should women wear dresses/skirts all the time

[Lacy Evans]

Asking us to stick to the subject when we have an opening to "propogate the KJVO myth" is like asking a horse not to swat flies with his tail.

Seriously, the pants issue is very hot among KJVOs so It is appropriate, IMHO, to try to establish some common ground with the other side of the debate (from Burke's perspective.)


-Lacy

 

[robycop3]

That's about the ONLY way to slip in a plug for the KJVO myth...THROUGH THE BACK DOOR, as that myth has no UP-FRONT evidence, ESPECIALLY SCRIPTURAL, to support it.

The whole women/pants thing is a man-made addition to Scriptural doctrine, same as is the KJVO myth. A quick check of history will show anyone that the people of Paul's time and place almost all wore loose-fitting robe-like or toga-like garments. Roman soldiers wore skirt-like uniforms with some type of armor sown in. And almost everyone wore sandals most of the time.

The main differences in mens' & womens' apparel at that time & place among the non-Romans was its color schemes and embellishments, belts, sashes. There was both male-specific and female-specific bling. And there was MAKEUP, almose exclusively female-specific.

However, as I said earlier, it's a matter of conscience. We should NOT look down upon those who choose differently than WE do in this question, any more than the KJVOs should not look down upon those who use other versions.

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

"No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day."
John 6:44 (emphasis mine)

Did I miss something or is this verse "supposed" to read: "except the Father which hath sent me draw him AND 'they' shall use a KJV AND 'she' shall not wear pants" AND 'he' shall not have long hair AND 'she' shall have long hair."

 

[Plain Old Bill]

Rather than complain about Burkes' KJVO stance, I applaud his Pants Stance.

 

[donnA]

I started my day out doing an indepth study in scripture , not other books of opinions of others(not a bathroom door for the final authroity of who society says should wear a dress),and have found basically the only way you can get this(women dresses only) from scripture is to take it out of context, which may not always be on purpose, but only a lack of through study. Which any through bible study on the full topic will show is not biblical.
Of, course if someone wants to wear dresses only, then go ahead, but it should not be taught as being biblical to wear dresses only. It never makes anyone more spiritual becasue they do(nor less spiritual if they wear pants), and the attitude of most who wear only dresses prove their lack of spirituality(or lack of spiritual growth).(and I mean as in the accusations I mentioned earlier that are usually flug at pants wearing women)

 

[Plain Old Bill]

Way to go Donna.

 

[Pastor_Bob]

Originally posted by donnA:
It never makes anyone more spiritual becasue they do [wear dresses only]

I disagree with your claim that it "never" makes anyone more spiritual. I would agree that the practice of wearing dresses only is not always an indicator of a spiritual lady, but I do think that it can make a lady more spiritual. For example, if you stood two ladies side-by-side, one was wearing pants and one was wearing a dress, you could not determine just by the outward appearance which one was closer to God. But, the lady wearing dresses may be able to maintain a closer walk with God by wearing dresses than she could if she wore pants.

Anything that we give up or sacrifice to the Lord has the potential to bring us into a closer relationship with the Lord. If I give up TV and determine to give that time to the Lord, if I have the right motives, it will cause me to grow in the Lord, thus resulting in a higher level of spirituality. That doesn't make me more spiritual than the guy next door who still watches TV; it just makes me more spiritual myself than could be if I continued watching TV.

Now, the person who would stand and proclaim, "I gave up such and such, so that means I am more spiritual!" is vividly demonstrating their lack of spirituality.

 

[donnA]

I disagree with your claim that it "never" makes anyone more spiritual. I would agree that the practice of wearing dresses only is not always an indicator of a spiritual lady, but I do think that it can make a lady more spiritual. For example, if you stood two ladies side-by-side, one was wearing pants and one was wearing a dress, you could not determine just by the outward appearance which one was closer to God. But, the lady wearing dresses may be able to maintain a closer walk with God by wearing dresses than she could if she wore pants.

I still, have not seen any scripture which says anything like that, by wearing dresses you can have a closer relationship with God.
So, where are they?

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

It's kind of like submission. If you are doing it 'as unto the Lord' because you want to, I believe you will feel closer to the Lord.

If you are gritting your teeth and doing it because someone said you 'should', then you can submit all you want to and still not be close to the Lord.

 

[Johnv]

Originally posted by Pastor_Bob:
For example, if you stood two ladies side-by-side, one was wearing pants and one was wearing a dress, you could not determine just by the outward appearance which one was closer to God. But, the lady wearing dresses may be able to maintain a closer walk with God by wearing dresses than she could if she wore pants.

That's completely subjective, not based on anything in scripture. It's making a possible determination based upon outside appearance. Since neither woman is violating the letter or spirit of scripture, to make any type of determination about the wearer, even a "may be" determination, is false judgement. Kind of like saying a blonde "may be" less intelligent than a brunette, or a black man "may be" a hoodlum more than a white man.

Anything that we give up or sacrifice to the Lord has the potential to bring us into a closer relationship with the Lord.

How do you not know that the woman wearing pants is not "giving up" dresses in her attempt to be closer to the Lord?

Now, the person who would stand and proclaim, "I gave up such and such, so that means I am more spiritual!" is vividly demonstrating their lack of spirituality.

Very true. True also of the person wh says "so and so is more spiritual because she is wearing a dress".

 

[dianetavegia]

Some of the women I've seen in dresses would look more discreet in well fitted slacks! I've actually been embarassed by some clothing (dresses) I've seen in church on the young women. Spaghetti straps, clingy, thin cloth ....

 

[Thankful]

There is always an international code. In any part of the world if you will visit any public/private comfort rooms (especially famous hotels and restaurants) you will see that the picture sign for ladies is a human figure wearing skirts and a picture sign for gentleman is a human figure wearing pants. So, it was universally accepted that if youre a woman you must wear skirts.

Does this mean that women can't drink at water fountains? The symbol is a man.

Does this mean that only men can wait in a waiting room? The symbol is a man.

One can't use a spoon in a restaurant because the symbol is a fork and knife?

Oh dear, I am getting carried away with this.

Sorry!

In most foreign countries, there are also words on the restroom doors.

I agree with Donna.

If a woman is convicted to wear only dresses, then she should wear only dresses, but not all women are convicted to wear only dresses.

For most occasions, I prefer dresses, but cleaning house, playing with children, working in the yard, pants seem more appropriate to me.

 

[Pastor_Bob]

Originally posted by donnA:
I still, have not seen any scripture which says anything like that, by wearing dresses you can have a closer relationship with God.
So, where are they?

Rom 12:1 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.

If my wife feels like she is presenting herself as a living sacrifice to God by giving up what she considers immodest clothing, then wearing dresses does make her closer to God than if she did not wear dresses.

Originally posted by Johnv
Since neither woman is violating the letter or spirit of scripture, to make any type of determination about the wearer, even a "may be" determination, is false judgement. Kind of like saying a blonde "may be" less intelligent than a brunette, or a black man "may be" a hoodlum more than a white man.

You totally missed my point. I am speaking of individual people; not comparing one to another, but compared to themselves. If a lady feels led of God to give up pants, she will be closer to God when she does. I'm not saying that she'll be closer to God than her neighbor that does wear pants.

Very true. True also of the person wh says "so and so is more spiritual because she is wearing a dress".

I don't believe you heard me say that.

Originally posted by Thankful
If a woman is convicted to wear only dresses, then she should wear only dresses, but not all women are convicted to wear only dresses.

That's what I am saying as well. And if the woman obeys the Lord, she is more spiritual than if she disobeyed. That is why I took exception when Donna said that wearing dresses "never" makes one more spiritual. Maybe it doesn't make them more spiritual than anyone else, but it makes them personally more spiritual.

 

[donnA]

I think my response was wrong and I appologize.
My stance on this topic remains.

 

[donnA]

I was reminded tonight of Aaron's sons who offered up to God 'strange fire', although offered up to God, it was not acceptable,a nd they were killed for it.
Not just anything that seems right is in God's sight,a nd saying a woman in a dress is more spiritual and acceptable to God,and has a closer relationship is ecceptable. Just think of what your saying to christian women who take their relationship with God serious.(apparently more serious then you assume, but then you would have no way of kowing, only God and them know for sure).

 

[Pastor_Bob]

Donna, you are reading far more into my posts than is there. I am not saying that women who wear dresses only are more spiritual than those who wear pants.

Again, I am saying that if you feel like the Lord would have you give up wearing pants and you obey His leading, you personally will be closer to Him than if you didn't obey Him. It has nothing to do with anyone else. I'm sorry, but I can't make myself any clearer than this.

If anyone understands what I am trying to say, could you please help me word it in such a way that it is more clear?

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

I don't know that I can make it any clearer, but I believe you are saying that if God is convicting a woman (whether it be wearing dresses only or whatever) and that woman yields to that conviction, then she - herself, will be closer to God than if she had not yielded.

You are also saying that this does not make this woman more spiritual than a woman who has NOT been convicted to wear dresses only.

You are saying this woman is more spiritual in HER OWN LIFE because of obeying the conviction that God placed on her.

Each woman should follow God's leading in her own life and not look down on other women because they may not have that same conviction.

Not sure I helped things much.

 

[donnA]

What is your opinion of a woman who wears pants and God has NOT told them to give up wearing pants?


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I disagree with your claim that it "never" makes anyone more spiritual. I would agree that the practice of wearing dresses only is not always an indicator of a spiritual lady, but I do think that it can make a lady more spiritual. For example, if you stood two ladies side-by-side, one was wearing pants and one was wearing a dress, you could not determine just by the outward appearance which one was closer to God. But, the lady wearing dresses may be able to maintain a closer walk with God by wearing dresses than she could if she wore pants.
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I'm sorry, your post9above) doesn't say this(down below), I do not know how it is supose to be 'clearer' if it isn't there at all.

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I am saying that if you feel like the Lord would have you give up wearing pants and you obey His leading, you personally will be closer to Him than if you didn't obey Him. It has nothing to do with anyone else. I'm sorry, but I can't make myself any clearer than this.

================================================

 

[I Am Blessed 24]

But, the lady wearing dresses may be able to maintain a closer walk with God by wearing dresses than she could if she wore pants.

Operative word in this paragraph is "may"...

 

[Alcott]

I don't follow some the reasoning and justifications for many of the opinions here. I have seen the ideas expressed that, upon becoming a Christian, the person claims to be 'convicted' to stop eating meat, to get away from the church [often Baptist] in which one was raised, to stop watching television, and other things. In the cases I have been in position to know, these things do not last; sometimes they may last for month, or even years, but the person does come to realize these are really childish things and with proper growth and maturity they can see and divide the spiritual from the physical, or from something just perceived as being spiritual. Wearing dresses or skirts, as opposed to pants, is rather expectedly a primary reaction in that way, simply because so many traditionalist churches are known to be rigid about clothing standards.

But it is, on the other hand, a valid point, that some of the reactive things people are known to do actually can help the person in that she (he) is seen having made changes, and therefore there is affirmation in some way. When we are 'convicted,' we want to do something and be affirmed. God does not look on the outside, but man does, and that can be both a point and counterpoint in this topic.