Once I went to the meeting wearing jeans because i got out of work late and didn't have time to change. Then everyone thought i didn't appreciate god or the meetings by not looking my best. Does God care that much about appearances? Isn't the heart what matters most? That's another reason why i don't go to meetings anymore
2007-10-16 17:33:13 · 16 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
My sisters a Jehovah's witness... And I see people walking into the meetings wearing trackies the odd time!
They dress like that to show more respect, but not everyone dresses with the best clothes!
I don't really agree with the skirt thingy, to be honest... I don't see how dressing yourself appropriately has anything to do with religion! I don't really like the idea of women having to wear skirts! Whats wrong with trousers??? That's discrimination!!!
2007-10-16 17:50:34 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 3⤋
Not impress, but respect.
I wasn't raised a Witness,
but I was taught to dress appropriately;
What-Ever the Occasion.
Job interview, Court appearance, dr., appt.,
meeting w/ some1 who has authority over you:
i.e. banker, teacher / principle,
any1 who has a choice to make regarding you / your life:
a rental property agent, an IRS Agent.
Etc....
How much more so, to dress respectful,
appropriately for service, worship to God Almighty.
Do you not believe in giving Him,
the Best you have?
I personally,
have never encountered this w/ Jehovah's Christian Witnesses.
In 2002, I was basically homeless;
I had a place to stay, but not my own.
I was out of the county, where I lived,
didn't realize the Memorial was during that time,
(I was w/ 1 of my brothers I hadn't seen in 21 yrs)
so I went in what I was wearing.
I wasn't at my local Hall... Didn't Matter!
Every brother & sister that came over to say Hello,
didn't even care!
I was there @ the Memorial.
I had even walked there,
looked up the local Hall in the phone book,
and was on my way.
And my brother went w/ me;
when I told him what the occasion was.
I was a bit uncomfortable, true;
but Full of Joy! that I was there,
and counted in.
The Memorial IS an Important Event in Mankind's History.
The Most Important!
I didn't have my hair done,
not a speck of make-up,
*{not even a lil eyeliner & lipstick, @ a min}*
Basically, I was dishelveled.
Not a wreck, but, not all put together.
As tho' I didn't take the care to dress for the occasion.
* I'm not a make-up hound,
but I do like to dress for the occasion.
At least a lil something, but I had no make-up.
Do ya think God Almighty cared?
I don't.
btw~ skirts & dresses are women's clothes.
Why would anybody find fault in a woman
for dressing in women's clothes?
Or if there wasn't time for it, [to dress appropriately]
and came as you are?
edit:
a person may not have the means for expensive clothing.
So, then wear what you have, that's clean.
even an older Baptist woman I know says;
"Shine yourself up, put on your best sunday clothes,
and go praise the Lord."
So, then it should be the best you have.
I am not well off, by far!
At 1 time the sister's got together
got some clothes for me.
And I am Very petite, so I'm not an easy fit.
I stopped growing by the time I was 12.
Everything I wear is between the sizes 1-5.
Or just small, sometimes a med.
2007-10-18 01:49:13 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Yes.
They have a certain sense that it is disrespectful to worship the God of The Universe without showing up in your best clothing.
I still dress up if I go on a job interview, and what they are doing is more important than that, so it seems like a decent thing to do.
I think the key is, what do you possess to wear? IF you only have t-shirts and jeans, my granny would have said to make sure you wear the cleanest t-shirt and jeans.
I think you are right...God doesn't REALLY care what we wear. But we do. I mean, when we dress up to honor something or someone, we feel different.
I know that when I wear a tux, I feel I've notched up my game a rung or two.
So, whether you go to Kingdom Hall or some other place of worship, I'd say, let your wardrobe reflect how important you feel the meeting to be.
That way, instead of dressing for the LAW, you are dressing in response to Grace.
When that is our motive, it is amazing how it lifts our hearts even further.
God Bless!
2007-10-17 01:25:00 · answer #3 · answered by gordios_thomas_icxc 4 · 5⤊ 1⤋
If I went to a meeting (church) in jeans etc, I would feel embarrassed...and rightly so, it's "God's house" we are in. People are justified for looking funny at someone not appropriately dressed, it's not the norm for someone to dress casually for an important occasion...it looks disrespectful. It's not too difficult for someone to prepare. If someone sees dressing up as unnecessary, it shows their carelessness and apathy. This is how it looks to others, so they shouldn't be surprised.
Whereas, for someone NEW to the kingdom hall, clothes like this is to be expected.
A person in good standing in the kingdom hall can usually get away with not being as smart as usual; onlookers know that it is for genuine reasons. Whereas, if somebody “weaker” does it (and often), it is usually a good sign that they are “falling away”. It would be a good idea to give encouragement to that individual if you see this happening.
The asker does have a valid point, but I feel it may not be for pure motives? Meetings should not be a fashion show, (which some do look like to an "outsider"). What people wear should be smart but not stumble others... especially new ones. When a new one comes to the kingdom hall (church), they should not be intimidated by the apparent expensive garb that sisters and brothers wear. It is usually the younger generation of Jehovahs Witnesses who tend to "over do it" with the "dressing to impress".
2007-10-18 02:13:38 · answer #4 · answered by Paul S 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
If anyone was invited to a meal at the home of an important man, wouldn't they dress their best as a sign of appreciation for the honor? The spiritual food we get at Kingdom Halls is from Jehovah, we show our appreciation for the honor to feast at His table by dressing modestly.
There are circumstances when a Witness cannot get to the Kingdom Hall in time from work / school. They realize that going home to change would make them miss the meeting. In that case Jehovah of course understands. (It has happened to me personally)
No one at the Kingdom Hall will think one does not appreciate spiritual things when they do not know that person's circumstances. The asker says they wore jeans ONCE, that means at all other times they were dressed smartly, so why would anyone question their motives.
This is a VERY flimsy reason to stop going to the meetings, be more creative, will you?
2007-10-17 07:01:05 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 7⤊ 1⤋
Well when I can tell you that when I first went along to the kingdom hall I never wore a suit. I wore boots, jeans and a jumper with a sports emblem blazed on the front.
I wore the most casual of clothes for a couple of months but when I went for the first time to the Memorial of Jesus Christ I decided MYSELF to dress up for it as I knew it was quite a special event.
The only comment I recieved was from an elder who came along to by Bible study that how gratefully he was that I gave attention of respecting the memorial of Jesus Christ.
He never made me feel that I was previously dressed inappropriately but I made the even special to me.
So after that I continued to wear a suit to service and of course I appreciate that when I come to worship and pay homage to the creator of the entire universe Jehovah, I would want to dress and look my best.
I do not know your own experience other than what you tell me but it maybe that you were more conscious of being in jeans at the meeting so felt a bit stood out. Or because you looked a little more noticeable out of the view of dresses and suits. I know that people wouldn't take it to judge your heart in your relationship to God, and likewise you should try and not judge what other people are thinking because how many times have we been wrong about that!
I knew a brother who did the roving microphone during the Watchtower study once in his blue jeans yet had a white shirt, black formal jacket and tie on. He had not got his trousers back from the cleaners I think or some other reason so he came in his jeans. We ribbed him after the meeting but he was humorous about it and knew we were having harmless fun, we had a good giggle with him.
2007-10-18 05:21:03 · answer #6 · answered by jehovahboffin 1 · 4⤊ 1⤋
Yes, in many areas Jehovah's Witnesses do tend to dress in a more dignified manner than adherents of other religions do for their regular congregation services.
Sadly, though, the questioner's accusations seem patently unfair. She claims that she stopped going to Christian meetings because one time ( "Once" ) she was unhappy about what happened at one meeting.
And what is it that happened? To quote the questioner:
[quote]
"Then everyone thought I didn't appreciate god or the meetings by not looking my best."
[unquote]
It seems rather obvious that even if one or two imperfect persons thought as the questioner claims, it can hardly be deduced that "everyone" thought that way. In fact, Jehovah's Witnesses have never pretended that one's clothing always reflects on one's godliness. At any given meeting, some congregations have several congregants who must attend in work clothes or not at all, and they are welcomed.
And honestly... it seems rather obvious that the questioner cannot and could not read minds or hearts; only God and Christ can do that.
Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/index.htm?article=article_07.htm
2007-10-17 06:27:14 · answer #7 · answered by achtung_heiss 7 · 8⤊ 1⤋
As a JW i was always brought up to show respect for God, and one way of showing respect is to come well presented. In our Kingdom Hall we have many people coming in in casual wear, for various reasons, but i don't ever think they want to offend.
I love shopping (i'm such a girl lol) but when it comes to meetings i never compare what im wearing with the other teenage girls around. God doesn't care what you are wearing but he does care about how you view him. Whether it's dressing nicely to show you appreicate the occasion or answer you give at these occasions, he cares about whats in the heart.
Hope this helped! Oh an please don't let one experience stop you from going again, i can assure you they probably looked because they might not be used to it, nothing to do with you personally. :)
2007-10-17 12:00:22 · answer #8 · answered by jaspercat91 3 · 7⤊ 1⤋
Im a JW, so atleast im credible. We dress appropriately because its showing respect for god. Its not a fashion show or a contest. Would you go to work in your jeans? No, cause your boss would fire you, so why cant you dress up for your god? And if you say that ''''its the heart that matters''' then why do you allow others to compromise your faith just because you are discouraged? Ive been stumbled by others lots of times, yet i dont just use that as a cheap reason to miss my meetings. So i guess for you, clothes isnt the real reason why you dont go to the meetings, its your heart.
2007-10-16 18:42:58 · answer #9 · answered by david t 2 · 9⤊ 2⤋
As Jehovahs Witnesses we try to maintain higher standards than the rest of the world.This is what seperates us from the world. We represent Jehovah God.There is no greater priviledge.
Dressing to a standard is not aimed at impressing anyone other than to show Jehovah that we do value carrying his name and show him the respect he deserves.
We owe it to Jehovah to give him our best at all times.
Your excuse for not going to meetings anymore is very feeble at best.If someone and I mean 'if' had made a comment about your attire - so what? Tell them you didnt get time to go home and change.Big deal!!
The heart is what matters - whats happened to yours??
2007-10-18 03:14:56 · answer #10 · answered by lillie 6 · 5⤊ 1⤋