But then much of what the APM church does is stated to be Biblical yet in the end is still malayalee tradition. The Penti church claims that abstinence from things such as jewelry and jeans are standards of holiness,to which I respond,” when is that a solid foundation to judge a person’s relationship with God?” What about the pentecostal malayalee who lives a life of gluttony or materialism? Bear’s point about the gilt on his mom’s sari is valid, there is so much inconsistency going on, yet people think they are doing the “Biblical thing”..when in reality they are doing the “traditional thing”

I don’t think we’re going to please God extra when we do wear good formal clothing or if we where bad clothing. Why? Because we tend to relate God’s response to us based on what WE do rather than what Christ has done. His obedience was what God took into account. Our actions are ONLY to be a response to His Love. God doesn’t change. He still loves us not because of do bad or we do good but because of who He is. So the attitude that I maybe scoring some points with God is also not correct.

So if the argument is that i need to dress well as I come into the presence of God, then I was sinning when i was talking/praying to God while sitting in my toilet earlier today. The point i’m trying to make is clothing has got something to do us humans and I hate to bring God into all of this. I still can relate to God whether I am with out without the appropriate clothing.

I don’t think we’re going to please God extra when we do wear good formal clothing or if we where bad clothing. Why? Because we tend to relate God’s response to us based on what WE do rather than Christ’s obedience. Our actions therefore are a response to His Love. God doesn’t change. He still loves us not because of do bad or we do good but because of who He is. So the attitude that I maybe scoring some points with God is also not correct.

By the way, ‘appropriate’ is very subjective as well. The same adults who were yesterday’s youth would have gotten in trouble in Kerala had they worn pants to church during our forefather’s time. And believe me some of them did for not wearing the white ‘munde’.

Having said that I do understand that if people do wear clothing to gain attention rather than focus on God then it is wrong and immature. I mean i totally understand if a girl wore a bikini to church or a guy wearing a very tight shirt to show off his muscular body, then it is totally inappropriate. I personally don’t think that was what Bear was intending to do. LOL

I think everything should be done in a context of LOVE as we keep our eyes on God who is pleased with us already because of the finished work of the cross. We should not be focused on pleasing or displeasing those around us.

God Bless.

It’s one thing if you don’t have the clothes to wear, but it’s another to deliberately wear jeans just to prove a point. The former is humbling, the latter is childish.

Going to church in your “Sunday best” maintains the idea of church being special and holy, not just a weekly tradition. That is not an idea that is unique to Malayalee Penti churches.

Your verse and point were valid when you said that we shouldn’t look down on people or shun other races away. Our Indian churches do need to work on cultivating relationships with other races and truly be a place of welcoming worship. It would be wonderful if we weren’t known as being “Indian” church or “Malayalee” church. We should work on being a church- the way God intended for us to be.

But, in the end if you go to a Penti church, you should know that there are deep rooted beliefs that Penti’s have. It isn’t culturally related, it is biblicaly interpreted. To be blatantly disrespectful of those traditions is insensitive. You may not agree with the Pentecostal church, but if you are going to worship at one, and lead worship in one, then you don’t make for a strong witness when, the moment you leave the Pentecostal church, you leave the Pentecostal ways.