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Suzette said:
>  When I look at a one God, apostolic, Holy Ghost saint of God
> I shouldn't have to ask them what they believe I should be able to see it in
> the way they look and act.  Women should look pure and clean and the should
> look like women.  Men should look like men and act respectful.

I think you hit the nail on the head with your statement.  The 
problem with oneness folks is they are "looking at the outward" man.  
They are so into what they "think" a child of God should look at.  
But Jesus said he looks at the heart.  And, of course, I don't think 
that a child of God should look like a whore, pimp, clown, have 
purple hair, but I don't think that they have to be "plain Jane" 
either.  There is nothing wrong with enhancing what God gave us.  If 
a woman has pretty hair, she can wear it down "plain" or maybe she 
can put it up in a bun "a little more fancy".  But there is no "evil 
or unholiness" in that.

God put a lot of things in the Bible that we do not observe today.  
In the old testament they didn't eat pork, for example, in the New 
Testament, we are told to eat whatever we like.  We are told not to 
do things that might cause our brother to stumble.  We don't make 
sacrifices anymore.  So some things have changed.  The culture has 
changed.  Consider circumcision.

I think the point is that if YOU feel that it is RIGHT for YOU not to 
wear pants, watch TV, go to the movies, etc., etc, etc., then that is 
fine.  But you don't have the right to impose your beliefs on me and/ 
or tell me that I am not "saved" because I may choose to do those 
things. 
 
You see they had no television in the Bible, they had no radio, they 
had no recreational activities.  there are many good things on 
television for one to watch.  And if some oneness folks think that 
just because people have a television in their home that they are 
sitting around watching "trash" then that shows their 
narrowmindedness.

You mention being "separate".  Well I can be separate from some 
things that the world does and still wear a wedding band, or a watch, 
or a bracelet.  I don't go to bars, I don't go to drug houses, I 
don't have drug folks in my home.  I do not participate in "swinging" 
or stealing, or murdering etc.  So I am separate from that element.  
But I do live in this world and I have to function in this world and 
if I am going to bring people to Christ, I have to be out there to 
some extent.

God made each and every one of us different.  We are unique, the 
bible says.  So why is it that man is trying to take away my 
uniqueness?  God delivers each of us from different things.  I knew a 
sister who wore the "oldest" looking clothes and she had every little 
button fastened (I mean it was choking her, the way it looked) and I 
asked her.  She said to me "when I was in the world, I would go out 
looking any kind of way.  she said "I would wear no slip with a see 
through blouse.  She said that she did things to attract attention.  
Fine.  I can see how when a woman like that gets saved that God may 
have to "deliver" her from those things.  I on the other hand never 
did that.  I have always been rather conservative in my dress.  So 
God didn't have to alter my dressing when I got saved.  We are all 
individuals.  Some women may have worn tons and tons of jewelery.  
Well I didnt'.  I have never worn anything but a 2 thin bracelets.  
So I dind't have to get delivered from that.

It's the same way that the Devil isn't going to come at me with say 
cigarettes because I never smoked.  But say he might come at me with 
"food" because I like to eat.  We're different.  Our lives are 
different.  And we need to understand that what you may have come 
from, I did not.

And again, to clarify, certainly some things we should all do like be 
honest, look decent, act decent, etc.
 
_________________________________
K. L. Cabell
La Salle University
Philadelphia, PA
kay@pobox.com
cabellk1@alpha.lasalle.edu
http://www.emanon.net/~kcabell/

"Given the odds, we weren't supposed to stop being slaves.  Given the
opposition, we weren't supposed to have an education.  Given the history, we
weren't supposed to have families.  Given the blues, we weren't supposed to
have spirit.  Given the power of the enemy, we weren't supposed to fight back. 
Not only have we achieved victories, we have--despite the powers against
us--become our own victories."

Camille Cosby