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807 "THE LORD BE WITH THE SPIRIT YOU SHOW". On viewing the illustration on page 368 of the Watchtower July 24th 1977 (see below) and comparing it with relevant scriptures, you should understand the need for this corrective teaching: The two women in the foreground are not illustrating the wearing of a nun's habit. We are meant to understand that the reason behind their joy is due to what the women are wearing upon their heads, to show their outward 'sign' of obedience. You may wonder what this has to do with the title: "The Lord be with the Spirit You Show". Well, a woman's long hair is given to her (allowed her) as a headdress (but only as "a glory to her". 1 Cor 11:15). Why then, you may ask, would they want to cover their own glory with long plain cloth coverings? Well firstly, we are told that a woman's headdress (her hair) is not a sign of her recognition of the headship arrangement "as to the Lord" but is a glory to herself only. (1Cor 11:3). Her wearing of a headcovering (a veil over her own glory, her hair) is an outward sign to others of her knowing and inwardly accepting the meaning of man's superior position as God's glory. (1 Cor 11:7,5). Without a woman's heartfelt subjection to the man as to the Lord, headcoverings have no meaning. Verse 10 tells us why an outward sign "upon her head" (her hair also) is a requirement when praying and "because of (for fear of) the angels". It certainly does not, as many women believe, give a woman authority to teach. (Heb 1:14. 1 Tim 2:11-14). Angels of God who have proven their obedience to Jehovah are permitted by Him to minister to His people on earth as their guardians. What is required of a woman in this regard is not as JWs have been taught, namely, to be an obedient example solely to the angels for their benefit (Heb 2:9), but rather to incite women to the submissive example of obedience to God, and to God's glory, man, under His Divine arrangement. It is to God's glory, man, that angels administer His Word. (1 Cor 14:34-36. Eph 6:4. 5:22,24). Angels of God would not minister to persons showing a deliberate spirit of disobedience, the kind described in 1 Corinthians 14:38 (Greek T.) which says: "if but anyone is being ignorant, he is being ignorant", which is in the deliberate sense, and means that they will continue to be such, if after knowing the truth they deliberately disregard it. The directions in 1 Corinthians Ch.14 is the Lord's commandment and is addressed to Spirit anointed ones ("called" ones) and those of "the other sheep" not of this fold but calling upon His Name. (See 1 Cor 1:2. John 10:16). To incite to love and fine works without hypocrisy can only truly be done through Jehovah's disciplining in righteousness; the works that Jesus and his anointed brothers are still hated for by many people hearing and ignoring his teachings. The man standing to the right in the illustration is not outwardly showing a fine spirit of obedience, nor inciting it in others. Paul's word to spiritual brothers says: "For a man ought not to have his head covered, as he is God's image and glory". (1 Cor 11:7). Neither is it allowable for women (as in the case of JWs who for their disobedience should have their heads shaved as a disgraceful sign before angels of God and His obedient servants) to show their disobedience by not wearing a headcovering at all when praying. Nor should they imitate the authority of man (his "likeness") and then cover over their shorning with a headcovering to hide their disgrace. A woman's headcovering should be worn as the illustration conveys, showing enough hair to publicly show their obedience and not shamefully conceal the disgraceful sign of a woman that has been shorn. (1 Cor 14:35. 11:6). A nun's habit is a headdress designed to completely hide their outward sign, and is manifest by their separating themselves completely from God's glory, man. (Cont. on Page 808). 24/6/77.
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