Mark, without realizing it, you've hit the nail right on the head here.
I notice you didn't say they looked very holy, or godly, or modest, you said "they look very UPC".
This is all that matters to many people, not that it's Biblical, but that their appearance is in line with the organization's standards.
This is why they don't need scripture to back up their beliefs, or can even misinterpret scripture to back them up.
I can't count the times as a kid when I'd ask "WHY" we didn't do certain things, I was told "It's against our religion".
Religion refers to disciplines. so when someone says it's against our religion, they are basically saying it's against their disciplines. nothing wrong with a little disciplines in life to keep us in line Mike
My answer was in response to someone making a comment about Tw Barnes, not whether they was holy or not. Although, many things the UPC teaches are godly and modest thus these terms can be used interchangabley
I understand, but the minister that told me that died before most UPC folks were going to the video stores, although there were a few out there then.
It is hard to imagine after being raised in the UPC to go to nearly every home and they have a TV. Back in the day, almost unheard of. Although, I know some that hid them in their closet.
Ya know, there's a lot of evil stuff on the airwaves, and those evil spirits are passing right through your body, 24x7! Eeeew!!
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Hebrews 13:23 Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty