Quote:
Originally Posted by staysharp
Rhone, you are 100% correct. A few things I might add. Outward standards do two things. Create spiritual pride and a false sense of identity.
When a child is made to defend needlessly their dress in school and refute harsh criticism, as a coping mechanism, they are told by those who are in authority over them, "we do this because we are God's children and special to God. You don't wear pants, because Jesus doesn't love girls who wear pants. The other kids aren't saved and aren't going to heaven. You, however are chosen by God to represent him. This make you special."
So, as this child grows, it's implanted into their psyche that their unusual dress is a form of worship and attaches to their identity. Once this occurs, Satan now has access to divert their faith away from Christ towards self. The oldest trick in the book. If he can accomplish that, he destroys their salvation without them even knowing it.
I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard "it's our identity". Sadly, their absolutely right. A false identity which they themselves find security in. However, they do not understand that no one on the planet is interested in Christ through their clothes.
Jesus tells us what our identity is; by this shall all men know you are my disciples. That you would love on another as I have loved you.
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THIS is the attitude that is so sickening. And yes, I have heard similar words said to others. As a guy I wasn't on the tail end of most of this sort of talk -all "we" had to do was NOT go to theaters/watch TV/dance in school/swim/listen to "rock"/spend anytime with the opposite sex without an adult present. And all we had to do was be in church when the doors were open and attend bible college after we graduated high school.
But..... Adding the list clothing requirements that women had to follow to all the things WE did, was the way your knew you were saved. To NOT do any of the above (or in some cases, DO the above) meant you were
backslid.
Did I ever hear anyone say that "Jesus doesn't love little girls who wear pants"? Not in those words but I have heard those exact same ideas expressed by others (and by a very famous holiness authorette.)