Though I'd given thought to this issue for years, I'd never formalized those thoughts into words. Recent experience has brought it to the forefront of my mind again and this time I want to record my thoughts on the subject.
Every since high school, and in movies, music and literature over the years, I've heard people talk about conformity... usually from an inimical point of view - "People conform because they can't speak for themselves", "they have no identity so they conform", "they want to fit in so they conform" or just simply, "conformity is for the sheep". The irony is that those opinions tended to originate from people who---despite claiming to be non-conformists---mirrored the dress, attitudes and style of each other - long hair, unorthodox dress, etc. Mind you, I used to have long hair, pierced ears and wore a black, leather jacket covered in etched tin replicas of 13th century French Tarot cards. That's not to say that the next day I didn't don a pullover Polo shirt and khaki shorts.
For me my dress and style was nothing beyond personal taste. It would mildly pique me when I heard comments like those above - particularly as a Christian, and even more so when the one disparaging others was a Christian as well. Judge not, that ye be not judged. Is it because they are afflicted with low self-esteem that they criticize others? Is it because they feel "special", or somehow "above the curve"? Perhaps it just means they don't understand that the way a person looks or dresses is no measure of their intellect, their heart nor their thoughts.
Do not try to elevate yourself at the expense of another... not only are you showing antipathy for your brother or sister, you are doing a great disservice to your own unique self, and to our Father in Heaven.
Every since high school, and in movies, music and literature over the years, I've heard people talk about conformity... usually from an inimical point of view - "People conform because they can't speak for themselves", "they have no identity so they conform", "they want to fit in so they conform" or just simply, "conformity is for the sheep". The irony is that those opinions tended to originate from people who---despite claiming to be non-conformists---mirrored the dress, attitudes and style of each other - long hair, unorthodox dress, etc. Mind you, I used to have long hair, pierced ears and wore a black, leather jacket covered in etched tin replicas of 13th century French Tarot cards. That's not to say that the next day I didn't don a pullover Polo shirt and khaki shorts.
For me my dress and style was nothing beyond personal taste. It would mildly pique me when I heard comments like those above - particularly as a Christian, and even more so when the one disparaging others was a Christian as well. Judge not, that ye be not judged. Is it because they are afflicted with low self-esteem that they criticize others? Is it because they feel "special", or somehow "above the curve"? Perhaps it just means they don't understand that the way a person looks or dresses is no measure of their intellect, their heart nor their thoughts.
Do not try to elevate yourself at the expense of another... not only are you showing antipathy for your brother or sister, you are doing a great disservice to your own unique self, and to our Father in Heaven.
