To what extent are Jehovah’s Witnesses to exercise political neutrality in matters of employment?
score:4
While some of the scenarios that are posed would not put a Jehovah's Witness in line for committing a serious offense, unless an action was taken that clearly violates Jehovah's principles, there is more to consider.
Another aspect that a Jehovah's Witness needs to take into consideration is conscience, their own and others.
To begin we could take the situation that a Witness has carefully considered a particular employment opportunity and believes that they are not violating any scriptural principles. This individual then has a clean conscience before Jehovah. But what about the conscience of others?
To explain further, I will present two situations that actually happened.
- A Witness was working for city hall. His employment did not put him in a position where his political neutrality was in jeopardy. At one point, he was tasked with moving some equipment, some of which was voting machines. He was not voting so his conscience was clean. The problem arose in which others in the congregation had taken an issue with his moving the voting machines. So in order to maintain a clean conscience and keep the unity in the congregation, he resigned from his employment.
- A Witness owns a painting business. He is well-spoken of in his field and has been recommended for different contracts. His name and business are suggested to an individual for a painting job. The job is to paint the exterior of a church. He considers the offer and because he will not be entering the church itself he decides to take the contract. He finishes the contract and is paid. Shortly thereafter, on the front page of the local newspaper is a story of the church having the exterior painted, and a photo of the witness is included. Of course, others in the congregation saw the article and the photo. (I don't remember the outcome of the situation.)
In both scenarios, a situation comes up that the individual probably not expect. This brings us to Paul's admonition:
All things are lawful, but not all things are advantageous. All things are lawful, but not all things build up.
An individual may not see anything wrong with a particular job or contract, therefore their conscience is clean. But how will it affect others within the congregation? Several scriptures help to see this point:
So, then, let us pursue the things making for peace and the things that build one another up. [bold mine]
Keep from becoming causes for stumbling to Jews as well as Greeks and to the congregation of God,
that you may make sure of the more important things, so that you may be flawless and not stumbling others up to the day of Christ; [bold mine]
if there is any man free from accusation, a husband of one wife, having believing children who are not accused of debauchery or rebelliousness. [bold mine]
At times, even after prayerful consideration, the decision that an individual takes may lead to a situation that they did not see or prepare for.
[All scripture quotations from the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures (Study Edition)]
More post
- 📝 Any biblical passages, traditions or historical record of Virgin Mary's baptism?
- 📝 Do a significant number of Biblical scholars presently support inerrancy?
- 📝 Who is the last prophet in Catholicism?
- 📝 Why do the successors of the Apostles do not carry the titles and dignity as apostles?
- 📝 What do Bible lexicons, like Strong's, mean when they use the phrase, "by extension"?
- 📝 Does Christianity address the difference between joy and pleasure and how to manage them?
- 📝 How does a Roman Catholic reconcile a preference for purely procreative sex with the Song of Solomon?
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church put the death of Samson in the category of suicide?
- 📝 Do all Christian views need to have a Biblical basis?
- 📝 Are there any denominations that do not require pastors to be college educated?
- 📝 Why aren't the books of the Bible in chronological order?
- 📝 Should we love Satan since he is our greatest enemy?
- 📝 According to Two Kingdom theology, could a man hold both secular and spiritual office?
- 📝 How is Matthew 18: 8-9 explained in the context of non works-based salvation?
- 📝 Why is Jesus the Son called the Father in Isaiah 9:6?
- 📝 Need help with Latin Formula for an unusual Saint Benedict Cross
- 📝 How does Human Nature relate to Angelic Nature, specifically regarding sin and free-will?
- 📝 According to reformed theology, is there any valid reason to desire to be saved besides it glorifies God?
- 📝 Why was Jesus condemned for blasphemy by the Jews?
- 📝 On the topic of marriage in heaven, how does the LDS church reconcile Matthew 22:23-33?
- 📝 When Jesus was nailed to the cross, did the nails go through his hands or through his wrists?
- 📝 Catholic orders controlling diocesan territory
- 📝 What exactly does one do in the Sabbath?
- 📝 Who is being referred to in [Numbers 24:9]?
- 📝 Would God allow all of humanity to be celibate?
- 📝 How do we identify false prophets?
- 📝 What are the practical applications of "two will become one flesh"?
- 📝 According to the Catholic Church, what did Jesus mean by saying “Least of these commandments "?
- 📝 What is mortal sin? Is agression a mortal sin?
- 📝 Could Christ who carried our sins on the cross forgive those same sins?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 To what extent are Jehovah’s Witnesses to exercise political neutrality in matters of employment?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for the belief held by Jehovah's Witnesses that Jehovah and Jesus Christ are separate entities?
- 📝 What are the differences between most Christian Bibles and Jehovah’s Witnesses Bible?
- 📝 If most of the Jehovah's Witnesses today are not a part of the 144,000, then what exactly are they?
- 📝 What are the main differences between Jehovah's Witnesses and Biblical Unitarians?
- 📝 What are Jehovah's Witnesses beliefs on how those who died before Jesus, or before JWs existed, will gain salvation?
- 📝 What are the current guidelines for Jehovah's Witnesses regarding blood use in medical treatment?
- 📝 In Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Lutheranism, what are the main explanations on the matter of why Jesus Christ needed to be baptized?
- 📝 According to Latter-day Saints, what are the strongest arguments for the credibility of the 3 & 8 witnesses to the golden plates?
- 📝 What are the differences between Catholics and the Jehovah's Witnesses
- 📝 To what extent do those who hold to a 'literal' account of Genesis 1-11, such as YECs, hold there are symbolic elements in Genesis 1-3?
- 📝 What have been the justifications by organised Christian groups on why around 500 witnesses are convincing when Legion can control thousands?
- 📝 What major translations of the Bible are in the Public Domain?
- 📝 To what extent does the Law of Moses still apply?
- 📝 What are the different names of God in the Bible and what do they mean?
- 📝 What are the theological implications of "filioque"?
- 📝 What are the biblical arguments that the Bible canon is closed?
- 📝 For Catholics who object to Vatican II, what are the key issues?
- 📝 What are some countries where you can be imprisoned for reading or owning a Bible?
- 📝 What distinctive kinds of Bible translations are there?
- 📝 What are the differences between the different millenialisms?
- 📝 What are the main tenets and/or beliefs of the 'Emergent' Church?
- 📝 What is the Biblical evidence that there are ONLY three persons in the "Trinity"?
- 📝 What are the Biblical and theological problems with theistic evolution?
- 📝 What are the primary differences and implications of a propitiatory view of the atonement versus an expiatory view?
- 📝 What are the main differences between 7th Day Adventists and Catholic/Protestant churches?
- 📝 What important Mormon doctrines are taught in the book of Mormon that we couldn't find in the Bible already?
- 📝 What are the steps to become Confirmed in the Catholic church?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for withholding communion from believers who are unbaptized?
- 📝 What are the practical applications of "two will become one flesh"?