Jehovah's Witnesses and governments

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Jehovah's Witnesses and governments
Topic Started: Nov 4 2009, 10:13 AM (82 Views)
lightningrod	Nov 4 2009, 10:13 AM Post #1
Advanced Member Posts: 519 Group: Advanced Members Member #4,938 Joined: November 7, 2008	http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah Witnesses_and_governments Excerpts Jehovah's Witnesses believe their allegiance belongs to God's Kingdom, which is viewed as an actual government. Thus they refrain from saluting the flag of any country or singing nationalistic songs. They believe that these acts are tantamount to worship. The political neutrality of Jehovah's Witnesses is also expressed by their refusal to participate in military service – even when it is compulsory – and by their detachment from secular politics. Still, members are expected to obey all laws of their native governments, so long as these do not violate what they view as God's law. They are instructed to pay all taxes of the country in which they reside, considering the government to be solely responsible for how they are used. United States Many United States Supreme Court cases involving Jehovah's Witnesses have shaped First Amendment law. Significant cases affirmed rights such as these: * Right to Refrain from Compulsory Flag Salute - West Virginia State Board of Education vs. Barnette * Conscientious objection to military service * Preaching in public (proselytizing) Russia In 2004, the Moscow City Court banned the activities of Jehovah’s Witnesses in Moscow, their legal entity was liquidated. Nazi Germany Nazi Germany sent German and Austrian Jehovah's Witnesses who refused allegiance to the Nazi state and military service to concentration camps. South Korea The Supreme Court in 2004 upheld 7-2 as constitutional the law regarding compulsory military service which has resulted in more than 10,000 Witnesses serving prison terms in South Korea. In April 2005 more than 1000 Witnesses were serving prison terms in South Korea based on their conscientious objection to military service. However, 7 of the court's 9 members, including 5 of those in the majority, expressed a recommendation that the legislature add an alternative service option to the statute. Singapore Jehovah's Witnesses are banned in Singapore on grounds that it was prejudicial to public welfare and order. All literature of the Jehovah's Witnesses Watch Tower Society was also banned. The ban was believed to be based on the Jehovah's Witnesses' refusal on religious grounds to perform the two-year military service that is compulsory for all male citizens. Rwanda In 2005 the Presiding Judge of the Provincial Court in Ruhengeri ruled that Witnesses should not be imprisoned for refusing to bear arms in civil defense 'night patrols' since they were willing to participate and had participated in other forms of community service. 297 Witnesses had been imprisoned on such charges in an 8 month period of 2004. 143 of those imprisoned had been severely beaten. Eritrea Eritrean Witnesses were stripped of citizenship and basic human rights in 1994 and have since widely experienced loss of employment, refusal of medical treatment, refusal of identity documents, arrest for assembly, proselytizing, and conscientious objection, as well as imprisonment for upwards of a decade, in some cases.
	http://www.demongov.com/ubbthreads/ The governments of this world are all demon possessed entities


lightningrod	Nov 4 2009, 10:14 AM Post #2
Advanced Member Posts: 519 Group: Advanced Members Member #4,938 Joined: November 7, 2008	I am not a Jehovah's Witness, but I do respect these people. They do not vote, they do not participate in politics. They believe, correctly, that the government is a satanic system. They will not salute a flag. They do not join the military. I respect that. I had no idea that they were illegal in Singapore and that they were being jailed in South Korea by the thousands That is messed up
	http://www.demongov.com/ubbthreads/ The governments of this world are all demon possessed entities


Ruth	Nov 4 2009, 12:18 PM Post #3
Advanced Member Posts: 1,386 Group: Advanced Members Member #4,840 Joined: August 9, 2008	hi lighteningrod, what does the bible say about the governing authorities and Christians.... Romans 13 Be Subject to Government 1Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake. 6For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7Render to all what is due them: (H)tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. 8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.



lightningrod	Nov 4 2009, 12:30 PM Post #4
Advanced Member Posts: 519 Group: Advanced Members Member #4,938 Joined: November 7, 2008	Ruth Nov 4 2009, 12:18 PM hi lighteningrod, what does the bible say about the governing authorities and Christians.... Romans 13 Be Subject to Government 1Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake. 6For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7Render to all what is due them: (H)tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. 8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. So when the government says that you must accept the mark of the beast, are you going to obey the government? Why did Daniel disobey the government? He was thrown into the lion's den and God saved him. Why did Daniel's 3 friends disobey the government? They were thrown into the fiery furnace and God saved them. Why did Paul disobey the government? It was illegal for him to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ He was arrested, stood trial, and was given the death penalty. ?
	http://www.demongov.com/ubbthreads/ The governments of this world are all demon possessed entities


lightningrod	Nov 4 2009, 12:32 PM Post #5
Advanced Member Posts: 519 Group: Advanced Members Member #4,938 Joined: November 7, 2008	Ruth Nov 4 2009, 12:18 PM hi lighteningrod, what does the bible say about the governing authorities and Christians.... Romans 13 Be Subject to Government 1Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God. 2Therefore whoever resists authority has opposed the ordinance of God; and they who have opposed will receive condemnation upon themselves. 3For rulers are not a cause of fear for good behavior, but for evil. Do you want to have no fear of authority? Do what is good and you will have praise from the same; 4for it is a minister of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a minister of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil. 5Therefore it is necessary to be in subjection, not only because of wrath, but also for conscience' sake. 6For because of this you also pay taxes, for rulers are servants of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. 7Render to all what is due them: (H)tax to whom tax is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honor to whom honor. 8 Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law. I am not a Jehovahs Witness But don't you think it's a shame that 10,000 of them are currently serving time in prison in South Korea? That is messed up I am sure that you do not want these Jehovah Witnesses to be rounded up and sent to jail just because we disagree with some of their doctrines
	http://www.demongov.com/ubbthreads/ The governments of this world are all demon possessed entities


Ruth	Nov 4 2009, 05:45 PM Post #6
Advanced Member Posts: 1,386 Group: Advanced Members Member #4,840 Joined: August 9, 2008	this is something very important we as Christians need to understand, we are first under Gods authority, living by the teachings of scripture. Then we are under submission to the governing authorities. We can only disobey the government when they tell us to do something directly against scripture. We are also commanded to honor the President, no matter who he/she is. So do not let the fear of the coming New World Order or the mark of the beast cause you to hate the government and its leaders. God has allowed them to rule and reign for His purposes. We also need to realize we are told to pray for those in authority over us, respect, and obey. The coming New World Order may try to take away our constitutional rights, for example if the government declared a nationwide curfew I would obey. If they declared that all Bibles have to be turned in I would disobey and risk suffering the consequences. You may ethically disobey when the government orders you to do something against scripture or performs an illegal action against you, but this is where I get confused.. should a Christian take up arms and fight against the government? Jesus told the disciples not to fight the Roman guards, but was that only because it was not part of Gods plan? We see later the Apostles never physically protected themselves, they ran. Self defence is an innate behavior, a healthy reaction from your brain telling you to protect yourself, but if its done for revenge or hate then it must be wrong, for that is Gods job.



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