looking for a balance who can relate

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

i think standards should be for each individual woman to decide. as a man, i prefer my wife wear dresses and moderate on jewelery and makeup. of course the pastor would have a say also. as you are a minister, you would have to decide what to teach. if i were a minister, i would teach dresses, moderate makeup and jewelery; trimmed hair, not cut short.

this cracks me up that you think only women should have standards

are there no things that men must do to be holy, or does male genitalia guarantee holiness, just curious?

[Dagwood]

Originally Posted by Amanah

this cracks me up that you think only women should have standards

are there no things that men must do to be holy, or does male genitalia guarantee holiness, just curious?

Dagwood endorses this particular post...

[live4him]

Originally Posted by Jay

Live with your standards high, determine the standards that are an will require a break in fellowship (not ignoring them, but not fellowshipping and there is a difference), be sweet to everyone, whether or not you ever agree. Fix the line that you want for the church, live above that so your people will live at it, and enjoy living for God.

I will give the only example that I can, and you can decide what it is worth. My pastor teaches 3/4 length sleeves. I wear mine alternating between below the elbow and to the wrist (personal preference). We do not have rings anywhere, nor make up, men have short hair, and women uncut. The ladies were skirts below the knee and no splits(the trend in our church right now is to wear it nearly to the ankle as preference).

Those are the basic standards of the church, and to say that we do not watch movies or television goes without saying. However, my youngest brother goes to a church that does not have our standards. We have enjoyed their company and fellowship before, and are anticipating doing so again (problem is that they are six hours away). We have others in the area that do not hold our standard, but we are always friendly when we see them. I was at a conference and the standard was not the same at home. I did not stop enjoying the conference because of them. I was there to have a good time and meet with God. Mission was accomplished, and I came home refreshed and renewed.


I have waxed long winded to say this. A critical spirit in a high exterior standard will go to the same place as a person who falls below God's minimum standard. Personally, I want both my standards, character, and my attitude to be the very best that they can possibly be.

I am sorry, but I get long winded if I am not careful.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------well u say the basic standards of the church is this and that. how can we say that television and rings and dresses etc. are the basic standards. every church of the pentecostal faith teaches differently. for instance I beleive I do not need a television. I will still keep this conviction. so if that church preaches against one thing and the other church preaches against another what makes which church right? I can wear a pair of pants and be more modest than some of the pentecostal woman who are on the platform where you could see up there dress cause it is way above the knee. so my question is where do ministers draw the line? what about the blouses that are lower than a sinner in the world who doesnt know from right or wrong..(conviction). so when u say thats the basic standards, it really isnt because every pastor preaches different than others. but anyway I have been in churches where they teach the color RED is a no no in the church, now u tell me where that came from. it isnt in the Bible. and I think the stricter u are the harder it is on the peer pressure of saints. whats the difference between the "saints" and the "aints"..I beleive in the oneness doctrine and I will not change my beliefs on that. so we need to find where we are in God. you can have a darkened heart and have bitterness or hatred but wear your dress to the ground and to your neck. does this make you saved. I dont beleive so.. so all around I need a deeper walk with God in spirit and standards. when you walk in a church and their staring at you cause u look a little different and they frown on you I deffinenly dont think that is love and I wont go back. the faces are pathetic...I do not see God in that, so how could we show them the Love of God when all we are doing is judging and being critical. I am done being critical. I just wanna make it and take people with me to heaven. just a thought. help me Lord in this transition and give me the wisdom to do the right thing..

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Jay

Live with your standards high, determine the standards that are an will require a break in fellowship (not ignoring them, but not fellowshipping and there is a difference), be sweet to everyone, whether or not you ever agree. Fix the line that you want for the church, live above that so your people will live at it, and enjoy living for God.

I will give the only example that I can, and you can decide what it is worth. My pastor teaches 3/4 length sleeves. I wear mine alternating between below the elbow and to the wrist (personal preference). We do not have rings anywhere, nor make up, men have short hair, and women uncut. The ladies were skirts below the knee and no splits(the trend in our church right now is to wear it nearly to the ankle as preference).

Those are the basic standards of the church, and to say that we do not watch movies or television goes without saying. However, my youngest brother goes to a church that does not have our standards. We have enjoyed their company and fellowship before, and are anticipating doing so again (problem is that they are six hours away). We have others in the area that do not hold our standard, but we are always friendly when we see them. I was at a conference and the standard was not the same at home. I did not stop enjoying the conference because of them. I was there to have a good time and meet with God. Mission was accomplished, and I came home refreshed and renewed.

I have waxed long winded to say this. A critical spirit in a high exterior standard will go to the same place as a person who falls below God's minimum standard. Personally, I want both my standards, character, and my attitude to be the very best that they can possibly be.

I am sorry, but I get long winded if I am not careful.

What is "God's" minimum standard?

[Aquila]

Standards produce modesty at best and judgmental legalism at worst. Standards don't equal nor do they produce "holiness".

Holiness is one thing...being confirmed into the image and likeness of the Lord Jesus through our being filled with, and walking after, His Holy Spirit.

[Cindy]

Most of us with out of balance lives, are trying to please self and other people more than God.

[Dedicated Mind]

Originally Posted by Amanah

this cracks me up that you think only women should have standards

are there no things that men must do to be holy, or does male genitalia guarantee holiness, just curious?

who said men don't have standards? men should have short hair, no skirts or tight pants, no make up, moderate jewelery. the same standards women have in reverse.

[Amanah]

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

who said men don't have standards? men should have short hair, no skirts or tight pants, no make up, moderate jewelery. the same standards women have in reverse.

sorry DM could not resist, your post sounded like it was all about women, so I had to tease you.

[AncientPaths]

Originally Posted by Dedicated Mind

who said men don't have standards? men should have short hair, no skirts or tight pants, no make up, moderate jewelery. the same standards women have in reverse.

Does this rule out my skinny jeans?

[Hoovie]

Originally Posted by Amanah

this cracks me up that you think only women should have standards

are there no things that men must do to be holy, or does male genitalia guarantee holiness, just curious?

It has worked well for me!