Why does it seem that men are obsessed here.......

[StMark]

Originally Posted by HeavenlyOne

But why are more men than women commenting on the standards? That's what I don't understand. Why do the men even care??? LOL!

Because if the women fail us in this area it will change the course of the doctrine, the anointing and culture of the entire movement.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by StMark

Because if the women fail us in this area it will change the course of the doctrine, the anointing and culture of the entire movement.

Do YOU really believe that?

[HeavenlyOne]

Originally Posted by StMark

Because if the women fail us in this area it will change the course of the doctrine, the anointing and culture of the entire movement.

How women dress will change Acts 2:38?

I have to wonder what they do in other countries where men don't wear pants and the women don't wear dresses!! Hell in a handbasket, I'm sure!!

And there is no anointing, of course. It all falls depending on how the women dress!!

[KarenJo]

Originally Posted by StMark

Because if the women fail us in this area it will change the course of the doctrine, the anointing and culture of the entire movement.

Let me relate a story about a girl that was raised as an AOG. She was invited to a UPC church and although she already had the HG she didn't go by the standards. She saw her need to be baptized in Jesus Name and she did. She was in love with God, the church, and the people. She changed her standards because she saw how the level of anointing was different than what she had ever known before. After many years, the church she came into, started letting the standards go and it wasn't long until there was no visible aspect of the UPC left in that church. She said that things changed when the church started letting go of the standards, the anointing was different, everything was different. She didn’t condemn anyone but she did see and feel the changes…

[HeavenlyOne]

Originally Posted by KarenJo

Let me relate a story about a girl that was raised as an AOG. She was invited to a UPC church and although she already had the HG she didn't go by the standards. She saw her need to be baptized in Jesus Name and she did. She was in love with God, the church, and the people. She changed her standards because she saw how the level of anointing was different than what she had ever known before. After many years, the church she came into, started letting the standards go and it wasn't long until there was no visible aspect of the UPC left in that church. She said that things changed when the church started letting go of the standards, the anointing was different, everything was different. She didn’t condemn anyone but she did see and feel the changes…

I have to wonder if she'd have felt that if she were physically blind..........

[KarenJo]

Originally Posted by HeavenlyOne

I have to wonder if she'd have felt that if she were physically blind..........

Yes, i believe that it would be the same if she was blind or not.

It was more in the attitude of why it was being done. The attitude of the church changed along with the standards. When they started letting things go out the door, it allowed a spirit and an attitude to come in.

[HeavenlyOne]

Originally Posted by KarenJo

Yes, i believe that it would be the same if she was blind or not.

It was more in the attitude of why it was being done. The attitude of the church changed along with the standards. When they started letting things go out the door, it allowed a spirit and an attitude to come in.

Being blind, unless it was stated to her, how would she know they were letting down on standards and that's what caused a spirit and attitude to come in? See my point? It might have had nothing to do with them letting down on standards but the attitude involved in doing so. Some people let down on standards (I hate how that's worded, but don't know how else to say it--I just don't agree with how it sounds) without an attitude or bad spirit.

Dress standards and wearing certain attire doesn't keep bad attitudes and spirits at bay. There is more to this than meets the eye. But you are right on saying it was more in the attitude of why it was being done. I didn't read correctly that until after typing the above to you. We agree there.

[chosenbyone]

Originally Posted by KarenJo

Let me relate a story about a girl that was raised as an AOG. She was invited to a UPC church and although she already had the HG she didn't go by the standards. She saw her need to be baptized in Jesus Name and she did. She was in love with God, the church, and the people. She changed her standards because she saw how the level of anointing was different than what she had ever known before. After many years, the church she came into, started letting the standards go and it wasn't long until there was no visible aspect of the UPC left in that church. She said that things changed when the church started letting go of the standards, the anointing was different, everything was different. She didn’t condemn anyone but she did see and feel the changes…

I would have to admit that there was a lot of truth to the statements that KarenJo posted above. I have witnessed it in more than one church and I didn't have any prejudices going into those services because of the changes that were made to their outward standards.

Perhaps, someone could start a thread so that others could tell of their own experiences with this subject matter.

[Subdued]

Originally Posted by KarenJo

Let me relate a story about a girl that was raised as an AOG. She was invited to a UPC church and although she already had the HG she didn't go by the standards. She saw her need to be baptized in Jesus Name and she did. She was in love with God, the church, and the people. She changed her standards because she saw how the level of anointing was different than what she had ever known before. After many years, the church she came into, started letting the standards go and it wasn't long until there was no visible aspect of the UPC left in that church. She said that things changed when the church started letting go of the standards, the anointing was different, everything was different. She didn’t condemn anyone but she did see and feel the changes…

Originally Posted by chosenbyone

I would have to admit that there was a lot of truth to the statements that KarenJo posted above. I have witnessed it in more than one church and I didn't have any prejudices going into those services because of the changes that were made to their outward standards.

Perhaps, someone could start a thread so that others could tell of their own experiences with this subject matter.

I'm wondering if perhaps the reason for this is because people have been taught that the way they dress = holiness. I'm also wondering what would happen if they were taught that holiness comes from (or is signified by) wearing a green hat. If they decided that they no longer want to (or believed in) wearing a green hat, would the "annointing" be different? IOW, is it a heart issue, or a dress/"standards" issue? Also, would it be a sign or a symptom?

[chosenbyone]

Originally Posted by Subdued

I'm wondering if perhaps the reason for this is because people have been taught that the way they dress = holiness. I'm also wondering what would happen if they were taught that holiness comes from (or is signified by) wearing a green hat. If they decided that they no longer want to (or believed in) wearing a green hat, would the "anointing" be different? IOW, is it a heart issue, or a dress/"standards" issue? Also, would it be a sign or a symptom?

One church in particular went from the strictest dress standard to no standard at all literally overnight. I visited that church from the early 80's when the power of God was so strong it was life changing. I have visited that church off and on during the last 20 years and the last time was about a year and a half and I couldn't even identify it as adhering to any Apostolic doctrine. Once they did away with all standards, it appeared that worldliness crept into the church to where there was no real move of the Spirit of God.

In my opinion, the Lord does bless the sacrifices and the separation from the world which leads us to be less influenced by the deceiving spirits of this earth. Many churches have slowly eroded spiritually because the members have become lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. On the other side of the coin you have churches who have a man telling them who would go to heaven and what would keep them from heaven with little to no scriptural reference just a big ol pile of control and fear.

Church leaders should help those they serve develop a personal relationship with Christ so that he would influence them on matters of dress and modesty.