In this Kingdom Hall meeting, I see eight clean shaven men! In the 40 years I was a Jehovah's Witness, never did I see a beard. For some reason, a moustache is fine but long sideburns, goatees and beards were forbidden. This to me was always a man-made rule!
Here is an example where they claim that someone with a beard is '' not considered a servant of God,'' but a troublemaker. I guess the clean shaven can be trusted, but those who have a beard cannot!
And they fail to explain how a beard might stumble someone!
“Extreme hair styles can easily lead one into a trap of the Devil also, and cause others to stumble. For example, a young man in the United States was making fine progress in his study of the Bible, and he was moved to share with an experienced Witness in preaching to others about the good things he was learning from the Bible. From early youth he had let his beard grow, and since some in the business community wore beards, he felt that his wearing one in preaching to others would be acceptable generally. But in speaking to a lady he was unable to do more than introduce himself, when she said: "I'm sorry, young man, I do not want to become involved in student revolt." No amount of explanation after this sufficed to clear up the misimpression. After the conversation ended with the closing of the door, he asked the experienced Witness what had happened. He was invited to consider his appearance in relation to what he claimed to be, a servant of God. Not wanting to be responsible for even one person's being stumbled so as to miss the way to everlasting life, this new Kingdom publisher shaved off his beard. Would you be willing to do the same or to make similar adjustments if your appearance gave the wrong impression in a certain community?” Watchtower 1975 Aug 15 pp.500,501
