Self Expression....

[yungtryn2makeit]

Hello to everyone...i have a question i would like to ask?

I believe that everyone is different and has at least 1 quality thats sets them apart from others...I believe that God works from within your heart, soul and mind.  And to get into Heaven I believe that he will judge you by your being. Not because of the way you look or dress.But what about the outside? Do you believe the way you present yourself is important?..I do, I honestly do thats why i am asking for comments

I have recently began the process of changing my life around from the inside.  Honestly I am kinda confused wit the whole outward appearance


For instance.. I where earrings, I dress to where im very comfortable and the whole tie and suit thing, im really not feeling right now...I wear slacks and sometimes jeans to church, I just feel as though its all about whats on the inside, does outward appearance really matter.I mean....Do Christian men have a certain attire..do the women?......I mean I just dont think that people should base your heart over a pair of jeans. Im not just  referring to church, just in general."it was a example" I would like everyones opinions plz...this is my 1st real posts and I would feel good if i had alot of responds

Thank you

 

[carmen]

I look at it this way my outward appearance is important as man looks at the outward appearance. And representing Jesus Christ I try to represent myself the very best I can. But I concern myself more fully with the inwide
to having a beautiful, gentle, kind and loving spirit. As God looks at the heart of a man. Both are important but the inward much more so.
The outward to me is because man looks at the prosperity of the outward and not the inwide. A unsaved person seems to be more willing to listen to someone of tidy dress. as they are reading this as someone of importance or prosperity.

Just adding another thought .Judging or favoritism because of clothing or wealth is clearly stated as wrong in the bible but unfortulately people will not treat all people equal. I think wear what you are comfortable with where you are at. If people are looking down there noses it is truely showing their fruits, and where there hearts are at to judge. It's their problem of pride.

Proverbs 6v17. A proud look the spirit that makes one overestimate himself and underestimate others , a lying tongue and hands that shed innocent blood.

 

[Blessed-one]

i wear jeans to church all the time, but for those who have the duty of being pianoist, the speaker etc etc.. they all dress neatly.

i don't think appearance is all that big a deal, so long as it is presentable. In church, it's ok, because people sort of know each other, but in the outside, as Cammie, they look and judge you by your appearance. Not that the appearance is that important compared to inside spirituality, but when your appearance causes others to stumble, that's when the problem arises.

However, there are people who keep up their.. unique appearances because their serve as a witness to their salvation.

 

[GodOwnsMe]

I used to be pretty concerned about how I look and still am sometimes..
which rather keeps me from God and gets me on the whole impressing people thing again.... I think there are more important things..its just like when you love someone you won't wanna irritate them by your looks.
For me its more like a trap to fall in so.. yeah

 

[* kittie *]

i don't think there's a problem in dressing the way you want to, UNLESS if it is offensive to another person.  and that goes with church.  God doesn't mind what you wear, as long as your heart is right.  but if the church wants you to dress a certain way, you should follow their "dress code".  even if you think a "dress code" is just legalism, it's best that you don't do that something in front of others, the thing that offends them.

also, you need to be careful with how you present yourself.  for instance, i think that people tend to classify other people by how they dress.  i think that i too do that some times, even when i try not to.  but try not to give off the wrong impression, especially if there's a nonbeliever, cuz i think it could send mixed signals.  anyways, i'm not totally sure about that.  but sure.  express yourself

 

 

[cynjo59]

This is one of those issues that will never be resolved one way or the other - not here on earth anyway. People will always disagree. In the church I go to (and I wouldn't want to go anywhere else or have them change their standards) the women all wear long skirts. All the time. They do not wear pants. The men wear suits and ties, jeans, etc... no shorts. They are mostly clean shaven and all wear short hair. The women wear long hair. I wear pants- partly because I grew up in a church where it was not an issue. But, I do not wear them to church because I feel that it would be wrong to ignore the church standards that way. I have a job where I could easily be indecent in a skirt and pants are part of my uniform. Since I wholeheartedly believe that God has placed me in the job I'm in and keeps me there, I don't feel that I am wrong to wear pants. Our Pastor believes, and I agree, that this is a matter of personal conviction and that it is the Holy Spirit's place to do the convicting.

 

[* kittie *]

i think that when i comes to dress-wear in a church, it really doesn't matter. God doesn't care for the outside...for all you know, a well dressed lady could be somebody totally different on the inside.

however, i think you should dress so that you WON'T make others fall. another words, don't go into church with a miniskirt on, cuz it could be a temptation to others, (lust or whatever)
also, if a church does have rules, you should follow them. not cuz it matters how you dress, but because it's not right to go against rules...no matter how silly they are.

 

[Dewjunkie]

While I believe that church is sacred, and should be approached as such, God will listen to whoever calls on Him, whether they're wearing a $1000 suit or $15 WalMart jeans. NO ONE should be turned away from the opportunity to come to God because of their attire.

As far as the outward witness, I believe your actions speak louder than your attire most times. You could be made up beautifully in a perfect sunday dress, but if you're rude to the cashier at the store, your witness is nil. Saying that Christians have to dress in a certain way causes undue skepticism in unbelievers, because they may feel that if they don't ever put on a suit or a floor length dress they won't be able to get close to God, and that is simply not true.

 

[Rising_Suns]

Hey, I have ear-rings too.

...and a toungue ring...

It's a nice little trail-effect from my days being a quirky little punk in high-school.

Anyway, I still sometimes dress in my old skater style, on ocassion..but it's classy skater...half my wordrobe is like that, then the other half is more like Church cloths oriented; turtle necks, nice sweaters, etc.

Anyway, I like the way I dress and I frankly don't care what other people think. If they judge me on the way I dress, then so be it. It's what's on the inside that counts...as long as what's on the outside doesn't conflict with what's on the inside (like for example, a girl wearing sexy clothing), then there is nothing wrong.

 

[* kittie *]

there's nothing wrong with skater style
mmm...i dress like a tomboy. i'm not rebellious or anything, but i'm a tomboy...so i show that with my clothing.
i think people, like my friends from hs, get disappointed when they find out that i'm not a girly girl. so i might as well let them know from the start, what i'm like.

i think i'm dressing more girly now, cuz my roommates were kinda...
well, they thought that it was weird that i dressed baggy and all that. they diidn't like me wearing my iverson bball shoes with my jeans that were 2 sizes too big. i wish i didn't care...but i just do sometimes.

 

[KeepTheFaith15]

you wear whatever is confortable we are all going to church for the same thing, to worship god i could care less if you are wering a dress the people in the church are in no place to judge you just cause of what you wear, the guys at my church wear jeans or jean shorts and flip flobs, sandals, they dont dress in a dressy fashion they do occasionally but we all like to be confortable it's on the inside and your intentions on the inside that counts! sweet rising_suns i want my tongue pierced!

 

[different_now]

I agree that outward appearance doesnt matter. Having pink hair, body piercings, tattoos, or a certain style of clothing, etc.... doesnt matter. As long as it doesnt say anything against the lord on the shirts or whatever than its fine. Most of the people at the church I attended wear jeans and t-shirts. How fancy you dress doesnt matter to God.

 

[EliasEmmanuel]

Originally posted by yungtryn2makeit
I have recently began the process of changing my life around from the inside.  Honestly I am kinda confused wit the whole outward appearance

For instance.. I where earrings, I dress to where im very comfortable and the whole tie and suit thing, im really not feeling right now...I wear slacks and sometimes jeans to church, I just feel as though its all about whats on the inside, does outward appearance really matter.I mean....Do Christian men have a certain attire..do the women?......I mean I just dont think that people should base your heart over a pair of jeans. Im not just  referring to church, just in general."it was a example" I would like everyones opinions plz...this is my 1st real posts and I would feel good if i had alot of responds

Thank you

 

This is a good question.....

Scripture says, in a lot of different ways throughout the Bible, that character counts more than appearance. The only person I know of in the New Testament that we're given a detailed description of is John the Baptist, and I think that's kind of telling.... clearly character is far more important than the color or style of your clothes.

Calvin says something in Institutes of the Christian religion which I'll try to summarize accurately.... basically, he says "we should always be willing to limit our own freedom for a weaker brother, but never for legalists and Pharasees ". If something's causing problems for someone, by all means put it aside for a time. But if sister Eunice doesn't like your earrings (or whatever), I think the biblical answer is she needs to learn to live with it. God makes all sorts of people and uses them to his glory. The creator of Butterflies also made Earthworms.

Of course, one should always be mindful of pride, and motive, and naturally there are things you could wear that probably wouldn't make God happy.... but overall, be yourself. Wear jeans to church. Be who God wants you to be, not who someone says you're supposed to be.

-Elias

 

[Life]

hi--i think it doesn't matter. he says come as you are. i agree with you, it arts on the inside. I also tink as you mature, your image will change as the Holy Spirit convicts. You wll begin to dress differently and of cours act differently as you conform to the image of Christ and loose the views of the world. I ilke to wear jeans and pants and it makes me upset sometimes when i her preachers talking about women not wearing dresses. I think if there is a problem, the Holy Spirt is there to convict. Which willbring about change if you follow The Lord. :0)

 

[lexxy]

When I rededicated my life to christ , I used to think how you dress doesn't really matter. But I've discovered that as you grow in the Lord, the holyspirit will help you to dress the way God would like for you to dress. Looking back now, there has been quite a transition in my dress mode from my old days before christ and now. Take this issue to the lord in prayer and ask him to direct you and help you to dress as he would want you to. You'll be really surprised at the results you'll get.

 

[StruggleN2survivE]

It was awhile ago that I posted this post...I recently been tryna find a church home and I have woren attire that is comfortable to me, and I feel comfortable with my appearance and how I present myself...not only to church but anywhere I go.Sometime change is better.

Thank You

 

[seangoh]

well, it reminds me of the law.
Some say u keep the law means u're legalistic. Some say just go by faith and u're saved.

What i believe is this ...."If ye love me, keep my commandments."John 14:15

So there is a prerequisite to keeping the law and not being legalistic, the precondition is love.

Similarly, it is because i love God that i want to make sure i present my best whenever i go to Church. I'll also take care of my own body since it's a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Just my 2 cents.