Why cannot Jehovah's Witnesses males use beard or long hair?

Question

I thank direct answers that aren't copied texts.

Answer 1

Culturally, Americans don't have beards or long hair. The JW church is an American concoction of bad writings and bad doctrines.

Answer 2

It is this type of rule that chases intelligent people away from churches. Who could possibly care if a man has a beard...or long hair...or a goatee? I can't believe an intelligent God would care.

I don't know the rules of the Jehovah's Witness belief, but I have seen some with beards, and they look as good to me as those without facial hair. They are always clean and neat, are courteous and gentle, and this matters more to me than looks.

Some people scour the Bible for archaic rules that make no sense. If this makes them happy, so be it. But the rest of us should relax and realize that hair length or beards make no difference in the character and morality of the people wearing them.

Answer 3

The bible plainly teaches that Christian men should keep their hair short enough that it is easily distinguished from that of a woman.

(1 Corinthians 11:14-15) Does not nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him; but if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her?


A man among Jehovah's Witnesses who insisted on keeping his hair long would not be "punished" as though he had committed a sin. However, his long hair (and apparent selfishness perhaps) would tend to limit his opportunity for congregation privileges. It is similar with beards; they are not forbidden and there is no "punishment" for a Witness man who preferred to wear one in any land.

The seeming position against beards among Jehovah's Witnesses is neither globally universal nor based on religion, per se.

Instead, local congregations must weigh community sensibilities in determining whether a man with a beard would tend to cause apprehension in the area. Like the apostle Paul, Jehovah's Witnesses certainly have a tradition of yielding their personal preferences "for the sake of the good news".

(1 Corinthians 9:19-23) For, though I am free from all persons, I have made myself the slave to all, that I may gain the most persons. And so to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain Jews; ...I have become all things to people of all sorts, that I might by all means save some. But I do all things for the sake of the good news, that I may become a sharer of it with others.


Today, a Jehovah's Witness Christian might prefer to keep his beard and well-understand that there is nothing in the bible to tell him it displeases God or Christ. Yet that modern Christian might reflect on the first-century Christian men who might have preferred to keep their foreskins (with similar justifications), yet yielded to circumcision once they understood that uncircumcision might be an obstacle to those who would hear "the good news".

(Acts 16:1-3) And, look! a certain disciple was there by the name of Timothy...and he was well reported on by the brothers... Paul expressed the desire for this man to go out with him [in the ministry], and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews that were in those places


Incidentally, in some areas even some congregation elders wear well-groomed beards.

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_04.htm

Answer 4

I have experienced this first hand im 18 so when i started getting a beard on my chin i was about 17 it was cool...so i wore it to the kh (kingdom hall) and assemblies no one said a word about it. It wasn't something long it was short. Personally I don't have a problem wearing one....but i remember i met my friends dad and he thought it was increadibly disrespectful. So I realised other people may not say it but can think things not that its disrespecful but other things so as previous posters said i didn't want to be a stumbling block to others so i shave it off now....sometimes i let it grow back though.

Answer 5

Its cleaner & neater. Its just more respectful to god, in a sense of what God says, "be no part of the world". But they can have facial hair, that is maintained & they dont have to be bald. My dad has a moustache...Other countries, depending on the culture, they have longer hair or facial hair. It really depends on our culture. In America that is, the majority keep it short, its just more appropriate. Becuase look at it like this, JW are to be no part of the world, so if they look like someone in the world, meaning, long hair, pony tails, et et, how are they being different? If you had someone come to your door w/a ponytail or long braids or see one walking down the street, & you know they were just a worldly person & than you see a JW come to a house w/a long ponytail, or long braids or someting or long beard, would you think twice & say "Oh hes JW", no you would think he was like the other guy you saw...so thats why they keep em short & clean, so as not to be mistaken as somone worldly....hope i helped...

Answer 6

They can, and a few do have beards. They keep it clean and well-groomed. Beards are not a problem unless they become stumbling blocks for others.

Rom 14:13 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this--not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way.

Women use to wear veils or coverings to show respect in times for worship. Now they wear their hair long to symbolize a veil. For the man’s part, it is unnatural for him to have “long hair”.

1Cr 11:14,15 - Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him, But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

Answer 7

I prefer hair that will is shoulder length or longer, And also since that men who like ladies are more often then not right, they like long hair because that looks more feminine, as most males have short hair.

Answer 8

We strive not to stumble others.

For a long time, breads were considered by most to denote a rebellious attitude.

Therefore to go to someone's door to speak about being submissive and wear a beard would confuse most people.

As times and public opinion change, so does what becomes acceptable.

Paul said if eating meat would stumble someone, he would not eat meat.

Should we do any less?

Answer 9

Jesus dressed modestly according to the garb of the day
Today we as Christians ( followers of Christ )
want to dress modestly according to the garb of the day.

Most men today have clean shaved faces and short hair.
Some JWs live in freezing climates and need face protection so they wear beards. But for most men a beard itches.

Answer 10

First define 'long hair'.

Your information is inaccurate. Some of Jehovah's Witnesses do have nice, neat beards. Seen them myself.

Why is this important to you?

Answer 11

There is an obscure scripture in the new testament. It says something to the effect, " Does not nature itself teach you than it is shameful for a man to have long hair. "