There are two women that have been attending our church for quite a while now. They look like (dress hair, no make up ect;) lesbians. My wife and I set near them. We have talked about this more than once.Today they sat right behind us. During service today I was sitting thinking about them. I heard one of them (dress and hair, no make up ect;) the pastor a few times. So I decided to introduce myself to them and treat them the best way I could.After church we went to lunch with our worship leader and his wife. I asked his wife who knows more of what is going on than most (she is a hair dresser). I was shocked to find out the lesbians are actually sisters.At my age one would think I would know better than judge a book by its cover. But this proves I am still learning________________Recorded Sermons @ www.pastorwiley.com
Yes it would.
This reporter in the sleeveless dress was denied access to the floor of the house of representatives by the sergeant-at-arms.
The church use to have a dress code
I sat in the McMinnville, Tennessee COG and a young lady and her boyfriend sat on the front row three pews in front of me. She barely had dress straps and from behind it appeared she was naked.
Now if I mention this I will be called a pervert! I will be accused of having sexual maladjustment. Men can’t say anything for fear of being labeled old fashion or a pervert.
Now if she was a visitor she would be tolerated but if she is a regular attender she should get some womanly advise. They have an woman preacher (not a pastor). She could give some help in this.
I told my family member that I fault the pastor in this.
My dad was a Church Of God pastor until he passed. I can remember him getting a letter from the headquarters about woman wearing pants. I have that letter.
There is a dress code, it is called the whole armor of God, it is called the Holiness of God, without which no man shall see God…
And if we don’t have that dress code, it doesn’t matter if we look the part those two are what matters.
In the New Testament, one of the passages that specifically addresses the idea of a dress code is James 2, where it says if one comes into your assembly (or ‘synagogue’) a rich man with a gold ring and fine apparel and tell him to sit in a good place, and tell a poor wearing vile rainment, and you say ‘stand thou there’ or ‘sit under my footstool’, haven’t you made distinctions between yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
We may not handle seating arrangements like that, but if you put restrictions on what people wear so that they have to buy clothes to go to church, that can put an undue burden on the poor.
Gereja Bethel Indonesia is affiliated with the COG and has its largest national conference the last I heard. When I first got to Indonesia, I found an English speaking church, which happened to be a GBI (COG). Culturally, it was strange to me. I felt like I was on the set of a Charismatic TV show with the suits and the perfect music. Style wise it was not like a US COG. The congregation was a branch of off a mother congregation in another city. It was set up like a denomination within the GBI denomination. I probably wouldn’t have stayed there as long as I did if it weren’t for the fact that I made some friendships there.
They had a dress code. ‘Activists’ and ‘workers’ had to dress a certain way, in long white sleeves. Deacons took up an offering once a month, and every so often, they’d have uniforms made, a certain color suit for the men, and a certain pattern for a skirt for the women, from the same cloth.
The music team was rotated between churches. They all had to wear white sleeves. The ‘dress up for church’ culture was really strong with this group. One of them told me a story about the music ministry. A garbage collector (for recycling) who pulled his cart through the city became a Christian. While collecting garbage, he had come across a trumpet and learned to play it excellently. He wanted to be on the music team. He was with them until they got to the part about having to wear a long-sleeved white shirt and whatever else. He couldn’t afford to buy clothes, so he was just going to withdraw. Fortunately, someone found out about it, and they bought him some clothes. My friend’s point was God’s provision.
But I asked, why have the rule. Indonesia was full of people who would have difficulty buying an extra shirt? This predominantly Chinese network of churches was wanting to reach out into the villages and the unreached people-groups, but they had unnecessary bureaucratic rules about dress (more about dressing up nice than modesty when it came to clothes) that was incompatible with reaching these other people.
Jesus said that the scribes and Pharisees bound burdens on people, but they would not lift them with one of their fingers. The Sanhedrin believed they could ‘bind’– forbid, and ‘loose’– allow, and that it reflected heaven’s decisions. Why should a local church ‘bind’ people with dress codes that go beyond what the Bible teaches.
The heritage of many Pentecostal denominations like the COG is that they grew among the poor. In the case of the COG much of the early growth occurred among poor mountain families. It would have been a big deal back in the 20’s for a lot of mountain families to have to buy a new sports coat or suit. Americans tend to be so rich that that is not a big deal nowadays, but it is for some people. And having to have a different change of clothes could knock a homeless person out of a meeting at church.
When I read James 2, I think in terms of dressing down. I want to dress in such a way that someone who is poor won’t feel uncomfortable standing beside me. I do not want someone who is rich to feel uncomfortable either.
Modesty is important, but if we look some of the Biblical modesty requirements, some of them have to do with not making ostentatious displays of wealth with our clothing.
Respect for an “Institution”? Since when is the Body of the MESSIAH an “institution”? And why do preachers dress like “business men”?
I do think there is a lot of merit to your point, however. I admire the Amish, the way they dress, and it never changes. You know them when you see them. The dress don’t make the saved. And you don’t have to agree with all they teach. But one thing you do know, when you see one, you know it.
When you see a Christian man or woman, they should look like a Christian.
Link Hudson it will not put an undue hardship on the poor. Our churches would help those that do not have the modest attire if the people would speak up.
Immodesty is not about rich or poor in the church
As a matter of fact some of the most immodest fashions is worn by the rich.
There is a standard that is needed and people should quit being stubborn and rebellious, which are definitely sinful without question.
Also one of the other aspects is love is longsuffering and patient. That has been shown in the COG by their tolerance and compromise
There are some good points about modest dress on this thread, most of which I do agree with. BUT, these things do not have bearing on our salvation. Although it may be shameful in appearance when you worship, it’s not going to send you to hell.
-Ephesians 2:8-9-
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—
9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
If the Word of God tells us that it is good practice then we should follow it to the letter, not for salvation’s sake, but instead, out of reverence and respect for God.
I guess you’d probably also join those who say that the “10 commandments” are really just 10 Suggestions. 🙁
You should dress what is proper for you and let everyone else do the same. Who appointed you or anyone else to be a clothing inspector. They were naked in the beginning. Sin caused them to realize that. It still does. There was no law for clothing. Still isn’t. This conversation sounds like the Russian debate. There are tons of problems more relevant. This is a good light hearted conversation though. That’s all .