Comments on: A Good Point. http://www.feminagirls.com/2009/08/04/a-good-point/ Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:56:22 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Meghan http://www.feminagirls.com/2009/08/04/a-good-point/#comment-296916 Meghan Wed, 05 Aug 2009 20:31:32 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2009/08/04/a-good-point/#comment-296916 I don't think that as Christans we are necessarily waiting for the "green light to follow the world" just because we pick up on some of the trends set forward by them. I would not even call it trend caboos. We would be foolish to think that Christans have to come up with all things in order to be leaders. When Isreal plundered their enemies taking cloth, gold, dishes etc. I would not say they were just trying to make "rebellious trends safe for Israelite homes" because they took what the world had to offer. It is true that some of the treasuse got them in trouble but some was a blessing. The problem came with not discerning what was what. We should be culture makers but some of this includes taking the truely lovely and making it ours. We, as Christians, need to know what to take and what to leave behind but by being discerning we are being leaders. I don’t think that as Christans we are necessarily waiting for the “green light to follow the world” just because we pick up on some of the trends set forward by them. I would not even call it trend caboos.

We would be foolish to think that Christans have to come up with all things in order to be leaders. When Isreal plundered their enemies taking cloth, gold, dishes etc. I would not say they were just trying to make “rebellious trends safe for Israelite homes” because they took what the world had to offer. It is true that some of the treasuse got them in trouble but some was a blessing. The problem came with not discerning what was what.

We should be culture makers but some of this includes taking the truely lovely and making it ours. We, as Christians, need to know what to take and what to leave behind but by being discerning we are being leaders.

]]> By: Sarah S http://www.feminagirls.com/2009/08/04/a-good-point/#comment-296913 Sarah S Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:56:08 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2009/08/04/a-good-point/#comment-296913 Thank you, Rachel for your post. It is a welcome and balanced view to counteract the position that we conservative Christians tend to take to "run as far away from 'the line' as possible." That is merely a defeatist attitude. My family has frequently found this G.K. Chesterton quote helpful as we make clothing/'billboard' decisions: " Don't ever take a fence down unless you know the reason it was put up." Often this leads to discussion about the message of our clothing and then what is really beautiful and what is really not. Then we ask: Does it honor God? Does it honor others (in the area of modesty, aesthetic richness, etc.)? And does it honor the occasion? Anyway, that dips a little in the modesty area more than fashion, but that's inevitable, it seems :). Thank you, Rachel for your post. It is a welcome and balanced view to counteract the position that we conservative Christians tend to take to “run as far away from ‘the line’ as possible.” That is merely a defeatist attitude.

My family has frequently found this G.K. Chesterton quote helpful as we make clothing/’billboard’ decisions:

” Don’t ever take a fence down unless you know the reason it was put up.”

Often this leads to discussion about the message of our clothing and then what is really beautiful and what is really not. Then we ask: Does it honor God? Does it honor others (in the area of modesty, aesthetic richness, etc.)? And does it honor the occasion?

Anyway, that dips a little in the modesty area more than fashion, but that’s inevitable, it seems :) .

]]> By: Dawn http://www.feminagirls.com/2009/08/04/a-good-point/#comment-296767 Dawn Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:45:37 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2009/08/04/a-good-point/#comment-296767 You have again made an excellent point, one which applies to more than just piercings and tats. Christians are salt and light. We should be more concerned with how to affect the world than trying to mimic it. If the salt loses it saltiness.... You have again made an excellent point, one which applies to more than just piercings and tats. Christians are salt and light. We should be more concerned with how to affect the world than trying to mimic it. If the salt loses it saltiness….

]]> By: am http://www.feminagirls.com/2009/08/04/a-good-point/#comment-296766 am Wed, 05 Aug 2009 11:28:53 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2009/08/04/a-good-point/#comment-296766 So when do we get that recipe Lizzie? :D So when do we get that recipe Lizzie? :D

]]> By: Rachel http://www.feminagirls.com/2009/08/04/a-good-point/#comment-296751 Rachel Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:43:12 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2009/08/04/a-good-point/#comment-296751 I have loved reading these posts - thank you for dealing with these issues. It's refreshing to hear more than "that's worldly so we don't do it". I have loved reading these posts – thank you for dealing with these issues. It’s refreshing to hear more than “that’s worldly so we don’t do it”.

]]> By: loisn http://www.feminagirls.com/2009/08/04/a-good-point/#comment-296589 loisn Wed, 05 Aug 2009 05:54:44 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2009/08/04/a-good-point/#comment-296589 Okay just a comment on the nose stud issue. I have someone very dear to me with East Indian roots who I suspect will have a nose stud someday because she will gravitate to it just like she does dangling 4-6 inch earrings, anything that reflects light and very bold bright colors.... The way she adorns herself comes from within her. I have studied her for years now and this does not come from rebelliousness, it is innate. Okay just a comment on the nose stud issue. I have someone very dear to me with East Indian roots who I suspect will have a nose stud someday because she will gravitate to it just like she does dangling 4-6 inch earrings, anything that reflects light and very bold bright colors…. The way she adorns herself comes from within her. I have studied her for years now and this does not come from rebelliousness, it is innate.

]]> By: Allison http://www.feminagirls.com/2009/08/04/a-good-point/#comment-296559 Allison Wed, 05 Aug 2009 05:31:14 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2009/08/04/a-good-point/#comment-296559 There are so many ways to take this conversation, but honestly, my first thought was an example (besides Amoretti, of course): Anna Maria Horner http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com/ She's a Christian (Greek Orthodox, I think?) who designs fabric. With the beautiful fabric she creates, she sews clothes for herself and her daughters and sells her patterns. These clothes are all trendy and funky and fun...but they are also fairly modest, IMO. And her fabric sells out at stores all over the place. Not that popularity means anything. But she seems to me to be making good art to the glory of God. Creative and Christian. That's what I think it means to be living out this crazy ride. Yes, we'll borrow from the fashion of the world but at least we'll do it well. There are so many ways to take this conversation, but honestly, my first thought was an example (besides Amoretti, of course):

Anna Maria Horner http://annamariahorner.blogspot.com/

She’s a Christian (Greek Orthodox, I think?) who designs fabric. With the beautiful fabric she creates, she sews clothes for herself and her daughters and sells her patterns. These clothes are all trendy and funky and fun…but they are also fairly modest, IMO.

And her fabric sells out at stores all over the place. Not that popularity means anything.

But she seems to me to be making good art to the glory of God.

Creative and Christian. That’s what I think it means to be living out this crazy ride. Yes, we’ll borrow from the fashion of the world but at least we’ll do it well.

]]> By: Lisa J. http://www.feminagirls.com/2009/08/04/a-good-point/#comment-296555 Lisa J. Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:59:49 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2009/08/04/a-good-point/#comment-296555 I just want to say "bravo" for what has been said on this blog about tattoos and piercings! Certainly markings have their symbolism, and as the Bible says, our bodies are God's - His temple for HIS SPIRIT! Surely we shouldn't be carving into them! Also, the Bible clearly shows that we are to be women of modest beauty, carrying images of femininity and showing glory to God, not following the trends of Hollywood and those who live such ungodly lifestyles. Would you want your Christian daughter to look like a gothic girl, dressed in all black with black nail polish and lipstick, carrying around the image of death and hopelessness? Absolutely not! We, as Christians, need to stand back and say, "What image or attitude does my action convey if I do this?" and not just do what we want because WE want to do it. The church has become tolerant of many things, trying to become like the world to win the world, producing an entertainment-based church, and living just like them. I am glad to be a part of the church that stands apart! Thanks, Nancy and Rachel! I just want to say “bravo” for what has been said on this blog about tattoos and piercings! Certainly markings have their symbolism, and as the Bible says, our bodies are God’s – His temple for HIS SPIRIT! Surely we shouldn’t be carving into them! Also, the Bible clearly shows that we are to be women of modest beauty, carrying images of femininity and showing glory to God, not following the trends of Hollywood and those who live such ungodly lifestyles. Would you want your Christian daughter to look like a gothic girl, dressed in all black with black nail polish and lipstick, carrying around the image of death and hopelessness? Absolutely not! We, as Christians, need to stand back and say, “What image or attitude does my action convey if I do this?” and not just do what we want because WE want to do it. The church has become tolerant of many things, trying to become like the world to win the world, producing an entertainment-based church, and living just like them. I am glad to be a part of the church that stands apart! Thanks, Nancy and Rachel!

]]> By: Natalie http://www.feminagirls.com/2009/08/04/a-good-point/#comment-296554 Natalie Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:53:17 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2009/08/04/a-good-point/#comment-296554 So, after talking this over with my husband, I'm really finding myself wondering what's left if as Christians we shouldn't follow too far behind the status quo (ie dressing like Kitty Von Bora) nor too closely (ie jumping on the latest trends)? I also start wondering what Christians should do when higher necklines and feminine skirts start showing up on runways in Paris? So, after talking this over with my husband, I’m really finding myself wondering what’s left if as Christians we shouldn’t follow too far behind the status quo (ie dressing like Kitty Von Bora) nor too closely (ie jumping on the latest trends)? I also start wondering what Christians should do when higher necklines and feminine skirts start showing up on runways in Paris?

]]> By: Rayia http://www.feminagirls.com/2009/08/04/a-good-point/#comment-296551 Rayia Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:32:49 +0000 http://femina.reformedblogs.com/2009/08/04/a-good-point/#comment-296551 Very insightful, Rachel! And Hannah, your comments are both lovely and honest. Very insightful, Rachel! And Hannah, your comments are both lovely and honest.

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