Women's attire...

[Guest]

As I see it, our attire, indeed our whole demeanor, should be what glorifies God in our lives. We do not conduct ourselves according to what people demand or require. Indeed, succumbing to social pressure is exactly that to which the apostle Paul referred when he spoke of worldliness as in “Do not be conformed to the world, but be transformed...”

I was a little uneasy with the suggestions that women should dress so as not to “tempt any brother” or other man. If a brother is tempted to sin, that is his problem, not that of the woman.

In my opinion, a woman’s attire should reflect nature, what she was meant to be, that is, her feminine nature. Glow, you mentioned long hair. I think it would be wrong for a woman to cut her beautiful long hair in order “not to tempt a man”. In other words, why should she
appear to be less feminine, just because some man may sin as a result of his attraction to her? He should deal with his problem, not expect women to look unattractive so that he doesn’t have to. Actually, he will have to, anyway, since his problem is not contingent on a woman’s beauty or lack thereof. Even in Muslim countries, where women are completely covered and look like an unknown quantity wrapped in a large sack, rape and other forms of sexual immorality are not thereby avoided.

Back to long hair. Paul made it clear in I Corinthians 11, that a woman’s long hair is her glory. He also suggests that it is disgraceful for her to cut her hair (vs 6).

In my opinion, a woman looks better (and more natural) without makeup, or without dyeing her hair. It is her natural beauty, not an artificial construction, which is beautiful in the eyes of the Lord, and of men, and that natural beauty includes her personal feminine qualities such as humility and a giving nature. In his address on women’s attire, Tertullian, commenting of dyeing the hair, said, “Sisters, is this your idea of eternity? Hair that is ever young?”

I believe that men, too, think they can improve their appearance as the Lord intended it to be ---- for example, shaving off their beard every day. Actually most men don’t think about it. They just do what the rest of their culture practises.

However, I am not going to pressure anyone else to see these things as I do. I have no condemnation for women who dye their hair, wear long false eyelashes, paint their face beyond recognition, or chop off their beautiful long hair ---- or for men who shave their beards or wear wigs to cover their bald heads. As the apostle said, it is before his own maker that every person stands of falls.

[Guest]

I was a little uneasy with the suggestions that women should dress so as not to “tempt any brother” or other man. If a brother is tempted to sin, that is his problem, not that of the woman.

Hello Paidion! Haven't seen you in a while. I appreciate your concern about brothers who are tempted. It is indeed his problem.

On the other hand, how did he become tempted in the first place? What built up that tension? Oftentimes, it's the woman's dress.

And, while not the fault of the woman that a brother is tempted, she has still played a part in causing the temptation.

"It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak" - Romans 14:21

Even in Muslim countries, where women are completely covered and look like an unknown quantity wrapped in a large sack, rape and other forms of sexual immorality are not thereby avoided.

That's true, in Muslim countries, women are covered from head to toe. But the Muslim men over there, aren't Christians, and sexual immorality is actually encouraged in the Koran. And so, I'm not surprised when the men brutally use the women.

But does that apply to the Christian context we are speaking of?

[Guest]

Loaves wrote:
On the other hand, how did he become tempted in the first place? What built up that tension? Oftentimes, it's the woman's dress.

And, while not the fault of the woman that a brother is tempted, she has still played a part in causing the temptation.

"It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak" - Romans 14:21


I think each of us is responsible for our own reaction. When you get into the area of "judging whether someone elses appearence was part of the person falling, in this case that can throw alot of paranoia around as far as a woman and how she is coming across. Televison, radio , books etc. is spewing sex and enticements constanstlantly, blantant and subconsiously around us all the time no matter how much we try and sensor it., so how could a woman honestly "know" for sure how she is dressing or appearing will entice another man or even woman in some cases. Some people even have strange things like foot feteishes so I'm told, In that case wearing sandals could be a super enticement. I understand there is a place for modesty and some women just seem to be so blatant in their seductive ways.But that actualy turns some men off too! In the end it still falls on the person who actually takes the action to commit the sin and our fathers final desision on it.

As far as the scripture you included in your response. I had a preacher use that reasoning (he was a vegetarian) to support how I should not eat meat because it offended him and he also did not want to fall because of the enticement. I think if he made the choice to become a vegetarian and that was his own conviction that was fine...for him. But I also have the freedom to eat meat under God and be compassionate towards him but not be in bondage to His beliefs or be held reposnsible if he fell and ate meat after being around me or just knowing I did.

I quess that is why I personally try to put my attention on checking in the spirit I quess with my father when I dress if what I have on is offensive or seems inappropriate to him. I don't even like to wear bathing suits, I think they are to revealing even though some pools require them, so you can't wear shorts etc. and I usually try to wearshorts and a light top when swimming but even then some one could be enticed by that. So I stick to my own convictions as best I can and let the man or whoever deal with theirs.

God is their Father also whether they ultimatley know it or not and He will judge them and do it rightously. My thoughts again. Thanks for your input loaves.

Glow