postlaestadianrevival

Being a girl or woman in the OALC is different from being a boy or man. For one thing, most of the restrictions regarding dress apply strictly to girls and women. A woman can not blend in with the rest of society, even if she does leave her large brood at home. A man, on the other hand, looks pretty much like every other man in society. He attracts no unusual attention. A woman often do.

I grew up with the idea that getting married was highly important to my faith. If a girl passes the age of 19 without securing a spouse she begins to thinks she is second rate, unwanted, an old maid.

I got used to seeing myself as someone who did not matter very much.It was wrong to seek honor anyway, why should I care if I had none?

My personal epiphany came listening to a sermon at a little church when we were in a resort town on vacation. The pastor pointed out that God doesn't listen to the prayers of men who dishonor their wives. He pretty much is incensed by it. In the book of Malachai he tells the Jewish men "I stand as a witness between you and the wife of your youth."

The idea that God was a witness to my humiliation, that he was not a silent witness, but one who took up my offense on my behalf.

I never knew God cared so much.

I guess that realizing that God did not me to be put down or humiliated, helped me to understand that he DID love me. As parents we love our children and become angry if they are treated with dishonor and God is the same.

2 Peter 3-7 Was the verse reminding husbands to honor their wives so that their prayers would not be hindered and also Malachai 2:13-14.does as well.

You are so right about the controls they keep on women, and about the lack of outstanding requirements for the men. Sure, they don't wear ties, but how many actually dress up out in public often enough for that to be noticeable? Besides that, most of the guys that work in offices go ahead & wear ties anyway, saying that it is a requirement of the work place.
(By the way, isn't it ridiculous--even hilarious to think that it would make an iota of difference to God whether a man wears a tie or not?!!!!)

I used to get so weary of them harping at young women about their dress & hairstyles (although they were right about provocative dress being wrong), but ignoring the questionable activities that the young guys were involved in.

I got so tired of dressing ugly and being stared at everywhere I went, but in some ways, I know that it was a protection for me. I took public transportation for years & was out late at night taking buses, etc., & I was never molested or chased or abused by anyone--praise God for that! Since I have been set free, I have loved to dress up in clothes that make me feel attractive. I also wear a lot of jewelry, and I know that God doesn't mind it one bit. I am also glad to be able to go about as an "ordinary jane doe" without all those stares that say, "She's one of THOSE." Contrary to what we were taught, that is not what "persecution for righteousness' sake" is, nor is it being ashamed to be a follower of Jesus, since dressing plainly is NOT something He ever asked us to do!