Should women wear pants?

Even if it could be shown, that would just create a new debate "...Is it sinful for a woman to gird up her loins?"



Since I have been saved I have taken a pretty simple approach: God does not judge the outer man/woman, and going to worship services is not a fashion show.

I grew up dressing very casual, and it may just be stubborn pride, but I still do. I am sure there are people who frown on the fact that I wear Jeans to services, but, that is simply the manner of dress I have always been accustomed to. Sometimes, when I visit another fellowship, I go unshaven, and a little scruffy looking. I am quite sure many may think "Oh that poor woman, it is clear she is dragging her unsaved husband to Church," lol (my wife always dresses nice for services). In the fellowship I attend right now, I know I could probably become a deacon fairly quickly simply by donning a suit (and perhaps growing a goatee, lol), but...

...I feel like a clown in a suit. Wore one when I got married, and perhaps may wear one when I am buried, but, apart from those two experiences, I always feel like I'm trying to be someone I am not when I don one. It's just not me. It has nothing to do with my reverence for God, it's just my views on how we dress differ from others.


God bless.

 

Modesty is primarily an issue that is internal, and the level of modesty we have impacts those we are around. We cannot excuse immodesty when it causes our brother or sister to stumble. The fault lies on us, and we are the ones guilty. That does not excuse the sin that arises, because we all have a responsibility not to sin, but, we cannot ignore the level of maturity in believers either. The weak brother or sister new to the faith is not going to be held as accountable as the more mature believer (though we seem to create a paradox, lol). The Writer of Hebrews does not excuse his Hebrew brethren in Hebrews 5:10-6:6, but instead makes the point "For the time you have been exposed to God's Word you should be teaching others," rather than his charge of being infantile in understanding which prevents them from teaching, instead being in need that one teach them...again.

Of course we could impose a generational element into this which complicates it even greater. For example, mature Christian Parents deal with culture influence outside of their control at times. Children will be exposed to cultural influence through those they associate with that the Parents are not aware of.

And the woman is held guiltless in this case, which is the point. But wait, before I go any further...is the burlap ankle length?

Agreed. that is the point of the OP, in my view. For him, wearing pants is appealing, or, can impact his thoughts. I think we have all seen women in pants which are designed for that very purpose. While generalizing it into "All pants should be viewed as alluring," or, "Women wearing pants is a sign of rebellion against God's Word and an attempt to be masculine" takes it outside of the realities of the issue.

Agreed.

Agreed.

As you say, lust has to be taken back to the individual, rather than simply laying fault on others without good reason. However, we do not excuse those who dress alluring, because this is, no matter how you slice it, in opposition to what Scripture teaches.

I would agree, but not for the same reason. I can fully sympathize with Jordan on this issue. While I view it as something that is unique to him (not that other men do not find pants on a woman alluring or object to it, I think we could probably find those who do), and that he generalizes the issue overmuch, I can still see the validity of this issue as it impacts him as a brother in Christ.

The bottom line is that for many men, myself included, when a woman overtly presents her femininity in public...its hard not to notice. It's difficult not to be tempted when that situation occurs.

And if there is one place where it should not happen, it is in a Worship Service. I think it is the responsibility of the leadership of the fellowship, when it is occurring, to speak to the individuals about it. But Church discipline is not as it may have been in the past. That is a reflection of our culture, and its infiltration of the Assembly of the brethren.


God bless.

 

Great statement.

I agree with you in your statement, and would just suggest that a proper course in this discussion would be to discuss the issue with Jordan and point out that which you disagree with, yet maintain an understanding that underlying is a very real issue that cannot be dismissed. I agree it is wrong to justify a legalistic position with a summary of culture that does not reflect the many various cultures where we would see the justification dismissed, such as in the case of men, many of whom are the picture of what masculinity is, wearing "skirts," lol.

I mean, come on, guys that get together once a year to prove who is the toughest...nothing feminine about that, lol.

Celtic (not cultic, Squire, lol) festivals are a good place to start in order to find out if men wearing skirts could be interpreted as in violation of principles set forth in Scripture. We might find some other issues to discuss in them, lol. Last time I was at one I had meself an Irish Coffee, minus the element that makes it...Irish.


God bless.

 

Some churchladies are still holding the line:

Mrs. Albert Mohler in seminary newsletter The Tie:

"a well-intentioned move to counter ostentatious attire has resulted in opening the floodgates such that anything goes. It is very difficult for us to recover and to take steps to go back toward traditional Sunday dress. The fourth commandment is still there. “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.” Many have forgotten that Sunday is set apart, and that it is not like every other day."

"her Sunday clothes are going to be different from her other clothes? Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. Unlike the discount store whose tags say, “there are no rules,” her father and I believe there are rules. There are absolutes. There is a line that you just don’t cross. I hasten to add that it wouldn’t matter if her father was a seminary president or a ditch digger, the rules would be the same."

 

Not that to be reverent a woman needs to wear a long skirt, but out of reverence, a woman would prefer a long skirt in church. Long skirts represent modest tradition. Pants represent the unisex feminist movement.


[Edited to correct attribution.]

 

Simple, godly counsel for gals from Mrs. Paige Patterson's Christian Homemaker's Handbook:

"When you are trying to choose between pants or a skirt/dress, choose the skirt/dress. In this unisex age, this choice sets you apart as distinctively female."

 

Yeah, 50 years ago.

What about open-toed shoes?



Sent from my Motorola Droid Turbo

 

Do you have anyone in your church over 50? People tend to retain the views of their youth.

It's actually worse now. We're living in a society now that is making it illegal for business owners and schools to control who uses their bathrooms. This is to blur the lines of sexes, to promote cross-dressing. The only reason you say "50 years ago" is because we've moved so far beyond 50 years ago that the feminist corruption of 50 years ago seems like nothing compared to what's going on today.

A reverent woman would prefer a long skirt to pants in church, and a politically aware woman would also might prefer long skirts to pants to make a political statement about the distinction between the sexes. Silly Bruce Jenner, dresses are for real women.

But, we live in a post-Christian society where many Christians have become casual in their faith and they show that casualness in their dress.

 

I can't watch the video in the OP, because youtube says the video is private. But, the issue of women wearing pants has nothing to do with men lusting. Nothing. It's about dressing according to one's sex.

 

video is now private, have to be invited to watch. Probably means those invited already believe in the false doctrines and prescribed precepts of men, i.e. Colossians 2:8ff

 

Hey brother jordan, if women wear pants and then cut them off right below the knee and rename them culottes, is it then OK?