elder's pen

From the Elder's Pen

ELDER’S EDIFICATION

It was Thursday night and I sat alone in the guard room of our local jail. My Bible class had finished early and I was waiting on the other groups to finish so we could leave together. Every person wishing to visit someone in the jail must pass through this room. As I waited, I glanced over the signs which were posted to give visitors various warnings and cautions. One sign caught my attention because it was posted at least four different times in key locations. All of the other signs were posted only once. Obviously this was a message they wanted to make sure all visitors understood. What message do you think a jail would want to make sure got across to its visitors? It wasn’t about bringing in anything that could be used as a weapon. The sign read as follows:
ATTENTION VISITORS
No person admitted unless properly dressed.
1. Shorts must be knee length
2. No tank tops
3. No short dresses
4. No sun dresses
5. No shirts with obscene language or pictures
6. No see-through clothing
Any person that cannot abide by these rules will be refused visitation. (No exceptions).
Why would this be such an important notice to visitors of a jail? Obviously
they are aware that the way someone is dressed could have an adverse impact on the people they are charged with housing and controlling. They are aware of the problems that improper dress can create and they want to avoid them with the people they are responsible for.
Shouldn’t Christians be even more concerned when it comes to the way they dress? Our dress is to portray an image of godliness. We should be concerned with the problems our dress may cause in the minds of others. Should a jail be more concerned with modesty than a Christian?
- - Dwayne Spivey
“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array” I Timothy 2:9.

Charlie Turner, Elder