|
Users viewing this topic:
none
|
|
Login  | |
|
Move To The Back of The Sanctuary, Please. - 10/1/2008 1:47:22 PM
|
|
|
DuckTalk
Posts: 228
Joined: 9/16/2008
From: A Duck Hole in Tennessee
Status: offline
|
My step-daughter & her husband belong to a very small church where the preacher instructed a deacon to escort a teenager who was visiting the church for the 1st time to sit in the back pew because she was inappropriately dressed. She was wearing a very short skirt.
Is this something that is commonly practiced?
_____________________________
Sufferin' sassafrass. The nerve of some people, profitting from other people's miseries.
|
|
|
|
RE: Move To The Back of The Sanctuary, Please. - 10/1/2008 1:48:30 PM
|
|
|
MrFribbles
Posts: 1722
Joined: 1/29/2007
From: Hawaii, but I've moved around since then
Status: offline
|
I sure hope not, because Jesus sure wouldn't like it.
_____________________________
You're a door without a key,
A field without a fence.
You've made a holy fool of me,
And I've thanked you ever since.
- Aaron Weiss
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Move To The Back of The Sanctuary, Please. - 10/1/2008 1:53:21 PM
|
|
|
raivyne
Posts: 899
Joined: 8/28/2008
Status: online
|
reminds me of the line in a song "God's gotta change her heart before he changes her shirt". not the best way to minister to that young lady IMO.
_____________________________
God grades on the cross – not on a curve
Good – God = 0
In the dark? Follow the Son!
The Power of a Simple Gift! samaritanspurse.org
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Move To The Back of The Sanctuary, Please. - 10/1/2008 2:14:10 PM
|
|
|
terryjohn
Posts: 470
Joined: 3/23/2007
Status: offline
|
The other extreme of course is that, if she was wearing nothing, should they do nothing? If she had, would it be unloving not to give her a blanket?
If a drunk came in smoking and drinking and sat down at the front would we leave them there? May we come before God in our own ways and if He does not like then He is at fault?
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Move To The Back of The Sanctuary, Please. - 10/1/2008 2:21:03 PM
|
|
|
AGilpin93
Posts: 2
Joined: 8/21/2008
Status: offline
|
we have to have the faith in our youth and remember that they are young, and so is their faith. as they grow, their faith will grow & they will realize on their own what is appropriate clothing to wear when worshiping our Lord. Blessings
_____________________________
christian t shirts
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Move To The Back of The Sanctuary, Please. - 10/1/2008 2:24:47 PM
|
|
|
TorchHeart
Posts: 1598
Joined: 6/4/2008
From: One of the coldest places on Earth
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: terryjohn
The other extreme of course is that, if she was wearing nothing, should they do nothing? If she had, would it be unloving not to give her a blanket?
If a drunk came in smoking and drinking and sat down at the front would we leave them there? May we come before God in our own ways and if He does not like then He is at fault?
You're not just talking about extremes, you're taking things to extremes here. If a person came into a church (or any facility) stark naked, calling the police would probably be a good idea. For a person who enters a church or other building where public drunkeness or smoking is prohibited, then that's also another matter and a much more extreme one than this.
That's not the case here. The woman had a short skirt. She wasn't flashing the congregation or making a scene, or behaving indecently. She had on a skirt that the preacher felt was too short. Such a descrete and possibly innocent faux paus should've been dealt with in a more descrete and appropriate manner, rather than to make a scene about it.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Move To The Back of The Sanctuary, Please. - 10/1/2008 2:28:52 PM
|
|
|
1love1God1way
Posts: 2401
Joined: 5/16/2005
Status: offline
|
Another example of the church not acting like the church. . . sad day for Christendom. I hope she isn't so turned off by the church that she never goes back.
_____________________________
love.ben
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Move To The Back of The Sanctuary, Please. - 10/1/2008 2:38:26 PM
|
|
|
mvic
Posts: 1601
Joined: 1/17/2008
Status: offline
|
A woman enters the church with a very low décolleté dress. The verger stops her because of her attire.
She protests: I have a perfect right to enter the church.
He replies: Madam you have a perfect left too; but you're not coming in dressed like that.
Regarding the young teenager in the Opening Post. We really don't know how short the skirt was - but surely the preacher and the deacon could have used more tact and diplomacy.
_____________________________
Visit http://www.holyvisions.co.uk
My Book My Blog
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Move To The Back of The Sanctuary, Please. - 10/1/2008 2:44:34 PM
|
|
|
DuckTalk
Posts: 228
Joined: 9/16/2008
From: A Duck Hole in Tennessee
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: 1love1God1way
Another example of the church not acting like the church. . . sad day for Christendom. I hope she isn't so turned off by the church that she never goes back.
Oh, I assure you that she never went back. At least not to THAT church. This happened sometime back & God only knows where the girl is now. They believe that they are right though because they are abiding by God's laws of the land.
Their legalistic ways have turned many away, but they feel they are an "elect few" who can & do live according to the way God wants us to & if others can't, then it is so sad that they will all go to hell, but these people won't deviate & allow themselves to be drug down with them.
_____________________________
Sufferin' sassafrass. The nerve of some people, profitting from other people's miseries.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Move To The Back of The Sanctuary, Please. - 10/1/2008 2:57:31 PM
|
|
|
raivyne
Posts: 899
Joined: 8/28/2008
Status: online
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: terryjohn
May we come before God in our own ways and if He does not like then He is at fault?
I dunno if that's a fair characterization of those who feel he was too harsh.
This young lady was obviously seeking, she took the first step towards Christ. It would be our job to teach her why her attire was not appropriate for church... not just to send her away crying. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. It doesn't diminish the effect, but it makes it easier to swallow. IOW a more gentle admonishion could have brought her back to the church, made her feel loved and cared for and paved the way for the changes she needs to make; i'm pretty sure all she felt from this experience was rejection.
_____________________________
God grades on the cross – not on a curve
Good – God = 0
In the dark? Follow the Son!
The Power of a Simple Gift! samaritanspurse.org
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Move To The Back of The Sanctuary, Please. - 10/1/2008 3:33:19 PM
|
|
|
earthless
Posts: 6209
Joined: 4/11/2005
From: where pigeons are wearing sweaters....
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: 1love1God1way
Another example of the church not acting like the church. . . sad day for Christendom. I hope she isn't so turned off by the church that she never goes back.
for it will be better for him that day to tie a rock around his neck and throw himself in the sea..............
_____________________________
Probing Today's Religious Movements | Promoting Doctrinal Discernment & Critical Thinking | Providing Reasons for Christian Faith & Ethics
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Move To The Back of The Sanctuary, Please. - 10/1/2008 3:54:31 PM
|
|
|
pg4Him
Posts: 20
Joined: 6/5/2008
Status: offline
|
I'm not a theological expert or anything, but this is my two cents.
There are two sides to every story and two extremes to every situation. As we sit here complaining about this church being judgemental, are we not too quick to judge the church? We don't know how revealing the outside was or what the girl's personality was like.
She could have been there seeking for Christ, or she could have been there because someone asked/made her go. There's not much way to know for sure without talking her to. I've also seen some women who enoy seducing pastors and deacons. I've seen some girls use an emotional moment at the altar to get closer to a boy. Now I'm *not* saying this girl was like that, but's not unheard of.
Each situation is different and needs discernment to handle it diplomatically.
_____________________________
To hear the Word and not *do* the Word is to still not know the Word.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Move To The Back of The Sanctuary, Please. - 10/1/2008 4:07:48 PM
|
|
|
rcjames
Posts: 5661
Joined: 7/15/2005
From: Oklahoma
Status: offline
|
If the girl was being a distraction, the situation could have been handled more discreetly than was reported and might had been so.
I do not know if the OP was a witness or just heard about it.
I have never ask anyone to go to the back pew, but when I have teens or children that will not be still or are distracting their parents; I go and get them and put them on the front row. That has a very calming effect.
Thanks
RC
_____________________________
Just a country Preacher's humble opinion
Read the first chapter of my latest book here;
http://www.deliveranceofsara.com
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Move To The Back of The Sanctuary, Please. - 10/1/2008 4:14:02 PM
|
|
|
DuckTalk
Posts: 228
Joined: 9/16/2008
From: A Duck Hole in Tennessee
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: rcjames
.........
I do not know if the OP was a witness or just heard about it.
..........
Thanks
RC
No, I was not witness to this. My son-in-law, who is the deacon was telling about this having been his duty. He seemed quite proud of his church being one of the few that adheres to such strict guidelines. Maybe "proud" is not the correct word to describe his manner, but it was very disconcerting to say the least.
_____________________________
Sufferin' sassafrass. The nerve of some people, profitting from other people's miseries.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Move To The Back of The Sanctuary, Please. - 10/1/2008 4:17:46 PM
|
|
|
Liveloved
Posts: 1892
Status: offline
|
quote:
Is this something that is commonly practiced?
Yes. I've watched the church 'practice' all manner of bad behavior over the years. I've even found myself being the one being bad. But the good news is that we have a merciful God who knows our weaknesses and loves us. . . and offers forgiveness when we repent. 
And not one who is His will be lost. If this young woman is His, it doesn't matter how badly she may have been treated. God wins every time.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Move To The Back of The Sanctuary, Please. - 10/1/2008 4:19:34 PM
|
|
|
wintery
Posts: 1867
Joined: 2/1/2007
From: nw alabama
Status: offline
|
How does the pastor in the story know it wasn't a "skort"? (that's shorts made with an outer skirt)
It probably wouldn't have mattered.
Anyway I don't excuse poor judgment. A bad decision to make something out of nothing, based on the info given in the op. It's a bad witness to make one's opinion of clothing a matter of seating preference in church. And it's unscriptural:
For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
(James 2:2-5)
I total equate "vile raiment" as what he judged her clothing to be and a "stand thou there" is the same as "sit in the back"--exactly the same.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Move To The Back of The Sanctuary, Please. - 10/1/2008 4:34:47 PM
|
|
|
armydude
Posts: 16894
Joined: 2/12/2006
From: NC
Status: online
|
Has anyone thought about the idea that the pastor was trying to protect himself from what may be a weakness to him? Remember that pastors are people with weaknesses just like everyone else.
_____________________________
No act of kindness is too small when measured by nail-pierced hands.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Move To The Back of The Sanctuary, Please. - 10/1/2008 4:44:45 PM
|
|
|
wintery
Posts: 1867
Joined: 2/1/2007
From: nw alabama
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: armydude
Has anyone thought about the idea that the pastor was trying to protect himself from what may be a weakness to him? Remember that pastors are people with weaknesses just like everyone else.
yes, I thought about it...and thought that was a poor way to work out your lust problem by blaming someone else...although I don't think this was the case. Certain churches have in the last few years been promoting "church authority" over "sin" and "sinners" and I wondered if that's their game. Again poor choices that don't save anybody.
Just my two cents dude.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Move To The Back of The Sanctuary, Please. - 10/1/2008 4:47:59 PM
|
|
|
pg4Him
Posts: 20
Joined: 6/5/2008
Status: offline
|
Without more details it's simply impossible to draw a firm conclusion.
I remember one night when I was in church, a strange woman came into the sanctuary in the middle of the service, not to hear the sermon but to ask her grandmother for some money. The woman had on a tight halter top and daisy dukes. She walked right up to the front of the church and started distracting everyone to get her grandmother's attention. The two women squabbled for several minutes until finally a deacon asked them to go out to the lobby.
Then the grandmother had a cow. She literally stopped service and demanded an apology for the deacon being rude.
Again I'm not saying the young girl in the skirt was the same situation, and maybe the church in that case overreacted somewhat, but there comes a point where things can be distracting.
_____________________________
To hear the Word and not *do* the Word is to still not know the Word.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Move To The Back of The Sanctuary, Please. - 10/1/2008 4:49:35 PM
|
|
|
armydude
Posts: 16894
Joined: 2/12/2006
From: NC
Status: online
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: wintery
quote:
ORIGINAL: armydude
Has anyone thought about the idea that the pastor was trying to protect himself from what may be a weakness to him? Remember that pastors are people with weaknesses just like everyone else.
yes, I thought about it...and thought that was a poor way to work out your lust problem by blaming someone else...although I don't think this was the case. Certain churches have in the last few years been promoting "church authority" over "sin" and "sinners" and I wondered if that's their game. Again poor choices that don't save anybody.
Just my two cents dude.
That brings up another question. He asked a deacon to move her to the back pew. Does that imply blame? I don't see it. I would have handled it differently (praise in public, criticize in private), but I believe I can understand his reasoning. All he's guilty of is bad methods.
_____________________________
No act of kindness is too small when measured by nail-pierced hands.
|
|
|
|
|
RE: Move To The Back of The Sanctuary, Please. - 10/1/2008 4:50:22 PM
|
|
|
DuckTalk
Posts: 228
Joined: 9/16/2008
From: A Duck Hole in Tennessee
Status: offline
|
quote:
ORIGINAL: armydude
Has anyone thought about the idea that the pastor was trying to protect himself from what may be a weakness to him? Remember that pastors are people with weaknesses just like everyone else.
So he's ready to cast the girl off, but not his own iniquity?
Given that thought, then I would say that if he feels that his weakness is more powerful than God's work in him, perhaps he should not be at the pulpit ~~~~~~~~Matthew 5:29 "And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell."
_____________________________
Sufferin' sassafrass. The nerve of some people, profitting from other people's miseries.
|
|
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
 Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts |
|
|
Forum Tools
Printable Version
