Standards protect inward holiness!!!!!

[Felicity]

Michael and CC1 .....

You're both right. It was a general statement and was meant to be, but the way a person lives out their relationship with Christ can be partly represented by or partly embodied in the statement in my opinion.

My parents taught me that you should do whatever you do with a standard of excellence, and that even little things matter.

I remember as a young girl hearing my pastor who was definitely a PCIer teach that one of the reasons for the necessity of standards and rules was to keep people living right until the Holy Spirit (walking in the Spirit) and maturity took over. Then you don't need rules. :tup

Some people never reach that point.

[COOPER]

Originally Posted by blooper

I am so frustrated with people today!

Why is it that when anyone of our people (Ladies especially) hold up "traditional" standards of dress they are automatically deemed as unfashionable?

My good wife wears skirts well below her knees and she is extremely fashionable. She does not look frumpy, weird, old lady or anything!

She looks like a lady who is worshiping her God in the beauty of holiness. Just because she doesn't have a tug-of-war match with her skirt every service does not make her archaic!

And this is not about my wife. I am using her as an example.

And just who determines fashion anyway? Is it a Spirit filled, modesty loving person? I don't think so! So why do we attempt to measure up to them?

I remember a scripture that says We are in the world but not of the world!

Why is there an assault on the holiness loving people that uphold outward standards to protect inward holiness? And why are these assaults coming from those that once were apart of us?

If you want to be charismatic then be charismatic but please stop trying to shove your so called "liberty" down my throat!!!!

There I think my rant is over!

I personally have no problem with what many holiness wear.

It's the attitude of the, "Holiness or HELL!".... attitude that is in the heart of many who keep traditional standards that grieves my soul.

Also, many that keep the tradition UPC "1950's" holiness standards; judge others and measure spiritualness according to outward appearances of dress, instead of the heart.

[anapko]

[QUOTE=bdlooney;302204]I am so frustrated with people today!


And just who determines fashion anyway? Is it a Spirit filled, modesty loving person? I don't think so! So why do we attempt to measure up to them?


QUOTE]

Dude, I don't think I saw anybody attacking your wife's physical appearance! And to respond to your Post, Who does determine fashion anyway? Brother, who had the revelation that women had to wear their hair up if they're Pentecostal? Did Mary, the mother of Jesus, wear her hair up before or after she received the Holy Ghost? What about toe out/heel out shoes? Who had the revelation that it was a sin to wear shoes like that?

You said in your post, " traditional " standards! You mean, standards that have been dictated by men that said you'd bust hell wide open if you didn't dress like what I said? I don't put down your wife for how she dresses, but to put down other people for not following " traditional " dress is not right either. Lighten up!

[tv1a]

There isn't an assult on personal standards. The assult is on the self-righteouse judgemental demonic holier than thou attitude expressed by many who emphasize a dress code over the fruit of the spirit. A dress code is a false analogy of holiness. If a dress code was a symbol of holiness, the amish and the mennonites would be so holy it would embarass swiss cheese. People who put emphasis on a dress code to define holiness are often hiding other spiritual deficiencies.
If your holiness is tied up in a dress code, your walk with God is off the mark. In many cases women think they get a free pass to act like jerks because they hide inside a skirt. Wearing a skirt is a lot easier to do than stop gossipping. Wearing a skirt is a lot easier than snobbing people who are different. Dress codes are easier to preach than attitudes of the heart.

No one is trying to force their opinions down your throat. If anything you exhibit the attitude of intolerance which is in direct violation of Romans 14.

There will be conservatives, liberals, and moderates in heaven. Thank God legalists will have not be there. Galatians 3:1 suggests legalism is a form of witchcraft. There would be a church split in heaven if legalists were there.

Originally Posted by bdlooney

I am so frustrated with people today!

Why is it that when anyone of our people (Ladies especially) hold up "traditional" standards of dress they are automatically deemed as unfashionable?

My good wife wears skirts well below her knees and she is extremely fashionable. She does not look frumpy, weird, old lady or anything!

She looks like a lady who is worshipping her God in the beauty of holiness. Just because she doesn't have a tug-of-war match with her skirt every service does not make her archaic!

And this is not about my wife. I am using her as an example.

And just who determines fashion anyway? Is it a Spirit filled, modesty loving person? I don't think so! So why do we attempt to measure up to them?

I remember a scripture that says We are in the world but not of the world!

Why is there an assault on the holiness loving people that uphold outward standards to protect inward holiness? And why are these assualts coming from those that once were apart of us?

If you want to be charismatic then be charismatic but please stop trying to shove your so called "liberty" down my throat!!!!

There I think my rant is over!

[tv1a]

My pastor made a great point. The upci standards established in the "1950's" were not that different than the world's standards. The average woman, saint and sinner dressed the same in the 50's. They only difference is they may have removed the makeup and taken off the jewelry.

Originally Posted by COOPER

I personally have no problem with what many holiness wear.

It's the attitude of the, "Holiness or HELL!".... attitude that is in the heart of many who keep traditional standards that grieves my soul.

Also, many that keep the tradition UPC "1950's" holiness standards; judge others and measure spiritualness according to outward appearances of dress, instead of the heart.

Standards also protect a lack of inward holiness.

Originally Posted by tv1a

My pastor made a great point. The upci standards established in the "1950's" were not that different than the world's standards. The average woman, saint and sinner dressed the same in the 50's. They only difference is they may have removed the makeup and taken off the jewelry.

VERY good point....and they say because of this they are holding the line. I think it's more like stuck in the past!

If you really look at it most of the ladies, because face it that is who is responsible for being "holy looking" I see many doing their best to look fashionable under these strict guidlines...

Hair bobs with jewels....
Feathers
brooches
flower pins
high heals
modern dress
perms
some even hair dye

this is just a few off the top of my head, while still not awake yet, waiting for the coffee to kick in.

I have seen so many "holy looking' women, with a sour spirit because they are having to deny what is truly in them, as God created them.

[Sister Alvear]

smile everybody!

[simplyme]

Originally Posted by Steve Epley

I do NOT think outward standards keeps us holy. I think we being holy that is having His Holy Spirit in our lives witness to this world we are different and belong to Him by our standards. The other is the cart before the horse. You can look the part and not be the part BUT you cannot be the part and not look the part!

I love this! I bet this escapes many..

[anapko]

Originally Posted by tv1a

There isn't an assult on personal standards. The assult is on the self-righteouse judgemental demonic holier than thou attitude expressed by many who emphasize a dress code over the fruit of the spirit. A dress code is a false analogy of holiness. If a dress code was a symbol of holiness, the amish and the mennonites would be so holy it would embarass swiss cheese. People who put emphasis on a dress code to define holiness are often hiding other spiritual deficiencies.
If your holiness is tied up in a dress code, your walk with God is off the mark. In many cases women think they get a free pass to act like jerks because they hide inside a skirt. Wearing a skirt is a lot easier to do than stop gossipping. Wearing a skirt is a lot easier than snobbing people who are different. Dress codes are easier to preach than attitudes of the heart.

No one is trying to force their opinions down your throat. If anything you exhibit the attitude of intolerance which is in direct violation of Romans 14.

There will be conservatives, liberals, and moderates in heaven. Thank God legalists will have not be there. Galatians 3:1 suggests legalism is a form of witchcraft. There would be a church split in heaven if legalists were there.

So true, nothing more can be said but...Amen!!!!