Is the church maturing or backsliding?

I am reading some very interesting history of the Methodist church. One story that caught my attention was the "delimna" dealt with in their congregations in the late 1800's. This dilemna was of "Sisters adorning with rings"

That really caught my eye as I suppose I didn't realize that "Holiness Standards of Dress" went beyond Pentecost. Having grown up Pentecostal I thought we were the HOLINESS GROUP as far as Standards are concerned.

So the more I read church history I find Dress Standards have been in place for the church for centuries..... Now, knowing the Paul teaches us in the last days the church would fall away.. it would become lukewarm.... I ask myself,,, "Were all of those Saints in our past WRONG or are we WRONG?"

Were they perhaps not as mature as we are and therefore required a different look for the church, compared to the world? Honestly, is it that we have matured to the place where we see their error or have we backslidden to the place where we cannot see our own error?

It seemed in all of church history there was a separation from the world in dress and activity..... and of course it does not need to be said that today there is hardly if any difference from the world in the church now.... so, which one is it?

Where all of those before us just too simple minded to understand they were free from legalism or did they understand possibly more than we do?

thanks