I’m thinking that Rob’s probably one of those people who were scared away from the Church because of judgement and condemnation lauded on them by the church. It’s easy for us to forget to tell someone the Gospel and instead focus on all the things they are doing wrong. But it’s not right to hold people to the standards of the Law, which even our fathers were unable to keep (let alone ourselves.)

Rob, you are right, God made the woman beautiful for a reason. God created man first, and he created woman to be man’s help mate (or meet in the KJV). He created her to be everything that man would need. That’s what’s so beautiful about her. But remember, it’s for her husband, not for the world.

I hope my wife will never have a job that will require her to wear a suit. If she does and we feel that it’s a necessity that she work (and it would have to be a large necessity) then it would be acceptable. Alternatively I would not try to force my wife to dress a certain way, but I will do my best to encourage her in the right way to go. Her dress has to come out of her heart attitude or she is merely satisfying the eyes of men instead of the eyes of God, and that’s not the best that I want for my wife.

Kay writes:
“The others ( the cross dressers) the girls who dress imodestly where they reveal body parts that is sin to God.”

My challenge remains that modesty is not in the clothes or what they do or do not cover, it is in the heart. I have challenged many members of the Church on this and will continue to do so because I beleive it is part of a fundamental principle of righteousness. That righteousness does not come from the outward appearances or adornments but from one’s inner heart.

Our witness is not found in our garments but in the Word of God and by proclaiming the Gospel until His return.

First, a woman should dress plain. When we meet Jesus in the sky our most beautiful dress or our coolest pair of jeans is not going to matter to him. What matters to him is the heart. When I go to church I make sure that I do not wear shirts with name brand clothing. I make sure that my slacks are modest and arn’t revealing. I make sure I don’t wear anything that will draw other people to look at me because they should be looking at Christ. As a christian, I have no time to waste worrying wether someone is wearing a skirt or a pair of pants, because first thing is first that I love God with my life my actions and what I do, and I show others love. I show others what it means to have a relationship with Jesus and how he can become your best friend. I do not have time to worry about peoples clothes when I am telling people how Jesus was a friend to sinners or explaining his miracles.

Another thing is, I don’t believe that a girl has to wear a skirt to be distinguished from a guy. Believe it or not, there is a girls section (misses) and (jrs) in the departmnet stores and a guy section where each of the clothes (thank God) are made differently. The only time I see girls whering mens clothes is when they have to wear a pair of jeans that reaches below their knees.

Guys should be able to easily distinguish between girls and mens clothing.

The others ( the cross dressers) the girls who dress imodestly where they reveal body parts that is sin to God.

It is wrong for a Christian to say that they have no sin, when they are too busy worrying about other peoples clothing. (Pride Comes Before a Fall). And intill that point where we look at our own selfs and not others is when we realize that we need Jesus in our lives.

One cannot be comfortably of this world if one is a Christian. The Word of God says so “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before [it hated] you.” John 15:18 and
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean [thing]; and I will receive you,” (2Cr6:14, 17). and…”For we [are] strangers before thee, and sojourners, as [were] all our fathers: our days on the earth [are] as a shadow, and [there is] none abiding.” (1 Chron. 29:15)

To consider yourself “liberated from the idea that sex and nudity are somehow dirty and wrong and shameful” is a statement with only a hint of truth in it. These things are not wrong in a marriage, but to be put on show for all to see, they ARE shameful. The Lord calls it an abomination to be a fornicator, (one who has sex outside of marriage).

And to not be on fire for God, is a dangerous position to take for the Lord says he will spew out of His mouth those who are found to be lukewarm. (Revelation 3- to the church at Laodecia).

I am very sad to hear your impression of Philip Yancey. Perhaps I have too limited of an understanding of his writings… I just finished “Whats So Amazing about Grace” and I sure didn’t think Yancey was standing for being like the world. Contrarily I thought he was calling Christians to a radical following of Christ, that called us to give up our own rights, that we might display true grace to the world.

Perhaps I need to read more of his stuff to get a better understanding.
Guess I’m one of those bible quoting fanatics….
Mrs. Meg Logan

I guess living in Europe has liberated me from the idea that sex and nudity are somehow dirty and wrong shameful. Also reading Philip Yancey’s books (I’m sometimes surprised that he hasn’t been kicked out of Christianity Today) has liberated me from the idea that being a Christian means it’s all or nothing Legalism or worldliness, Your either the bible toting fanatic quote hell and brimstone or your completely backslidden.

I mention this only because after a long sojourn in the wilderness we have come back to church. It wasn’t that we weren’t Christians its just church held no interest or appeal to us. We are also very very fortunate to have a pastor who thinks along the lines of Philip Yancey who believes its not black and white, choose God or the world. You can be a Christian and coexist quite comfortably in the world.

I have no problem with the traditional marriage, we’ve been married 23 years and I couldn’t be happier.

Generally, we are accountable to God in our Christian walk. I know that if I’m wrong in a certain area of my life, the Holy Spirit will convict me of that and shed more light on it that I may learn. But, we have to be teachable and willing to learn! I think that so many times as Believers we try to get new Believers to just conform to our set of rules, whatever they may be and they may even be Biblical. But, the biggest issue is that they be taught so they can grow and then make their decisions about how to dress, wear their hair, jewelry, etc.

Yes, I know what I believe the Bible says and I enjoy this forum where I can discuss that.

What I would like to know is…why is it that when men grow their hair long it is just beautiful?! There have been so many times when I’ve seen a person from the back that has long, gorgeous hair, only to have them turn around and see a beard too! That’s just really not fair!

Our outward appearance should be something that doesn’t get in the way of our testimony or get in the way of us giving the Gospel.

Meg, I think the best thing about wearing skirts is that they can adapt to changing figures…unless they’re the straight kind…the other nice thing is they’re about the easiest of women’s clothing items to sew!