We did not wear uniforms

[trialedbyfire]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

In much of modern Apostolica dress IS how ones salvation is measured. From my memory of being in the church I remember this:

Someone repents, and the people smile.

Someone receives the Holy Ghost, and the people rejoice.

Someone gets baptized in Jesus name and the people shout!

The same person arrives to church a week later dressed to match "the look" and the people KNOW he/she is finally saved!

Maybe because I've never gone to a UPCI church I've never experienced any of this. The church I attend now we do have standards. We do believe strongly in "holiness or Hell". It's preached over the pulpit. I've never seen anyone judged for wearing pants to church. We have people (especially new folks) come in pants just about every Sunday. The pastor discourages it, but it's not preached over the pulpit normally, that's something we deal with later after someone is saved and it's not harped upon we just let them know "this is our tradition and our standard we as you to respect it". I've never seen anyone say they are "more saved" because of the way they are dressed. Our pastor is very realistic and lets us know that holiness is required, but if one falls from grace there is redemption and this is not an easy walk and we need both correction and love and understanding. He makes it clear that if it had not been for God that we'd have no redemption and we are not saved by our own actions but by the Holy Spirit who lives in us. I've never seen a pastor be ugly and nasty towards people, but I do believe especially in this day and age there is a place for correction. There's an emphasis on not being worldly in action and deed, and yes even dress. We shouldn't be tearing people down, but we should still be correcting them and telling them the truth. You can't call yourself a christian and wear booty-skirts and engage in inappropriate sexual behavior. We should govern ourselves with modesty. I don't see why we shouldn't. Even some fundamentalist baptist folks believe this (btw) this isn't only something coming out of the Wesleyan Holiness Movement. Granted I don't think we should be kicking people around with standards, BUT we can't claim to be Christians and just live however we want and not expect correction.