Attitude Check -Authority

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> From: Timothy Litteral <brotim@gte.net>
> As to the question of us looking "different" than the world, and being
> obedient to the pastor, why clean shaven faces and uncut hair for women? 
> Do not even the baptist these things (well they used to)?  Why not make a
> REAL statement of how separate we are and how willing we are to submit to
> our "leaders" and shave half our heads guys and have the women fashion
> their uncut hair into an great big "A."  


me: have you got any suggestions as to HOW we should fashion that
great big "A".  Should it be an "A" in cursive writing, or can it just be a
regular old "printed"  "A"?   I thought about attempting this style this
morning, but I already had my hair up in a "roped bun-like style" before 
I read your post. Unfortunately, it does not resemble any letter of the
alphabet, as far as I can tell. 

Bro. Tim again:
If the purpose is to make a
> distinction and to show blind obedience, then the more absurd the more
> submission required and therefore the more *humble* we must be, right? 
Do you think we have gone far enough?  If we do what *I* suggest, let me
tell  you folks, after the word got around, people would see us coming and
say > "Now there goes some REAL Apostolics!  You really have to 
be in submission to look like that these days!"  What is really
frightening, 
and"telling" > to me anyway, is that should I be a pastor and suggest such
foolishness,> there would be those in the congregation who would find a 
way of > "justifying" this!

me: I find your train of thought interesting. Do you feel that all, many,
or just some, of the Standards that we practice are merely Pastors 
exercising their authority and/or rule over their congregations? Do you
feel that the purpose of  Standards is to give the Pastor a "big stick" to 
*beat*  the Congregation into submission?  As I saw no "smiley faces" 
in your post, I am somewhat unclear as to what your position on 
Standards is. 
 
 Bro. Tim further stated:    
 "These are some tough topics and will require the Truth without regard
  to how it will be accepted to get the Church "washed and ironed." 

me:
We all have our "version" of the truth, Bro. Tim. 
Proverbs 21:2 "Every way of a man is right in his own eyes; but
the Lord pondereth the hearts". 

As for me, I still believe, and apply, the following to my life:
Hebrews 13:7 "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit
yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as they that must give
account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief; for that
is unprofitable for you."

I will gladly submit myself!  I thank God for a Pastor who watches for
my soul!!  He once told me that "the road to Heaven has two ditches on
each side; one on the left and one on the right. It is the Pastor's job to 
help us stay on the road without falling into either ditch. There is
*always* a danger of becoming too liberal, or too extreme.
 What condemns one, does not necessary condemn another.
 BUT "Even in our diversity we should all seek the same position" 
 (on our knees!) Thank God for the Holy Ghost that leads us into *all
Truth*  (if we listen with an honest heart!).

Donna L. Perine
fmbritchie@citynet.net