Pants on Women

[GreenEyedLady]

Hey GEL, To echo what BereanTodd said, it's a cultural thing. Our society does not accept men wearing skirts, but there are other cultures that do (e.g. the Scots) and I think that it is perfectly acceptable for them to do so. I am also sure that if our society and tradition dictated that men wear skirts (or kilts) most men would do so, and we would think nothing of it. The only reason that the skirts vs pants for women is even an issue right now, is because we are living in the transitional time in our society. I could be wrong, but most likely in 30 years, no one will have even a second thought about women wearing pants. There will be no bitter messages about how immodest or ungodly they are, because we will be past the transitional generations. Just my opinion.

I can see where you think this makes sense.
The bottom line here for me, is modest pants shows a woman's shape more than a modest skirt would. The shape of the body is more outlined in pants than they are skirts. Men are attracted to the shape , women are attracted to touch.
Can we compare this "transitional generation" issue with the gay rights issue that is going on here in this generation? Will it be okay for gays to marry because society accepts gay marriages?? I don't agree with these transitional times. I think that what God said, should stay, regardless of how society changes.

Regarding wearing pants during the activities that you listed. So, what you are saying is that it is acceptable to wear pants sometimes, but not others. What is the difference? It seems to me that your standard is based on convenience, it is right to wear pants only when it is convenient. If you think it is wrong for women to wear pants, shouldn't it be wrong no matter what you are doing? (I'm not trying to attack you or your standard, I am just trying to understand it.)

I ONLY wear pants if my family is the only ones there. I do not wear pants in public at all whatsoever. When I am 4 wheeling, I wear pants to protect myself. I have not been skiing yet, so I am not sure how I would handle that issue. The difference is I wear a skirt in public and pants at home and not in public.

Finally, unfortunately many times, in many religions, with many men, standards and rules are made up. I could be wrong, but I believe that in most cases the men have the best of intentions, but they create rules out of some misinterpreted passage of the Bible. To give you an example. There is a local church pastored by a friend of mine, where all of the women must cover their head in church, be it with a hat or scarf or something. He created this rule based on the passage in 1 Corinthians 11, stating that women must have their heads covered when they pray or prophesy. This rule does not help him any, it does not increase his attendance, in fact it probably drives people away, as they keep a box of head coverings in the back for visiting women to wear. I also think that this rule is wrong, and based on a misinterpretation of scripture, but he continues to teach it, not because it is popular, but because he believes it is right. However, this does not mean that he is right, just that he believes that he is right. I think the same is true for women wearing pants, I also think that is why it is sooooo important to study the Bible for yourself, and study what you are being taught, so that you can be sure of what the Bible teaches for yourself.

I definatly believe that this is something that should be studied and prayed about. I wore pants for 30 years. Please don't assume that I heard preaching once and decided to throw on skirts for the rest of my life. This was a PERSONAL conviction and a personal decision that I made 6 years ago. It took me a long time before I was able to make this decision but I did it for MY GOD and not for anyone else.

If you are struggling with this issue, it must be your wife, unless you are considering kilts. She should ask herself WHY she put on a skirt to begin with. Was she convicted by God to do so. If so, then I think it would be wrong for her to put on pants just because the church rules changed.

I say put the fleece out man. Pray, fast and ask God. Don't ask opinions on a message board. This is not the place to make such a decision about. Like you said, its not about what man says anyway, it is about what God is telling you.

I believe that this will just go in circles and it seems that since you posted your OP you might have made up your mind. Either way, I hope I have helped in some way with this issue.

GEL

 

[Zoness]

I know 3 churches in my town that split over the pants issue...

 

[JCFantasy23]

This may not be the "intelligent" response you may have been hoping for, but personally I have never felt much urging from God either way. In other words, it's never been brought to my attention by Him either way on it mattering, so I don't believe it really does. What is in my heart matters.

 

[A Brother In Christ]

Ok, I don't know if this is the best place to post this question (I have also posted it in the Young Adults forum). However, being a Baptist, I am interested in the feelings on this issue from a Baptist viewpoint.

My question is regarding pants on women. Growing up in church we were always taught that it was unBiblical for women to wear pants, no women in our house our in our church wore pants. This is a standard that I have held to my whole life.
We are now at a point in our society where women wearing pants seems to be the norm, it is no longer seen as unusual or "unBiblical". Now, as I look around I realize that "every" woman wears pants now. Honestly, in all of the Baptist churches that I know of around here, my wife is the only woman that does not wear pants. Even my former pastor, who preached it for all those years, has relented his position, along with all of my family.

I guess, to get to the point, my real question is, what are your thoughts about women wearing pants. Let me say, I am not looking to start a battle of right or wrong, I am simply looking for some Biblical reasons why you do, or do not think women should wear pants. How do you feel about it, and what Scripture did you use to reach that conclusion? I am struggling with this issue, and would like some reasoning to consider.

Thanks!

leagalism or are we to grow by grace... 2 peter 3:18

 

[fushiarose]

I wear pants and see nothing wrong with it. I even wear pants to church and so do both my sunday school teachers-they are women. We don't look like men-so I don't see it to be an issue.
I also have to point out that many women today don't own a skirt or that many skirts. They need to feel comfortable and accepted when they show up to church with pants on.

 

[fushiarose]

Should women be allowed to speak in church?
Should women be allowed to vote?
Should women be allowed to wear make-up?
Should women be allowed to wear jewelry?
Should women be allowed to pierce their ears?

Sorry - this may sound disrespectful - but I'm SICK of such nonsense.

This is why I resisted attending a Baptist church for nearly 30 years.

yes yes yes to all of these. women have rights and we are not second class human beings. love your post

 

[Studious One]

Ok, I don't know if this is the best place to post this question (I have also posted it in the Young Adults forum). However, being a Baptist, I am interested in the feelings on this issue from a Baptist viewpoint.

My question is regarding pants on women. Growing up in church we were always taught that it was unBiblical for women to wear pants, no women in our house our in our church wore pants. This is a standard that I have held to my whole life.
We are now at a point in our society where women wearing pants seems to be the norm, it is no longer seen as unusual or "unBiblical". Now, as I look around I realize that "every" woman wears pants now. Honestly, in all of the Baptist churches that I know of around here, my wife is the only woman that does not wear pants. Even my former pastor, who preached it for all those years, has relented his position, along with all of my family.

I guess, to get to the point, my real question is, what are your thoughts about women wearing pants. Let me say, I am not looking to start a battle of right or wrong, I am simply looking for some Biblical reasons why you do, or do not think women should wear pants. How do you feel about it, and what Scripture did you use to reach that conclusion? I am struggling with this issue, and would like some reasoning to consider.

Thanks!

There is no Scripture that says a woman cannot wear pants.

Many that are legalistic in this area will automatically point you to the oft misquoted Deuteronomy 22:5. But a careful examination of that passage will cause the serious Bible student to know that that verse is not speaking of every day clothing at all. It is speaking of battle armor. Notice:

Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance translates 'that which pertaineth' as

3627. k@liy
[SIZE=-1]Search for H3627 in KJVSL[/SIZE] ylk k@liy kel-ee' from 3615; something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon):--armour ((-bearer)), artillery, bag, carriage, + furnish, furniture, instrument, jewel, that is made of, X one from another, that which pertaineth, pot, + psaltery, sack, stuff, thing, tool, vessel, ware, weapon, + whatsoever.
See Hebrew 3615

The command was concerning battle armor! Women were not to put on the armor to go to war... that was the man's position. And men, likewise were not to pretend to be a woman in order to escape going to war.

Throughout the Old Testament, when wars arose, it was the men who fought. The women were to stay at home (Example Bathsheba staying at home while her husband was off to war; II Samuel).

 

[eldermike]

I spent last week in recovery in the hospital, surgery went great, finally back at home, just moving slower and trying to find clothes that don't hurt.

Last week I had to wear the hospital dress thing, one to the front, and one to the rear, tied at the top of each arm. While I was laying around waiting for someone to come in and pull something stuck under me lose, so I could get back to sleep, I considered this issue.

Thank God women have not given up on men and just killed us all off........We asked for it that's for sure.

Yes women should wear pants, and they should also take self defense courses until they can whip any man that tells them otherwise.

 

[holyrokker]

eldermike,

Welcome back! Glad to hear that you are recovering.

 

[20questions]

Really, when you stop and think about it, what makes a particular article of clothing male or female? It's a societal thing. Clothes are clothes. By themselves they have no gender. If you're worried about lust and sin it's actually easier to get out of a skirt than a pair of jeans. Think about that. I would imagine a rapist would go for a girl in a skirt faster than a girl with jeans, boots, and a belt.

 

[fireman1173005]

No problem with pants on women here. Heck they even wear them to church in every church I've attended. Not to be offensive but it almost sounds like you grew up Pentecostal.

 

[Rescued One]

Does the Bible teach that women shouldn't wear pants? Does it teach that men should wear pants?

 

[holyrokker]

Does the Bible teach that women shouldn't wear pants? Does it teach that men should wear pants?

The only pants mentioned in the Bible is in Psalm 42:1
"As a deer pants for flowing streams,
so pants my soul for you, O God."

 

[eldermike]

On nice days and even some not so nice days my wife rides her Harley to church. This subject never comes up at my house.

 

[JamesKurtovich]

I've only known one church that enforces a dress code (men - pants, women - dress) and that is the local United Pentacostal congregation. They don't believe the way they dress makes them more holier than someone who doesn't dress the same way or that it gives them a free ride to Heaven. They are personal vows to dress a certain way, and not just in a church but everywhere they go.

 

[ipray4u247]

Should women be allowed to speak in church?
Should women be allowed to vote?
Should women be allowed to wear make-up?
Should women be allowed to wear jewelry?
Should women be allowed to pierce their ears?

Sorry - this may sound disrespectful - but I'm SICK of such nonsense.

This is why I resisted attending a Baptist church for nearly 30 years.

You are 100% right though. Though I attend a Baptist church, we strictly follow the Bible. And here's what's going on.

First of all, pants are a LOT more modest that skirts. Be honest, guys: if a girl was wearing a skirt[any length] would you find her more attractive than a girl wearing pants??? Aren't we supposed to be fleeing from sexual immorality?
Second of all, these rules are RIDICULOUS!!!!!! They are man-made and just plain out-of-whack. We are not meant to judge, only God will judge us on Judgment Day. We don't need this legalistic attitudes. These rules are the reasons why people think that Christians are hypocrites.

You can argue with me until we're both blue in the face. Truth is: the Bible doesn't say anything about women not being able to wear pants. There are different ways to interpret the Bible, and there is no way to misinterpret if women should wear pants, if it doesn't say anything about it!!

~Elisabeth