Did 1st century christian women "stand out"?

[Sam]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

The question begs to be asked - why the WOMEN and not men too?????

Why is it that the women are always the target, and men escape any need to "stand out"?

because men make the rules

[Sam]

Originally Posted by mfblume

Right. And the bible never said we are known by the way we dress, anyway, but by our love for one another. How people gravitate to this "they will know us by the way we dress" idea never ceases to amaze me in light of Jesus' plain statement that our love is for that purpose.

My 14 year old daughter was asked by some standard-keeping friends what it was that makes our church different from their's, since we are both one God and Acts 2:38. She responded in an amazingly wise manner: "We believe our love for one another tells the world who we are, not the way we dress."

I think Jesus said something like what your daughter said in John 13:34-35

[On The Wheel]

Originally Posted by mfblume

Right. And the bible never said we are known by the way we dress, anyway, but by our love for one another. How people gravitate to this "they will know us by the way we dress" idea never ceases to amaze me in light of Jesus' plain statement that our love is for that purpose.

My 14 year old daughter was asked by some standard-keeping friends what it was that makes our church different from their's, since we are both one God and Acts 2:38. She responded in an amazingly wise manner: "We believe our love for one another tells the world who we are, not the way we dress."

A very astute comment by your daughter. You should be proud.

From my research, God never asked people to stand out just for the purposes of standing out. Separation is something he required so people would not get ethnically (Old Testament) and spiritually confused, and was mandated for those reasons. The OT Hebrews probably looked identical to their heathen counterparts. Also, the fact that the bible pays scant attention to the topic of clothing at all seems to point to the fact that it is a minor, not a major issue. It's hard for anybody to prove with any conclusiveness what, exactly both OT and NT saints wore.

God required men to be physically altered by circumcision, but that could not really be construed as something God desired to "stand out" in a crowd. It was a personal, sacred sign of devotion to God.

[BeenThinkin]

Originally Posted by On The Wheel

A very astute comment by your daughter. You should be proud.

From my research, God never asked people to stand out just for the purposes of standing out. Separation is something he required so people would not get ethnically (Old Testament) and spiritually confused, and was mandated for those reasons. The OT Hebrews probably looked identical to their heathen counterparts. Also, the fact that the bible pays scant attention to the topic of clothing at all seems to point to the fact that it is a minor, not a major issue. It's hard for anybody to prove with any conclusiveness what, exactly both OT and NT saints wore.

God required men to be physically altered by circumcision, but that could not really be construed as something God desired to "stand out" in a crowd. It was a personal, sacred sign of devotion to God.

On The Wheel.... I don't know about your choice of words here...lol

BT

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

Did first century christian women standout like what many preachers say todays pentecostal ladies should today?

No, they blended with the culture in general, not the dress of harlots nor the dress of the modern day radical Muslims.

Radical Muslims are some of the worlds most sexually perverted men, so much for covering women up.

[On The Wheel]

Originally Posted by BeenThinkin

On The Wheel.... I don't know about your choice of words here...lol

BT

No pun intended.




NOT!

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by BeenThinkin

On The Wheel.... I don't know about your choice of words here...lol

BT

You are so bad!!! LOL "...not in a crowd..."

[DAII]

Pastor Keith quote from a few years ago

Originally Posted by Pastor Keith

Have you ever been curious how the First Church regarded standards, holiness and living in a pagan culture?

Well this is a testimony by a Disciple of Polycarp named Mathetes, who most likely wrote this between 100-140AD.

I think to be an eye opener and will likely change your perspective on how the early church related to and lived in a pagan world. I highlighted some parts that I thought would be of interest to our diverse forum.

It was titled "The Manner of Christians"

For the Christians are distinguished from other men neither by country, nor language, nor the customs which they observe. For they neither inhabit cities of their own, nor employ a peculiar form of speech, nor lead a life which is marked out by any singularity. The course of conduct which they follow has not been devised by any speculation or deliberation of inquisitive men; nor do they, like some, proclaim themselves the advocates of any merely human doctrines. But, inhabiting Greek as well as barbarian cities, according as the lot of each of them has determined, and following the customs of the natives in respect to clothing, food, and the rest of their ordinary conduct, they display to us their wonderful and confessedly striking [281] method of life. They dwell in their own countries, but simply as sojourners. As citizens, they share in all things with others, and yet endure all things as if foreigners. Every foreign land is to them as their native country, and every land of their birth as a land of strangers. They marry, as do all [others]; they beget children; but they do not destroy their offspring. [282] They have a common table, but not a common bed. [283] They are in the flesh, but they do not live after the flesh. [284] They pass their days on earth, but they are citizens of heaven. [285] They obey the prescribed laws, and at the same time surpass the laws by their lives. They love all men, and are persecuted by all. They are unknown and condemned; they are put to death, and restored to life. [286] They are poor, yet make many rich; [287] they are in lack of all things, and yet abound in all; they are dishonoured, and yet in their very dishonour are glorified. They are evil spoken of, and yet are justified; they are reviled, and bless; [288] they are insulted, and repay the insult with honour; they do good, yet are punished as evil-doers. When punished, they rejoice as if quickened into life; they are assailed by the Jews as foreigners, and are persecuted by the Greeks; yet those who hate them are unable to assign any reason for their hatred.

[On The Wheel]

Originally Posted by crakjak

You are so bad!!! LOL "...not in a crowd..."

Sorry. It just seemed so easy.

It's just that some will point to the rite of circumcision to "prove" that God wants us to visibly stand out visually for no real reason other than he wants us to appear different for its own sake. I just though I would point out the obvious. Circumcision was not to be viewed by the general public, and certainly not the heathen. Any men flaunting or otherwise exposing their sign of separation would be in violation of some other laws.

Your "bro's" might know, and your wife and mom but that's the extent of it.

Women, as far as I can tell, were give required to show no visible sign of separation that was not tied to things that actually had theological or practical significance and/or relevance.

[BeenThinkin]

Originally Posted by On The Wheel

Sorry. It just seemed so easy.

It's just that some will point to the rite of circumcision to "prove" that God wants us to visibly stand out visually for no real reason other than he wants us to appear different for its own sake. I just though I would point out the obvious. Circumcision was not to be viewed by the general public, and certainly not the heathen. Any men flaunting or otherwise exposing their sign of separation would be in violation of some other laws.

Your "bro's" might know, and your wife and mom but that's the extent of it.

Women, as far as I can tell, were give required to show no visible sign of separation that was not tied to things that actually had theological or practical significance and/or relevance.

Some of the hard nose, overbearing preachers that are always putting the women down should have to show their circumcision in a crowd! That might given them pause and cause them to stop being so critical of the women.

Just thinkin
BT