Should I prove a point or not?

This is a question sent in by anonymous on the “Ask Aaron Anything” link:

So I am going to visit a apostolic/pentacostal church with an old friend. they believe women should only wear skirts. I am torn as of what to wear…I want to wear whatever i want but…I dont want to be a jerk. I don’t want them to think I am ok with their views but if I do wear pants they will be praying for my salvation the entire time. I also want to show love and not just be defiant and walk in there like “look at me and my bad self, in my pants, with my two legs…”. So what would be the right thing to do? it would be dumb if i do wear a skirt because my friend already knows I wear pants every other day. So I guess a better question is how should I react to this awkward situation in a way that would still be pleasing to God and not get prideful or irritated at them. Or even better… if I do get angry at them for looking at my clothes instead of trying to see my heart how should I respond? Sorry I know I cheated and that was a zillion questions all at once….thanks!

 

My Answer:

I think this is a great question.  My answer would be that if you are trying to teach them a lesson about cloths to wear you may not be the one to do that… as a visitor.  Also,  is it a fight that is really worth fighting?  I mean you wearing a dress or pants in my opinion is a small fight that is not worth wasting effort on.  So I would say you should do one of two things… (1) Not go and pray for them (2) Go and dress in the right cloths and pray for them.  

I just think cloths are a crazy thing to pick a fight over.  So you have to wear a dress for a sunday and if you do not agree, do not go.  Does that make sense?  

Now there are bigger issues that I would be more worried about then cloths but we will not get into that. Clothing is a small doctrinal issue steeped in deeper doctrines.  I understand you concern about their religious view but do you really think you are going to change them by wearing pants?    

I like a good debate as much as the next but I need to choose my battles and that does not seem like a worth while fight to me.

 

Posted in Ask Aaron Anything |

2 Responses

  1. AndyC Says:
    November 12th, 2008 at 6:32 pm

    Good advice. We sometimes have to be the bigger person when it is a battle not worth fighting over. Your willingness to submit to something you do not agree with but is not of huge importance in the scheme of life is a great way to honor God by not being contentious out of your own pride or stubbornness.

    Now I just have to follow that myself.

  2. Drew Says:
    November 14th, 2008 at 5:32 pm

    If it (obviously) angers, disturbs, provokes, or gets to you as much as it does….um…what’s the motivation of even going to such a place? :/ What’s to be gained there?

    And it sounds very possible you’re now already predisposed to be closed and judgemental to their viewpoints by the effect this anger on this one issue has already had on your heart.

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