Jehovah's Witnesses, in what year did you become non-political?

My answer is for a couple reasons, lol First of all, haven't answered in a while...second, I thought of an added point that can round out other answers that are from Jehovah's Witnesses that may have not be covered.

I recenty saw something about the mother of Dwight D. Eisenhower was a Jehovah's Witness, however I cannot find that article at the moment. (See the link below which I did find on him) He never became a Jehovah's Witness and decided to get involved in the military and went on to a political career. No doubt, we thought that in his own way he could make things "better" by doing so. Even becoming the president of the United States. Though I did read that he was one of the most honest presidents, we all know that he is dead and gone.

And added point: the biography below brought out that he and I quote: "Smoked 4 packs of cigarettes a day until 1949, and often drank 15 cups of coffee. He was also known to drink heavily. This unhealthy lifestyle undoubtedly contributed to his severe heart problems in later life." Obviously, he was not a happy man.Taking the weight of the world on our shoulders was not God's plan or purpose for us!

Did things get better after he left office? Not at all because the world is excilating in problems!!! Once again, the illustration of a Dam and plugging up holes. For each one you plug up, there is 5 more leaking!

Another thing to ponder...did he die with a legacy of Honoring Jehovah? Not from what I know. And, is he really remembered that much for anything he did, whether it be good, bad or somewhere in the middle?

The fact is, it would NOT benefit the organization to have a person in office. In fact, it would show that we are not looking forward to God's Kingdom that is prayed for and has been for centuries.

Jesus told us to do so at Matthew 6:9, 10 (A model prayer he left). And he came to earth to show us all how we can live better, not just in this life, but in the New System where we can grow to perfect. The BEST LIFE. Rev. 21:3, 4, Ps. 37:10, 11

I hope that I did your question justice. And the best to you.

This is interesting: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0252032/bio

Jehovah's Witnesses follow the leadings of God's holy spirit "into all the truth". We do not live in the past but look forward to the future. As far back as I can go I find no indication of anyone being "political" or holding a political office. However, as Bible truth becomes clearer we make adjustments to be more in tune with Jehovah's thinking and standards. We're willing to make the adjustments and will continue to do so.

I would like to see the documentation about one of Jehovah's witnesses holding political office.

Jesus, the Faithful Witness who makes his Father's name known experienced an attempt to make him king, by humans, but he got out of their way. John 6:15 Revelation 1:5, John 17:6,26

He had this attitude throughout his ministry

The first century Christians were known to maintain political neutrality.

“They refused to take any active part in the civil administration or the military defence of the empire. . . . it was impossible that the Christians, without renouncing a more sacred duty, could assume the character of soldiers, of magistrates, or of princes.”—History of Christianity (New York, 1891), Edward Gibbon, pp. 162, 163.

Jehovah's witnesses follow their example, also the following scriptures:

“My kingdom is no part of this world. If my kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be delivered up to the Jews. But, as it is, my kingdom is not from this source.”—John 18:36.

Jas. 4:4: “Adulteresses, do you not know that the friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever, therefore, wants to be a friend of the world is constituting himself an enemy of God.”

1 John 5:19, “...the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one.”

John 14:30 I will not speak with you much more, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has no hold on me.

Religious leaders have completely departed from Jesus’ command to stay neutral in political affairs. In Jesus’ day, Galilee “was the heartland of ethnic nationalism,” states writer Trevor Morrow. Many Jewish patriots took up arms to gain political and religious freedom. Did Jesus tell his disciples to get involved in such struggles? No. On the contrary, he told them: “You are no part of the world.” (John 15:19; 17:14) Instead of remaining neutral, however, church leaders developed what Irish writer Hubert Butler describes as “militant and political ecclesiasticism.” “Political Christianity,” he writes, “is almost always also militarist Christianity and when statesmen and ecclesiastics come to terms it always happens that, in return for certain privileges, the Church gives its blessing to the military forces of the state.”

CHRISTIANITY HAS ALWAYS BEEN NON-POLITICAL BECAUSE JESUS SAID YOU ARE NO PART OF THIS WORD. SO AS JEHOVAH WITNESSES WE'VE ALWAYS REMAIN NEUTRAL IN POLITICAL AFFERTS. YOU CAN GO TO JW.ORG AND IT WILL ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ON JEHOVAH WITNESSES

My parents became Jehovah's Witnesses in the late 1930's and did not vote, take part in local politics or go to war. As far as I know, the policy of political neutrality goes right back to Russell, who founded the organisation that became known as Jehovah's Witnesses in 1931.

The official Jehovah's Witness web site does not have access to literature pre-2000. However, I did find a link that gives access to post-1942 and pre-1960 literature which is now in the public domain. It might contain some relevant information (see second link below).

The third link is a publication by the second president, Rutherford, about Militarism. It's a 13 page document but is not very clear, and is in PDF format.

I can find no referrence to any such occurence, we have always been neutral as to politics and even as far back as in Roman times Christians have refused military service. In recent times even doing non-combatant service in the armed forces was stopped. We remain neutral as to politics and conflicts to this day and some are in prisoned for refusing any form of military service; other perform civil service instead which is an alternative for all those whose conscience prevents military service, not just us, J.W's.

That would not surprise me at all.

Many JWs would doubtless have been involved with politics, some even serving in a political capacity BEFORE they became Jehovah's Witnesses.

But they have long understood the import of Jesus' words at John 17:14 in prayer to his Father:

"I have given your word to them, but the world has hated them, because they are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world." [see also 1 John 2:15,16]

Is there any room for ambiguity by what Jesus said there? Well consider what he responded to Pontius Pilate at John 18:36:

“My Kingdom is no part of this world. If my Kingdom were part of this world, my attendants would have fought that I should not be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my Kingdom is not from this source.”

Does that in any way sound to you as if Jesus was prepared to involve himself with this world's politics?

No? Me neither.

I have no doubt whatsoever that in the early days when Russell was preaching to those in Christendom's churches that there would have been many who, while they embraced what he said, did not see a problem with voting people into political office.

But if you go to:

http://ctr-rlbible.com/?p=811

you can read for yourself what CT Russell's stance was on involvement with the world's affairs, specifically there dealing with war, but note his words in the Jan 1, 1916 WT, page 6:

"Let us never forget our neutrality. Let us be just toward all, kind, generous. Let us avoid as far as possible any discussion of these matters with those who would not be able to understand and appreciate our position. Otherwise, we would be doing what the Master admonished us not to do, when He said, “Cast not your pearls before swine; lest they trample them under foot and turn again and rend you.” (Matthew 7:6) Our worldly neighbors have not the viewpoint that we possess, and cannot understand our arguments or reasons. In due time they will understand. Now the Lord’s consecrated people should be unobtrusive, not strife-breeders, not partisans, not bigoted, but wonderfully sympathetic toward all, realizing the true situation, as others are not able to do."

Doesn't sound like a statement that is compatible with JWs holding political office, does it?

What I can tell you [which may be associated with what you read] is that up until 1932 elders and ministerial servants were voted in by their congregation members. Thereafter, the GB made appointments.

What I can also tell you is that the officers of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society are appointed by vote, as is common with legal entities formed to comply with Caesar's requirements.

Hope that helps you.

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Edit: In your update you add: " It was specifically stated the individual was a Witness before taking office."

Is it not possible, then, that he was an ex-JW? In other words, it was merely relating the fact that he had been a JW at one time in the past?

Clearly, if he was holding a political office, that does not accord with JW beliefs, so that would be the only viable explanation. [John 17:14].

A JW friend of mine, whose whole family was raised from infancy as JWs, has a brother who is a politician.

So, even though he grew up in a family of JWs, he is no longer one himself.

I was young and it would have been my first year I was able to vote--but I got the truth and have NEVER voted, nor have I not missed out on anything!

As far as I know we have always been neutral politically but during one of the early wars, we allowed ourselves to do some non-combative work rather than go to war. Now we don't even do that.

We have always been neutral, that is why many are persecuted, because they refuse to get involved.

At one time, brothers were elected, and only one elder. But on closer study of the scriptures, they realized they had misunderstood and changed that. To me that is the mark of true christianity when errors are rectified, because it shows that God's way means more than human reasoning!