Did 1st century christian women "stand out"?

[RandyWayne]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

Here's my two cents worth on this heavy question... 'why are the women the ones who have all the dress standards' question.

.......

Good post.

An observation though: I find that women dress every bit as much to impress other women as men. At least this is what I see at your typical UPC camp meeting.

You may ask me – so how does it work for you? Well, I am so thankful to say that I have a wonderful husband who loves me and shows his love for me in many ways. One of those ways is to tell me if I have something on that could be too tight, too revealing, or whatever. Sometimes its hard to see yourself, and know how something really looks. He always shares with me too how wonderful I look whenever it is pleasing to him. I seek to please my husband. I don’t want to uncover my nakedness to anyone other than him. Modesty comes from the heart, and is evidenced by one’s actions. It is truly a heart issue, of pleasing God first, and then my husband.

Of course in a truly healthy household he will also tell you when something is not revealing enough.

[Scott Hutchinson]

I think Christian women in the first century,dressed in the fashions of their day,they were just modest,and carried themselves as Christians.

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

Good post.

An observation though: I find that women dress every bit as much to impress other women as men. At least this is what I see at your typical UPC camp meeting.

I do agree with that - check out any Ladies Conference where no men typically are present, and you will see ladies trying to outdo themselves in dress!

Originally Posted by RandyWayne

Of course in a truly healthy household he will also tell you when something is not revealing enough.

Huhh?? What exactly do you mean by that ?

[The Mrs]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

We all have dress standards. Imagine if a man came wearing a shirt with the length of sleeves that many women wear to church (Often just over the top of the shoulder down to elbow length) and wearing pants at the length that many women wear (knee length). He'd look more like he was dressed in modest beach wear than dressed for church. These lengths are regularly accepted for women in many churches but would never be accepted for men.

I don't think it is as much an issue that women are "the ones who have all the dress codes". I think it is more an issue that women are the ones who have issue with the dress codes.

There are areas of all of our lives where we tend to butt heads with standards more than in other areas. Women want to dress up, dress out and show themselves as a natural tendency (apparently from what I have observed) so this is an area that they are always at odds with and so it seems like they tables are heavy in their direction.

Men could care less about these things and so it isn't a big issue. It isn't that women are "the ones" targeted. It's that this is an area that hits closer to home.

I think the main reason for women dressing up is seen in nature and God's creations. God created the male in most species to be the colorful, highly decorated ones that attract the female's attention. (Think lion, rooster, peacock, elk) But for humans, it's the opposite...He gave the woman the nature/desire to be the colorful one that attracts the male's attention.

It's like asking us to go against our God-given nature to be non-decorative.

[*AQuietPlace*]

Great post KeptBytheWord.

[*AQuietPlace*]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

I just feel that statements such as women are the ones who have ALL the dress codes is skewed and fails to take in the whole picture.

I think it's the whole "pants, hair and makeup" package that causes women to feel they're carrying the whole load. Women are the ones who are spotted in public as being Pentecostal. Men don't stand out, women do. You stated earlier that any woman dressing modestly would stand out, but that's really not the deal. Pentecostal women stand out because of the whole package - long hair, no makeup, and a skirt. I see plenty of women who are dressed modestly, but I don't immediately think "they're Pentecostal". But a Pentecostal woman can be spotted a mile away..... because of the whole package - hair, pants, makeup. And lack of jewelry (other than a wedding ring or watch).

I always just felt like an oddball. I hated being so noticeable in a crowd. Pentecostal men don't have that issue.

It's not about modesty, really. I know very few women who really want to dress immodestly. They just want to fit in a little better in the culture, not stand out so much because of the way they look.

[*AQuietPlace*]

Oh, and the whole "men are now allowed to wear facial hair on the platform at General Conference" thing.... that kind of bugs me. Not that I think facial hair is wrong, but it does seem that once again men are being allowed to follow culture. While women still have to dress counter-culture.

[Jermyn Davidson]

Originally Posted by *AQuietPlace*

Pentecostal women stand out because of the whole package - long hair, no makeup, and a skirt. I see plenty of women who are dressed modestly, but I don't immediately think "they're Pentecostal". But a Pentecostal woman can be spotted a mile away..... because of the whole package - hair, pants, makeup. And lack of jewelry (other than a wedding ring or watch).

Pentecostal women do not have to go around looking like they were beat with an ugly stick. Many, not all, appear to simply not care about their appearance. I've seen it so often now that I think it that this is their intent whenever I see one that chooses to look like they just don't care.


The ones who choose do so, do so by their own choice.


They choose to wear the 5 sizes too large t-shirt that's so "modest" it's sloppy.

They choose to wear faded blue denim skirts-- almost everywhere for almost every occasion except Sundays.

They choose to let their hair stay frizzy and undone.

They choose to represent themselves and the Gospel they live by in this manner.

These are bad choices, but so many of them make a lifestyle out of these bad choices.



Many of them could take a little MORE time to present themselves better, and by doing so, not be so self conscious, and maybe even when a soul to Christ.

Personal appearance and personal hygiene go hand in hand.

Too many Pentecostal women make holiness look ugly.

[*AQuietPlace*]

Originally Posted by Jermyn Davidson

Pentecostal women do not have to go around looking like they were beat with an ugly stick. Many, not all, appear to simply not care about their appearance. I've seen it so often now that I think it that this is their intent whenever I see one that chooses to look like they just don't care.


The ones who choose do so, do so by their own choice.


They choose to wear the 5 sizes too large t-shirt that's so "modest" it's sloppy.

They choose to wear faded blue denim skirts-- almost everywhere for almost every occasion except Sundays.

They choose to let their hair stay frizzy and undone.

They choose to represent themselves and the Gospel they live by in this manner.

These are bad choices, but so many of them make a lifestyle out of these bad choices.



Many of them could take a little MORE time to present themselves better, and by doing so, not be so self conscious, and maybe even when a soul to Christ.

Personal appearance and personal hygiene go hand in hand.

Too many Pentecostal women make holiness look ugly.

That hasn't been my experience overall. In every Pentecostal church I've attended there have been 2 or 3 women who didn't care about their appearance. Most care very much.

I think that's probably true of every group, not just Pentecostals.

[Falla39]

Originally Posted by Digging4Truth

First... how can one forward a hypothesis that they don't agree with.

Second... it can't be true in the least. Like I said... nothing Eve did had to do with seduction or temptation. Adam didn't even know she was naked until he ate of the apple.

An apple??