After Jon Brisby laid into the women of the Church of God the Eternal, it is now time to tell men how to dress. But not too much, the focus still is mainly on the women.
Given enough time, could we eventually get to the point where it is just as acceptable for men to wear skirts and heels as it is for women? Apparently, Thom Browne wants us to have these kinds of conversations:
Gender fluidity in style is no longer a thing for only women, but men too. Thom Browne, an American designer seems to think men should embrace the trend too and rock a few pieces borrowed from the girls’. His spring summer collection presented at the ongoing Men’s Fashion Week had a slew of dress shirts, tunics, maxi dresses and skirts all worn with pointy-toe heels.
Who says what a man should and shouldn’t wear? The collection
seems to drive a conversation many of us never want to have. And, if a woman can wear a pantsuit, why can’t a man wear a skirt suit?
seems to drive a conversation many of us never want to have. And, if a woman can wear a pantsuit, why can’t a man wear a skirt suit?
Why not indeed? What’s good for the goose is good for the gander, and so this is merely the next outlandish phase of the “unisex conspiracy” which is being foisted upon us by our spiritual enemy. This is not a trend that is likely to affect the church as much, and yet you might be surprised at how it may impact us nonetheless.
And it continues with skinny jeans andCase in point: No doubt that in other particular ancient cultures, a male skirt was once acceptable (most notably the Scots, with the Scottish kilt). But I have already seen men walking around downtown Eugene, Oregon, wearing skirts, and I can tell you they are not going for the “kilt look.” There are some men in the church in past times who have worn kilts as a novelty to highlight their family ancestries. But in today’s political climate, I highly discourage it, since to do so would easily be interpreted by many as being “gender progressive.” Are you creating an appearance of evil by the way you choose to dress (1 Thessalonians 5:22)? This is not to say that it would be inappropriate, for instance, at a Scottish cultural re-enactment gathering. But sadly, at many other times today it would easily be misconstrued. You will witness more and more of this sad transition as time goes on. There is no perversion that human beings will not justify eventually, given enough time to draw it into the mainstream. Just wait and see.
The next issue concerning attire—that many in the church still “don’t get”—is another distinct element defining appropriate pants. I have written about this likewise in past years, but either many have forgotten, or else my explanation was poor. Therefore, I am going to try to make my meaning very plain this time.
Tight britches should never be worn by a man or a woman in public. That means never, under any circumstance! It applies to both sexes, but according to the past trends in our societies, it has dominated in women’s fashion thus far. Here is what I wrote in that same March 2003 Announcement Letter to the church that I quoted from in December:
. . . [A]ppropriate slacks for women will never be form-fitting. (That never used
to be as much an issue for men, but in today’s society, we must admonish men
also to reject pants that are too tight.) This also sounds absurd and prudish by
today’s standards, but that is only because we have been saturated by Satan’s
perverted world for so long, we all have a tendency to accept these corruptions
now without question. Whether it is slacks, dresses, or skirts, a modest woman
of God does not wear form-fitting clothing that draws undue attention to the
body’s shape.
to be as much an issue for men, but in today’s society, we must admonish men
also to reject pants that are too tight.) This also sounds absurd and prudish by
today’s standards, but that is only because we have been saturated by Satan’s
perverted world for so long, we all have a tendency to accept these corruptions
now without question. Whether it is slacks, dresses, or skirts, a modest woman
of God does not wear form-fitting clothing that draws undue attention to the
body’s shape.
This guideline is automatically going to rule out 95% of all pants (especially jeans) sold for women today (not even counting the guideline against front-fly zippers). Beware also, gentlemen, of the new “skinny” styles that are popularizing very “tight” pants, even in formal wear. It has already been very prominent among homosexuals, but more recently has been mainstreamed aggressively. So both men and women in God’s church need to reject these styles.
But it is not only “traditional” slacks or jeans that need to be addressed today. Thanks to another modern trend that has exploded into prominence for women’s casual wear, we now need to say something about yoga pants and leggings.
Do you remember the “old days,” when a little girl wearing tights or leotards under her dress would be admonished by her mother if she did not keep her dress discreetly “down”? She would be told that it is not “ladylike” to let her skirt fly up and reveal her leotards underneath. How things have changed. Nowadays, those same leotards do not require any skirt at all to cover them, but are accepted by grown women to wear out in public. In other words, what used to be considered underwear is now accepted as outerwear by most women today! Lacking any sense of modesty, it’s not much different than just walking around in your pantyhose, sans skirt! How times have changed. How did we get to this point?
What is/are called “leggings” today used to be considered a lady’s “undergarment.” And yoga pants are in the very same category. In both cases, they violate the modesty rule against “form-fitting” clothes that show every contour of the body. It is simply not discreet, no matter what kind of spin you might want to put on it. Yes, being a modest woman in God’s eyes will require you to do things differently than all of the women around you. Worldly women will go running, hiking, cycling, or work out at the gym in skin-tight leggings. But they are not modest. The only question is, will you be?
Seriously? Has ANYONE ever seen a COG woman ANYWHERE ever, EVER dress like this?
Perhaps another lesson about the origin of our modern trends will be enlightening. I saw this article from the New York Times just a few weeks ago, and it says it all. Here are just a few excerpts from an October 27, 2017, piece entitled, It’s Always Fishnets Season Somewhere:
The very prevalence of such images [referring to the glorification of prostitutes in movies and TV shows], overworked as they may be, is a testament to their durability. It is reason enough to look more closely at a position advanced by scholars and style arbiters alike: that the clothes we wear, or might like to wear, owe a very real debt to the world’s most ancient profession . . .
Not a groundbreaking concept, exactly. “There is an untold history of the
relationship between sex workers and fashion,” said Rebecca Arnold, a fashion
historian and lecturer at the Courtauld Institute of Art in London. As fashion’s
early adopters, working women routinely took up what their respectable
contemporaries shunned as too showy, tasteless, or new.
“The dubious woman could be more outlandish in her dress, and more
experimental,” Ms. Arnold said. “She is allied with the idea of fashion as linked,
not necessarily with the avant-garde, but with the beginning of new dress trends.”
“In the disco era, fashion was inspired by drag queens and prostitutes,” said Tom
Fitzgerald, one half of Tom & Lorenzo, an opinionated fashion blog. “Fashion
is always borrowing from street wear, and it doesn’t get more street wear than
hooker.” . . .[Referencing specific examples of pop icons and actresses today who sport these styles:] What’s so compelling about these images? They hint, among other things, at invulnerability. “Designers make references to sex workers to
communicate toughness.” said James Kaliardos, a founder of Visionaire. There
is an understanding, he said, that their client can be a mother, teacher or other
professional, and still want to armor herself in fetish wear.
With this concept in mind, how much of the clothing that women in God’s church have adopted today likewise originated from prostitutes? If you think this is “over the top” dramatization, then by all means, continue to embrace every “latest fashion” that comes out, so you can be sure to “fit in.” But if there are any women in God’s church who instead desire to represent Him as proper ladies, then perhaps a different approach would be advised.
Wearing a short tunic over tight pants and knee-high, high-heeled leather boots might avoid a technical violation of the dress code principles I have already outlined, but it still screams “hooker,” rather than “lady.” Each of you must choose what “look” you are going for.
I suggest that godly women go back and reacquaint themselves with the general standard for dress that Mr. Armstrong gave to us. From The Good News magazine, September, 1962, entitled Women’s Dress Ruling, Mr. Herbert W. Armstrong wrote:
Comparing women to prize winning livestock? Seriously?. . . in conformity with the Word of God, God’s Church encourages women to dress neatly, pleasingly, attractively within the bounds of proper modesty and good taste, and even with sufficient becoming style to express personality and individuality. God Himself expressed perfect artistry in beautiful design in nature—in the lily—the rose—beautiful trees, shrubs and plants—in prize-winning livestock—and even in the beautiful human body, when healthy and not degenerated.
Those are guidelines for attire that have never gone out of style, and they reflect the very same principles God inspired Paul to write about to the church in the first century:
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with
shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly
array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works (1
Timothy 2:9–10).
What else is included within the principles of modesty? In general, clothing should never draw undo attention to the individual. Last year, while traveling through an airport in Frankfurt, Germany, I saw a man who certainly appeared to be wealthy, but he most assuredly was eccentric. He was wearing an expensive sports jacket, dress slacks, and high-quality leather shoes. But the dress pants (blue in color) had a print of white anchors covering them from top to bottom, the sports jacket was a gawdy neon-green color, and the expensive dress shoes were bright yellow. He was a spectacle! This is an extreme example, but perfect to make the point about modesty. It is immodest to do anything that seeks to draw attention to the self. So this includes our words, our behaviors, and yes, our choice of attire. You can adhere to every guideline for proper attire—technically, legalistically—and still have ample opportunity to violate the spirit of the law, if that is your real intent. Wear your bright yellow patent-leather shoes if you want to, but do not do so thinking you are in any way displaying godly modesty.
How would this apply in a more practical way to some of your other decisions about attire? Ladies, besides making sure you pick clothing that is truly feminine, and ladylike, also beware of clothes that are too revealing. Avoid plunging necklines, short skirts, or any other attire that may be very attractive and feminine, but still pushes the boundaries of modesty. When in doubt, leave it out! Practical guidelines? Don’t show your sternum! The sternum is the breastbone that runs down the center of your chest (the one that all of your ribs connect to). Don’t just cover your breasts, but make sure your breastbone is covered as well, and if you do that, you will be absolutely safe from the appearance of being immodest.
How about skirt lengths? The practical standard used in God’s church for decades was always “knee-length.” How do you tell that a dress or skirt is truly knee–length? While wearing it, get down on your knees, and while in that position, straighten the rest of your body fully (no slouching, meaning you are in a true “L” position). If your skirt is touching the floor, it is OK. If it is still floating above the floor, it is too short. Simple! If your dress passes this test, it means that when you sit down in it, it will still be covering the top of your knees. By the way, the deacons in our congregations will not be administering this test to ladies who attend church services. This is your responsibility before God, and you need to choose to comply with these standards for your own sake. I hope you will. (More on that later.)
Church of God deacons monitoring women's dress at church.
Now its time for hair length, the never ending story of the COG.After you choose all of the elements of what you will wear in public, whether casual or formal, then ask yourself what image you will be creating among all who see you. Are you truly manifesting the light of Jesus Christ as a godly man or woman? That is the ultimate standard that should drive all of these apparel choices.
In keeping with God’s intent to make a strong distinction between the appearance of men and women, hair length is part of that law.
Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God (1 Corinthians 11:14–16).
How long is too long for a man, and how short is too short for a woman? To provide a practical guideline, a man’s hair should not touch the collar of his shirt (assuming a standard-collared dress shirt), and a woman’s hair should not be shorter than her collar, or even better, her neck. This is not an explicit “law,” but simply a general guideline to help you make a good decision for yourself. To make it even more understandable, your hair length and hairstyle should be such that if a stranger sees you from the back or side, even for just a fleeting moment, he should have no doubt whether you are male or female. If your appearance would make anyone do a double-take concerning your sex, something is wrong.
What about hair coloring? Coloring the hair is in the very same category as wearing makeup. Wearing makeup is not acceptable before God for His chosen people. We have ample documentation on this doctrine from Mr. Herbert Armstrong, and for more details please read our November 2002 Monthly Letter, entitled, A History of the Doctrine on Makeup in God’s Church. Suffice it to say here that coloring of the hair is no more permissible than is any other kind of makeup. Women may be more inclined to use hair color because of worldly styles, but that too has been morphing more and more to include men. God said that the gray-headed one—”hoary head”—is one to be honored (Leviticus 19:32; Proverbs 16:31). How will the people of God teach this principle to our youth if we are all coloring our hair? For those of you that have been using hair color, for how long will you continue to do it? Till you are in your 80s? Maybe just until you turn 70? How about 60? When will you finally be “too old” to be trying to make yourself look like a thirty-year-old? Eventually, even the world mocks one who takes hair dye too far. The people of God should never even start playing the game to begin with.
Remember women, it is always better to look like this
Now we get to the meat of the matter. Proper attire at church. Apparently COGtE is filled with lots of poorly dressed men and women who are dressing like hookers and transvestites. Brethren! This has to stop!!!!! Seriously! How will you ever make to Petra of you dress like this?
What about proper attire for church services on Sabbaths and Holy Days? The overriding principle emphasizes we are coming into the very presence of God. If you were called before the president, prime minister, or royalty of your country, how would you dress for that meeting? Would you not wear your best? Does God—as Sovereign of the whole universe—deserve any less than we would give to human rulers on this earth? In the church, we were taught we should always wear our best to services. If that means the best we have is a pair of overalls, then that is acceptable to God, given they are clean, pressed, and well cared for. But in most cases, the people of God can afford something better for these solemn occasions. In fact, if you think you cannot afford better than a pair of overalls, please contact me and I would be very happy to help you solve your problem. There are many inexpensive solutions for those who care enough to act upon them. What guidelines should we use?
Men ordinarily should wear suits and ties (unless the standard for formal dress in your country is something different, like a barong in the Philippines). Suits and ties are the standard today in most countries for formal occasions. Over past decades, a number of men have tried to argue that suits and ties are modern inventions, and that Jesus Christ did not wear them. But the spiritual principle is that Christ wore what was customary for His time, including what was acceptable for formal occasions, as long as it did not violate any other law of God. In our day, golf shirts, polo shirts, open collars, etc. are considered casual, not formal. While the trend today is to eliminate formal wear more and more, that is one custom the church must reject.
But what about those who would say we are dressing for God, not for men? Keep in mind another important spiritual principle. “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1Thessalonians 5:22). This tells us true Christians are accountable not only to be right in heart before God, but also to work specifically to avoid creating a negative impression in the minds of others. This does not mean we are to obsess over what someone else might think. But it does mean we are each responsible for taking into account the natural impression our actions and behaviors might leave upon others. What does that have to do with church attire? A man who resists wearing a suit and tie for other than financial constraints is willing to let others assume he feels it is OK to dress casually before God. Oh yes, it can be clarified one-on-one that this is not the intended orientation, but the very fact such explanations have to be given is evidence an appearance of evil is first being made, and then thereafter needing correction. For those who resist ties because they are uncomfortable, the solution is usually to buy a dress shirt with the correct collar size. A well-fitting collar allows one to fasten the top button without constricting the neck. A tie that is not too tight need not bind or cause real discomfort. Even a string tie would be better than no tie at all.
What about the ladies? The rules outlined above for women’s dress all apply especially to attire for church services. If one is weak—and inclined to depart from God’s standard of dress during the week—by all means, at least refrain from bringing such weakness into the church. Habits of wearing inappropriate clothes should be rooted out altogether, but let it begin by correcting our appearance when we come before God.
What is the proper role of the ministry in relation to all of these principles and
guidelines? I will let my comments from that same 2003 Announcement Letter suffice:
What about ministerial enforcement of dress standards within the church?
Decades ago, many of you may have experienced an administrative philosophy whose intent was to create a “perfect” church. While very well-meaning, real obedience is by faith—of the heart and mind—and not merely an outward appearance. If those attending services comply with the law only out of fear of the ministry—and not a heartfelt desire to please God—then God does not accept that orientation anyway, and sin still exists. So no human being—minister or otherwise—can ever create a perfect church. The results of that
misguided—howbeit earnest—goal became all too evident in its failure to produce spiritual fruits. Those who adhered to church teachings out of fear—without real faith—ultimately cast them aside when real trials surfaced. The real process of perfection is taking place in the minds of those who are willingly overcoming the carnal nature and putting on more of the mind of Jesus
Christ.
It was therefore never Mr. Raymond Cole’s approach to have deacons
scrutinizing members’ dress and militantly intercepting and confronting those who did not fully measure up. Neither should it be the laity’s role to scrutinize one another. (However, if one continues to dress questionably, wears make-up—which God despises—or engages in any other prohibited behavior, one hardly has anyone else to blame if negative attention is attracted. If we know these things are wrong, why would we bring more problems upon ourselves by insisting on bringing worldly customs into the church?) Mr. Cole spoke strongly from the pulpit God’s requirements for obedience—without holding back—and then made it the individual’s responsibility to act upon that knowledge. Certainly, if something considered blatant sin is brought into the body—having the potential to destroy the flock—that must be dealt with strongly by the ministry. But such authority has never been exercised in Church of God, The Eternal in an arbitrary or presumptuous way. This ministry seeks to give time for overcoming, as long as an attitude of rank rebellion is not being manifested. Has that orientation led
us to more and more liberality in the last twenty-eight years of our existence? No,
it has not, which is the best proof of the wisdom of that benevolent administration.
With that being said, I hope such patience and long-suffering by the ministry will not be misinterpreted as weakness or fear of confrontation. If it ever becomes apparent our long-suffering—in giving time for repentance concerning the dress of some in the church—begins to cause serious problems for the body at large, such issues will be dealt with to preserve proper peace and unity. The majority—if truly converted—should be manifesting good fruits in many ways, including personal attire. Those who are sincere will heed these instructions, not as the opinions of any man, but the literal instructions of God.
Jesus Christ no more spoke this to Brisby than Christ spoke to Almost, but not arrested Bob Thiel telling him to start a new church.
Dear friends of the common Faith, these are the principles that I have felt compelled to cover for the benefit of the whole church. I am claiming that Jesus Christ has inspired me directly to focus these two Monthly Letters on the topic. Now it is up to you to either agree with that blunt assertion, or to reject it. Please choose wisely.
You are all much loved and appreciated for the sacrifices you have already made in your lives to try to come out of this world and to live in the example of Jesus Christ. May God grant you each to continue in that path, and to manifest even more of the light of His Way in the time you have remaining.
29 comments:
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Yes! You too, can now absolutely ensure, without ANY doubt at all, that YOU will be in compliance with all of the standards and practices of the Church of God!
You too, can look like Mrs. Olson! Go back in time with the wonderful modesty of the 1880s style dress and 1880s undergarments! Yes, you may have to take 20 minutes just to be able to go to the bathroom, but, OH BOY, you'll be in compliance and won't have to worry about peeing off the ministry! BUT WAIT! We'll go a step further! We won't even intermingle fabrics! So it's even better than what LAURA wore!!!
Dance around with a COG Deacon playing the fiddle and NO OTHER MUSIC! Wear the bonnet and complete the look! Yes, we will bring back the 1880s so you can be ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN YOU AREN'T DOING A DARN THING WRONG TWENTY FOUR HOURS A DAY SEVEN DAYS A WEEK!!!
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RE: Conan O' Brien pic:
Conan O' Brien looks like he's wearing George Washington's pants actually. Actually, that style would be acceptable in the 1700s and 1800s.
And in modern Ballet.
Well, I'm not religious one bit but I wish everyone would dress like COG people. I am sick of creepy tattoos, pierced eyelids, metro-sexual attire, pony tails on "men", nose-rings, and the whole sickening baggy-pants show-your-underware thing. What a pile of twisted sissy degenerates.
While in the WCG I don't recall any Scots-related cultural event. We once had "the Original Greek" minister who held a Greek evening, with the host wearing traditional Greek clothing, including the pleated skirt.
Exodus 20:26 warns priests not to go up steps as they would expose themselves - obviously not wearing COG-acceptable male attire!
I wonder what Jesus told John the Baptist to change into before he let him baptize him? If John then changed into a nice white robe of sorts and baptized Jesus, it must have been done from the heart, and not for appearance sake right?
Since the death of Raymond Cole in 2001, this organization has progressively gotten worse with its doctrines. Although seemingly continuing to hold onto the Holy Days they have kept from 1974 to present, many other things have been twisted and altered, added to and subtracted from. A comparison of material will plainly show any current lay member attending there, that "one Jot or one tittle" and more has changed. By the words of the Apostle Paul, that is all that is needed to biblically depart. Not depart from what each individual was called into and came to wholeheartedly believe, but it gives them the authority to depart from the organization if it does not completely dovetail with that which the Word of God says. Fear of a man is the overriding factor in this group and many others. Remember, God has not given us a spirit of fear, and he has made each and everyone responsible for their own calling. No excuse in bending to coercion from a minister or lay member in the end will hold weight with our judge. Make no mistake, that is what these two letters along with many others over the years is, cocercion. Interestingly enough, they go against and absolutely crush into pieces their fundamental #22 (which they call doctrine). Read it and see if it doesn't.
The Word of God is the standard, they should know that. It is every Christians duty and responsibility to their calling to stay alert. Let no man lead you astray.
Remember the words of God when admonishing Peter for wanting to build a tabernacle to men:
"This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him".
Getting a little creepy over at that COG. Next thing you know , they will outlaw "tampons" saying that you are not a "virgin" if you use them.
I’ve never heard of John Brisby, so far as I can recall, but I’m thinking that this load of crap has got to be over-compensation for something or other of a personal nature.
BB
Anon 534 - All that's recorded about John the Baptist's clothing was that he wore a camel hair garment and leather belt (Matt 3:4).
HWA once asked the AC students, "Why would you want to have long hair and look like a woman?" I might ask him, "Why do you want to shave your face smooth and look like a women?" Doesn't nature itself tell us that men should have beards?
Dress codes and other behaviors were coercively enforced, as 5.54 PM points out. Herb claiming that the church 'encourages' a dress code is laughable. That's only Pharisaic window dressing. Rather it's all threats and verbal violence.
According to safety guidelines on public transport, people should try to blend in rather than stand out. It's the camouflage thingy. This should be considered in following the church dress code.
"HWA once asked the AC students, "Why would you want to have long hair and look like a woman?" I might ask him, "Why do you want to shave your face smooth and look like a women?" Doesn't nature itself tell us that men should have beards?"
exactly...at one time it was shameful for a man to shave his beard.
when I was growing up it was shameful for a man to have a beard....nowadays beards are quite common and well accepted.
appearance is cultural, and changes over time.
if someone is deliberately dressing provocatively that's one thing....snug fitting clothes are currently in style......it will pass.
So I guess this means that the singles retreat at the naturist resort is out?
Speaking of tight pants- watch Tony Morris, a member of the Governing Body of the Jehovah's Witnesses make an utter fool of himself.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U_sz8MsUqQ
Now our buddy Tony gets a prank call over it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgmdF-0YGyU
Church of God men know a lot about prostitutes. They keep them in business.
"if someone is deliberately dressing provocatively that's one thing."
It's their business what they do and how and why they dress as they do, no one elses and especially not the religious gestapo.
This is such a throwback. Back in the ‘50s, people used to dress up to go to the supermarket for a loaf of bread, or when traveling by airplane or train.
Any idiot that insists that I change greasy levis and faded tank top to go to O’Reiley’s for auto parts, and then Circle K next door for beer while I’m working on my car, just to appear as a proper church member before my neighbors, is a dictator and a tyrant, and deserves to have all the members of his church leave. All he’s doing is teaching people to look down on anyone that doesn’t follow his guidelines.
It’s hard enough sometimes with greasy hands, just to put on shoes to comply with merchant’s insurance rules.
BB
This advice appears right next to the photo of a woman wearing a burqa: "Ladies, besides making sure you pick clothing that is truly feminine, and ladylike, also beware of clothes that are too revealing. Avoid plunging necklines, short skirts, or any other attire that may be very attractive and feminine, but still pushes the boundaries of modesty. When in doubt, leave it out!"
Reminds me of a favorite bit of humor from long ago. My junior high classmates and I thought was hilarious.
"It felt so nice out today that I just left it out!"
ACOG ministers don’t like to be surrounded by people who project dominance or independence in their attitudes, body language, or attire. And, they are especially intimidated by and combative towards alpha females. These ministers don’t want to see church members in the real world, like at the supermarket, looking like they could mop up the floor with their asses. It’s not enough that the members must look all submissive at church, they want you to look that way if they happen to see you when you are in the general public as well. Not only do they not want you to wear your black or red dress shirts to sabbath services, they don’t want to see you in your anti-victim attire at the movies or bowling alley with your wife.
Oh, and if your minister pulls up next to you at a traffic light, and you are on your way home from your construction job, you’d better be listening to Beethoven instead of Blake Shelton or Alan Jackson! You see, successful ACOG membership is all about being a submissive. Even in their own apparent dominance, the ministers are leading you in the ways of submissiveness to the antiquated and irrelevant ideas of HWA. If you are an RCG or PCG member, sorry to have to break this to you, but your fearless leader? He’s not your spiritual guide. He’s the guy who has made you his bitch. And you let him get away with it, without making any attempts to question his authority or to level him. Shame, shame, shame.
BB
Well from this article i interpret the men have got to wear Charlie chaplin style trousers. With definately no form showing. No patterns, checks and definately no anchors. The women have it easier they should bulk buy burkas or better still hold a womens retreat and sew their own.
1940s’ clothing styles have always been the permanent Armstrongite style. Never shake it up, never do anything different, never have fun with your clothes. They’re just there, a bland and generic outer body covering. You are not allowed to make them an individual form of expression which makes you appear distinct or different.
BB
Byker Bob 6:01 PM said, "1940's clothing styles have always been the permanent Armstrongite style. Never shake it up, never do anything different, never have fun with your clothes. They're just there, a bland and generic outer body covering. You are not allowed to make them an individual form of expression which makes you appear distinct or different.
We-say;
We-are-not-programmed-to-have-fun.
We-are-one.
We-are-Borg.
You-will-be-assimilated.
Look at the photo below and see what LCG now considers an appropriate female hairstyle. Even Rod McNair has longer hair than the woman in that photo. It's enough to make COGE leaders lose their minds!
An LCG Woman's Hairstyle
As crazy as this sounds short, sharp hairstyles on women are actually favoured by some of the elite within COG orgs. I remember witnessing a deaconess approaching women at sabbath church services, advising them to cut their hair into short sharp styles because it would look neat. They looked shocked.
5:53AM nailed it. Any man who feminizes himself by shaving off his God-given beard has no business complaining about a woman's hairstyle or her choice of clothing. God didn't give men business suits, ties, or wing-tip dress shoes. He did give them beards to distinguish them from women. Many fashion styles are culturally driven and changeable, but human biology is a direct gift from God. If the command to men is, "Don't make yourself look like a woman" then that command had better come from a man wearing a beard.
Jon Brisby makes up doctrines as easily as his IDOL Herbert W. Armstrong did. No wonder some of his parishioners call him "Pope Jon". I listened to his 'makeup sermon'a couple of weeks back, online, he uses 3 scriptures that do not reference whores, or prostitutes in any way, yet he tries to tell the sheeple that the Bible condemns makeup because you are trying to be a whore! Amazingly, many of those sheeple believe him (& believe IN him, as if he were Jesus Christ, Himself) and Armstrong without any Biblical proof whatsoever.
Question!:Doesn't 2nd Peter 1:20 say "Knowing this first, that no prophecy (interpretation) of the scripture is of any private interpretation.;"
Question!: and also, Paul said, in 2 Tim 3:16 "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:"
In other words, from what Paul's words clearly say, "Doctrine comes from the scriptures, NOT from the minds of men!"
So that states, very positively, that Brisby's and Armstrong's "Doctrine" concerning makeup, (and many others) are just that - they are made up .....(by a Man!). But then, they obviously don't honor Christ's admonishment - "Matt 15;9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
"Mark 7:7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
Whatever happened to Armstrong's opening statement on the old 1960's "The World Tomorrow" radio program? He was fond of saying, "Don't believe me, believe your Bible!" I guess that changed when they became members of "his" church .... I know it did when I became a member, we were told that the ministry had all the education and Bible knowledge, and we should listen to them and study the Bible Correspondence Course to learn what the Bible says (which avoided anything that Herby didn't agree with) .... until I started to read my Bible. (In other words. You are too uneducated and ignorant to 'truly' understand, let us tell you what those scriptures 'really' mean!). And according to one of his latest sermons online; 'Pope Jon' now says "reading the Bible too much will make you crazy," and also "you'll be heading for the lake of fire, Gehenna Fire!" Look up and listen to some of his sermons on line for these statements! This guy is a power-mad, authoritarian, money-hungry cult-leader, no doubt! These cults are fear-driven, the more they put you in fear of losing your salvation, going to hell, losing eternal life, being out of God's favor, etc. the more thy have you hooked. And I attended 'his church' for a while - and I'm very glad I got out before Christ returns! whatever you do. listen to his sermons online, He's like a snake, or a Used-Car salesman, he said in one of his sermons (online), that he could convince you of the opposite of truth, and I believe that it's possible if you're not aware. he's very good at what he does, very charismatic, and he can convince you if you don't watch yourself very closely!
Mr. Brisby does not make up doctrine. With Christ living in him the words he preaches are directly from Christ himself. You haters need to repent of your lies and return to the truth!
Where does it say in the Bible, "Thou shalt not celebrate birthdays"? Where does it say "Thou shalt not wear makeup?" You gotta lotta nerve calling people haters, when you don't even question the minister that is making up doctrine right before your eyes, right there in the services!
Jon Brisby has since Feb 21 did sermons and bible studies trying to destroy the character of of a young woman saying she has a demon because she went to the doctor to save her life. The lies ,half truth, and deceit is amazing. The truth has not been told. The man he is protecting is HIS Golden BOY. He can not to anything wrong ,and if you don't agree with Jon and his lies you are put out. Jon keeps saying the woman stole the children but the truth is the husband kidnapped his own kids and hid them at his mothers in another state and the police had to go get them back. But Jon keeps telling these lies.
Jon received sealed records illegally from the husband so Jon knows what the husband is being accused of. And he comes out in his sermons and it is all about him (Jon) and how HE is being persecuted and yet HE is the persecutor of this woman and her family. The husband is still not paying child support, when he was told to way back when. The husband was told to give his wife her things so what he does is throw everything out in rain to destroy it. WHO REALLY HAS THE DEMON HERE? There is much more that I could say. Now you can get a divorce over your finances, why did we sit through 3 months of divorce and remarriage sermons and now he has admitted he told his GOLDEN BOY TO GET A DIVORCE BECAUSE OF MONEY AND IT WAS THE HUSBAND WHO STOLE ALL THE MONEY.
Many know Jon by his fruits, and they are spoiled. This is why his group is dwindling.
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