Quote:

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you'll be wanting us to wear special underwear like the mormons.

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The mormons have special underwear? Are they made by the Amish?

In response to Dennis' post to mine, thought I'd mention that I am tired of the excuse that men have, "I'll only quit looking when I'm dead."

If you really must know, these men who keep looking are dead already.

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So, today I was at my son's ice skating lesson. His lessons are held at a rink at the local mall. Across the hallway is a newly-opened bowling alley.

They have a dress code that sounds reasonable. Among the several items listed is, "No exposure of intimate apparel." What I happened to find quite stunning was the dress of the ladies handing out informational flyers in the open foyer. They were dressed in stilletto heels, fish-net stockings, black mini-skirts, black "wife-beater" tees, exposed bra straps and a necklace or fuzzy black tie.

What part of the dress code did they not understand?

I questioned them about this seemingly double-standard. Turns out, these young ladies felt that their dress was appropriate and did not violate the "code". They also gave me the added footnote: "That's really just for the guys. Girls can wear whatever they want."

They also told me that they thought their outfits were "cute" and not of a revealing nature at all.

Sadly, my nine year old son will have to find another entrance to his lessons because I will no longer allow him to take the normal entrance through the mall.

Our society has become ridiculously absurd.

okay weve taken up the better part of two pages on this one and peopl dont seem to care that much...dunno what more to say except I am somewhat disheveled by all the rationalizations and nonsensical attitudes. I cannot help but wonder if there is anyone out there with some like-minded convictions. Kinda sad.

OK, let me be very serious with it for a moment.

There are a couple of issues here, and part of the problem is that they've all been addressed in a mashed-together sort of way. Let me try to sort them out:

1. I think we all agree with you, Dennis, that modest dress is appropriate in church and everywhere else. If people at your church are dressing immodestly, I think we would agree that that's inappropriate. (I'm leaving aside the fact that modesty is in the eye of the beholder to some extent: I don't think we're agreed on the need for burqas or 'reform dress' (long trousers under long skirts))

2. But once you've decided that's an issue, what do you do with it? I think the consensus here is that you leave it to God - and to some extent to example - to deal with the issue, and you attend to what you can change. You are accountable to God for your own actions, and to some extent for the actions of your children. Others are accountable for their own actions.

3. Even assuming that you are to some extent responsible for sharing concerns with others in the church, how should that be done? Presumably not by shouting from the housetop and pointing a shaking finger of condemnation. Someone who is trusted, respected and close to the person who is dressing inappropriately may be able to make a suggestion or comment, but someone with no relationship is not in a position to make a comment that will be heard.

4. Finally, you are responsible for your own reactions to how others dress. This may not even be a specific issue for you - it's something others have brought up in the thread. Let me just speak for myself - I find women attractive and sexy, and sometimes at church as well as everywhere else I notice the shape of their bodies, and my body reacts to that (to be explicit for a moment, I'm not talking about erections, I'm talking about noticing and pulse-quickening and other low level but noticeable reactions (slightly more explicit, highlight only if you want to read)). That can happen with 'immodest' clothing, but it can also happen with very modest clothing. It's part of how we are built as men, and not something for which women are to be blamed or shamed. It's our choice how we react to that, and really has little to do with how the women dress.

Probably more information than anyone wanted or needed, but I did want to take your question seriously and address it, Dennis.

Yes people, there are more important things to address in the scope of our religious lives, but this is one issue that is dealt with on a personal level. But there must be some way for us to hold each other accountable without each of us being offended for addressing it.

Looking at the Old Testament, it is interesting to note the story of the sons of God vs. the sons of men.

Gen 6:1 Now it came about, when men began to multiply on the face of the land, and daughters were born to them,
Gen 6:2 that the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful; and they took wives for themselves, whomever they chose.
Gen 6:3 Then the LORD said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be one hundred and twenty years."
Gen 6:4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days, and also afterward, when the sons of God came in to the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.
Gen 6:5 Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
Gen 6:6 The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

Here one could certainly notice a distinction made in these verses (and others)between the sons of God and the sons and daughters of men. My question then is, How ought the sons (and daughters) of God be dressing in light of a distinction between those who are men's children, and those who are God's children? God has His children that He needs to be peculiar and set apart from the rest of the world right?

Rev 18:4 I heard another voice from heaven, saying, "Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues;
Rev 18:5 for her sins have piled up as high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.

Are we doing anything at all to deliberately show that we are not like Babylon in our dress (and other areas)? What can we offer people that is any different at all from the world around us? We have already mentioned the Amish and others, they are known for old-fashioned dress. What about Adventists?

Well,

I must publicly apologize to people here on this because, in all honesty, I thought this text was referring to Christian dress. The reason I thought this, was because I got it from a different forum: http://www.revivalsermons.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=614

In a particular post there, by Tammy Roesch, she talks about the passage in context with dress. Again, I am truly sorry if this has damaged anyone. I never wanted anyone to look like the Amish, just to consider how we are dressed for the Lord. Thanks for understanding. Dennis