Question

[Dustparticle]

 Do brothers who handle microphones and sound system or attendants have to wear ties or suit jackets? The reason why I'm asking this because all of them at my congregation yesterday wear them. Or it was just a fluke it happened.

[Mike047]

It would be best to relook at the announcement my brother Mark Sanderson, that should help clear up your question.

[Dustparticle]

Just now, Mike047 said:

It would be best to relook at the announcement my brother Mark Sanderson, that should help clear up your question.

 

 True, at times some congregations come up with their own rules.

[Mike047]

There are likely to be many variations based on the announcement, with congregations making local applications. Maybe the travelling overseers will help to 'level off' the differing congregation responses

 

Edited April 1 by Mike047

[minister159]

Maybe they just wanted to, like they always did. There's nothing saying they can't or shouldn't.

 

[Tortuga]

7 hours ago, Dustparticle said:

 

 True, at times some congregations come up with their own rules.

The word "Rules" has a very negative connotation for some people, so we might say that some congregations make their own arrangements or local application within the guidelines they were given as Mike said. 

[Parale]

7 hours ago, Dustparticle said:

wear ties or suit jackets?

 

FWIW the adjective 'suit jacket' was not used in the Governing Body announcement, rather it was simply "a jacket."

 

Brothers may choose not to wear a tie or a jacket when participating in the ministry and when attending Christian meetings, assemblies, and conventions.

 

If a brother chooses not to wear a tie or a jacket on such occasions, he should dress in a manner that is appropriate, modest, and dignified — not casual.

 

When a brother has a part on the program, he should wear a tie and a jacket if that is the standard of dress in that land.

 

Of course, some brothers may choose to wear a tie or a jacket even when they do not have a part on the program.

 

When visiting Bethel, it would be appropriate for brothers to wear a tie and a jacket and for sisters to wear a skirt or a dress if that is the standard of dress in that land.

 

 

 

[Mike047]

I suppose people may wonder whether they still see Jehovah's Witnesses going into/coming out of kingdom halls since we appear different from the mainstream, or will they simply see people going to their own church, because the brothers and sisters all appear much the same? and does it matter?

[trottigy]

Interesting - a few years ago ... We had a Catholic church just down the street from us that we drove past on our way to the Kingdom Hall on Sundays. You could see the people going in and how they were dressed. It was clear who made an effort to show their God how they felt (and perhaps some dressed up just to make a show to others - not for me to judge), but it was also very clear who did NOT.

 

I sincerely hope that when ones drive by our Kingdom Halls and see us enter - they want to praise our God Jehovah and not talk bad about Him becuase we take worship of Him casually!

Edited April 2 by trottigy

[Tortuga]

3 minutes ago, trottigy said:

Interesting - a few years ago ... We had a Catholic church just down the street from us that we drove past on our way to the Kingdom Hall on Sundays. You could see the people going in and how they were dressed. It was clear who made an effort to show their God how they felt (and perhaps some dressed up just to make a show to others - not for me to judge), but it was also very clear who did NOT.

 

I sincerely hope that when ones drive by our Kingdom Halls and see us enter - they want to praise our God Jehovah and not talk bad about Him becuase we take worship of Him casually!

Agreed. It's just my opinion but I suspect the intent of the Update was primarily to help the brothers and sisters that needed help, not just so all of us could become overly casual. 

[computerwiz]

6 hours ago, Mike047 said:

I suppose people may wonder whether they still see Jehovah's Witnesses going into/coming out of kingdom halls since we appear different from the mainstream, or will they simply see people going to their own church, because the brothers and sisters all appear much the same? and does it matter?

 

There's so many ways to slice and dice the perspective.  In the end, when was the last time you heard someone coming IN to the truth because we all dressed nice?

 

I'm sure there's some recent example somewhere (of course there is!), but the main draw of the truth is more the message & the personality of the people, not how we look.  Perhaps part of this update is so we spend more time on our spiritual clothing instead of our physical.  Because from these threads, it's obvious where a lot of time is spent....  

[Patience87]

13 minutes ago, computerwiz said:

 

There's so many ways to slice and dice the perspective.  In the end, when was the last time you heard someone coming IN to the truth because we all dressed nice?

 

I'm sure there's some recent example somewhere (of course there is!), but the main draw of the truth is more the message & the personality of the people, not how we look.  Perhaps part of this update is so we spend more time on our spiritual clothing instead of our physical.  Because from these threads, it's obvious where a lot of time is spent....  

Thank you!! This so much! It's becoming obvious we still have work to do in the spiritual clothing area, LOL. 

 

Make sure of the more important things. - Philipians 1:10

[Amen]

Concerning our the clothing, the Jehovah is preparing us towards the great tribulation. Now there will be no great difference between the world and us. Almost 80% of the men in the world have beard and almost 90% of their women put on trousers.