New Light on Civil Service in lieu of Military Service for Jehovah's Witnesses
taken from the Watchtower, May 1, 1996 article, "Paying Back Caesar's
Things to Caesar": (p. 18)
"[Since the time of Constantine] the clergy of Christendom have encouraged
their flocks to serve in the armies of the nations, although some individuals
have taken a stand as conscientious objectors.
"Are Christians today obliged to follow the majority in this matter?
No. If a dedicated, baptized Christian lives in a country where exemption from
military service is granted to ministers of religion, he may avail himself of
this provision, for he is in fact a minister....
"What, though, if the Christian lives in a land where exemption is not
granted to ministers of religion? Then he will have to make a personal decision
following his Bible-trained conscience....
Civilian Service
"However, there are lands where the State, while not allowing exemption
for ministers of religion, nevertheless acknowledges that some individuals may
object to military service. Many of these lands make provision for such conscientious
individuals not to be forced into military service. In some places a required
civilian service, such as useful work in the community, is regarded as non-military
national service. Could a dedicated Christian undertake such service? Here again,
a dedicated, baptized Christian would have to make his own decision on the basis
of his Bible-trained conscience.
"It seems that compulsory service was practiced in Bible times.... Where
such civilian service is for the good of the community and is not connected
with false religion or is not in some other way objectionable to the consciences
of Jehovah's Witnesses, they have often complied. This has usually resulted
in an excellent witness and has sometimes silenced those who falsely accuse
the Witnesses of being anti-government.
"What, though, if the State requires a Christian for a period of time
to perform civilian service that is a part of national service under a civilian
administration? Here again, Christians must make their own decision based on
an informed conscience. "We shall all stand before the judgment seat of
God." Christians faced with a requirement of Caesar should prayerfully
study the matter and meditate on it." It may also be wise to talk the matter
over with mature Christians in the congregation. After this a personal decision
must be made."
(end of quote)
This is a major reversal in the Watchtower view of this matter. It appears that
this represents one more change in the reversal of the dogmatism introduced
in the days of ?Joe? Rutherford, second president of the Watchtower. For example,
the following is taken from the article, ?Christian Neutrals In A Bloodstained
World,? WT 9/1/86 p. 20, just 10 years ago:
?Hence, when Caesar demanded to have God's things, [Christians] acted in harmony
with the principles stated at Acts 4:19 and 5:29. Whether the issue was shedding
blood, non-combatant military work, alternative service, or saluting an image
such as a national flag, faithful Christians took the position that there was
no middle ground. In some cases they were executed because of this stand.?
We might add, some Jehovah's Witnesses are still being held in prison
in certain countries because of this previous stand, now considered "old
light." Won't such prisoners be happy to hear of the new teaching, especially
since they will still have to serve the rest of their prison term? -editor
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