must be understood or interpreted in relation to its context and the whole Bible. In Exodus 20:13 the word rendered "kill" (Hebrew: Ratsach) means illicit premeditated murder. In the Old Testament different Hebrew words were used for killing in self-defense, killing in the line of duty, etc... In the Old Testament, military service was the duty of all able-bodied adult males (with the exception of Levites), and the vast majority of them were what we refer to today as Reservists or National Guardsmen; the words of Christ that are often used to promote pacifism were initially spoken to people still living under the Old Law Covenant, and should be understood or interpreted accordingly. (Numbers 1; consider II Timothy 2:15; 3:16)

What about Matthew 5:39? “But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.” (Matthew 5:39) This is not condemning self-defense or military service, Christ was using an idiom. Note that the Greek word here rendered "smite" is Rhapizo, which means "slap." This does not imply anything against left-handed people, but most people are right-handed, and it is necessary to approach someone from behind to slap the right cheek with the right hand; this is dealing with backbiting.

What about Matthew 26:52 (a favorite JW proof text)? “Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.” (Matthew 26:52) Again, the passage must be interpreted or understood in relation to context. “And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him. And Jesus said unto him, Friend, wherefore art thou come? Then came they, and laid hands on Jesus, and took him. And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be? In that same hour said Jesus to the multitudes, Are ye come out as against a thief with swords and staves for to take me? I sat daily with you teaching in the temple, and ye laid no hold on me. But all this was done, that the scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled. Then all the disciples forsook him, and fled.” (Matthew 26:47-56)

What about Isaiah 2:4 and similar passages? “And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” (Isaiah 2:4) Bible prophecies dealing with the actions of nations that will be inevitable because of the complete absence of the threat of war and the universality of righteousness or godliness obviously do not relate to what we should be doing right now.

 

Further reading:

WITNESSING TO JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES