Proper dress

What if a trapper came in directly off his trapping line, hadn't bathed in 2 months, and was a distraction to others because of his appearance? Would you ask him to bathe before you would preach to him, or ask him to leave, or what?

I have personally witnessed this event.

A friend of mine witnessed the woman in the bikini event. She was being provocative. She did it on a dare. She was saved because she was preached to, and AFAIK, she was not only saved, but committed her life to the Lord, and is now on the mission field.

 

I'm with Scarlett. Why is it that the subject of WOMENS dress is always brought up? I don't see threads by ladies complaining about how men dress in public. And believe me, we gals could give lessons on style if we wanted to!:saint:

Although, I'm not so sure the op was a stupid question. I remember during a Promise Keepers meeting, there were feminists who "protested" topless. It could possibly happen in church if someone were insane (as previously mentioned) or if a feminist wanted to cause a problem/distraction in the church. In that case, I would kindly escort her outside and talk to her.

I wouldn't be a bit surprised if in the future, churches have to post signs regarding dress to avoid "discrimination" lawsuits. Anything is possible nowadays.

 

Say, "I see you are ready for the baptism!" :laugh:

 

In the 'great white north'? :laugh:

J/K.

 

Good response, Helen. Unfortunately, our choir does not have robes, but I presume there are some resourceful enough that we could come up with something.

Ed

 

Probably not, in my case.

My wife would probably not approve of me sitting beside her, and the rest of the body would probably get ill seeing me in swim trunks.

Kind of like former NY Mets first baseman Marv Thoneberry once said, ' The attendance would probably go down!"



Seriously, give this junk (for that is all it is) a rest!

Ed

 

spewing coffee on the screen!

You go girl!

 

I, too, am with the sisters.

Give the girl a robe. It's too cold to sit in the sanctuary in a bikini anyway. And to play off of Amy's post. Have y'all been to the beach lately . . .

Surely we have something else to talk about. 1 Corinthians perhaps . . .

 

No, that was from elsewhere.

Up here, I think that it would automatically qualify as insane! :wavey: (But, we do have the problem with smelly people, who might not be visually offensive, but...)

 

Thank you!!!!! My thoughts exactly!

 

Since I didn't take the time to determine where everyone who has replied to this resides, and since the OP doesn't specify, let me add this to the mix--

What if the church is close to a beach? (Or, well, what if it's close to a motel with a swimming pool, for that matter!?) What if the young lady was in her swimsuit and entered the church in that bikini for ANY reason? At the time she left the beach or the pool, she was in proper attire (for her unsaved lot in life, at least). Perhaps she does or does NOT know "better". Does anyone in that congregation know what is in her heart? Does anyone in there know why she was actually "led" to sit in that church--even IF it was in response to a dare?

Perhaps it would be THAT sermon, THAT congregation's response to "meeting her where she was", THAT moment's experience that provided what GOD intended to change her. Even if her own personal motivation was response to a dare, or even mere curiosity at the moment, who is to say what GOD's motivation is for allowing it? Who is to say that God is not wanting to see what is in the hearts of the members of that congregation?

Obviously, I agree that a bikini is "inappropriate dress" for a church...just as a speedo would be on a man. The issue that is important here is (hopefully) what the OP intended--how do we deal with it? Obviously, since this scenario is SO unlikely, it would be wise (for the safety of the congregation) to determine if the person is mentally unbalanced first--but if she sits there quietly and listens....and then receives "proper cover" without incident, I think it would be safe to assume she's not nuts--just has poor taste in clothing.

Helen is spot on with her answer--give her a choir robe--or the jacket off your own back--for "proper" covering mostly for the benefit of the men, rather than her OWN benefit. God has seen her naked, so HE doesn't care--but just maybe HE wants her there AT THAT MOMENT.

 

I've been to church services at the beach here in NC, and have seen some very casual attire (no bikinis, though). Even here I seen men come in with dirty jeans and long hair, and women in mini skirts or sun dresses. I just assume that, as they learn more, they will adjust their clothing to something a little more proper. I know I would have had my hide handed to me if I had dressed that way growing up!

Love,

Sopranette

 

Sopranette posted at the same time I did--and addresses my question specifically. A great answer! Many of us grew up being taught proper dress at proper functions ( a bikini was never one of them, by the way, in my household!). Many young people today have not had that "luxury"--instead they learn fashion from MTV and magazines.

The wisdom to learn that the bikini is inappropriate can only truly come if that young lady in the bikini is exposed to the truth. And that won't happen (at least then and there) if she's kicked out of the service. Just a thought.

 

:laugh: Bravo!

:thumbs: