“I don’t like any of the candidates. I’m going to say pass on this next election. I don’t want to be associated with any of them. No vote from me.”
Can a Christian really justify such a position? We might say, “Never mind which is the lesser of two evils; an evil is an evil, and I’m not going to vote for evil.”
I decided to write about this because it’s what I’m hearing from some folks. However, failure by good people to be involved in the process is the sole vehicle by which we are left with less than perfect candidates and policies to choose from. And oh, by the way, all candidates are less than perfect. There’s that.
Inability to find an ideal spouse may be a good reason not to marry, because if we’re looking for perfection, marriage isn’t for us anyway. Refusing to vote for lack of a candidate that measures up to our expectations is on a much deeper plain. Yes deeper, because, in the case of the unmarried, marriage is not yet part of one’s state in life, whereas being a member of a nation is something we were born into, and the fourth commandment—honor your father and mother—is not so narrow as to not include the heritage of which we partake. We’re enjoying relative freedom, prosperity, and safety, but never mind all that, we can’t be bothered with making a decision between two less-than-perfect alternatives. We’re above that.
Trust me, I’ve been there. Our political smorgasbord has a very small set of offerings, none of which seem particularly appetizing. However, dropping out suggests a few assumptions on our part: 1) that we are not part of the problem and, 2) that correcting those problems will not be meaningfully impacted in any way by anything we do and, 3) God seems to be totally absence from the process.
Jehovah’s witnesses enjoy our way of life, but do not partake in our form of government. They’re waiting for the kingdom of Christ, and consider voting to be an act contrary to faith in Christ and his coming earthly kingdom. I have no interest in delving at any depth into their belief system, for in truth, it has morphed substantially during my lifetime and rests on the whims of whomever has taken the reins.
That being said, there is nonetheless a localism about them that I admire. Not being focused on the national and state scene frees them up to be completely focused on family and community. As a Witness friend of mine said concerning life issues, “Jehovah’s Witnesses don’t get abortions.” That’s worth something, and perhaps that will be fine with them until someone from the state religion that is rapidly forming before our eyes informs them of a new one-child policy and hauls their bride off for a forced abortion.
You may be thinking, “Yeah, that’s not going to happen.” Really? The government of California has committed to taking your child from you to perform sex-change surgery if you do not honor your child’s request to have it done. Is forced abortion in America really that far-fetched?
In the 1930’s we had forced neutering of Americans. They had to coin a new term for it, and they settled on “sterilization”—like getting rid of germs, because humans, perhaps especially those labeled “deplorable”, are nothing more than an infestation. Our predecessors “sterilized” upwards to 70,000 people in the more than thirty states whose laws bowed to the god of eugenics. The Nazis sent over emissaries to observe, and learn they did, eventually neutering about 400,000 people in Europe. We were on the cutting edge of dehumanization then, and we’re currently poised at the edge of an even deeper crevasse. Eugenics is alive and as evil as ever.
In a recent interview, Donald Trump stated that he was well liked within the Evangelical community, but that, unfortunately, few of them vote. Are they exercising the self-delusional option? There’s no perfect candidate. Jesus Christ is not one of the checkmarks on the ballot and they will not be associated with a sinner?
It can’t be because Trump is divorced and remarried—evangelicals are the most divorced and re-married demographic of the American population. They are, after all, heavily populated by former Catholics who opted out of the Church because their marital situations were unreconcilable with the Catholic faith.
Is it because Trump’s position on life issues falls below their expectations? If you’re squishy on marriage and contraception, you have to be rock solid on something, right? There’s one thing the Jehovah’s Witnesses got right: expecting the political system to produce a paradise on earth is not a realistic or healthy expectation. God is not directly responsible for either our expectations or the outcomes of our efforts.
In a democratic republic, laws gain no traction or possess any staying power unless they are the will of the people, and while just a few years back, the “silent majority” was largely prolife, I no longer perceive that to be the case. Small victories are better than no victories.
We have choices, but those choices do not gain some sanctimonious purity because we insist upon only choosing between policies and candidates that are morally starkly black or white. That is a spoiled-child attitude. Engaging the world is an adult activity. We all need to put on our big boy pants and make the best of what is available. For me, to not do so would be a grave sin of omission.
Perhaps some of us are not well-informed, and perhaps that is not our fault. But in our culture, we’re at war with some very dark forces, and our excuses for not being informed better be rock solid, or we are already guilty of a sin of omission. If you are not informed enough to make an intelligent decision in the voting booth, perhaps there is someone that you trust deeply who can catch you up with the realities of the times.
Jesus said, “Give to Ceasar the things that are Ceasar’s.” Ceasar had responsibilities. Christ said to Pilate, “You would have no power over me were it not granted by my heavenly Father.” In a democratic republic—government by the people—we are Ceasar. We have responsibilities and power that God has granted to us. Washing our hands of it will not work for us any better than it did for Pilate.
26 thoughts on “Exercising the Self-Delusional Jehovah’s Witness Option”
When critiquing other religions let us not forget the systematic raping of children perpetrated by the Roman Catholic Church. Focus on cleaning your side of the street please
Thanks for sharing.
Interesting read. I’m just a little confused, as this article seems to both praise and criticize Jehovah’s Witnesses?!
I agree with Jesus that his kingdom “is no part of this world.” Voting in elections is for the lesser of 2 or more evils. The history of the Catholic church state craft and Vatican influence peddaling including appointing of Royalty is Satanic. All Kings are absolute dictators crowned by the Devil incarnate in the Pope. Christianity has become the Whore of Revelation.
i find it funny how this article praises while simultaneously insults Jehovahs Witnesses Mocking them for “changing” well lets talk about how NOT changing has benefitted the Catholics MERRY CHRISMAS, EASTER, HALLOWEENwho cares if they have pagan origen all over them!
Vote for THIS party or THAT…who cares if that included the support of hitler on ONE side and the Americans on the other…
riddle me this… During the wars and armies WORLDWIDE that you catholics Willingly sign up for, would you not kill your fellow catholic if they join the army of the other side? the answer is yes, because youve done int in the past and after all, YOU DONT LIKE “new light” so youre gonna hold on to your guns, regardless of realizing that its not right, Regardless of the bible that youre not reading..
True Christians respect the right of others to vote. They do not campaign against elections, and they cooperate with elected authorities. However, they remain resolutely neutral with regard to the political affairs of the nations. (Matthew 22:21; 1 Peter 3:16) What should a Christian do in lands where voting is compulsory or in a situation where feelings run high against those who do not go to the voting booth? Remembering that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego went as far as the plain of Dura, a Christian, under similar circumstances, may decide to go to the booth if his conscience permits. However, he will take care not to violate his neutrality. He should take into account the following six principles:
Jesus’ followers are “no part of the world.”—John 15:19.
Christians represent Christ and his Kingdom.—John 18:36; 2 Corinthians 5:20.
The Christian congregation is united in belief, and its members are bound together by Christlike love.—1 Corinthians 1:10; Colossians 3:14.
Those who elect a certain official share responsibility for what he does.—Note the principles behind the words recorded at 1 Samue
I live in Illinois. It is 100% certain that Illinois will go for Harris. What is the point of voting when you know your vote will make no difference to the outcome? If I lived in a state where there is actually a chance of making a difference to the outcome, I’d do my best to vote for the lesser of 2 evils. But I see no point in doing so when it makes no difference. I will write in a candidate of my choice and call it a day.
All your beliefs are man made & fake. Christians don’t really have faith in their god aka Jesus. If they did they wouldn’t need to participate in a worldly election. All Christians should have to do is pray & if their candidate when it’s God’s will, if they don’t win it’s God’s will..so lame!
Witnessess are not true Christians. Their unbelief in the ressurection, the divinity of Jesus and many other points of doctrine puts them outside the realm of understanding, never mind objectively commenting on the billion plus who do believe.
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Has anyone thought to ask God about this decision and who He wants to have in office? He has a connection with this country with the Fathers of the Constitution and that’s quite the investment. I have noticed time and again how he has protected this country in very difficult times so again, seeking his will seems the answer to who to vote for in the upcoming election.
That would be funny; God, calling an audible.
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Well put.
The stand the Jehovah’s Witnesses take on being politically neutral is based on Bible principles. That simple point should and could have been the focus of the article.
Can you name a single politician who has made a significant improvement in how people live on earth? One whose first concern was his people rather than feathering his own nest? And assuming you can, what happened to him? He was voted out, or he died, right? And what happened to his supposed improvement?
Voting, at all, means supporting the political process. It makes YOU responsible for whatever happens in the name of politics: War, mishandled disease, failure to contain global warming, fat cats getting fatter while half the world starves… if you vote, it’s your mess.
Daniel 2:44 says without any vagueness that God’s kingdom will CRUSH all of mankind’s kingdoms. Why would I vote for any of them? Jesus said to pray for God’s kingdom to come. How can I pray for it, but still support the kingdoms it is going to crush?
That’s easy, Roe v Wade was overturned under Trump. That saves so many babies, any Catholics having trouble with this fact, I am sorry and don’t know what to do. Yeah, that’s my mess alright and I’m happy.
Even Bishop Strickland likened Tim Walz to being a murderer.
The choice is clear.
How about voting for https://www.petersonski.com/ and his VP pick Lauren Onak who are catholic and pushing the policies that Catholics should support? THERE IS AN OPTION!!! But the problem is, Americans including most Catholics are obsessed with WINNING versus voting for actual policies so Peter and Lauren (and any other party other than the two broken ones) will never likely win elections in the near future BUT that’s who I am voting for. I am doing my catholic duty to participate BUT not caving into this ridiculous lesser of two evils debate when there is a 3rd option. The Democrats are demonic and Trump and this phony GOP are just the flip side of the same coin barely differentiating themselves except for a few policies.
A Trump presidency (2nd time) will allow for MORE BABIES TO SURVIVE IN THE WOMB but he’s all but flipped on all of these related policies so I choose to vote for the only true Catholic ticket in Sonski whether he wins or not. I am NOT going to purposefully enable either of these two parties to continue with this barbaric abortion-loving attitude if I don’t have to….again, winning isn’t the point but staying true to Christ is. I am still voting but am choosing a legit moral option over these two depraved political parties that ar corrupting and ruining our nation. Not looking for perfect anything….but Sonski is more in line with my Catholic values that either of the other candidates.
Local elections in our demonic State are a joke because it’s one party rule from county to State so voting is virtually impossible for me in those elections simply because there are no other morally acceptable choices sadly and I refuse to vote for ANY DEMOCRAT because of their platform on murdering and mutilating children.
If your candidate doesn’t win, your vote was for naught. If you vote for a candidate you now won’t win, it’s an exercise in vanity.
Voting for a third party only serves to help the major party candidate you less prefer — the “greater of two evils”.
How about investigating thr Constitutional Party or write in “Randall Terry”
or https://www.petersonski.com/
For me, to vote for the top two would be a grave sin of comission. Maybe I’ll write in you to
honor my civic duty.
For President I’m voting for https://www.petersonski.com/ who will have to be a write-in….I don’t care if they don’t win but at least I can rest easy I am voting for the moral choice as opposed to these depraved 2 parties currently corrupting our govt to the core…LOCAL to State elections are another issue when you live in a one party State…at least RED states have a few better moral options in the GOP side but it’s becoming gray too…
You may well be those who are angry at Trump because the reversal of Roe V Wade saves many lives. He has saved many babies. He has saved many lives.
In Minnesota, the abortion extremist Democrat Angie Craig is alleged by some to have tried to have a “Conservative” candidate run to take away votes from the GOP challenger. I would be wary of someone pushing an independent conservative candidate in this forum.
Under Trump, flourishing economy, peace in the world, no wars in Ukraine or Gaza/Israel. And above all, reversal of Roe V. Wade. I am sorry, such is not “good enough” to compel one to vote for him.
Thank you for taking the higher moral road. Snicker.
What attracts white evangelicals (and we’re talking here about white, not black) to Trump is his bigotry and hatred. White evangelicals, as a whole, were first in line in defense of slavery and segregation. Nowadays they’re first in line in support torture, racism, xenophobia, use of violence, misogyny, fear of “the other” — all part of Trump’s playbook.
All false Trump labels. And DEMOCRATS were the original KKK party against freeing slaves. Torture? I don’t remember that being on Trump’s platform. I do recall record low unemployment for blacks during his presidency and now black men are supporting him en masse. He married an immigrant (Melania, remember?), so not a xenophobe. Use of violence? Wait, he had two assassination attempts against him by liberals. That seems kind of violent. Where do you get misogyny, and what is a fear of “the other”? I tell you what I fear, if we don’t vote him in: the liberal left will completely tank this once-great nation. If you don’t vote, you’ll be letting Kamala get in, and then we can look forward to full-blown communism, complete with incarcerations for those who don’t practice group-think.