Quote:
Originally Posted by yisroelm
I am not going to apologize for our Standard of Dress and conduct.I understand that to most of you we are a joke. Outward standards are something to laugh about. Why is that?
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You might want to enquire why the Apostle Paul fought so hard to ensure that the new Gentile Christians did not need to dress like Jews, obey Jewish custom and traditions, and especially be circumcised. It is very clear, that Peter, James, and other disciples and elders in the church agreed that Gentiles were accepted into the faith and could still dress like their culture, as long as they remained modest.
Anybody, please show me any New Testament scriptures that teach us to dress ourselves in such a manner as to separate ourselves from our culture? (This is not a laughing matter to me, either... )
Holiness is not dressing in fashion from 50 years ago, or 100 years ago... just because that is what "the elders" wore, and that is what they taught you to wear. If you don't believe me, then ask yourself how they appeared separate?? In the 1950's, your 2010 modern day holiness preacher man... well, they just looked like a conservative man, probably with a more expensive tie. In the 1920's, your 2010 holiness woman, well... she looked like about most of the population, depending on what part of the country you were in.
So what is it? IF it is the dress you follow today to separate yourself from the world, how were your elders separate 50 or 70 years ago?? How did the New Testament Church dress to separate themselves from the world?
I know very little on this matter, but I what I do know, I believe can help define a modern day Christian.
- Jesus said we will be known as His disciples, by how we love one another. Not how we love the world, or our enemies... but how we love OTHER CHRISTIANS!
- Live my life in a manner that gives honor to God
- Love God, and love my neighbor
It's not a laughing matter. Liberal or Conservative, or somewhere in between... we define ourselves as followers of Christ by loving those who are also trying to follow Christ.
Many times the safer road is not being more conservative, or taking a more conservative stance so you won't make an error... A person can make just as grave a mistake by adding to the Word of God... saying, "Thus saith the Lord, when the Lord has not spoken."
I shudder to think of the responsibility, let alone the cause and effect, of the person who gives themselves permission to include God definitions for other Christian's lives.
- From the heart of another holiness preacher
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