Can Jehovah's Witnesses join the US Navy?

Answer 1

Jehovah's Witnesses consider themselves Christians so try to follow Jesus and the early christians example.

Jesus would not let his followers take up the sword even to defend the son of God. (Matt 26:52.) He taught them to "love their enemies" (Luke 6:27, 28.)

Also he taught his Kingdom was "no part of this world" and nor were his followers. (John 17:16)

Therefore history shows that up until about 170 AD: "no Christian became a soldier; and no soldier, after becoming a christian, remained in military service." (- The rise of Christianity pg 333.)

So Jehovah's Witnesses can not, in good concience, serve in the armed forces. They feel this would be going against Christian standards. This has at times put them in conflict with governments that demand such service.

In Nazi Germany they were sent to concentration camps because they refused to serve in Hitlers armies. They were the only religion that made such a stand. (Google "purple triangles") But such a stand has protected them from sharing guilt in the terrible wars and attrocities of the 20th century.

Answer 2

Because war is violent, and we do not partake in violence.

According to the Center on Conscience and War (formerly the National Interreligious Service Board for Conscientious Objectors (NISBCO):

"Jehovah's Witnesses [...] desire to follow Jesus' command to "pay back Caesar's things to Caesar, but God's things to God" (Mark 12:17). Each one balances this command with his Christian obligation of neighbor love. Jesus said: "These things I command you, that you love one another . . . you are no part of the world." "You must love . . . your neighbor as yourself" (John 15:17-19; Luke 10:25-27). When the issue of military service or participation in war is presented, each individual Witness makes his own decision as to his duty before God and men.

Historically, their decision has been to refrain from acts of violence against their fellowmen of other nations, for they regard these as their "neighbors" whom they should love. They have subscribed to the position of Isaiah's well-known prophecy: "They will have to beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning shears. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, neither will they learn war any more" (Isaiah 2:4)." [end quote]

Answer 3

As a rule, they do not serve in the armed forces, since they consider themselves soldiers of Jehovah. They will serve him when armageddon is upon the earth. Hence, The Kingdom of Jehovah is the only government (in eternity) they recognize as serving. However, I converted to a Jehovah Witness this year and I have almost 18 years of active military and National Guard (current) service. Another upcoming deployment overseas, etc. They do not seem to mind.............yet.

ANSWER FROM ONE OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that serving in the military is incompatible with the Christian calling to "love their enemies". They are strictly neutral as regards to the political affairs of the world and avoid nationalism. No active member of the Military can qualify to be baptised as one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Answer 4

No. As Jehovah's Witnesses we do not participate in any military. We stay separate from the world, and peaceful. While we respect governments and follow their orders (paying back Caesar's things to Caesar) we do not engage in any war.

Answer 5

They view it as inconsistent with their Christian obligaion to "love their neighbours".
Jesus stated "all those who take the sword will perish by the sword" - Matthew 26:52 Jesus said that his Kingdom is no part of this world and his disciples would be no part of the world and that they would be hated for that reason. John 15:19, 17:18, 18:36 Jesus said that an identifying mark of his true disciples would be the love they have among themselve, that they would love one another just as he had loved them. It was not an option but a commandment. - John 13:34,35. He didn't say love one another unless your country tells you to kill your brother. A country's agenda does not take precedence over Christian love. God does not favor one country over another. Acts 10: 23,24 says that "God is not partial, but the man that works righteousness is acceptable to him". Why would the country they live in matter to God? 1 John 3:10 - 12 tells us that the children of God and the children of the Devil are evident, the man that does not love his brother originates with the devil. If we kill our brother we are children of the devil. === === Those who have "beat their swords into plowshares" are Christ's true followers. - Isaiah 2:4 The Bible states that these kingdoms that are now in existence are soon to be eliminated by God's Kingdom. (Daniel 2:44) Jehovah's Witnesses look to God's Kingdom as the only solution to mankind's problems.
Jehovah's Witnesses view military service as incompatible with the Christian command to love their enemies.

Answer 6

Jehovah's Witnesses strive to remain politically neutral and stay out of politics of any kind. Military service is seen as incompatible with the Christian command to "love thy enemy" and most refuse any form of military service.

Answer 7

No, Jehovah's Witnesses do not serve in armed forces due to their neutral position in the social and political arenas of the world. Also they believe that joining armed forces goes against the Bible teaching of loving your neighbour.

Answer 8

We don't believe that we should partake in anything that would mean the killing of other people, so the answer is no. However we respect other peoples right to do so.