Why do the conservatives avoid this topic like the plauge yet still enforce this as rule of fellowship and even salvation?? I'm not getting it!
I can name a long list of women on this forum who wear dresses only but wouldn't dare discuss it. WHY????????????????? I don't get that!
Is it because they don't know why they do it ???
You all have to understand that it was engrained in my genes. boys don't wear dresses and skirts and little girls have their own things they wear and don't wear. I'm trying to get use to the idea that it's left up to the individual to decide. no more cultural distinctions are necessary.
I also find it hyprocritical that most of you would allow your girls to wear jeans that still LOOK and PERTAIN to a boys pants but would freak out if the boy wore the jean jumper... made for a male of course!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Mark, I think part of the cultural change is just going from dressy clothing to more casual in every arena of life. Men used to wear suits to ballgames, to the doctor, etc. Now most businessmen are even casual. Women are definitely more casual in pants. Because it is acceptable to be casual at almost any event in America now, women feel comfortable in pants. I like to wear dresses, but I definitely feel more dressed up when I'm in one. However, I don't always like to be dressed up!!! I love the feel of a good comfortable pair of jeans!
No, I can't say that I would be comfortable with a bunch of men in dresses, because in our culture, it's just not the norm. However, in our culture, it IS the norm for women to be in pants OR dresses. It doesn't bother me at all for women to be in pants at church; I am in pants a lot for midweek services.
BUt sherri, who changed this?? If I told you it was a bunch of marxist, communisitc minded feminist who were bent on destroying the moral fabric of our country would any of you even care ???
can you see how twisted it sounds when you have such a biased set of rules for the women??
Mark, I think part of the cultural change is just going from dressy clothing to more casual in every arena of life. Men used to wear suits to ballgames, to the doctor, etc. Now most businessmen are even casual. Women are definitely more casual in pants. Because it is acceptable to be casual at almost any event in America now, women feel comfortable in pants. I like to wear dresses, but I definitely feel more dressed up when I'm in one. However, I don't always like to be dressed up!!! I love the feel of a good comfortable pair of jeans!
Yes, that is true. most of the culture is more casual. sometimes i think that's good other times I don't. I think people are just a lot more sloppy and lazy in their presentation. how you present yourself is still important don't you think?
BUt sherri, who changed this?? If I told you it was a bunch of marxist, communisitc minded feminist who were bent on destroying the moral fabric of our country would any of you even care ???
can you see how twisted it sounds when you have such a biased set of rules for the women??
I don't think it's biased. If our culture went back to men wearing robes, then I guess we would accept it in the church, if they carried themselves as men. The clothing isn't the issue; it's whether a man acts and looks like a man and whether a woman acts and looks like a woman.
We have some Nigerians in our church and the man often wears loose trousers with a long "dress" like tunic over them that comes down to his knees, much like a woman's pantsuit in America. He is one of the most muscular, masculine men I've seen in a long time. The clothes he wears does not change that.
Yes, that is true. most of the culture is more casual. sometimes i think that's good other times I don't. I think people are just a lot more sloppy and lazy in their presentation. how you present yourself is still important don't you think?
I think you can be sloppy in a pair of jeans or you can look nice in a pair of jeans. I've seen plenty of both.
I think you can be sloppy in a pair of jeans or you can look nice in a pair of jeans. I've seen plenty of both.
I think you're right for the most part on this. In much of the UPC, people still dress like they are going to a grand ball - often overdone. however, I think when you dress up ( at least respectfully) it says you care about yourself and your surroundings and respect the place of worship.
Eddie rarely wears a suit when he preaches anymore - only on Easter or baby dedications or ordination services, etc. We have had so many people come into church who have commented on the fact that he seems so much more accessible than any other preachers that they know, because of the way he is dressed.
So many people in the South have an image of church from their past and it's not always pretty. The whole suit and tie preacher image is a part of it and brings back negative feelings. They love the fact that Eddie is just in a nice shirt and pants. He seems more human to them. We have heard this from so many people! I'm not saying this is the way to go for all pastors; it has just worked well here.
Eddie rarely wears a suit when he preaches anymore - only on Easter or baby dedications or ordination services, etc. We have had so many people come into church who have commented on the fact that he seems so much more accessible than any other preachers that they know, because of the way he is dressed.
So many people in the South have an image of church from their past and it's not always pretty. The whole suit and tie preacher image is a part of it and brings back negative feelings. They love the fact that Eddie is just in a nice shirt and pants. He seems more human to them. We have heard this from so many people! I'm not saying this is the way to go for all pastors; it has just worked well here.
I think it's good. I don't know who told us we had to dress up like wall street in order to serve in church. Of course, I think there is a time and place for all things but I see your point- makes sense
HO, even in the 50s women didn't wear pants often unless they was horse backing riding or working in a factory where there was a safty issue. It is true that 90% ( or more)of women in our culture wear pants the majority of the time unless they are going to a wedding. Has this been a good change for us as a society?? I don't think so personally and the reason why is, I think it is just one small aspect that has worn down the moral fiber of our society. You cannot tell me that what a person puts on does not affect change in the spirit of the person.
Mark, were you alive in the 50's? I wasn't. What they did back then doesn't apply to today. It makes no more sense than talking about what they dressed like in 1850. That's what I'm trying to make you understand.
But I disagree with your last statement. It's not what we put on that changes us inside, but it's the change inside that makes us different on the outside.
Mark, do you realize that we (general 'we') blame what people dress like in regard to the negative, but do we ever suggest that someone 'got religion' because they started dressing in 'holiness' attire?
Of course not! Why? Because it has to start with the heart.
You cannot convince me that Sodom and Gomorrah were vile because of how those people dressed. The Bible makes no such claim about any evil society in regard to their dress or other influences. They didn't have TV, they didn't have Hollywood. But they did have evil hearts. So do we.
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