dress code

Just how do you "make" someone dress appropriately? And whose opinion of appropriateness do we use to determine whether one is dressed appropriately? What one person considers appropriate may not be appropriate by another's standards.

In Him,
Grace

 

Why?

 

If you had asked the same question a few years ago, I might have said, "no" to having a dress code. I'll cut people some slack on clothes, as long as they are not sexually explicit (no butt cheeks if shorts are worn, for instance).

What really gets my dander up is when I see teen age boys wearing ear rings and all teenagers with their body piercing. This is outrageous. Where are the parents of some of these young people? I think to myself when I see this that I'd let some of those kids have it if I could do it and get by with it. (And my home church is a conservative SB church.)

Bill C.

 

Why?

 

Mike Mck simple reply is the right one. "Why?" Isn't it amazing how unBaptistic fundamental Baptists have become? People, we're supposed to be the champions of "Scripture Only." Today's "Fundamental Baptist" isn't. He has long ago been distracted from the fundamentals and is not acting like a Baptist.

 

My church welcomes anyone who comes visit. We've had people come in wearing just about anything. The members all dress conservativly. Why? WE beleive in seperation. The Bible says come out from the world, and if boys run around with their earings, tatoos, and purple hair, and if the girls come in with skirts that aren't fit to be called a belt, and a shirt so low cut you can see anything, with her arms covered in braclets from her elbow to her wrist, well those things just sceam "WORLDLY!" Call me off in the head, I don't care.
ANd if you were saved by God's grace, and wanted to join a church that held to the convictions mine does, you'd have to agree to those standards. It wouldn't make sense to join something you didn't agree to.
Now I know God looks on the heart, but man dosn't. How do you intent to show them there's a diffrence in your life if you look and live like them, mayber worse? We don't beleive in lifestyle evangelisum, but a confrentational soul winning. However, if you act and look like the world, confronting them isn't going to have an efect.
I remember one time, before I was convicted to dress decently, I tried wittnessing to a girl. She gave me one of those defiant looks, and said I wasn't any diffrent than her. And what could I say? I DID dress just like her, and I was a young Christian at the time, so I wasn't as stong in my beleifs as I should have been.
Now I know there are some that no matter what you say, aren't going to change. So they can keep their opinions if they want to. But I'm gonna {by God's grace}live right if it kills me!
IMHO, Abby

 

You're absolutely right, Abby. I just don't think those kind of clothes and attire reflect Christ. They reflect the world.

Bill C.

 

Hey, Abby. (That's my daughter's name!)
I appreciate what you're saying. Believed the same for some twenty-plus years. But I came to realize something. Perhaps you could consider this. What is "worldliness"? Don't you agree that we should define terms and theological ideas by the Bible? So where does the Bible say that dressing by certain styles is "worldly"? (Immodest is a different issue. It is valid. But I'm specifically talking about so-called "worldly" things.) In fact, the idea of controlling people is worldly, according to Jesus. The kings of the Gentiles control people, but Jesus said that the greatest is to be the least. Col. 2:22-23 says that rules about temporal things (such as "dress codes"?) which are supposed to be a short-cut to spirituality is worldly. Biblically speaking, the worldly people are authoritarian leaders making up their own rules about how people can be spiritual.
This whole idea is in marked contrast to the Gospel of grace. People who are saved should be taught to follow the Holy Spirit, not the preacher. Then they will exhibit Biblical holiness, not legalistic self-righteousness.

 

ByGrace said:

I totally agree!

Sherrie

 

Hmmmm What would the Pharisees do? I guess they would stand at the church doors and inspect the clothes of everyone who enters. Or, maybe, they would post the dress code on the front door so everyone would know the rules before entering and embarrasing themselves. Makes one feel rather important being in control of making the rules. . .rules by which you pass yourself and fail almost everyone else.

We go around crying and moaning about how awful the world is getting. Christians should be rejoicing at God's mercy! There is a reason for His patience and restraint! We condemn sinners and try to fix the world. . .but the world isn't supposed to get fixed. . .people are supposed to get saved! Behold, now is the day of salvation! Leave the judging to the Judge. . .and let's get busy sharing the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ! It is still "Good" News.

In Him,
Grace

 

Grace, I do not believe that it is judgemental to have standards.

Bill C.

 

Exactly where do we draw the line between "standards," and requirements; or between "standards" and condemnation?

Would it be ok for girls to have pierced ears? How about ankle bracelets? When I was growing up ankle bracelets were not for "nice" girls. I don't see anything wrong with a male wearing an ear ring, but you obviously do. . .so, whose standard do we follow. . .yours or mine? Do you get my point?

James wrote, "Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! (James 2:12-13)

In Him,
Grace

 

Folks, some days I truely think it's hopeless.
Set up rules only we can pass and others fail?! Ok, if that's what you got from my post, let make it clear that's not what I ment. I sure can't "pass" all the "Rules" myself, cause I got enough faults for three or four people {thank goodness God helps you die to them!} So I didn't mean to come of that way.

"Whose adorning let it not be that outward
adorning of plaiting the hair, and of
wearing of gold, or of putting on of
apparel;
1Pe 3:4
But let it be the hidden man of the heart,
in that which is not corruptible, even the
ornament of a meek and quiet spirit,
which is in the sight of God of great price.
1Pe 3:5
For after this manner in the old time the
holy women also, who trusted in God,
adorned themselves, being in subjection
unto their own husbands:"

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by
the mercies of God, that ye present your
bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your
reasonable service.
Ro 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but
be ye transformed by the renewing of
your mind, that ye may prove what is
that good, and acceptable, and perfect,
will of God."

"Moreover the LORD saith, Because
the daughters of Zion are haughty, and
walk with stretched forth necks and
wanton eyes, walking and mincing as
they go, and making a tinkling with their
feet:
16. Isa 3:17
Therefore the Lord will smite with a
scab the crown of the head of the
daughters of Zion, and the LORD will
discover their secret parts.
17. Isa 3:18
In that day the Lord will take away the
bravery of their tinkling ornaments
about their feet, and their cauls, and
their round tires like the moon,
Isa 3:19
The chains, and the bracelets, and the
mufflers,
Isa 3:20
The bonnets, and the ornaments of the
legs, and the headbands, and the tablets,
and the earrings,
Isa 3:21
The rings, and nose jewels,
Isa 3:22
The changeable suits of apparel, and the
mantles, and the wimples, and the
crisping pins,
Isa 3:23
The glasses, and the fine linen, and the
hoods, and the vails."


"Doth not even nature itself
teach you, that, if a man have
long hair, it is a shame unto
him?
1Co 11:15
But if a woman have long
hair, it is a glory to her: for her
hair is given her for a
covering."

DOes that cover worldy for you? That's all I could find for right now.

~Abby

 

Sweetie, I didn't even read your post. . .I was not replying to you.

In HIm,
Grace

 

Abby, it would be extremely helpful if you would post your interpretation of those verses. What do you get out of them? That makes it much easier to understand your point, rather then reading the verses and guessing.

 

Abby, I have read your posts here and also in the thread on the same subject in the Youth forum. You're wise beyond your years.

Keep serving Him in all you do.

Bill C.

 

Thanks, Abby, for citing Scripture in your post. It's been sorely lacking by all those crying out for standards. The only conclusion I can draw is that standards mean, "What I like."
But consider the Scriptures you posted. Have you not taken them out of context? For example, in your picture I see that you are wearing ear rings. My wife and daughter do as well. But if you have accurately cited those Scriptures, then you shouldn't be wearing them.
We have to be careful about exploring the context of Scripture before we cite it. The OT examples you cited referred to pagan tatoos and other adornment that were part and parcel of pagan worship. They had nothing to do with fashion.
A good commentary on the I Pet. portion would show that, in NT times, only prostitutes wore jewelry, etc. That obviously isn't the case today. I assure you, my wife and daughter are not prostitutes.
So we go back to the whole point. I agree with standards myself. But they must be biblical standards, not man-made standards.
I'm kind of funny because in the evangelical church I attend now they all think I'm a fundy but in the fundamentalist circles I left they all think I went neo. But my position is that we must preach the Word without compromise, but we must only preach the Word.