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What Do Your Clothes Say About You?

Discussion in '2003 Archive' started by Squire Robertsson, Jul 22, 2003.

  1. AaronK

    AaronK Guest

    I don't think dressing has to be rocket science. If your main goal is to please God when you wake and dress yourself, the debate is over and "problem" solved.
    The Christian life isn't about choosing between the good and the bad. The Christian life is about choosing between the good and the best, and choosing the best. May God help us all to know Him more, and in turn, know His will in these issues that seem to be rocket science for now.
    Just my $.02
    Hope you don't mind.
    God bless.
     
  2. KeeperOfMyHome

    KeeperOfMyHome New Member

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    Thank you, Katie, for the kind compliment. I do appreciate it.

    I was just a bit surprised at the poster's comments because that article was very well-written and I did not detect such an attitude of "holier than thou" from the writer. I just think the post missed the entire point of the article, and that is that the Bible has plenty to say on the matter of dress.

    I guess it's like this: there are few who can strike the right balance when it comes to clothing and appearance. On one side are those who say that clothing and appearance matters little, if at all, to the Lord. Others put all the emphasis and evidence of a person's spiritual life on a person's clothing and appearance.

    In all honesty, I believe God does care and our outward clothing, actions, etc. reflects more than some care to admit.

    Again, thanks for the compliment.

    Julia
     
  3. Butterflies4mami

    Butterflies4mami New Member

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    I think my clothes say that I am a Christian. They say that I am a woman,wife of a preacher, mother of impressionable children,someone who takes time with details, but does not draw attention to any part of the body, except the face. They say that I am lady-like, and Christ honoring.
    1. Modest attire is what the Bible teaches it is plain and simple, no matter how times have changed or how we FEEL about them. ( Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday,and today, and for ever.)
    2. I've already seen the posts on this subject, so, anywho-if its not masculine to wear a dress, than it isn't feminine to wear "that which pertaineth to a man".
    3. In order to delight God's heart in our clothing we must do as he has commanded us to -to keep ourselves "unspotted from the world", and to be "a peculiar people", dress modestly, etc.
    4. Again, in order to show submission to God's authority, we must live according to the Bible's standard of dress for our lives.
    5. I can't really say anything here except as long as we are following Christ, we are showing submission to our husbands, as they are under God and above us in the chain of authority. My husband and I have the same convictions about apperances, but sometimes I don't buy a dress or skirt in order to please my husband, usually the only thing we differ on is color choice or pattern. heeHee. He always wins, after all I am his now. [​IMG] And dress only to please Christ, and him!
    I do believe that apperances matter, the Bible CLEARLY tells us that even though we are in the world, we are to BE YE SEPERATE(saith the LORD).That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. 1Thess.2:12
    After all, how would the world now the difference between a Christian and an unbeliever (at first glance) if not by apperances? Remember the Scripture, I believe in Psalms that tells of the King's daughter? How at first it says she is "all glorious within" and then goes on to describe her outward appearance? There are No typos in the Bible it is all there for a reason. Once Christ does the work on the inside it most definately affects the outside. Not only in dress, but spirit and attitude.
    I know some will love to get a hold of this to disect-so, God Bless!! [​IMG] How do you spell disect?. Hope I got it right!
     
  4. Helen

    Helen <img src =/Helen2.gif>

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    </font>
    • The Clothing worn must be modest.</font>
    • The Clothing worn must be unmstakably masculine\feminine.</font>
    • The Clothing worn must meet the test of separation from the world.</font>
    • A man's\woman's clothing and deportment must delight the heart of God.</font>
    • A man's clothing and deportment must indicate an unmistakable submission to God's authority.</font>
    • A woman's clothing and deportment should give outward indication of submission to the authority of the man.</font>
    [/QB][/QUOTE]

    1. Modesty in one culture in unseemly in another. I suggest that one bend to the culture one is in and not be offensive. That says more about loving and respecting one's fellow man than following western demands or traditions.

    2. The WAY clothes are worn make them more unmistakably masculine or feminine than the clothes themselves do. When my youngest daughter was in high school, she declared "Friday tie day" and, being the leader that she is, at least half the school and most the staff joined in for at least a year. It was a lot of fun. The girls wore ties, too, and, believe me, they did not look masculine for it!

    3. Separation from the world? Jesus didn't wear clothes different from the world he lived in. Neither did Paul, the other Apostles, the early Christians... The Pope, on the other hand.... -- see what I mean?

    4. I think my clothing delights God when it pleases my husband and doesn't cost too much. My deportment, to both of them, is much more important, though.

    5. Clothing cannot indicate submission! Handcuffs, maybe, or a chain? It is attitude and words that indicate who one is and who one submits to.

    In other words, the article is somewhat nuts in concentrting on looks and not on character.

    Again, clothing will rot. So will our bodies. It is our souls -- our characters -- that continue on. Let's concentrate on those.
     
  5. Gina B

    Gina B Active Member

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    Sounds like a decent list, apart from the showing submission thing, unless you're trying to get across a woman should be veiled, but there's not many people, even Christians, who would know why you were wearing it or get that it's a submission thing to men and not just a religious or style thing.
    What do *my* clothes say?
    Probably that I'm color blind and need some new clothes. LOL
    Gina
     
  6. Gib

    Gib Active Member

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    What does my clothes say about me?

    That at the local level, there are not many color choices for the really big & tall.
     
  7. KeeperOfMyHome

    KeeperOfMyHome New Member

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    Actually, I would have to object to this comment. Can you offer me some scripture to support this claim since the Bible is quite clear on the wearing gender-specific clothing?

    As for that article being a little "nuts" in concentrating on looks, that really wasn't the purpose of the author from what I could see. His whole purpose was to show, scripturally, that appearances DO mean something and that the Bible has plenty to say on the matter.

    As for the comment that Christian character is what we should really concentrate on, I propose that our Christian character will most certainly have a bearing on what we choose to wear. I don't think you can separate the two.

    Julia
     
  8. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
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    If one explores the website beyond the referenced article, one would find that the pastor and church are located in San Francisco, California. So, he must needs address situations that may or may not arise in other places. (A request for reprint can be sent through the contact button on the website.) As I noted before, the pamphlet was written for members of his congregation. I'd rather have a pamphlet like this in the "tract rack" for the infrequent inquiry than hear a pastor preaching on clothing with any kind of regularity.
     
  9. KeeperOfMyHome

    KeeperOfMyHome New Member

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    That is a good point and a good practice conerning preaching on clothing, Squire!

    Julia
     
  10. Wisdom Seeker

    Wisdom Seeker New Member

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    Yes, I agree with you the attitude of "my clothes make me more godly than you" is a dangerously prideful attitude and a colossal waste of time.

    I would think a person who has the qualities of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness, goodness and self control who was wearing jeans and a t-shirt more godly , than a person who exudes arrogance, mean spiritedness, evil speaking, anger, complaining, I'm holier than thou piaty, self centeredness and stife stirring, who was wearing clothing that would be considered Christian.

    I think church standards are meant to guide or help, not promote a self centered holier than thou attitude.

    Character and attitude are also a projected appearance that we should be concerned about projecting.

    I personally think that godliness is something that you can see more by a person's demeanor than what they're necessarily wearing. But admittedly a person's clothing often project who they are.

    And as I said earlier, my clothing says who I am. How other people judge my appearance, I couldn't tell you. But I would hope that my description earlier of who I think I am, would be what I'm projecting. Not that I necessarily care much anymore what people think about me. They are all too frequently completly off. Maybe it's my age...I'm more concerned in how I feel and being accountable to God at this point in my life than giving much stock to anyone's opinion. (one of the blessings of age)
     
  11. Refreshed

    Refreshed Member
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    My clothes say one of three things about me:
    1. I'm poor.
    2. I'm cheap.
    3. I'm wise with my money.

    We shop a lot at the Time-Out Shop, a local store to support a women's shelter. Seriously though, my wife finds a lot of nice clothes for us amongst the rags.

    Jason :D
     
  12. Terry_Herrington

    Terry_Herrington New Member

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    My clothes say that I am POOR, but I make due with what I have. I agree that cloths from Walmart don't last long, but hey you have to wear something.

    This is just another form of legalism, something that IFB are experts at.
     
  13. KeeperOfMyHome

    KeeperOfMyHome New Member

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    And you define legalism as ?????

    Julia
     
  14. Squire Robertsson

    Squire Robertsson Administrator
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    Like I said before: People ask questions. They deserve answers. Further, they deserve more of an answer than 'whatever'.
    After we agree (and we may not even do that) to the principle: Christians (male and female) ought to wear attire that is in conformance with their Heavenly citizenship, the application of that principle will vary from person to person. Now, all together, repeat after me, "Applications of Biblical Principles are Category 3 Truth, Informed and Uninformed Opinion." Legalism is moving what is properly CAT3 Truth to at least CAT2 if not CAT1. (My MiL once questioned my pastor's wife's salvation because the Mrs. didn't wear a headcovering in Church.)
     
  15. Terry_Herrington

    Terry_Herrington New Member

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    Keeper,

    I define legalism as an attempt by some people to make all the judgments required when applying general Scriptural principles to everyday life.

    For instance, the Bible says, "Abstain from all appearance of evil." A legalist is someone who thinks they can decide exactly what an appearance of evil is and then accuse someone who disagrees with them of violating Scripture.
     
  16. KrispyKritter

    KrispyKritter New Member

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    A man's clothing and deportment must indicate an unmistakable submission to God's authority.

    So then... in all seriousness... let me ask: What the heck does this mean? How does wearing hunting gear when I'm hunting meet this requirement? How does jeans and a golf shirt for work meet this requirement? How does a suit for church meet thing requirement? That is the most subjective and vague statement I think I have ever heard. Please clear this up for me, ok?

    By the way, with the exception of modesty, and looking male or female... would someone please show me these things in scripture, because I suspect someone is adding to it.
     
  17. Elijah

    Elijah New Member

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  18. dianetavegia

    dianetavegia Guest

    Elijah! Exactly! Thank you for sharing that! May we not stop sharing Jesus til all come to know Him or He returns!

    Diane
     
  19. PraiseHim

    PraiseHim New Member

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    This one makes me laugh. HOw in the world can you do that? There is nothing wrong with dressing up to date as long as it is modest.
    I think so many christians look so out of date looking like the last time they bought a dress was from 1970. And remember that dress was worldly in 1970 ;) I'm sorry but as christians we should look good. We are showing the world what a great savior we serve adn if we look like a bunch of fuddy-duddies we make Christ look like he can't take care of us. I can't stand going into chruches where it looks like you just walked in on Little House on the Prairie. I just find that a poor way to represent my Lord and Savior.
    Now if you can't afford clothes and HAVE to shop thrift stores well then praise the Lord but that shouldn't be the case with almost every lady in the chruch.
     
  20. Dina

    Dina New Member

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    AMEN!!!!

    What do my clothes say about me??

    Well, I guess that depends on what time of the day, week, or year you "catch" me on.
    If it's bathroom cleaning day, well then, I am usually in a pair of bike shorts and long T-Shirt. Mop the floor day, I'm some kind of shorts with a T-shirt and BAREFOOT, even though I am not pregnant. For shopping day, I wear a pair jeans, or shorts and a "nicer" T-shirt. For a dinner out with my dh, a nice pair of walking shorts or jeans and polo type shirt or sweater.
    What do those clothes say about me? That I take a healthy amount of pride in what I wear and how I look. That my exterior looks just as happy as the interrior that Jesus did the ultimate makeover on. That I represent the KING, and therefore dress accordingly. That if I'm cleaning toilets, or making mud pies with my daughter, that just MIGHT turn into a water fight, that I am comfortable, not wearing anything "too good" yet still able run away ;)
     
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