How Do Your Women Dress To Church?

1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

Has society influenced the women to come in with make-up, perms, and fancy dresses that churches keep overlooking this exhortation in scripture?

Course, men do not lift up their hands when they are praying in church as a regular practise either.

I don't. There were several times that I had done it privately as of late, but I leave that to the Lord to fix whatever it is that is in me that would prevent me from doing so.

I look at some of these images of men & women raising their hands towards the Lord in praise privately but out in the open in this music video and I wonder where is my joy to do that in prayer and in worship?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rR_Rdb1CTE

I trust the Lord to deal with what may be a lack of humility & joy in respect to Him in prayer and in worship.

Psalm 19:12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults. 13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.

Psalm 138:The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

2 Timothy 4:18 And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. :godisgood::jesus::thumbs:

 

I "think" the guideline in that Timothy epistle was to avoid temptations to judge other believers by outward appearances as discussed in James.

James 2:1My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. 2 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; 3 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: 4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? 5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? 6 But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? 7 Do not they blaspheme that worthy name by the which ye are called? 8 If ye fulfil the royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself, ye do well: 9 But if ye have respect to persons, ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. 10 For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.

Paul stated it plainly here;

2 Corinthians 10:7 Do ye look on things after the outward appearance? if any man trust to himself that he is Christ's, let him of himself think this again, that, as he is Christ's, even so are we Christ's.

I don't think it is wrong to dress fancy or anything like that, but pride of life is of the world and mayhap the temptation to look down on other people or compare yourself to other people and thus fall into the trap of judging others by their outward appearances by not treating them as you would treat Jesus.

Matthew 12:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

I reckon if one dress modestly, the poor will not be so set apart or feel less than you when they are all equal in the eyes of God.

And that includes those that dress fancy too. They do not need to be treated as if they are stuck up or anything like that.

Philippians 2:2 Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

It's when people start favouring certain people over other people by their outward appearances, and thus slighting the fellow believer, whethor it be the poor or even the fancy rich, then it becomes a problem.

Kind of like passive bullying...alienation...God sees that in the believer doing it; and not just from the people being slighted.

Paul got in Peter's face for separating himself from the Gentiles as the believing Christians that were formerly Jews followed suit after Peter.

It's a complicated issue when it involves more on what is going on inside of you and inside others by why they dress the way they do in light of looking for acceptance from others and in turn, supporting the standard of appearance that others fail to meet than what you are actually wearing.

Every believer has Jesus Christ inside of them. Treat them accordingly.

 

Discourage modesty? I can see now why scripture has us encouraging modesty.

1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

I highly doubt that your Islamic brothers & sister will demonstrate solidarity with you by dressing immodestly by the examples you have given on any given day.

John 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?

2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

 

Long Island NY is a long way for me to go there. Fortunately I can worship God the Father in spirit and in truth any where by coming to the Son in worship of Him where I am at.

 

Do any of those visitors fill out those cards and return after next Sunday?

Just wondering...if a handshake in welcoming them to the church is better than a card.

 

By His grace & by His help, I am serving Him here as He is the One that ministers in causing the increase.

As it is, only in outreach as He is helping me defend the faith from afar.