[Pliny]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I talked about this subject with a couple elders in our house church last night. In our fellowship we approach Deuteronomy 22:5 as being more about the perversion associated with crossdressing. So, we admittedly don't see this verse as forbidding women's pants on women. It would forbid women from wearing attire specifically designed for men and men from wearing attire specifically designed for women. Clothing that is gender neutral such as regular T-shirts are acceptable on both genders.

However, our elders do believe in biblical modesty. Here, with regards to women, they agree that an appropriately fitting dress or skirt is generally more modest than many popular styles of pants or jeans. However, generally speaking, women's jeans or pants are not strictly forbidden or condemned. We encourage a culturally relevant pursuit of modesty. The practice of Christian modesty is seen as an act of personal devotion and sanctification.

Attached you'll find images describing our understanding of modesty and three examples of what we understand as modest and acceptable attire with regards to women in our fellowship.

How many times have conservatives been castigated as being “legalists”? A rhetorical question because it is certain the answer is: Ad-infinitum. Conservatives have been castigated as providing a list of do’s and don’ts even though they use the Bible for determining what is pleasing to God. In spite of this, they have been charged as legalists, as demonstrated multiple times on this thread.

Ironically, now we have an individual that lists things that women must do. Such as,
1) Most stores carry modest clothing. Take the time to search for them.
2) If it is skin tight it defeats the purpose.
3) Keep minimum skirt length just below the knee.
4) If a top has a low neck line, wear a second top with a higher neck line under it.
5) Get more than one opinion about an outfit.
6) When wearing pants… Always wear a long and loose fitting top that goes past the hips.

So, women must take the time to search for “adequate” clothing.
They must keep skirt length below the knees.
They must wear two tops if someone thinks the neckline is too low.
They must get other opinions.
They must wear a long and loose fitting top to cover the pants when they wear them

This is fascinating. This list of things women must do makes this post legalistic. One could argue this list even makes the poster hypocritical because the same poster has charged conservatives as being legalistic. The words of Jesus haunt this post:
(Mat 7:1 KJV) Judge not, that ye be not judged.
(Mat 7:2 KJV) For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
(Mat 7:3 KJV) And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?
(Mat 7:4 KJV) Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?
(Mat 7:5 KJV) Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

It never ceases to amaze me that those who accuse others of legalism are themselves legalists. However, their form of “legalism” is justified by them.

Now, let’s briefly examine the list of things women are told to do.
One would imagine that they are to search for “modest” clothing. But what standard is given for modesty? Well, skirts are to be just below the knee and necklines should not be too low. Although, the knee is given as a form of measurement (legalism) necklines are left subjective. The “escape” clause is to get other opinions, ostensibly from other women.

It is fascinating that the Bible is never referred to in the legalistic list provided. The argument that modesty is the standard is subjective to time, place and culture. What may be modest today was not modest fifty years ago or later. What may be modest in Spain does not necessarily mean it is modest in America. What is modest in San Francisco is not necessarily modest in Georgia. Thus “modesty” is absolutely subjective unless one has a higher standard – like the Bible. Thus, conservatives use the Bible.

As a conservative, I have used the Bible to establish my doctrine. As can be seen, the Bible is conspicuously absent from those who accuse others of legalism while they themselves are legalists.

It has been argued for dozens of pages and posts concerning pants. It has been demonstrated that godly men wore pants and godly women did not. I have asked ad-infinitum for just ONE passage of a godly woman wearing pants. The answer has been complete and utter silence. Thus, the argument from their silence by failure to produce a single shred of Biblical evidence to support the hypothesis. At best, all there has been is a convoluted attempt to ignore these facts.

You, the reader, must make a decision about how you want to define your life. Will you use the Bible as your guide or the subjective opinions of man? The choice is yours. I leave you with this thought:
(Mat 6:33 KJV) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.