Quote:
Originally Posted by GrowingPains
Nahkoe, I think I agree more with you on this, but to be fair, I don't think they exclude anyone from coming to their church... or have a prerequisite for what you have to do/wear. If they come and enjoy the service, are in Bible Study, it's just a matter of time until group conformity sets in and they want to be like everyone else and not stand out!
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Ah..but the thing is, I wouldn't feel welcome there because I know very well if what I'm wearing is such a stumbling block to them, there's no way they could deal with the very real sin (you know, the stuff the Bible calls sin) that I was dealing with when I came into church, and honestly still deal with.
The first church I went to, I did clean up and live the ultra con standards. But because I'm divorced and my ex didn't want my kids in church anyhow, and I knew he could well say they couldn't go and get away with it, I didn't make my daughter follow these standards in order to keep the peace with him. When the pastor told me I was going to go to hell because she wore pants, all I could think of were the things he didn't know about. I'd never felt ok telling him those things because he very nearly didn't know what to do with what little I had told him about. If clothes was so heaven or hell, then forget it..I was beyond hope because I was dealing with stuff far, far, far, far, far bigger than that.
It's not an ultracon issue. I have friends who are, and their support has been absolutely invaluable to me. As much as these friends have done for me, prayed for me, offered support, encouragement, etc, I'm not sure I'd be ok in some of their churches because I would feel out of place.
Dragging a bunch of dirt into a church that emphasizes cleanliness isn't going to work so well. That's exactly what I felt like I was doing.
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