I stumbled across this site tonight. I left the UPC 20 years ago and when I left this conversation was still going on. I remember my Mom speaking to my Dad and saying “‘John Doe’ if I get to heaven and see people with cut hair I am going to kill you dead”. She usually said this while attempting to wrestle a bushel of hair onto her head in a way that was she hoped looked somewhat attractive. When I look back at this I see this for what it is. It is evidence of a man’s world where women do what they are told and are told to do a lot.

When I was a kid I realized that being UPCI and a girl at the same time was terrible. Long hair, long sleeves, no makeup, no jewelry (with some odd exceptions), no pants, long skirts, no swimming in public (back in the day my Dad preached against “mixed bathing”, which my brother and I thought was so hilarious–imagine bathing in a pool ). If a girl in my dad’s church got in trouble for flirting it was her fault. If a guy flirted he was just being a guy. It was also ALWAYS the girl’s fault if she got pregnant (even as a kid I noticed that this did not make sense–Jezebel aside–it’s not a practical argument). Although the young man had sinned he had been carried away by an evil temptress and he was required to marry her immediately. Unless, the guy was the preacher’s kid. Then he got the devil cast out of him (by a highly regarded evangelist, no less), had a well timed prophecy uttered over him, and then was packed of to Gateway College of Evangelism to train for his upcoming (and very successful) career as a UPCI pastor. Some of this stuff you can’t even make up.

But I digress . I guess I thought you all might have loosened up a bit. Do you still believe that God is watching whether your wife or daughter trimmed their hair? So, God is so interested that Julio Doe was wearing peach colored lipstick last week while attending the church bake sale that he had her heaven privileges revoked? I certainly hope not.

In closing, my dad’s name is not John Doe, he still pastors in the UPCI and Julie Doe is his granddaughter and she wears peach lipstick. I don’t want to get her into trouble–or to get her kicked out of the choir .

PS. I put this comment up before and you deleted it. I wonder why? I didnt say anything wrong! I think the purpose of this site is to misleed people. Thats what you are doing. I suspect a sheep in woolfs clothing…You dont love God, you love the world. and evidently you like looking at womens bums! thats why you would go out of your way and create a site AGAINST women wearing skirts. what is your problem? it’s not like women wearing skirts is a bad thing! What is it then? do skirts not satisfy your lustfull eyes???
You have issues. Anti-Christ.

Grace, I did not delete your original comment. Your original comment was posted on 2010/06/07 at 8:38pm EST, but it was posted under the “What does the Bible say about women wearing pants?” article. Here is a direct link to your comment so you can check it out for yourself: http://www.whyileft.org/what-does-the-bible-say-about/what-does-the-bible-say-about-women-wearing-pants/comment-page-2/#comment-4388. As you can see, it’s still safe and sound :)

In Christ,
- Josh S.

It such a profound subject being elaborated on here. I would just like to put a perspective on something.

Are we aware, that the wearing of make up is so “detrimental to your skin”. The chemical concoction in a simple base to hide blemishes, etc will cause your skin to age at a rate that is unreal. The chemical soups created to make the world a better place is such a temporal solution. Now for the “kicker”. The temple of the Holy Ghost is literally poisoned by this application, but because we are taught that it is unchristian to smoke, we don’t realize that putting on topical applications is just as hazadous.

How about a “can of coke and a can of beer”? Which one can be proved to be the beneficial one, made from a yeast, etc? Which one dissolves a baby’s tooth in just 2 days. Which one can bring out the sparkle on a rusty substance? – don’t drink alchohol, but I use it my mouthwash, or in my aftershave.
Well, the Temple is affected ultimately, and our lack of knowledge will destroy us. I have looked into our pentecostal lives, and am amazed at the rate at which are afflicted with disease, particularly as a perculiar people. We must be examples in all areas. Jesus says, its not what goes in that defiles a man, but what comes out of mouth, as it does proceeed from the heart. We need a heart change, and a life transformation for the holiness to be a convicttion, otherwise it is just a work of the human mind.

Our prayer is to be a part of the church of the living God, and not to be ashamed at Him on that great day, for a chutch their will be, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

Dion

Having said that, I’d like to put this question out there. Simply looking at history, what over the last, let’s say, 100 years has caused this outbreak of make-up and ear/body peircings and cross-dressing and total immodesty? Was it a move of the Holy Spirit? Or was it a movement of society and the world and man…an adoption of fads/fashion/Hollywood? Did God Almighty change so that now we can alter our body/physical outward appearance so as to look like the rest of the world, yet still be a peculiar people, Holy and Acceptable unto God? Nope. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. I’m sorry but, His moral laws, His commands, His guidelines, His way of righteousness, His Word, will never change.

Understand that I’m just focusing on these things which alter our physical outward appearance (make-up, peircings, clothes, etc.), and nothing else. We are all taught that our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost [1 Corinthians 6:19-20]. Well, do you think God would tell you to punch a hole, scar, or ‘cover-up’ His temple? To hide the blemishes His temple has? To make His temple more beautiful? I don’t think so. See, if we believe that God is the Creator of everything and that we are made in His image, why would we need to add to or modify His handiwork? God shaped our looks in the womb and yet we feel that we need to help God when it comes to our appearance by augmenting our bodies with big/shiny/gaudy jewelry, tattoos, and make-up.

And yes, I completely agree that God looks on your heart, but man cannot see your heart. All they see with their eyes is your outward appearance. So then how are we go be a light to this lost and dying world if we look/dress like them? Our clothing of the heart [of humility and righteouness] and our outward clothing should speak the same language.

Furthermore, in regards to your view on the Holy Ghost and it’s interpretation/evidence…that’s a whole nother topic in and of itself, but man, I pray for all those who believe that Speaking in Tongues is not the evidence of the Holy Ghost. Like Waylon said, that is a lie straight from the pit of Hell and having actually experienced this before, just goes to show the power of satan’s deception in these last days.

I believe without a shadow of a doubt that it is Satan’s plan to make the saved, Bible believing Christians to act/look more like the world…to lower their standards of righteousness. People can say that “oh, I only put a little eye liner on, or just a little cover-up to hide my impurities”, but Galatians 5:9 says, “A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.” I would not want to do the same thing that the harlots did. See, when people have an agenda, they will use their own notions, their own emotions and feelings, and believe it or not the devil will use actual scripture(s) to twist your thoughts around to alter the truth of God’s Word and justify how you live. I’ve seen it happen with my own very eyes in my church…to good people…to my best friends and family. Things that they have believed and stood up for, for so many years, are now gone and considered foolish and not important to God anymore. It’s a sad, sad day we live in, but all we can do is pray and portray our love to everyone around us [whether friend or enemy], and try and show them the real truth in God’s Word.

This is not a matter of what if, or being better than anyone else, or being more safe than sorry, or a ‘just in case’ act…it’s a matter of God’s Word and what He said in His book. The bottom line is this, when God saves you He changes your heart inwardly…and when He does this and you continue to serve God sincerely with all your heart, you will WANT to change your outward appearance, being led by the Holy Spirit. You will no longer want to look like the rest of the world, but be a light, a peculiar people, and a silent testimony of what Almighty God has done to you inside.

Finally, if you want to hear a message that will change your life…listen to this sermon. It is mostly about clothing, but it applies to your entire physical outward appearance.

http://www.biblepreaching.com/davisclothing_mp3.html

Remember, it’s easy to stand with the crowd, but it takes courage to stand alone. Count it an honor to stand alone for your reward is layed up in Heaven.

I pray that I have shown that God has spoken very definitely on this subject, and shouldn’t be taken lightly as many have suggested. For the children of God who wishes to walk in His total will and enjoy unbroken and complete fellowship with the Lord, there can only be one answer; “I will obey His Word at any cost.” It will not be easy for some people who have been caught up in this modern ‘liberal’ church world to break away from conformity with the practice of their friends/family/society. Like I said before, this will take courage. But praise God we can be assured that God will provide this courage if we simply ask Him. Remember God has spoken and His Word is final and authoritative…His “Word Is forever settled In Heaven.” (Psalms 119:89)

God Bless,

Martin

My understanding is that God is speaking mostly about his chosen people. Duteonomy 14:2,and the Lord hath chosen the to be a peculiar people unto himself,above all the nations that are upon the earth. Titus 2:14 again talking about people, Who gave himself for us,that he might redeem us from all inquity,and purify unto himself a peculiar people,zealous of good works, 1 Peter 2:9 a peculiar people. To me that means ,1.Actions,the places I won’t go,the way that I talk,the company that I don’t keep, my outward appearance. You asked , didn’t he give us His Holy Spirit to lead and to guide us into all truths?He most certianly did.John 16;13. Romans 1:18 who hold the truth in unrightteous. So many people who say that they are Christians will not accept the truth.

I can’t give God enough Praise for taking me to be a child of his and changing me to become changed on the inside as well as on the outside. And yes I use the word particular in the defence of standards. I n one of my Articles up above I gave Scriptures on the Church having the right to shun a Christian who is going back to worldliness.

I n belonging to God we are his own possession, property,valued property,a peculiar treasure.

Blanche Colgate///Toby Toby

As far as Blanche Colgate///Toby Toby above using the term “peculiar”… it’s always bothered me to hear that word in particular brought out in defense of the standards. According to the concordance, which we must use when looking at scripture, not the websters dictionary of our language peculiar means – 1) that which is one’s own, belonging to one’s possessions

a) a people selected by God from the other nations for his own possession

or in another place –

1) possession, property

a) valued property, peculiar treasure

b) treasure

We are peculiar because we are His people and zealous for His works. Furthermore, as previously stated, Jesus said we would be known for our love one to another…. not by whether or not we cut our hair, wear skirts, or jewelry.

I personally believe that God commands us to be modest but didn’t He give us His Spirit to lead and guide us to ALL truths? or was it just some and then we need to get the rest of that from the pastor??

I love God and openly admit I am the farthest person from His perfection. But my prayer is that He will teach me how to love like He does, to see everyone through His eyes, and in doing so I will continue to learn how to please Him and live for Him.

Neighbour, Luke 10:29-37. Close neighbour’s,If any of them came and knocked on my door and needed help, I would help them in any way that I could. That does not mean that I have to keep company with them.

I love everyone, even sinner’s. That does not mean that I have to love their sin.
I am a Holy Spirit filled Christian. What ever the clothing that I put on my body, it is for the Lord Jesus Chirst. It won’ be pant”s or other worldly atire.