CONDEMNATION IS THE ROOT CAUSE

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May 26, 2016
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You are right in one way. I think there is also another side to this argument. It is what is within that matters, how you show love and care for others, your words, your care. It is easy to dress smart, but be horrible inside.

This is why many churches moved away from sunday best to being real, and not pretending.
So much of victorian and smart dressed church life was pretend. It was founded on roles and not emotional openness.

So the hardest thing in every aspect of life is to be emotionally open and honest as well as loving and kind.
So today, when I meet with my friends in Christ, I just want them to be there in reality, not pretending.

And to strangers who do not know me, I will dress up, to make a good impression, when it is needed.
But that is not very often. So I understand your position, I hope you can understand mine.
If what's inside is right, the outside will be right, [Nicely dressed].
It's the principle of loving and respecting God, [Which scruffy dressers have no respect for God].
 
Nov 22, 2015
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Originally Posted by God4me

Common sense and spiritual maturity tells a person to dress nice for God, and to Minister for God.
If the heart is right, the dress will be nice.
All you have to do, is look back to when Christians were holy, and how smart they dressed.

A Person cannot have the Agape love on God in them and dress scruffy for God.


um, a person's love for God and others is not shown by wearing a suit and tie. it is shown by deeds and thoughts. you are so wrong about this,hope you do not tell young people this, it will send them away from Christ.

time to repent of your 1980's thinking.
Well said...This is the type of religious nonsense that drives people away from Christ. They are not rejecting Christ though - they are really just rejecting religious people's projection of what He is like.

We are dealing with a baby Christian here.

They are rejecting this person's religion - not the Lord. The Lord will have a real Christian that knows the gospel come to them about His love and grace for them and then they will accept Him.
 

gb9

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2011
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Originally Posted by God4me

Common sense and spiritual maturity tells a person to dress nice for God, and to Minister for God.
If the heart is right, the dress will be nice.
All you have to do, is look back to when Christians were holy, and how smart they dressed.

A Person cannot have the Agape love on God in them and dress scruffy for God.




Well said...This is the type of religious nonsense that drives people away from Christ. They are not rejecting Christ though - they are really just rejecting religious people's projection of what He is like.

We are dealing with a baby Christian here.

They are rejecting this person's religion - not the Lord. The Lord will have a real Christian that knows the gospel come to them about His love and grace for them and then they will accept Him.
it shocks me, grace, that people can't see this. if the true Jesus is shown to non-believers, then many would turn to Him. but show them all this religious garbage, and it turns them away.
 
Feb 24, 2015
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If what's inside is right, the outside will be right, [Nicely dressed].
It's the principle of loving and respecting God, [Which scruffy dressers have no respect for God].
I like your logic, but who are you relating to. We live in the world of different clothes styles, yet you
seem to be saying only one style is from the Lord. Is pressed jeans, smart shirt, nice shoes ok, or are you
talking suits and dresses? What about African, or Far Easten dress, or Indian or Chinese. Each culture has
their own versions.

And God accepts us as we are, where we are, and desires we come honestly before Him.
Now if the church decided to dress smart like a wedding, then that would be fine.

It does not currently, because scripture has never gone down this road. The fact you have suggests
you have some exterior judgemental attitudes, nothing to do with faith.
 
Nov 22, 2015
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it shocks me, grace, that people can't see this. if the true Jesus is shown to non-believers, then many would turn to Him. but show them all this religious garbage, and it turns them away.
I agree...but we can be sure that the love of our Lord for them will circumvent other people's religious nonsense and He will reveal Himself to them. He will be faithful to them. One good thing we can hang onto when we see this religious garbage being spewed forth to people - is that the Lord will send someone with the true gospel to them.

The Lord will have the last say to people! We can rest in Him knowing He will reveal Himself to them.
 
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eternally-gratefull

Guest
Common sense and spiritual maturity tells a person to dress nice for God, and to Minister for God.
If the heart is right, the dress will be nice.
All you have to do, is look back to when Christians were holy, and how smart they dressed.

A Person cannot have the Agape love on God in them and dress scruffy for God.
Paul was all things to all people. I guarantee he did not puff himself by dressing in his sunday best to visit people in poor communities.. He dressed like them so he could be like them and share the good news of Jesus to them..
 
May 26, 2016
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um, a person's love for God and others is not shown by wearing a suit and tie. it is shown by deeds and thoughts. you are so wrong about this,hope you do not tell young people this, it will send them away from Christ.

time to repent of your 1980's thinking.


One of those deeds and thoughts will be to dress smart. Remember, We are representing Jesus, and dressing scruffy, is an offence to some people, and the Bible says we shouldn't put a stumbling block for people to stumble.
Those that dress scruffy, have spiritual maturity, No common sense and no respect for God, their ministry or the people they minister to.
And they are facts that you cannot argue with.
 
May 26, 2016
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Paul was all things to all people. I guarantee he did not puff himself by dressing in his sunday best to visit people in poor communities.. He dressed like them so he could be like them and share the good news of Jesus to them..
I'm sure that Paul and the other Apostles, or Ministers, dressed the best they could in their culture.
You cannot get away from the fact that if your heart is right, Your dress will be smart.
 
Sep 4, 2012
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One of those deeds and thoughts will be to dress smart. Remember, We are representing Jesus, and dressing scruffy, is an offence to some people, and the Bible says we shouldn't put a stumbling block for people to stumble.
Those that dress scruffy, have spiritual maturity, No common sense and no respect for God, their ministry or the people they minister to.
And they are facts that you cannot argue with.
You're a fine example of what made me despise Christianity before GOD had mercy on me and opened my eyes. And I still despise your version of Christianity.

But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7
 
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eternally-gratefull

Guest
I'm sure that Paul and the other Apostles, or Ministers, dressed the best they could in their culture.
You cannot get away from the fact that if your heart is right, Your dress will be smart.
You can't get away from the fact that dress does not matter, God created us with no clothes. WHen adam sinned, and God clothes him and eve, he did not make him the finest clothes available. He gave them what they had..


You show up in a poor neighborhood trying to praise God dressed in 300 dollar outfits. You will probably be robbed number one, Number 2. No one will listen to a word you say, they will see your clothes as a status symbol, not as a God symbol.. And you as thinking you are better than they are.. Not an equal trying to lead them to christ.
 
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ladylynn

Guest
God knows our hearts, and if the heart is right, the dress will be smart.
If we love Jesus, we will dress the best we can for Him, Especially if we are a Minister.

When a man meets with his girlfriend, he will want to impress her by dressing nice, because he loves her, And it should be the same for meeting with and Ministering for Jesus.
A person cannot have the Agape love of God in them for one minute, and want to dress scruffy for Him.

You watch those scruffy dressers, if they go to an important worldly meeting, or go to meet an important person, How nice they will dress, But when it comes to Church, their attitude is, "OH, It's only God".
We are supposed to be ambassadors for Christ, and a Country would never sent a scruffy ambassador out to represent them, And neither would God.
We aren't just supposed to represent Jesus, but to, Re-Present Him.

There is a scruffy epidemic sweeping through the Church, and a lot of Christians have conformed to the world way of dressing, as they go to Church.

The condition of a man's heart is never superficial, and if the heart is right, the dress will be right.





God knows our hearts and that some hearts have been hurt by others judging them for what they wear so God understands when a hurt heart comes to Him totally being themselves before Him (flaws and all) wearing their regular clothes being 100% who they are and being soooo happy God accepts them as they are. Just like the song "Just As I am" God is unlike many people who force others to conform before they will love them or even accept them. Jesus is wonderful.

You on the other hand seem to be one of those people who judge someone by the things they wear not considering there could be any reason for another person's actions being different from you outside your own box of reality. Someone like me steers clear of people like that.

When I go to church wearing cloths from work because going home would make me really late I'm not thinking "OH, It's only God" I'm thinking "OH it's my Father who is glad I came just the way I could"

There is a "scruffy epidemic"????
:rolleyes: ;):p:eek::cool: and you say it's sweeping through the church? LOL What it is IS people from all walks of life and from different back rounds coming to church being assured God is not concerned with how they dress but loves them for who they are regardless. We don't live like the Little House On The Prairie societies anymore where people are from the same back rounds and going to the same schools and knowing one another or needing one another in a small town.

The Bible also tells us to be all things to all people which means we don't over dress when we to go a poor area to minister NOR do we under dress and go to a more wealthy area to minister. And sometimes we don't know so it's best to be who we are in that case. Either way., it's more important to people with your mind set than this dressing thing is to God. For that I'm truly thankful. People don't need another added burden to be accepted by us and surely as ambassadors for Jesus, we should never impose our code of dress on anyone and say God doesn't approve of them. The condition of a man's heart is God's business. If you are a believer your job is to catch the fish and then leave the heart condition to the Holy Spirit. He is able to do His job quite well without our help. He is in the business of cleaning fish from the inside out. The problem is people like you want to change people from the outside - in.


 
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PennEd

Senior Member
Apr 22, 2013
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There's a couple of people that I can read their posts all day long and be refreshed. Lynn is certainly one of them! May the Lord bless you and your family!
 
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ladylynn

Guest
a man' s heart being right with God and wearing a 3 piece suit have 0 in commom. you sir should drop the fashion police, clothes judgemental attitude. it is COMPLETELY WRONG.


Yes., it's completely wacky. :eek::rolleyes: As if the church needs a "panel" of snappy dressers (by their own definition) sitting at the door of the church watching while people are walking in the door. These "snappy dressers" with their own ideas of what is proper have these signs with numbers from 1-10. When someone comes in dressed "snappy" they all hold up the #10 card and the person is allowed to come in.
But if someone comes in with un-snappy clothes., the panel of snappy dressers put up the #2 sign and make that person go home and change OR out of 'love' have a room with proper clothes to lend the poor dresser so while they are in church., they can look like everyone else.

yyyyyeeeeeesssssshhhhhhhhhh it's alllll so clear.
:rolleyes:
 
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ladylynn

Guest
There's a couple of people that I can read their posts all day long and be refreshed. Lynn is certainly one of them! May the Lord bless you and your family!

Aww gee PennEd!! That is so nice of you to say!! Seriously that warms my heart thank you! God bless you and yours too!
 

FlSnookman7

Senior Member
Jun 27, 2015
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If what's inside is right, the outside will be right, [Nicely dressed].
It's the principle of loving and respecting God, [Which scruffy dressers have no respect for God].
In my church almost everyone there is a recovering addict or alcoholic, some just off the streets and still shaking. Do you think God loves them less? I would say if anything God loves them more as they are who He came for. God isn't impressed by your armani suit. The angels don't celebrate when you buy a 500 dollar pair of shoes, they celebrate when a sinner comes to God. I do feel much pity for you if you are not just trolling and really believe what you've posted.
 
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ladylynn

Guest
In my church almost everyone there is a recovering addict or alcoholic, some just off the streets and still shaking. Do you think God loves them less? I would say if anything God loves them more as they are who He came for. God isn't impressed by your armani suit. The angels don't celebrate when you buy a 500 dollar pair of shoes, they celebrate when a sinner comes to God. I do feel much pity for you if you are not just trolling and really believe what you've posted.

Yes., I wondered that too FlSnookman7 if this poster is a troll. But even if he is., the reality of the problem is no less. The first church we went to years ago had his mindset about clothing. And they actually did have clothes set aside for those who were not properly dressed. I remember one woman came in with a short skirt and ohhh man! They made her leave. Oh man., what would they have done if a drug addict or recovering drug addict came in just off the streets and still shaking?? I shudder to think!!

People are always looking at each other from the appearance. We do judge each other for many things much less serious than drug addiction (like clothes) so it is a MAJOR needed discipline to learn how to not do that. We judge people by their cars and jobs and houses and lawns. You name it we have looked at it and judged on some level. Some woman are notorious for judging other woman by the condition of their houses inside. I'd say the true "epidemic" is the judging going on in the church by some.

In order to overcome a problem in our lives., we need to know Jesus has forgiven us for our zillions of lacks and as we go through the process He LOVES us into healing. If someone has lived a hard life., they need to know God sees them as a new creation and is daily healing them from their past scars by loving them just as if they had never sinned. Jesus doesn't bring up past sins nor does He insist on our perfection since Jesus came to GIVE US HIS perfection. And Jesus will change us from the inside out to be more like Him each day.

He makes the change a loving process as He continually assures us of His constant love while we are being healed.

And as brothers and sisters in the church we should be loving people that way too. It is actually a big step for people to not look on the outward appearances of each other. But if it will work anywhere it should be working in the church and being encouraged by the leaders in the church to see the hidden man of the heart in one another right?.

OH and hey Flsnookman7., it's good to see you on the forums!! It's nicer here I think than the Bible study room since we can complete a thought much better by writing it rather than trying to say it clearly and concisely on the mic. I have a major hard time in there. But the last time you and I were there it was excellent to be encouraging one another about the constant love of Jesus and His keeping us through the process. To know we have been given eternal life., that lasts "eternally"
:)
 
May 26, 2016
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You're a fine example of what made me despise Christianity before GOD had mercy on me and opened my eyes. And I still despise your version of Christianity.

But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for [the LORD seeth] not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7
If the heart is right, the dress will be smart.
If you despised Christianity for people dressing smart, then shame on you.

The problem with modern day Christians who dress scruffy, is, they have no respect for God.
 

FlSnookman7

Senior Member
Jun 27, 2015
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If the heart is right, the dress will be smart.
If you despised Christianity for people dressing smart, then shame on you.

The problem with modern day Christians who dress scruffy, is, they have no respect for God.
The pharisees were more concerned with outward appearance than inner faith also, how did that work out?
 
May 26, 2016
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In my church almost everyone there is a recovering addict or alcoholic, some just off the streets and still shaking. Do you think God loves them less? I would say if anything God loves them more as they are who He came for. God isn't impressed by your armani suit. The angels don't celebrate when you buy a 500 dollar pair of shoes, they celebrate when a sinner comes to God. I do feel much pity for you if you are not just trolling and really believe what you've posted.

They aren't professing to be ministers or even mature Christians.
Who said God isn't impressed with armani suits, only those who come aginst Biblical prosperity and dressing smart.
God is impressed with armani suits, as He is the one who has given us the power to get wealth and prosperity.
 
May 26, 2016
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The pharisees were more concerned with outward appearance than inner faith also, how did that work out?
God is concerned about the outward appearance, because it proves that the heart is right.