Is manner of dress more important than respect for Jehovah?

by LaurieM 33 Replies latest watchtower beliefs

  • Amber Rose
    Amber Rose

    Yes, manner of dress is one of the most important things to a JW. It was 3 or 4 weeks in a row discussing this topic from the school book, a few months back. Everything is about making sure the WTS looks good. This is why they have so many articles about sticking with your wife. Not because they want happy mariages or happy people in general. Its because your divorce makes them look bad. Your (insert problem here) makes them look bad. Your manner of dress makes them look bad. Women only wearing skirts or dresses is just another way to keep women submissive due to their 1960's perfect-family, man-in-charge, Dick VanDyke image. Men are supposed to dress like business men circa 1960. Women are supposed to dress like housewives circa 1960. (This is why so many young women have wardrobes full of ugly "meeting clothes" that they would be emarassed to wear anywhere else.

  • JWdaughter
    JWdaughter

    Jesus' was naked during his final hours on earth when he was praying publically. God has us born naked, he created man naked. For that matter, men and women wore essentially the same tunic in bible times-there was a gender distinction, but it wasn't in the basic form of the garment. It isn't the outward that tells God about us. And if a person would reject actual truth because of the fact that the messenger wasn't wearing a western style suit/dress. . .then there are plenty of other people, of equally good 'heart condition' that would reject the 'truth' because the bearer of it WAS wearing a western style suit/dress. That reasoning is bogus and ill considered. As are many things in the org.

  • purplesofa
    purplesofa

    I have avoided this reading this thread as this was always a sore spot with me. Many times I would come home from work at 6:15, shower, dress, eat and be at the hall 15 miles away on time!

    How would you dress if you were going to meet the President, Prime Minister, Queen Elizabeth or ______________(insert local royalty).

    I guess my beef with comparing meetings to this......for one, meetings are three days a week, every week. If I were to meet any of those dignitaries you mentioned it would probably be a one time thing.

    A sister and I talked recently about attendance at book study. I said I just hate getting all dressed like we have to for that meeting. We are meeting at someones house amongst our own kind!!! It is not a public meeting. She said she thought attendance would go up if they would at least relax the book study meeting.

    I think it is very intimidating, and makes people feel lowly and bad, to come to the meetings and see how dressed up people are and they are the only ones not dressed that way. For alot of newcomers they don't even have a wardrobe that comes close to what rank and file witnesses wear. I know I did not even own a dress when I started.

    Anyone that comes to meetings, now matter how they are dressed should be accepted with full open arms. The way someone looks does not mean they are holy or spiritual or to be trusted........Look at the Enron creeps......dressed in suits and ties.

    It takes away individuality and uniqueness. I would think it would be alot more important to know how to look at someones heart and the way they talk and interact in society to find out if they are "good association" It might be a good thing to do if there truely is an Armeggedon as I would not turn down help from any sincere person during that time.

    purps

    ps..........I forgot......I really feel for the young people, esp girls. It was an issue for my daughter always. It was really sad that she would say to me, I would go mom if I did not have to dress that way. Rebel, who knows........typical teenager........of course.

  • A Paduan
    A Paduan
    This in itself is highly inappropriate and does not reflect a humble christian attitude in an atmosphere where the word of God is the foremost reason to be attending.

    "Humble" is down to earth (humus) - Jws generally confuse this word meaning with a projection of something like "modest submissive"

    'Down to earth' would be to tell them to take a hike

  • gumby
    gumby
    (This is why so many young women have wardrobes full of ugly "meeting clothes" that they would be emarassed to wear anywhere else.

    LMAO! Boy you got that right. It's no wonder when your favorite clothing store is a yardsale on Saterday morning.

    Gumclassydresser

  • nelly136
    nelly136

    http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2001/1/15/article_02.htm

    The matter of dress and grooming is another area in which we need to cultivate virtue. Clothing choices vary according to culture, and pressure may be strong to keep up with the latest styles and trends. But why should we follow every fad or fashion that comes along? The Bible admonishes us to "quit being fashioned after this system of things." (Romans 12:2) Rather than make up rules, the apostle Paul wrote under inspiration: "I desire the women to adorn themselves in well-arranged dress, with modesty and soundness of mind, not with styles of hair braiding and gold or pearls or very expensive garb, but in the way that befits women professing to reverence God." (1 Timothy 2:9, 10) This basic standard applies to men and women alike. Of course, there is room for delightful variety in style as a result of cultural preference or personal taste.

    http://www.watchtower.org/library/g/1996/5/22/article_02.htm

    2. Dress modestly. What you wear sends out a message to others. Back in Bible times, wearing certain styles of clothing branded a person as being immoral or promiscuous. ( Proverbs 7:10 ) The same is often true today; tight, flashy, or revealing clothing can attract the wrong kind of attention. True, some may feel they have a right to wear whatever they desire. But as writer Elizabeth Powell puts it, "if you worked among people who believed stealing money was okay, I'd tell you not to wear your billfold on your hip. . . . You have to recognize the sickness of . . . society's attitudes and try to protect yourself from being victimized by them." The Bible's advice is thus up-to-date. It admonishes women to "adorn themselves in well-arranged dress, with modesty and soundness of mind." ( 1 Timothy 2:9 ) Dress modestly, and you may be less likely to be a target of abusive speech or actions.

  • jayhawk1
    jayhawk1
    I really don't understand why a women wearing pants supposedly shows disrespect to God

    It is disrespectful because you are making God work too hard by looking up a pair of slacks.

  • UpAndAtom
    UpAndAtom

    Who were the best dressed people in the day of Jesus?

  • truthsearcher
    truthsearcher

    I showed up at a Kingdom Hall with a message for an elder. I was wearing pants, my kids were in jeans. They wanted to take us in and introduce us to people (see my post on love bombing). I resisted, saying that I wasn't dressed appropriately, but they insisted it would be fine. I guess because I am a potential convert that they are willing to overlook such things. No doubt it is an indication of my need for the organization to set me straight!

  • nelly136
    nelly136

    http://www.bethel-tours.com/FAQ.htm

    What is the Dress Code?

    The Society suggests a dress code be set up for the trip because everywhere we stop we give a witness. We want the trip to be comfortable and memorable for everyone, so we have set forth guidelines that are reasonable and still allow room for personal preference. Please let your desire to bring honor to Jehovah’s name be reflected in how you dress.

    All clothing, casual or touring, must be clean, neat, and modest. Of course, when we are visiting the Society’s facilities, baptized brothers and sisters and their children should dress in meeting clothes (suits/dresses and comfortable shoes). Before packing, please read the June 2002 Our Kingdom Ministry Question Box on page 2, as it clearly answers the question, "What standard of dress and grooming should we observe when visiting Bethel homes and branch facilities?".

    FOR BUS TRIPS


    The following dress is appropriate when traveling on the bus:
    1 Loose fitting sweats are fine and well suited to traveling long distances and sleeping on the bus.
    2 If jeans are worn, they should not have holes or worn-out spots in them. The crotch should not be down around the knees and look as if they are about to fall down around the ankles. Remember, we are Jehovah's Witnesses, not a "worldly" tour group.
    3 Never go outside the bus barefooted.
    4 Shorts (not cutoffs), slightly above the knee and loose fitting, are acceptable, i.e., walking shorts.
    5 Hair styles (men and women) for baptized brothers and sisters should reflect the spiritual person and not worldly fads.

    dont suppose anyone happens to have a copy of the mentioned june 2002 KM ?

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