![]() ![]() In 1975, I was nine years old and remember thinking that I could be a member of a generation that would never see death. The official history of Jehovah’s Witnesses states: “During the years from 1935 through 1944, a review of the overall framework of Bible chronology…, along with certain other factors,…led to the idea-sometimes stated as a possibility, sometimes more firmly-that since the seventh millennium of human history would begin in 1975, events associated with the beginning of Christ’s Millennial Reign might start to take place then.” At that time in organization’s history, many of Jehovah’s Witnesses speculated that the beginning of the seventh millennium of human existence would signify the end of the old-world system and beginning of Christ’s rule. In 1975, the pressure on my father became even greater. Dad was confident that his effort in serving zealously and tirelessly in the ministry would help facilitate his salvation as well those whom he led. Yet Dad felt it was what Jehovah God required of him in the last days of Satan’s wicked system leading to the war of Armageddon as foretold in the bible book of Revelation 16:16. ![]() It was difficult balance to undertake and as a young boy, I could see the toll it took on him. Dad also juggled a full-time job working construction (during weekdays) and overseeing our family’s needs in the evenings and weekends while at the same time fulfilling his ministerial duties. Still a relatively young man in his early thirties, my father managed a full plate of congregation duties (including administration of local field ministry activities, shepherding of congregation members, preparing and delivering weekly meeting presentations, and working on several additional organization-related special projects), all performed without compensation. By 1975, my father was serving as the local presiding overseer, which at that time was viewed by some as the weightiest of leadership roles in a local Witness congregation. My father held leadership and ministerial duties within the local Kingdom Hall congregation, which our family attended several times each week. I was born into a Jehovah’s Witness family and reared to have faith in the beliefs and traditions of Jehovah God’s organization. Instead, our appearance can make the truth attractive to others and “adorn the teaching of our Savior.”- Titus 2:10.Cary Valentine, a lifelong Jehovah’s Witness, is a PhD candidate at Andrews University and adjunct faculty member at Baker University, where he teaches several topics related to organizational behavior and leadership. We do not want to detract from the important message we are taking to people. While we try to dress appropriately on every occasion, we pay particular attention to our dress when we attend congregation meetings and share in the ministry. How can our appearance attract others to true worship? We try our best not to offend anyone but, rather, to “please neighbor for his good, to build him up.”-Read Romans 15:1, 2. While we have the freedom to choose what we wear, we should think of the effect our appearance might have on others. ![]() How can our appearance affect our fellow believers? (4) Our appearance should always reflect our “devotion to God,” indicating to others that we worship the true God.- 1 Corinthians 10:31. (3) We show “soundness of mind” when we do not adopt every fad of dress and grooming that comes along. (2) Dressing “with modesty” means our appearance would not be sexually provocative, nor should it draw too much attention to ourselves. ![]() We should choose “appropriate dress, with modesty and soundness of mind,” and maintain a clean appearance that reflects our “devotion to God.” ( 1 Timothy 2:9, 10) Consider these four principles: (1) Our dress should be “appropriate.” As you have observed at congregation meetings, Jehovah’s people have different tastes, but our dress and hairstyles show respect for the God we worship. What principles should guide our choices in dress and grooming? Let us consider some of those principles. If we follow a few simple Bible principles, we can not only express our personal taste but also please Jehovah. We all have preferences about how we want to dress and groom ourselves. ![]()
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