Sorry Crumpet. Denim not for Christians per 4/07 KM. ;

Open mind

Crumpet recently did a thread on what kind of denim is your favorite. After many responses and photos, I jumped in and said that appropriate casual wear for male True Christians (tm) is Khakis and that women should stick to ankle length dresses, even while gardening. ; - )

Well, sadly, it turns out I wasn't too far off the mark. This week at the Subservience Meetings, as American Drones receive their latest software updates from Borg Central, they will be treated to the following article in the April KM: Follow the Christ by Manifesting ~~Conformity~~ err....Dignity. 30 minutes of robotic arm pumping Q&A. I can hardly wait.

Paragraph 5 wins the "WTF? AWARD" hands down. Here it is with the prize winning quote in all caps.

"Should we manifest a dignified appearance only when attending the program? Remember that many will observe us wearing our convention badges while in the convention city. Our appearance should make us stand out from the general public. Therefore, even during leisure time, such as when going out to eat after the program, we should dress as befits ministers who are in the city for the purpose of attending a Christian convention and SHOULD NOT WEAR SUCH CLOTHING AS JEANS, SHORTS, OR T-SHIRTS. What a witness this will give to the community! Jehovah is pleased when our appearance bespeaks our role as ministers."

I think the above counsel should be given serious consideration by everyone heading to Dallas in particular and apostafests in general.

What do you think?

Open Mind

daniel-p

we should dress as befits ministers who are in the city for the purpose of attending a Christian convention and SHOULD NOT WEAR SUCH CLOTHING AS JEANS, SHORTS, OR T-SHIRTS. What a witness this will give to the community!

What a witness this will give to the community! Boy howdy! When I see someone without jeans or shorts I think - WOW! They must be such wholesome, god-fearing Christians! I want to learn what they believe. I've always hated those devil-worshiping short-wearing people.

JH

we should dress as befits ministers who are in the city for the purpose of attending a Christian convention and SHOULD NOT WEAR SUCH CLOTHING AS JEANS, SHORTS, OR T-SHIRTS

They can't be further away from Christ's modesty and simplicity.

Didn't Jesus once say that, it's what's in the heart that counts, not the way they dress or what they eat.

And how can the poor follow such ridiculous instructions as not wear jeans or t shirts or shorts. What if its mad hot out, what fool would want to dress in a suit and tie.

zenpunk

This is the most aggressive I've seen them get yet about dress. I've never seen anything specifically against jeans before.

Gopher

The "Our Kingdom Misery", page 5, said:

....many will observe us wearing our convention badges while in the convention city. Our appearance should make us stand out from the general public.

The solution is quite simple: just don't wear convention badges in the evenings.Then if you wear jeans, you won't stumble any non-JW's.

Oh I forgot, you might stumble some other JW's. Never mind.

Chloe

Jehovah is pleased when our appearance bespeaks our role as ministers."

Just where is that scripture? I thought he was more in to burning flesh.

onlycurious

My employee that just got baptised a month ago wears dresses every day to work. One thing I will note, the young woman is really overweight and has the absolute hugest boobs I've ever seen. She always has cleavage showing because she really can't help that unless she wears crew neck tees all the time.

Wonder why the top dogs haven't said anything to her about that one? lol

daystar

OMG. I just had an image of a bunch of apostates setting up a mock meeting outside a convention, esp. during intermissions, complete with nametags, podium, folding chairs, etc. I don't know why.

Anyway, it seems silly to me now, that KM article. But, sadly... not surprising. I probably would have just rolled with it back in the day.

Doubting Bro

Funny story from last year. My wife & I were out to dinner on a Sat night during the convention (dress VERY immodestly in shorts and I even had a SLOGAN t-shirt on). Well, as we were waiting for our table, a large group of JWs were in the bar doing the same. Quite frankly, after sitting in the mind numbing sessions, I also need a few stiff drinks to get me in a better mood. However, they were in their convention uniform (outside temps in the 90s) and had their badges on. We're in the Bible belt and many folks don't drink (at least in public). So, they were laughing, getting a little loud, generally acting like normal human beings. But, I did notice several folks commenting about their having drinks and being a little loud.

They weren't doing anything wrong, just having a good time and no one was even close to having had too much. Yet, the public perception of them that I overheard was NOT postive. Granted, the judgmental non-drinkers shouldn't be making generic statements about another person's spirituality based on such limited information. However, when you are in a suit, with a badge saying your attending a religious convention and out on a Sat night in a crowded restaurant I do think you are inviting people to make judgements about you.

I think the main reason why the WTS instructions people to do this is because 1) they want to show the convention city that they are bring in $$ to negoitate better rates for facilities and hotels and 2) to further isolate the rank & file from normal folks by making them stand out even on their down time.

Gee, this isn't a high control group is it??

Tuesday

Odd enough if you dress in the business casual way that they are suggesting in a Convention City people will just think you're on lunch from work. At least in my expirience in working in one of the convention cities. When the convention is downtown on the Friday no one would be able to tell the difference between worker on break or Witness in the middle of a convention. I mean they both have the same vegetated state, irritability, and both are hoping beyond hope to just be home.

I don't know one witness who would wear their badge around town after the convention gets out.

Sorry Crumpet. Denim not for Christians per 4/07 KM. ; - )