What Kind of Clothes Are Improper For Christians?

Thong sandals bad? Please! Gimme a break! Next thing you know, you'll be discussing the impropriety of toe cleavage! (and yes, there is such a thing).

I'm with Gina...I go barefoot as often as possible ( although not in the snow). If someone has a foot fetish, they are a sick puppy and need to seek counseling, IMO.


This is legalism run amok.

Elizabeth


[ January 03, 2002: Message edited by: elizabeth ]


[ January 03, 2002: Message edited by: elizabeth ]

 

What can I say, I'm dyin' laughin' here Elizabeth! Put that way, I also feel the need not only for shoes, but also for gloves. Who KNOWS who might be sneaking a peek at the finger cleavage as well!
da Gina

 

Well, just to prove there really is such a term as "toe cleavage," I did a Google search. I actually went to a website that sells shoes and seems to be legit (however I DID panic for a second before the site came up, worried it would be some freaky foot fetish thing.)

Anyway, this is a quote from the site:

"A real feminine pump must be a 'toe cleavage' shoe, which means a low
cut, low vamp pump to expose toe cleavage. A combination of a high heel
and low vamp means a very feminine, attractive shoe for a beatiful foot...
however it is very hard to find low cut pumps which show a
lot of toe cleavage."

Put like that, it almost does sound immodest,doesn't it? I admit I own such shoes,but I HONESTLY never thought of them as "sexy" or wore them with the intent of trying to be sexy! :Eek!:

Elizabeth

 

Actually, the more I think about it, the more I think the site I visited might NOT be legit. The one picture I did see on it was kind of strange.

Weird!

Elizabeth

 

Elizabeth

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>This is legalism run amok.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

AMEN! ELIZABETH

 

I believe someone missed the point of my post.

Ventin (and everyone else): You'll notice that my post was gender-neutral.

You'll also note that I did NOT address the "shoe" issue; I made a generic post that addressed ALL aspects of apparel, and more specifically, the attitudes and motives that drive this issue.

Why would anyone feel sorry for me? In the statement "If someone has a problem with my (fill in the blank), best I can say to them is tough luck," you can fill in the blank with any/all of the following:

Sandals
Open-toed shoes
Long hair
Mustache/Beard
Tattoo
Short-shorts
showing off my hairy chest (hopefully male)
thong/speedos
suit/tie
etc., etc.

NOTE: Cain said he wasn't his brother's keeper, either.

I'm not asking anyone to dress to please anyone else; I'm stating that we should always ask ourselves if we're being instruments of God or instruments of Satan. If you don't care enough about others to ask yourself that question, then let's face it: You're not loving your neighbor.

I believe I said, let your conscience guide you. As Paul says in Romans 14:5 "Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind."

 

TOE CLEAVAGE? BWAAAAA-HA-HAHAHA!

I have now heard it all.

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Don:

Sandals
Open-toed shoes
Long hair
Mustache/Beard
Tattoo
Short-shorts
showing off my hairy chest (hopefully male)
thong/speedos
suit/tie
etc., etc.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Again,
1. I don't know how sandals are a problem.
2. Open toed shoes--short of the hilarious cleavage problem, I guess this is like exposure. ROFLOL. (I still can't get over this. ROFLOL)
3. Long hair. Well.
4. Mustache/beard. Hootie hoo. . .
5. Tattoos. Yeah. Whatever.
6. Showing off hopefully male hairy chest....
7. Speedos and thongs--
8. Suit and ties--only when you go to the boats.

 

I think you've got it, Saggy! Some of those were outright ridiculous, and for anyone to say that they are wrong to wear is to impose personal standards instead of biblical ones.

I reiterate:

The thing I teach the teens is not that they have to wear a certain style of dress or particular set of clothes; I teach them to ask themselves three questions:

1) Is what I'm wearing/doing pleasing God or my flesh?
2) Is what I'm wearing/doing causing someone else to stumble?
3) Is what I'm wearing/doing grossing anyone out?

Their knowledge of their liberty in Christ, and their knowledge of the bible, and their conscience, is what's going to drive them to answer those questions.

 

As a umpteenth-generation Kentuckian, it is inconceivable to me that there is anything wrong with going barefoot. Off with shoes!

-Neil

 

To see the "toe cleavage", please refer to this link *hehe* "Spanish Leather" shoes are famous for it!

Toe Cleavage

Now, as for the modest dress blah blah blah...I personally think that when you are saved, you receive the Holy Spirit. Perhaps the Holy Spirit convicts each individual person with individual convictions...kind of like how God made us with very unique, intricate DNA that is not duplicated, I believe that we are each convicted in the same manner, very uniquely. I used to wear shorts and jeans etc. but now I don't and I can't even imagine going out in public in a pair of shorts cuz I'd feel naked...but I would NEVER judge a woman for doing so, if she's saved, then I know we don't share a similar conviction in a similar area. Now, some things are black and white and there is no room for debate. For instance, you aren't going to go out in public wearing pasties (tee hee). LoL

Kathy
&lt;&gt;&lt;

[ January 04, 2002: Message edited by: Kathy ]

 

Toe cleavage is ugly.

 

Last word..............

 

&lt; 1) Is what I'm wearing/doing pleasing God or my flesh? &gt;

Are these 2 concepts mutually exclusive? If cotton feels good, then wear polyester. If it fits right, then go down a size. Wear a wool sweater on a 100-degree day... just be sure what you wear does not please your flesh.

&lt; 2) Is what I'm wearing/doing causing someone else to stumble? &gt;

Other than those ridiculously long bridal gowns, I have not seen clothing long enough to cause someone else to stumble.

&lt; 3) Is what I'm wearing/doing grossing anyone out? &gt;

Probably. There is no simple forumula for success. But the simple forumula for failure is: Try to please everybody. Ain't no possible.

[ January 05, 2002: Message edited by: ChristianCynic ]

 

Okay, I'm ready: Let the flames begin.

Folks, I posted a message whose main point was: Love thy neighbor.

What do I see in response? "Don't you dare tell me how to dress!"

Some of you couldn't get past the "I" in your mindset to figure out that our Lord and Savior and the apostle Paul tell us we should have brotherly love and concern for one another, and there ain't no I in that.

This is how you show brotherly love? By focusing on yourself and your liberty in Christ? This is what makes you a "strong" Christian?

You'll notice that I NEVER told anyone not to wear a particular piece of clothing. I simply tried to give guidelines that are based on the concepts of brotherly love, modesty, and things like lust of the eyes. It applies to BOTH sexes, not just females.

If you're talking about true legalism, like a lot of IFBers I know, you're really talking about those who say "you HAVE to wear a dress" or "you HAVE to wear a tie" or "you CAN'T wear shorts."

And if you're going to quote me, you should research the entire thread. I also said this: "I'm not asking anyone to dress to please anyone else; I'm stating that we should always ask ourselves if we're being instruments of God or instruments of Satan."

If you don't like the dissertation I gave, then kindly tell me why, and especially, how it's wrong. Not from your feelings; from scripture. If you don't like the questions that I offer as a guideline, then either ask for clarification or give me something (again, from scripture please) that shows why they're invalid.

But to say something like "is it pleasing to God or to the flesh isn't mutually exclusive" is to not understand the war that we constantly fight between our spirit and our flesh.

In summary, stop thinking only of yourselves. Be a strong Christian like Paul, and take care of your brother!

 

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>
Romans 14:13
Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way.

Romans 14:15
If your brother is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love.

Romans 14:19
Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.


Romans 14:21
It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Is that what you were talking about Don?

It seems there are two extremes and sometimes we find it hard to find the in between. There are those that say "you MUST wear _____" and those that say "I can wear WHATEVER I want".

You can't always know what will or will not offend someone, but when you CAN and DO know, then you should dress according to the verses above. I think the rules Don posted work well to help one determine what is modest. As I said before, you have to use your brain. It doesn't matter what your church says, and it doesn't matter what you yourself prefer. What matters is that your clothing doesn't interfere with your walk, or with your witness. Those are what really count!

~Lorelei

 

Here's another little rule of thumb...if you ever have to consider "should I wear this..." chances are you shouldn't.

Kathy
&lt;&gt;&lt;

 

With your walk or with your witness. Wish I'd thought of saying it that way.

And Amen, Kathy!