2023 Governing Body Update #8 / BEARDS!!!

[Brandon]

7 minutes ago, coolbrz731 said:

looking up ties in Wikipedia

I see! Very interesting  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cravat_(early)

[Paulo]

10 minutes ago, Brandon said:

I see! Very interesting  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cravat_(early)

Necktie's history go back much further than that

https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/548207

 

Quote

Knots were widely used as amulets because the Egyptians believed they bound and released magic

 

[coolbrz731]

5 minutes ago, Paulo said:

Knots were widely used as amulets because the Egyptians believed they bound and released magic

This is one of those instances, like with the beards, that we have to trust that Jehovah's FDS did their research and Jehovah blessed their decision.  The midweek meeting covers how far they go doing their research to make sure all of the facts and the proper context is known.

[Dages]

Let's stay behind the chariot. We aren't supposed to scout ahead of it.

Edited December 20, 2023 by Dages

[Brandon]

8 minutes ago, Paulo said:

Knots were widely used as amulets because the Egyptians believed they bound and released magic

hm so brothers will have to refrain from tying knots now. Feel bad for the ones with boats 🤣

 

In all honesty i don’t see the connection between neckties and the amulet thing you are mentioning; an amulet would be worn more like a necklace, no?  Going down that rabbit hole could lead a witness to go around saying necklaces are bad because Egyptians started them. 

[Leonard Match Valid]

I don't know if it's already been considered in this thread, but it's worth watching Brother Stephen Lett's video: "Never cause others to stumble" (2 Cor. 6:3) at minute 7

https://www.jw.org/en/library/videos/#en/mediaitems/VODPgmEvtMorningWorship/pub-jwbmw_201610_1_VIDEO
 

It quotes 1 Corinthians 8:9,13 and reminds us that even if we have a right to something, like a beard, we never want to cause our brothers to stumble.

I don't know how it is in your congregation, but for the brothers who are more sensitive to changes, could we give them some time to process what has been announced?

Would it be a case of them gradually getting used to the idea of seeing others, perhaps from other congregations, with beards?

[computerwiz]

What happened to beards?  🤔 

[Brandon]

NEW THREAD

[computerwiz]

24 minutes ago, Leonard Match Valid said:

I don't know how it is in your congregation, but for the brothers who are more sensitive to changes, could we give them some time to process what has been announced?

Would it be a case of them gradually getting used to the idea of seeing others, perhaps from other congregations, with beards?

 

Someone's got to get the party started...

 

Besides...what better way to help them obey the clear unambiguous direction from the GB regarding John 7:24 and Romans 14:4?

 

If someone seriously can't follow that clear direction regarding not judging another brother regarding beards, of all things, are they really ready to obey for more serious matters during the Great Tribulation?  🤔 🤷‍♂️ 😅

 

PS - Regarding fast changes....there may not be time for them to "gradually get used to" a change when it comes time to deal with the GT....

Edited December 20, 2023 by computerwiz
Added the PS

[computerwiz]

🧔

[Tsheppar]

All this talk of spirits is making my beard hurt. 

 My beard wants to talk about beards. 

 

 

🤣

[Tsheppar]

A few years ago when I grew a beard. The elder who really gave me a super hard time about it. I mean I got severe counsel on how wrong it was. Well, he is growing a beard now. Man, life sure is funny. 😂

Edited December 20, 2023 by Tsheppar

[undeserved]

On 12/19/2023 at 7:32 AM, Ishaya said:

Im trying to understand a really good reason to keep beard now,i may want to try it.

throughout my life I've been used to being neatly shaved even before I became a witness,from my training in the military schools I attended.

 

So what are some really good reasons for a man to keep beard?

 

 

Some brothers feel that they become less dogmatic. 

[Tortuga]

B

E

A

R

D

Edited December 20, 2023 by Tortuga

[Ishaya]

8 minutes ago, Tortuga said:

B

E

A

R

D

 

We're still on it brother.

[Tortuga]

Did you know that BEARD, BREAD and BARED all use the same letters?

That's amazing!

[Ahuvah]

14 hours ago, Jwanon said:

 

Do you have a link to that talk ? 😄

Not now ... no. A lot of them have been removed. It was either titled 'Don't Lose Heart' or another one. I listened to his talks often back in the day.

[Hope]

8 hours ago, MontRose said:

You bring up a great point, that perhaps this needs to be clarified or revisited.

 

My wife has talked to me about this specifically, as have coworkers. The gist is, if it is acceptable at the highest levels of government and offices, as "business formal" or whatever it is called, why it is considered inappropriate during meetings?

 

I honestly don't know.. I suppose a small video about skirts and pants would be helpful to have next  

 

And apparently there is a lot of interpretation here.. I just looked up "business dress code women" and this was the first picture. It struck me that casual here is actually a common look at meetings (the casual one and business would be the only ones appropriate?) 

 

 

As a sister, I don't think I'd ever prefer anything less than the "Business" or "Casual" (maybe) mode of dress for anything representing Jehovah in a formal way. For me, that includes meetings, talks, and official ministry situations, i.e. house to house, cart, or Metro. And to be honest - buying pantsuits or matching separates well enough to look presentable would be more expensive than simply buying a dress.  I don't even own a pantsuit.   It's curious to me that brothers growing beards has correlated to sisters wearing pants.  I do not see how they're the same at all..

 

I am mindful of how I dress in public *all* the time so that if a preaching occasion comes up, I can represent with a clear conscience. I don't wear ratty sweats, pajama pants, etc... and I always wear a little lipstick and perfume.  That's just me - I don't like looking unkempt. 

 

[Ahuvah]

Great post Hope. The advice to dress as a Witness of Jehovah whether in town or on holiday still stands ... beard or no beard. Love your posts.

1 minute ago, Hope said:

 

As a sister, I don't think I'd ever prefer anything less than the "Business" or "Casual" (maybe) mode of dress for anything representing Jehovah in a formal way. For me, that includes meetings, talks, and official ministry situations, i.e. house to house, cart, or Metro. And to be honest - buying pantsuits or matching separates well enough to look presentable would be more expensive than simply buying a dress.  I don't even own a pantsuit.   It's curious to me that brothers growing beards has correlated to sisters wearing pants.  I do not see how they're the same at all..

 

I am mindful of how I dress in public *all* the time so that if a preaching occasion comes up, I can represent with a clear conscience. I don't wear ratty sweats, pajama pants, etc... and I always wear a little lipstick and perfume.  That's just me - I don't like looking unkempt. 

 

 

[Ahuvah]

6 minutes ago, Tortuga said:

Did you know that BEARD, BREAD and BARED all use the same letters?

That's amazing!

Amazing what you learn when turtles learn English ... did ya know Satan and .... ahhh never mind!

[Sofia]

11 minutes ago, Ishaya said:

 

Sis Uani,what's you take on materialization of angels?

 

How do you understand it please!

Maybe you should start a new topic about this, dear @Ishaya since it’s so off topic 😉

Edited December 20, 2023 by Sofia

[Hotteok]

Here our eyes well up in tears

but have no fear comrades!

We drink beer to celebrate that 

we can finally grow a beard! 
(though my face doesn’t really make any beard) 

Edited December 21, 2023 by Hotteok

[kejedo]

a sister came by yesterday, She has a Bible student, elderly like us

who is starting her study on the subject of angels. I have a BS who is going on Chapter 4, enjoy life, after a review of Chapter 3. N o questions about beards, yet. Thankful to Jehovah for the blessings that have seen us all through the past few years.

 

[Tortuga]

2 hours ago, jlocke said:

Back to Beards……

Human beards....😁

[Paulo]

23 hours ago, Brandon said:

hm so brothers will have to refrain from tying knots now. Feel bad for the ones with boats 🤣

 

In all honesty i don’t see the connection between neckties and the amulet thing you are mentioning; an amulet would be worn more like a necklace, no?  Going down that rabbit hole could lead a witness to go around saying necklaces are bad because Egyptians started them. 

I do not wish to enter any controversy or expand this off-topic.

 

Of course the link, of the many available, points to the "Isis knot" in the form of a "knotted piece of cloth" "clearly associated with the goddess Isis, the great magician and wife of Osiris.", because "Knots were widely used as amulets".

 

With this said I exit this discussion.