Come As You Are??

[Evangelist Marianna Humphrey]

It has been such a touchy subject that I have decided to put this out there ... Now when the phrase came out in my days(Come as you are) being a Babe in Christ my understanding was *The HEART*, the unregenerated YOU.. Many of us sure we did not have what I will call apporpiate apparell.. I can only speak for me not anyone else... When I got saved in 1982 it was a Friday night, I came as I was (HEART as well as what I had on) which was jeans and a hoody... However the most wonderful , greatest thing happened that night.. I had gotten saved... Now nobody told me what not and what I could wear, but the change that took place inside mattered to me... Listen It is just like as if u r going on an interview in the secular world, how would u dress? certainly not in jeans and a tee shirt, u would dare not if u were a female, go on an interview in mini skirts, revealing tops, or clothes that r so skin tight u may as well , UMMMMM u get that pic..Men would never go on an interview unshaven, wearing jeans and a suit jacket to an interview, you would wear a shirt and tie if u had no jacket, come on now.. I seen Brothas come in and been in church a long time now (IN SOME CHURCHES) come in church with earrings in both ear so called bling blingin, but say come as u are? a regenerated Brotha would know better then that.. Sending a message that GOD's house is an open fashion show displaying what the world wears is unacceptable.. So on that note, even unsaved or not , you know how to dress to impress on the interview, So then my Sistas & Brothas here , why? in the CHURCH are we having an issue about dress or come as u are??? When u become born again does not a change take place?? When u receive the *HOLY GHOST* does not he reveal to u all things? Do u not have a change of HEART and a new way of thinking? I have seen so many times, Now churches are getting lax in HOW people come to church, then you wonder why? it seems the church is like the secular world there is no distinct difference, So many have used that phrase so loosly come as u r, and WOW, souls r coming to church just as they are, and leaving the same way JUST as they are.. No change, No conviction, JUST as the young people say, *JUST A HOT MESS*. Now for those of you that shall read this, which is my thoughts and opinion, u r ready to jump all over this, I never said that u had to (FEMALES) wear your skirts down to the floor but for my Brothas in the church that have a struggle within them, it is hard to see JESUS for looking at sistas with skin tight clothes on, revealing clothes on & pants that shows the silouette of your shape.. Again this is my opinion and my experience since I have been SAVED.. The excuse many use(Pastors) without teaching the new converts about change are merely having a different agenda, many are concerned about money, how big your church is or can be.. Some where in the Bible it states be in the world but not of it.. I'm no Bible scholar but sounds like to me, there aught to B a big difference.. Too much sugar coating the word to me.. Maybe if a whole lot of churches would impress upon the REGENERATED soul , we would not see so much of any thing goes in the CHURCH.. Now if U Dress for success on an interview and in the job arena lets say, WHY come to GOD'S house any kind of way??.. Last I checked GOD is a GOD of order.. What was good enough for the saints back then and my time coming up, surely it is good enough for this day and age.. LAST but not least again this is my own thoughts and opinion.. (pls excuse any misspelled words, but u get the pic) God Bless...

P.S.
For the sake of looks
Umm I can & I do look just as "Fly" in my apparell
in the house of GOD, yes I wear earrings , jewlery,
and dresses/skirts that r not touching the floor but long
enough to Be presentable..I dress in modest apparell...
NO EXCUSES 4 ME...

[Apostle Samuel Medina]

This more than an issue of dress, or respecting the house of God. I agree that the sinner will come "as you are," but God does not intend for us to STAY that way. Unfortunately the church has turned 'come as you are' into 'stay as you are,' and the result is a church in which many people never submit to the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, and instead will continue in their own ways.

Attire is really just a symptom of underlying issues. It's one thing if you just got saved and don't have the funds to change your whole wardrobe, but it's another thing to be saved for quite some time and still dress indecently or in any way which is out of godly order. The same goes for our conduct, and the only real solution is a genuine desire to turn away from our own ways and surrender to the Lordship of Christ, because it is out of that surrender to Him that obedience will come.

[Eric Hancock]

Come as you are ,,where I am from means where what you have ,,,OK,,Now that some have been in Church for MONTHS we should see that proper attire is necessary,,why is it that people of God want to look like the WORLD??we are not to look like them they're to look like us

[Apostle Robert L. Mitchell III]

Three weeks ago. I Had a vision that I was in the church. whilest there i was enjoying the company of the saints. They suddenly there started to be commotion going on with the saints. There was a woman making commotion and arguements with the other members. next there was an all out squall of anger and emotion. By the time it had reached me and I asked what was going on The woman Looked at me and laughed and stated....i don't know who you think you are but you aren't really saved. But you walk around here like you know what you are doing and you're the best singer etc.... With that I was hurt and my feelings crushed. I looked to the Lord for strength and called out and I awokefrom the dream.

Also a week later while talking to my friend they told me that their mother and another member were in a disagreement. They had been arguing fericely and were coming to a head this particular day. Now on this day the two women who were arguing and another woman were on the corner at the store across the street from the church. When the younger lady saw a woman in a Blue Jaguar pull up who was a member of the church and also a leader of the womens ministry. The younger woman went and told her of her delima and the situation all the while crying to her. The Woman in the blue Jaguar Looked at her laughed and pulled off. Now the Lady who was watching was an unsaved woman. She was with the older woman who was arguing with the younger one. She called my friend told her about what happened with her mother and the other two woman. So as she as telling her the story she said at the end" that was a horrible thing that woman in the Jaguar did. The girl was really upset and need to talk about the situation." Well she then proceeded to ask my friend who she was. My friend told her it was the Pastors wife.

Yet again were are we safe in our situations as leaders. Where does it account for the way we dress or what we may have been blessed with. I doesn't any Where. The Heart IsThe Key.

Was it not asked . How is it that your disciples are dirty for being in the corn fields, yet they are eating with their hands. Yahshua stated that it was not that which went into the mouth but what that came out. Was it not the same at the well with the Samaritain woman. Or should I ask this. Where did at any of the mountain side sermons or the people who followed did he tell them to make sur that they were attired correctly? He did not. Actually the exact opposite. He told man to leave all they had behind and only take what was on their back. Manmande doctrine will destroy the body if we are not careful.

[Apostle Robert L. Mitchell III]

Two weeks ago i had a vision. In the vision the choir was performing in an outside venue. At this venuethere were a multitude of people there enjoying the performances being put on. Now when our choir began to perform we started doing all types of dances and choreography that the worl has done. then our director began to sing lead as we were singing and performing. Next there was a man who asked for the director to sing a song. The catch was that the song was dedicated to a woman. When this happened I immediately asked what was he doing and this is not what we are here for and what wwe are to be doing in the name of the LORD. The Other guy then slipped some money into the pocket of the director and the director then tried to slip some money into our my pocket. I refused the "tithe" to participate in such a demonstration. Now, as the choir sang and the director lead to "never would have made it" He began to sink into his seat in front of the audience, he slumped over and leaned back still singing the song as if he was drained of his energy.

A week later a member of the congregation I used to attend was telling me that their minister of music had been performing in clubs and seven day adventist services. The Pastor had told the deacons to wake him up from sleeping on the piano during service and the members of the choir were dwindling down.

Now here is a guy who is a julliard grad. Comes to service and is paid to perform. Wears the best suit in the house. And is bringing strange fire into the service. The Lord was showning me that it matters not on a position, attire, credibilty, or skills. When you sell out it will keep you out. It will Keep other people out and cause them to stumble if they are not spiritually connected to HIM. Only HE is able to discern to accessabilty of a person in their particular situation

[Rev. Kelvin "Besodeiah" Broadus]

The Bible teaches us to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto the Lord. How do we know what is acceptable to the Lord but by what He has declared in His word as holy?

It is true that when trying to reach "the lost," we have to remember that they are not in the "godly" mindframe. This has to be taught. It is not a difficult concept though, for even the most wordly tries to impress (according to wordly standards) when they go to the club, or any other big, social setting. The standards and idea of what is good are different, but the concept of dressing to impress is the same. If they can understood to put forth their best "wordly foot" to fit that environment (the bling, the clean new shoes, the grills, the swag, etc.), then they have the capacity to understand putting forth the best "holy foot."

Being new to the church, they may not have suits and ties and that sort of thing, after all, many have not had to work. But I believe that I should be willing to exceed the standard to God that I'm willing to put forth to my job and to the world. If they don't have formal clothing, they can at least iron their clothes and pull them on their waist and look decent and respectable. Then after learning more of God's standard from His Word, improve.

[terrance douthard]

THATS FUNNY YOU SAY THAT BECAUSE NOW THAT I THINK ABOUT IT,IT SEEMS LIKE THE CHURCH FOLKS ARE THE ONES WE HAVE TO TELL THESE KIND OF THINGS

[terrance douthard]

SAY IT PREACHA!!!!!!

[terrance douthard]

YES THE REALITY IS SOME REALLY DONT KNOW ANY BETTER,BUT THANK GOD FOR US THAT HAD IT INSTILLED IN US AS KIDS

[Evangelist Marianna Humphrey]

Amen My Dear Brotha in the Gospel, I smiled when I saw this comment, somebody else gets the picture of a watered down version of the Gospel...

[terrance douthard]

YOU KNOW YOU BE HITTIN HOME RUNS REV (LOL) IVE TOLD MY 18 YEAR OLD SON THE SAME EXACT THING NUMEROUS TIMES OH YEAH WE BETTER SAY SOMETHING TO THE ONES THAT DONT KNOW HOW TO DRESS OR THEY WILL COME ANY KIND OF WAY.