No new converts noticed at the AMC Confernce

[Sister Alvear]

I see nothing wrong with a vacation I am talking about people going to extremes....

Yes, I am sure you all were a blessing.

[Dora]

A friend of mine tried to visit one of the services in a spirit of friendship. He was turned away at the door because he was wearing a blue shirt.

I asked in my first post if it was a minister's conference.
As it turns out, it was...so zero new converts. and Lord help the one who tried to enter to hear the Word.

If you can sew something, why not sew a nice "modest" outfit that is not quite so 16th Century?

If it doesn't take too long put your hair up, why not choose a style that doesn't make quite so much of a STATEMENT???

And why post vicious generalizations about JCMers who aren't hurting anyone, just trying to stay connected with good friends at a reunion? Heard some tough stuff being said by nice Christian folks pretty much lumping us all into the same vat of debauchery. Ha! Oh well...had fun anyway!

[*AQuietPlace*]

Originally Posted by Dora

A friend of mine tried to visit one of the services in a spirit of friendship. He was turned away at the door because he was wearing a blue shirt.

I'm not doubting your word, but that makes absolutely no sense. Blue shirts are not taboo. Plus, as far as I know, they wouldn't turn anyone away at the door.

I'm certainly no apologist for the ultra-con mindset, but I do know them very, very well, and that doesn't at all sound like something they would do at that conference.

My dad was there, and he wears blue shirts.

[Melody]

dora, I'm sorry if something like that happened, but

considering it is pretty much on the honors system, we come and go as we please, there is not a doorkeeper persay, so I really wonder

I wasn't looking, but I would daresay there wasn't just white shirts in the room. My son was probably one.

[*AQuietPlace*]

Originally Posted by Dora

If you can sew something, why not sew a nice "modest" outfit that is not quite so 16th Century?

If it doesn't take too long put your hair up, why not choose a style that doesn't make quite so much of a STATEMENT???

I've said this before, but I believe it to be true....

Women love to look beautiful. It's part of our dna. So, take away makeup and jewelry, and we'll overcompensate in other areas. Hence, the elaborate hairstyles, feathers and beautiful clothing. We don't want to look plain. We love beautiful things. So, we do what we can 'legally' do.

Since we are commanded to reject what "the world" considers beautiful, we have created our own culture of 'beauty'.

I'm also aware that it's a contradiction. Why not just wear jewelry?

And why post vicious generalizations about JCMers who aren't hurting anyone, just trying to stay connected with good friends at a reunion? Heard some tough stuff being said by nice Christian folks pretty much lumping us all into the same vat of debauchery. Ha! Oh well...had fun anyway!

I'm sorry that stuff like this happens. I'm not surprised, though.

[Melody]

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

I've said this before, but I believe it to be true.... Women love to look beautiful. It's part of our dna. So, take away makeup and jewelry, and we'll overcompensate in other areas. Hence, the elaborate hairstyles, feathers and beautiful clothing. We don't want to look plain. We love beautiful things. So, we do what we can 'legally' do.
Since we are commanded to reject what "the world" considers beautiful, we have created our own culture of 'beauty'.
I'm also aware that it's a contradiction. Why not just wear jewelry?

I'm sorry that stuff like this happens. I'm not surprised, though.

You really compare jewelry to a beautiful hairstyle? God's creations are beautiful, naturally, how is it a contradiction?

[*AQuietPlace*]

Originally Posted by Melody

You really compare jewelry to a beautiful hairstyle? God's creations are beautiful, naturally, how is it a contradiction?

Well, God created jewels if you want to get technical.

I think that if you really want to be literal, Paul condemned elaborate hairstyles in the very scriptures that people like to use against jewelry. Broided hair was specifically talking about elaborate hairstyles.

Yes, an elaborate hairstyle is an adornment. If you add feathers and doodads, even more so.

If God's creation (hair) is beautiful naturally, why not just wear it hanging down your back the way God created it? God didn't create it in twists and curls all over your head. God didn't create bobby-pins.

Now, to be clear, I don't think adornment or jewelry is a sin, so I'm not condemning the hairstyles. But I absolutely see it as a contradiction. I am firm and unswaying on that opinion.

[GraceAmazing]

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

Well, God created jewels if you want to get technical.

I think that if you really want to be literal, Paul condemned elaborate hairstyles in the very scriptures that people like to use against jewelry. Broided hair was specifically talking about elaborate hairstyles.

Yes, an elaborate hairstyle is an adornment. If you add feathers and doodads, even more so.

If God's creation (hair) is beautiful naturally, why not just wear it hanging down your back the way God created it? God didn't create it in twists and curls all over your head. God didn't create bobby-pins.

Now, to be clear, I don't think adornment or jewelry is a sin, so I'm not condemning the hairstyles. But I absolutely see it as a contradiction. I am firm and unswaying on that opinion.

This is a good, well-balanced post!

Sometimes we can be so close to the forest that we can't see the trees right in front of us...

I think we must be balanced in ALL things...JMHO

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

Well, God created jewels if you want to get technical.

I think that if you really want to be literal, Paul condemned elaborate hairstyles in the very scriptures that people like to use against jewelry. Broided hair was specifically talking about elaborate hairstyles.

Yes, an elaborate hairstyle is an adornment. If you add feathers and doodads, even more so.

If God's creation (hair) is beautiful naturally, why not just wear it hanging down your back the way God created it? God didn't create it in twists and curls all over your head. God didn't create bobby-pins.

Now, to be clear, I don't think adornment or jewelry is a sin, so I'm not condemning the hairstyles. But I absolutely see it as a contradiction. I am firm and unswaying on that opinion.

It's only a contradiction, AQP, if the person in question believes that adornment is wrong. If they DON'T, and they're just obeying the rules that they have to in order to belong to a group (e.g., the UPCI, WPF, etc), then you'll still see them adorning themselves--just not with jewelry, since that's specifically mentioned.

It illustrates the fact that living according to a principle gives different results than living according to a list of rules. If a woman likes adornment, and likes pretty, fancy things--she's going to find a way to wear them, and still obey the rules she's been given.

My pastor preached about convictions recently, and he stated that "Your conduct reveals your convictions." Very true. You don't have to ask people what their convictions are. If they're against adornment, they'll dress plainly. If they're not, they won't--whether they have on jewelry or not.

I have a difficult time being hard on a group of women whose husbands and pastors have given them a list of rules, and so they are doing their best to look beautiful within their boundaries and culture. It isn't always their personal inconsistency that's showing.

Since you don't believe that adornment is a sin, then I would assume you're not condemning anyone for adorning themselves. In order to then condemn people for inconsistency, you'd have to assume that they, individually, believe that adornment is wrong, but do it anyway in innocuous ways. I would propose that their convictions are revealed by their actions, and that they don't believe adornment is wrong at all. The apparent inconsistency isn't personal, but imposed by a third party.

Here's my deal: I go to a UPCI church, so there are certain things I have to comply with, like it or not. However, the rules I don't agree with--I just obey them to the letter. I don't try to apply some related principle, because I don't think there is one. I'm perfectly fine with finding loopholes--because I don't embrace a broad principle behind the rule. (Such as the one regarding jewelry--I, like many other women I know, own blouses or sweaters with jewelry sewn on .) When I go to conference or special events, I have to dress more conservatively than I do on a normal basis. That's my paradigm. However, I have a personal set of core convictions that I don't waver from, no matter where we are--and several of those are things that the UPC org. doesn't hold.

Sooooo...it would sting a bit for someone to think I was being inconsistent to wear a big flower in my hair as opposed to a tiara, because I have nothing against tiaras either. (Except that I don't think it would be very tasteful, but that's neither here nor there.) In order to apply the "inconsistent" label, you'd have to first assume that I'm opposed to tiaras.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Dora

A friend of mine tried to visit one of the services in a spirit of friendship. He was turned away at the door because he was wearing a blue shirt.

I asked in my first post if it was a minister's conference.
As it turns out, it was...so zero new converts. and Lord help the one who tried to enter to hear the Word.

If you can sew something, why not sew a nice "modest" outfit that is not quite so 16th Century?

If it doesn't take too long put your hair up, why not choose a style that doesn't make quite so much of a STATEMENT???

And why post vicious generalizations about JCMers who aren't hurting anyone, just trying to stay connected with good friends at a reunion? Heard some tough stuff being said by nice Christian folks pretty much lumping us all into the same vat of debauchery. Ha! Oh well...had fun anyway!

is blue a sin? Sounds like an exclusive club