Many styles that are now popular were considered odd a few years ago.

5. How can clothing and grooming styles serve as a trap of the Devil?

⁵ Because of these conditions, how can Christian men and women determine what to wear or not to wear? Naturally, they do not desire to stand out as being old-fashioned or out of style, but to go to the other extreme and let the old world lead one along completely in clothing and grooming styles would be to fall right into these alluring fad-traps of the Devil. He knows all too well that when one can be lured into taking the first step of outwardly identifying oneself closely with the styles of this world under his control, it often is not difficult to tempt the person to take further steps into worldly pursuits.

6. What will guide a Christian in selecting clothing styles and in grooming?

⁶ At 1 Timothy 2:9, 10, Christian women are admonished to have well-arranged dress, to adorn themselves with modesty. This principle, of course, also applies to men in the congregation. In determining whether to wear a particular style, we can ask if the clothing or grooming reflects modesty, or whether it is immodest and proves embarrassing to others. Tight trousers tend to be immodest for a man, just as short or revealing dresses can be immodest for a woman. When a sister bends over or tries to seat herself modestly on the platform, does she have difficulty because of her short dress? Do we possibly, by what we wear or by our grooming, mislead others into thinking that we have loose morals or have a proud, militant attitude?

7. What important fact will help Jehovah’s Christian witnesses to dress appropriately, regardless of location in the earth?

⁷ Jehovah’s Christian witnesses are servants of Jehovah, the great Sovereign of the universe, and this realization should definitely govern how we dress. What do people in a particular area expect of God’s servants? Styles differ around the world and thus it does not rest upon the governing body of Jehovah’s witnesses to determine what specific styles are appropriate or modest for each country or community. If there is serious question about a particular style, then it would be better not to wear it. Better to be viewed as a little out of fashion than as immodest or proud or unkempt.

10. How can one, by clothing or grooming styles, defeat the purpose of going into the community to preach the good news of the Kingdom?

¹⁰ We must take into consideration that Jehovah’s people are under scrutiny by the world. The message of the Kingdom that they are taking to the people is sometimes judged by the appearance of those bringing it. There is the possibility that a Christian brother or sister dressed in a certain style might so attract the attention of the person at the door that the person does not pay attention to what the Christian is saying, or concludes that we are no different from worldlings in morals or principles. If this is the case, then the message bearer is defeating the whole purpose of his or her field service. We are called upon, at times, to sacrifice our own convenience, to a greater or lesser degree, according to the need, in order to avoid stumbling some. This was the attitude of the apostle Paul: “In no way are we giving any cause for stumbling, that our ministry might not be found fault with; but in every way we recommend ourselves as God’s ministers.”​—2 Cor. 6:3, 4.