Women & Church
- Thread starter Dr H..
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MsJag4Jag
Moderator
We can wear whatever we want to wear as long as your tail is covered. We are not under that rule. Our pastor calls that bondage.
One church that I "belonged" to when I was younger would not allow you to wear pants on Sunday. Since that time the rules are "Come as your are" ...
Another church that I was a part of had us in deep bondage. No makeup. No polish. No hair cutting above the ears. Can wear pants or tasteful dresses. No seafood unless it had fins and scales...ie....catfish, shrimp, crawfish, are all OUT--considered unclean. We could celebrate only Holy days, not Holidays. Church on Saturday but not 7-day adventist. We could not eat pork. They taught against smoking---I don't smoke and never have...
More modern churches realize that pants or skirts won't save you. Only come to the Father thru Jesus Christ...confessing with your mouth and believing in your heart...not what you wear or eat.
When I sang in our choir, our director would tell us to be mindful of wearing skirts or dresses UNDER our robes if we were visiting another church. She'd tell us if it would be offensive to that church. She said just because we know better or believe differently, did not give us the right to offend. So when I visited another church like that, I'll wear a skirt or pants.
My old church that did not allow pants in the church has sense changed that and I wear pants in there every time I visit.
One church that I "belonged" to when I was younger would not allow you to wear pants on Sunday. Since that time the rules are "Come as your are" ...
Another church that I was a part of had us in deep bondage. No makeup. No polish. No hair cutting above the ears. Can wear pants or tasteful dresses. No seafood unless it had fins and scales...ie....catfish, shrimp, crawfish, are all OUT--considered unclean. We could celebrate only Holy days, not Holidays. Church on Saturday but not 7-day adventist. We could not eat pork. They taught against smoking---I don't smoke and never have...
More modern churches realize that pants or skirts won't save you. Only come to the Father thru Jesus Christ...confessing with your mouth and believing in your heart...not what you wear or eat.
When I sang in our choir, our director would tell us to be mindful of wearing skirts or dresses UNDER our robes if we were visiting another church. She'd tell us if it would be offensive to that church. She said just because we know better or believe differently, did not give us the right to offend. So when I visited another church like that, I'll wear a skirt or pants.
My old church that did not allow pants in the church has sense changed that and I wear pants in there every time I visit.
Killer Bees
Well-Known Member
Dr. H,
You are really going to touch a nerve on this one.
:lmao:
You are really going to touch a nerve on this one.
:lmao:
kbSU89
New Member
Going to church in my home town of New Iberia it was just a given that women did not wear pants. I can not recall anyone in the church stating that, now I do remember talking to my Grandfather about it and from what I remember that is what he knew. I don't remember him telling us that is was scriptual , only that is what he knew, and we listen to him
Now when I go home to visit I do see some women wearing pants, but for the most part the older women that have been there forever I don't ever recall them in pants.
I think more so it has been a tradition on the way most of the older folks were raised and not necessarily something stated from the pulpit.
I understand now why pastors preach somewhat not to follow traditions
Now when I go home to visit I do see some women wearing pants, but for the most part the older women that have been there forever I don't ever recall them in pants.
I think more so it has been a tradition on the way most of the older folks were raised and not necessarily something stated from the pulpit.
I understand now why pastors preach somewhat not to follow traditions
Seeing Spots
Joyful Woman!
My church also has the "come as you are" credo. And I wear pants often. I also wear sandals without stockings, and other not dressy attire.
The church I grew up in, where my parents still attend, is a very traditional Baptist church and they do not wear pants and never go without stockings. But it is not a written or unwritten rule, but more dictated by custom.
I have never been a member of a church that talked about the length of your hair! What happens if your hair falls out? Are you forced to wear a wig the "proper" length?
Kemmie: was the church you were a member was NOT Seventh Day Adventist? Their practices are just like Seventh Day Adventist. I represented a Seventh Day Adventist in a wrongful discharge case in Federal Court. He won it too!
The church I grew up in, where my parents still attend, is a very traditional Baptist church and they do not wear pants and never go without stockings. But it is not a written or unwritten rule, but more dictated by custom.
I have never been a member of a church that talked about the length of your hair! What happens if your hair falls out? Are you forced to wear a wig the "proper" length?
Kemmie: was the church you were a member was NOT Seventh Day Adventist? Their practices are just like Seventh Day Adventist. I represented a Seventh Day Adventist in a wrongful discharge case in Federal Court. He won it too!
MsJag4Jag
Moderator
Seeing Spots said:
It was NOT 7th Day Adventist. It was The Worldwide Church of God. They no longer have those practices. Because of the change, many people fell away from that church. They created their own spin-offs. They liked having all those bondage type rules. It was started by Herbert W. Armstrong, later led by Tkach and then ...he died. I don't know who else is over it.
Dr H..
Active Member
KB
We have some good hearted and open folks on this page. I ask this question for several reasons. The main reason being there are two blood sisters that work in Polk Building, each time ?especially when it is hot? I nearly faint from heat exhaustion.
I think they are Pentecostal [I am not throwing stones] they wear pillbox hats, long cotton dresses, long sleeve shirts or blouses [never seen them in pants] black pumps [shoes] and some of those extra thick cotton stockings, no makeup. Normally they wear a blouse, T-shirt with some type of vest over it. Both are very attractive young ladies, however they will not talk to anyone but each other.
The only time we mention how individual dress @ the congregation I attend, is when a sister come in with a dress so short, when she takes a seat her underware shows or her pants are so tight the print of her underware shows or the outline of her private parts shows.
I remember as a child the older ladies would carry extra hankerchief and give them to the young women to cover their knees.
I think some preachers cannot separate customs from doctrine. Some used the outdated customs in an attempt to control the congregation.
We have some good hearted and open folks on this page. I ask this question for several reasons. The main reason being there are two blood sisters that work in Polk Building, each time ?especially when it is hot? I nearly faint from heat exhaustion.
I think they are Pentecostal [I am not throwing stones] they wear pillbox hats, long cotton dresses, long sleeve shirts or blouses [never seen them in pants] black pumps [shoes] and some of those extra thick cotton stockings, no makeup. Normally they wear a blouse, T-shirt with some type of vest over it. Both are very attractive young ladies, however they will not talk to anyone but each other.
The only time we mention how individual dress @ the congregation I attend, is when a sister come in with a dress so short, when she takes a seat her underware shows or her pants are so tight the print of her underware shows or the outline of her private parts shows.
I remember as a child the older ladies would carry extra hankerchief and give them to the young women to cover their knees.
I think some preachers cannot separate customs from doctrine. Some used the outdated customs in an attempt to control the congregation.
Dr H..
Active Member
CriTAUcal
Yep, you cannot help but taking a look at the two sisters. Once you notice one item you automaticlly start looking else where. The stocking are the same kind my grandmother use to wear. Oh! and their hair is always pulled up and in a hair net. Like I said they are attractive and I imagine they have some nice bodies once you get past the four or five layers of clothes.
Yep, you cannot help but taking a look at the two sisters. Once you notice one item you automaticlly start looking else where. The stocking are the same kind my grandmother use to wear. Oh! and their hair is always pulled up and in a hair net. Like I said they are attractive and I imagine they have some nice bodies once you get past the four or five layers of clothes.
Dr H.. said:
Dr. H....I do hope you're speaking for yourself. I guarantee you that the Baptist church I attend is not being controlled by anyone but JESUS!
It is asked of us and we have no problem with it. We are not taught anything about this harming your soul or your church.
Bondage and submitting to a request are two different things. I have to admit that some faiths do take your attire a little too far. We have people who do wear pants, and they are not scolded for doing so. But, if that person decides to become a member, then she is informed and she then makes a decision to adhere or not. If she doesn't want to adhere, she will still be welcomed into the church.
But c'mon, women have been wearing dresses to church for centuries, so why is it a problem now? And most of my finest threads just so happen to be dresses and I always strive to always give the LORD my best, both inside and out.
Is it bondage if your employer required you to wear a uniform to work everyday? If so...would you obey it?
And I do believe that when you are told to come as you are, JESUS is talking about you as a person on the inside, not your outside appearance.
dacontinent
Preacher
I can roll with women wearing slacks, but I don't like it. It is not a matter of her salvation so I don't trip over it. Still, I wish that women would stick to dresses.
The reasoning is as simply as my recent trip to the airport to pick-up a friend. The restroom signs are extremely easy to process: The graphic of a man has slacks and the one for a woman has a dress. No words. Just a picture. If it is that internationally recognizable to the world, it should be easy to see in the church.
Secondly, the images of males and females have been blurred so much over the last few decades that it literally makes me sick. I would love to see our churches make a difference in this respect. No, we don't need to make it a rule, but I believe that it will honor God for us to demonstrate and celebrate the difference.
Finally, I live in Florida. I have been in attendance at churches where people leave right from the beach and come into the sanctuary. I have seen folks in their bikinis and swimsuits in some places. So, no, just dressing any ol' way is not appropriate. If someone came for a visit and was dressed inappropriately, we would not dream of turning them away. If they continued to come and dressed inappropriately, we would sit down and counsel with them about being a distraction. For perspective members, the subject of dress is covered during part of orientation so there is clear definition about honoring God through our presentation to Him, each other, and the world at-large. There was a time when we could simply allow people to use good sense, but good sense is not necessarily common anymore.
The reasoning is as simply as my recent trip to the airport to pick-up a friend. The restroom signs are extremely easy to process: The graphic of a man has slacks and the one for a woman has a dress. No words. Just a picture. If it is that internationally recognizable to the world, it should be easy to see in the church.
Secondly, the images of males and females have been blurred so much over the last few decades that it literally makes me sick. I would love to see our churches make a difference in this respect. No, we don't need to make it a rule, but I believe that it will honor God for us to demonstrate and celebrate the difference.
Finally, I live in Florida. I have been in attendance at churches where people leave right from the beach and come into the sanctuary. I have seen folks in their bikinis and swimsuits in some places. So, no, just dressing any ol' way is not appropriate. If someone came for a visit and was dressed inappropriately, we would not dream of turning them away. If they continued to come and dressed inappropriately, we would sit down and counsel with them about being a distraction. For perspective members, the subject of dress is covered during part of orientation so there is clear definition about honoring God through our presentation to Him, each other, and the world at-large. There was a time when we could simply allow people to use good sense, but good sense is not necessarily common anymore.
This is when perspective members are informed, and this is the time to state if you are going to comply. You've chosen the church to WORSHIP, so your obedience to their attire shouldn't be a problem. Plus, it is so little to ask of a person. I could see if the church was asking you for your W-2..:goof: But, if that's what they do, then you are informed of this in orientation and it is up to you whether or not you want to put your name on the church roll.
I personally don't have a problem with women wearing pants, but I'm not going to listen to any preacher tell me because the ladies at my church wear dresses, that we are in bondage. I don't wear slacks and I'm not going to start simply because a preacher told me I could. That's just not the way I roll.
Anytime I step into GOD's house....I want to present to HIM my BEST. Both inside and outside.
When my reward is given when HE returns, I know it will be HIS finest. So why can't I do the same for HIM here.
I say let people be faithful of the few things asked here, and don't knock it because only they have to give an account if they were obedient.
MsJag4Jag
Moderator
Funny thing about this issue... is that back in the day... The man had long robes on that resembled dresses are did not have a pair of slacks on. They all had long "dresses" on ...so if the world is confused about the sexes, it has naught to do with how we dress for that is only on the outside. A person who is confused about his own sex is a person who had a problem that originated in his mind! Our people parish for lack of knowledge. Many times it is not the outward stuff that gets us...it is a battle in the spiritual realm which once it enters our mind can cause much chaos in the mind...
<b>Prime Example</b>: Slavery. Even though we have been FREE for some years now, many of us are still in the slave-like mentality. He who is free in the mind is free in deed. Someone once said something to the effect of "if we had only known we were free..."
<b>Prime Example</b>: Slavery. Even though we have been FREE for some years now, many of us are still in the slave-like mentality. He who is free in the mind is free in deed. Someone once said something to the effect of "if we had only known we were free..."
CriTAUcal
Do Good; Good Follows
SLT said:We don't wear slacks.
Ain't got nothing to do with your soul...we just don't wear slacks. That is a church rule at MY church and I am obedient to it.
Nothing more....
I feel ya!
I'm Church of God in Christ (pentecostal), and I grew up in a church where we just didn't wear pants to church. But now, it's more accepting, though the older women still only wear dresses/skirts. So, it's not frowned upon at my church --- we would be glad to just see you come through the doors. But only out of respect, I still only dresses/skirts to my church.
MsJag4Jag
Moderator
CriTAUcal said:
My sister is COGIC and attends West Angeles COGIC. They wear slacks and pants. There is no rule, written or unwritten about them wearing pants. When I traveled to California for my job during the summer of '02, that was my church home away from home. I asked her if there was a tradition or custom about what had to be worn. She said, "Baby, we wear what we got, pants or dress or skirt...just be in good taste." ....So Sometimes I wore my dresses and sometimes I wore my slacks. AND I sat on the front and second rows.... Angela Bassett sat two seats over from me in some nice slacks.
I have been to some churches where some girls came in dresses, but theses dresses were not in good taste...However, it was said by an older member in earshot of me...that "if we turned away people like that (pointing to the girl), we'd stop a many-a-lost from coming to the Lord...."
BLAQUE PRINCE
Fug <insert your school here>!
This topic has always been puzzling to me. Are there any preachers that any of you know of that PREACH about not wearing slacks and if so what is the basis for it?
I see the entire matter of dress in church as a social issue. If at sometime it had become popular for women to wear pants and men to wear skirts then we would be doing the exact opposite. I really do appreciate congregations with a relaxed dress code. I guess I just have issues with emphasis being put on worldly things like the quality of threads you're wearing. When you look at it man dictates style and fashion so what you are really doing is trying to wear whats best and most pleasing to man's eyes.
I see the entire matter of dress in church as a social issue. If at sometime it had become popular for women to wear pants and men to wear skirts then we would be doing the exact opposite. I really do appreciate congregations with a relaxed dress code. I guess I just have issues with emphasis being put on worldly things like the quality of threads you're wearing. When you look at it man dictates style and fashion so what you are really doing is trying to wear whats best and most pleasing to man's eyes.
Dr H..
Active Member
Occasionally, I and other men at the congregation I attend will teach or preach about how Christians should dress, this includes men and women. We have a new convert class, where we biblically teach a ?Christian? how they should dress. However, if the person is a teenager, the parents have to make sure that their children dress appropriate not only for church but for school and other activities.
A few year back I was invited to preach for homecoming at the church of my childhood. My sermon was going to be very simple about Christanity and after watching some of the females enter the church [they always want to march down front] my sermon changed to how a Christian should dress.
Why does the young girls want to display their butts, breast and thighs, someone help me out on this one. Because I do not understand what parent in their fight mind would allow their daughter (s) to leave home as if she is going to work on a local street corner working for Willie the Pimp.
When we become Christians, I mean genuine Christians, t hose who are born anew in Jesus Christ are new creatures in him and have "put off the old man with his deeds [and] put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge" (Col. 3:9, 10). Because of this change, they will no longer live by the world's life style. As Paul wrote, "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Rom. 12:2). This is a central truth in the Christian knowing what the will of God is.
To "be not conformed to the world" is to "be not fashioned according to the world? and "do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world". A genuine Christian will not follow the fashions of the sinful world.
I have passed some churches on Sunday morning and some of the females are dressed as if t hey had just left a club or a convention for prostitutes.
I think the problem is due to up bringing, where the mother treat the daughter like her running buddy and not her daughter.
A few year back I was invited to preach for homecoming at the church of my childhood. My sermon was going to be very simple about Christanity and after watching some of the females enter the church [they always want to march down front] my sermon changed to how a Christian should dress.
Why does the young girls want to display their butts, breast and thighs, someone help me out on this one. Because I do not understand what parent in their fight mind would allow their daughter (s) to leave home as if she is going to work on a local street corner working for Willie the Pimp.
When we become Christians, I mean genuine Christians, t hose who are born anew in Jesus Christ are new creatures in him and have "put off the old man with his deeds [and] put on the new man which is renewed in knowledge" (Col. 3:9, 10). Because of this change, they will no longer live by the world's life style. As Paul wrote, "Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Rom. 12:2). This is a central truth in the Christian knowing what the will of God is.
To "be not conformed to the world" is to "be not fashioned according to the world? and "do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world". A genuine Christian will not follow the fashions of the sinful world.
I have passed some churches on Sunday morning and some of the females are dressed as if t hey had just left a club or a convention for prostitutes.
I think the problem is due to up bringing, where the mother treat the daughter like her running buddy and not her daughter.
dacontinent
Preacher
BLAQUE PRINCE said:
My circle of friends has changed over the years, so I don't know who is actively preaching this concept. I do know where it originates:
Deut 22:5
The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman?s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
The basis goes back to idol worship. Many of the pagan religions blurred the lines between male and female and so did their worshippers. God did not the resulting confusion entering among his people. Many things that are done even in the name of fashion are windows through which many evils enter among God's people.
I have a 15 year-old daughter. It is difficult go to stores and find dresses that are in fashion for her to wear to church that are not cut too low on top nor too high on the bottom...not to mention that she is comparatively tall at 5'9". No, I don't believe that this is a mere coincidence. I to believe that Satan and his forces are in active manipulation of the fashion and advertising industries to make things difficult in the marketplace on the front end and in our homes on the back end. No, I do not believe that everyone in the fashion and advertising industries are under demonic influence. I simply mean that the generations are becoming weaker and wiser, just like the scriptures say.
No. I am not ready to make women wearing dresses and men NOT wearing dresses to church into a doctrine. But, I can certainly value the distinction of following the discipline.
dacontinent
Preacher
Dr H.. said:
...Because the parent's mind has not been renewed.
Dr H.. said:
I think you are at least partially right. I think at least one more part is that we have stopped preaching and teaching that God has limits. This "anything goes" style of Christianity may be very popular in recruiting numbers of people, but we leaders bring dishonor to God by not teaching holy living. The truth is that most people rarely read and study beyond what their local ministerial staff is preaching/teaching. So, if we want people's minds to be renewed and their lives transformed then we are going to have to preach and teach the truth and teach the discipline of individual prayer, study, and meditation on the Word that allows the individual to progress beyond what they get in the church building or even through Christian media.
To this end, I sometimes do not finish a given sermon - especially when I am preaching in a series. I leave it somewhat open and challenge the congregation to read ahead and study. Occasionally someone will and God will give them great revelation on the matter such that the following Sunday I let them open the message with what they received through the study and then I finish with what God has given me. It provokes people to actually study and makes my preaching a lot easier.