Your experience when you dropped "dress standards"

[dizzyde]

Originally Posted by South of I 90

This can't be serious!

Originally Posted by Jeanie

I think he is.

I don't think Bro. Alex jokes much...

[HeavenlyOne]

Originally Posted by Kae

If you are raised from a child that it is wrong to wear pants is it a conviction or a learned behavior or any standard?

I can answer this really well.

I was raised to believe that short sleeves, men with facial hair, and women on the platform with their hair down was wrong, in addition to the mainstream dress standards.

To this day, it's difficult for me to see a woman with her hair down on the platform, or a man with facial hair ushering, or a woman with her elbows showing to be ok. I still look and still have those 'oh my goodness, look at that' kind of thoughts that go through my head.

I wish I could get rid of those thoughts. I need to be debrainwashed.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by bkstokes

I was not raised pentecostal, and I am a guy. Thus, when I obeyed Acts 2:38 I did not really even consider the topic. I just took it for what they said it was. Don't get me wrong I looked at the scriptures and amened the pastor when he preached it, but that was about it.

My wife also was not raised in this but she followed the standards for a while. Then when her hair started to grow really long -- her scalp started having all types of problems (she has got really thick hair) -- and she got tremendous headaches.

She finally told me that she had never been convinced of such teaching and that she was going to cut her hair. I told her that she was responsible to God and could do what she wanted to. Nevertheless, I started to really study out all the issues. After study I came to the conclusion that if someone wanted to do the standards -- as unto the Lord -- then I believed God respected their conscience.

Nevertheless, I could not scripturally find a backing for them. The only inconvience about the whole matter is how people treat us (me included) because my wife doesn't look like them. Friends quit calling. People stopped inviting me to preach, etc.

Ever time we would go to a different church they would immediatly want to get my wife baptized or pray with her to receive the Holy Ghost. IT WAS NOT MY WIFE STOP FOLLOWING THE STANDARDS THAT DID HER DAMAGE. IT WAS HOW PEOPLE TREATED HER AFTERWARDS.

Clearly you are delusional because when I tell those stories of that happening to my wife 25 years ago I am told it just doesn't happen anymore.

That everybody in the UPC absolutely does not judge people by the way they look. (oh that it were true)

[HeavenlyOne]

Originally Posted by Darcie

St. Mark my avatar is when I was still UPC.

I don't think I look ugly or older than my husband.

Wanna know what's sad?

When I read this post, I immediately looked at your picture (I've seen it several times before, but with the knowledge that you aren't saved..I mean, UPC) and right away noticed that your blouse is too low.

This is what I mean by how my mind thinks because of how I was raised. See, I didn't think it was too low (in fact, I honestly didn't notice it at all) until you said that your pic was taken when you were still UPC.

I hate doing that. I want to change. But I was raised to be judgmental toward people and even though I don't do it outwardly anymore, my mind still does before I can stop it.

My apologies, Dar. I think you are beautiful and don't think you are immodest in that pic at all. Not that it would matter if I did think so anyway.

[CC1]

Originally Posted by HeavenlyOne

Wanna know what's sad?

When I read this post, I immediately looked at your picture (I've seen it several times before, but with the knowledge that you aren't saved..I mean, UPC) and right away noticed that your blouse is too low.
This is what I mean by how my mind thinks because of how I was raised. See, I didn't think it was too low (in fact, I honestly didn't notice it at all) until you said that your pic was taken when you were still UPC.

I hate doing that. I want to change. But I was raised to be judgmental toward people and even though I don't do it outwardly anymore, my mind still does before I can stop it.

My apologies, Dar. I think you are beautiful and don't think you are immodest in that pic at all. Not that it would matter if I did think so anyway.

Hmmm....how fast can I hit that back button and find her avatar again!!!!

On a serious note to your point I experienced the same thing for several years after leaving the Mothership. Even though intellectually and spiritually in study and prayer I knew what was right I would find myself (circa mid 1980's) judging guys by the length of their hair (over the ears = backslid or never saved), facial hair, etc. I didn't mean to but that was my instantaneous mental judgement upon seeing these guys. I would catch myself and be so aggravated at that psychological conditionig I had from the first 23 years of my life.

[Sept5SavedTeen]

Originally Posted by dizzyde

I don't think Bro. Alex jokes much...

Originally Posted by South of I 90

This can't be serious!

I WAS serious! I forgot to upload my "OBEY ACTS 2:38" pic, I'll put that in my album, to show that I really took that pic, and so that my trip to the beach will be validated.

HeavenlyOne,
Did you grow up in a conservative UPC church?

GOD BLESS!
Bro. Alex

[CC1]

Originally Posted by Pianoman

My views on standards have changed, but I still look and dress exactly the same as I always have. Well.......I wear shorts sometimes to play golf!

Don't forget that tattoo,the stud earring in your ear, and ponytail !

[HeavenlyOne]

Originally Posted by CC1

Hmmm....how fast can I hit that back button and find her avatar again!!!!

On a serious note to your point I experienced the same thing for several years after leaving the Mothership. Even though intellectually and spiritually in study and prayer I knew what was right I would find myself (circa mid 1980's) judging guys by the length of their hair (over the ears = backslid or never saved), facial hair, etc. I didn't mean to but that was my instantaneous mental judgement upon seeing these guys. I would catch myself and be so aggravated at that psychological conditionig I had from the first 23 years of my life.

ChocolateCone,

I wear pants, cut my hair, and wear earrings, yet I will see someone who I know is Pentecostal who allows their young girls to dress in pants and come to church and inside, I'm shaking my head.

WHY?????

I come to church in pants sometimes!!!! I wear earrings and cut hair to church!!!!! I need a mirror in front of me everywhere I go so I only judge one person.

I hate that I do that.

I hate that I see a woman in church and believe her to be Apostolic....until I see that she trims her hair.

I hate that I see a woman on the street who appears to be Apostolic.....until I see that she has a necklace on.

I hate that I see a man in a church with facial hair and wonder if he's a first-time visitor.....until I see that he's actually an usher.

I hate that I see myself as a open minded individual who really believes in what the Bible says....until I see myself through my own eyes...a disappointment in God's eyes.

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by HeavenlyOne

Wanna know what's sad?

When I read this post, I immediately looked at your picture (I've seen it several times before, but with the knowledge that you aren't saved..I mean, UPC) and right away noticed that your blouse is too low.

This is what I mean by how my mind thinks because of how I was raised. See, I didn't think it was too low (in fact, I honestly didn't notice it at all) until you said that your pic was taken when you were still UPC.

I hate doing that. I want to change. But I was raised to be judgmental toward people and even though I don't do it outwardly anymore, my mind still does before I can stop it.

My apologies, Dar. I think you are beautiful and don't think you are immodest in that pic at all. Not that it would matter if I did think so anyway.

I remember posting a picture of Cathryn Zeta Jones last Summer to make some point or other and having several people point out how low her blouse was. Me, and apparently a few other guys, paid NO attention to this fact yet several women took mere moments to point it out.

[HeavenlyOne]

Originally Posted by Sept5SavedTeen

I WAS serious! I forgot to upload my "OBEY ACTS 2:38" pic, I'll put that in my album, to show that I really took that pic, and so that my trip to the beach will be validated.

HeavenlyOne,
Did you grow up in a conservative UPC church?

GOD BLESS!
Bro. Alex

No. I grew up in an ultra conservative UPC church.