Female Moderation.

[Johnnz]

Paul's writing about women dressing modestly was all about status. Roman society was highly stratified along racial and social status with strictly enforced eligibility. Displaying ones status for a higher ranked person was accepted. Only certain styles of clothing could be worn by the privileged people.

The same issue arose elsewhere. The communion meal was occasioned by the better off being served first, as was their custom. Lower ranked people waited their turn and were served inferior food. Some would miss out. Into this stratified society came a new group of people where all classes ate together (that was never done in Roman society) and were treated as equal in rank and status - unheard of and scandalous at that time. Quite naturally old class habits took a while to change.

Paul always had a concern for the lesser members, the slaves and the poor. The stumbling block issue over food, idols and holy days elsewhere in his letters was Paul protecting the socially 'weaker' person from having the more robust, 'educated' Christian looking down upon the 'ignorance' of some others and trying to impose their views upon them.

Only the better off women would have braided hair and jewellery, signalling their superior status. Paul was reminding some congregations that Jesus caused people to think very differently about life.

John
NZ

 

[razeontherock]

Hugs to the OP, hope you're doiong well and Merry Christmas!

 

[Nathaniel Ellis]

this is a response to the title of your post rather than the content.

Jesus Christ was a radical femenist at His time. He wasnt like femenists now days that try to give women power over men but in His day women were considered to be property not people. Jesus elevated women to be equal to men.

where Paul says that he does not allow women to speak in church and should hold there questions to ask there husbands at home.

He was not saying that God does not want women to speak or preach in Church

Paul was instructing Timothy on how to run a church. Prior to the Christian church women were not able to learn the Word of God with the Men, and so now that they were learning with the Men they were totally disrupting the meetings because they had so many questions. so all paul was saying is that when he holds a church meeting he instructs the women to be silent so he can finish his teaching and if they have any questions they can ask there husbands because most of them allready know the answers to the questions the women had anyway.

just goes to show how different the culture was. paul had to instruct women to talk to there husbands about God because they thought of themselves as property not a person in a relationship and did not even talk to there husbands about what they had learned in the temple. They just thought since i am not allowed to learn with the men i have no right to ask them questions.

so even the scriptures that sound to us like Paul is sexist are really liberating women at the time. allot of people just don't read the bible in context much.

 

[Benevolous]

Okay, so I recently taken the Word of God seriously although I've been raised very strictly as a Christian my whole life. I just got rid of my clothes that I thought were too revealing. By revealing I mean tanks, shirts with cuts that were lower than the palm of my hand from my collar bone (no cleavage) , thin strapped shirts and shorts more than 1 1/2 dollar bills above my thigh. I've done this to "not tempt others" or at least try not to. I've always been obsessed (yes obsessed) with beauty and celebrities, and even considered plastic surgery many times, so I guess I was an idol to myself.
I've also stopped wearing makeup completely even though I've worn at least foundation since I was 13 every time I go out in public. It does get to be uncomfortable at times but I know that if someone is judging me for not being vain then that's their problem not mine. I am trying to figure out if relaxing (permanently straightening) my hair is too vain? It does make my life a lot easier and when I had natural thick curly hair I spent entirely too much time to make it look presentable, even in a bun. Are there any scriptures about permanent changes to hair?
I do still wear jewelry (not crosses) to give my outfits a little flair and to show personality but my friends and boyfriend think I am taking it a little too far with all the deletions in my wardrobe. What are your Christian opinions?

Off subject: I find that television shows are filled with sinful nature such as MTV, BET, VH1 blah blah blah. Should I just watch football games and then turn the tv off and read? I am really serious about turning my head away from sin.

I think it's great that you're doing that, but just remember that things like this can become an idol, too.

It's OK, to do those things (even though the Bible doesn't prohibit makeup or hairstyles) as long as you do them for the right reasons. If you're looking to dress more modestly, then that's great. But if you're doing it because you feel that it will make you more righteous in God's eyes, then that's a bad thing.

I'm not trying to discourage you because I agree with the others who have said that it's a good thing. I just want you to do it rightly and for the right reasons, and not to get caught up in legalism or something that's going to become a burden or an idol to you.

As for TV, got rid of ours about ten years ago and it's the best decision we ever made.