Dance Team Tryouts

[Nautilus]

Lol...you make it difficult to explain myself when you just post things that i say without allowing me to add context.

 

[Misty77]

Misty77 - I have agreed with nearly all your theological assertions and thank you for clarifying. I am actually in Nautilus' corner too, at least a little bit - not that I approve of disgusting reading or visual material, only that censorship disgusts me more. I think you were right when you said "....without the leading of the Holy Spirit, it is impossible to understand..." concerning biblical meaning of modesty or propriety and I (personally) believe that the intent of the bible serves as a guidance of principle (that you eloquently pointed out) for ever changing times so that our values won't change while our cultures never stop changing. (long stupid sentence but I hope you understand what I mean and I don't think I have said it better than you).

Now - I will also say that I don't think the post by Ugly could be construed to suggest that it was verbiage used (to) blame the victim. Ugly went on to say that Christians (and all people actually) have a "reasonable level of responsibility" of the effects on others. I think this is right. Whether it is a long or short term effect, provocative attire still can have a culturally negative effect. In my (limited) understanding, good and evil by themselves are benign unless they're acted upon. If someone dresses or dances in a culturally provocative way inducing sexual thought, this is an action which can cause detrimental action by others. A cause and effect scenario that Ugly was pointing out. So then, this leads us Christians to truthfully try and understand those things (culturally) that are not only stumbling blocks for us personally but also what might be stumbling blocks for others. That is the "responsibility" I believe Ugly was speaking of.

Let me clarify one more thing too about my statement about "disgusting materials" and the censorship of such. I will stand by my assertion that censorship of (nearly) any kind is a far greater danger than the obvious dangers pornography or sexually explicit materials employ. Censorship (to me) is the greater outrage. God has not only given us free choice, He also convicts us. Jesus never suggested enforcement of His Way of Truth and Light by the Roman sword. There is ultimately no end to censorship or oppression while there is in spirit a beginning for the Christian soul by conviction.

I'm sure my explanation is not really complete and I would LOVE it if you could help me

Thank you! It's hard to explain such a delicate balance that is our liberty in Christ, our responsibility to lovingly support our fellow believers, and our witness to the world.

As a survivor of sexual assault (by a "good Christian" guy), I caution men especially to steer away from language that is also used by rapists and abusers. These "bad guys" rarely see themselves as evil but justify their actions because the victim was "asking for it" by clothing, actions, or whatever other standard they have set. And there is no way of knowing what another human being defines as "asking for it." As you confirmed, while Biblical principles are constant, the applications of them vary greatly.

By the way, I am not responding specifically to those who somehow thought that I against modesty. Please read everything in context as I'm not sure how to be any more clear.