Posted on 02/25/2021 6:57:49 PM PST by marshmallow
Blog post about preventing 'lustful thoughts' sparks furious backlash from young netizens
A Protestant pastor in Singapore has issued an apology following a heavy backlash from young netizens after asking women “to refrain from revealing or provocative dressing” in order to avoid inciting “lustful thoughts” in men.
Pastor Joanne Chow, 38, a mother of two and youth minister of Pasir Panjang Hill Brethren Church in Singapore, came under fire after she posted PowerPoint slides in blog post on Christian website Thir.st on Feb. 21, titled “In the fight against sexual temptation, defence is not enough.”
“Can I also make a special appeal to the girls? Let’s help our brothers by not dressing in a revealing or provocative way. Of course you don’t have control over their lustful thoughts, and it may not be a sin to wear that skintight dress or post that bikini photo, but if we can help our brothers, why not?” she wrote in the post.
Chow’s post was triggered by revelations of the sexual abuses of Ravi Zacharias (1946-2020), an internationally famous Indian-Canadian evangelical preacher and Christian apologist who founded Ravi Zacharias International Ministry (RZIM).
The issued a heartfelt apology and promised to implement reforms advised by the firm.
Pastor Chow’s post angered young Singaporeans and dozens, mostly young girls and women, expressed their discomfort over it.
“Stop teaching girls that they are accountable for men's inability to control themselves, please. Women have gotten raped and sexually assaulted to varying degrees despite what they were wearing. Instead, teach the men to control themselves. teach them that no matter what a......
(Excerpt) Read more at ucanews.com ...
She was expressing Christian doctrine on modesty. It isn’t just for women, either. smh.
Actually it is a sin to defraud someone- stir up desires that can’t righteously be fulfilled, shouldn’t apologize, women should dress modestly that’s biblical!
It works both ways. If women dress provocatively, then it assumed they intend to provoke, or at least to get attention. But I think there is quite a difference between a woman dressing attractively by modern standards and her looking as if she should be working on the streets.
Men, at least Christian men, also need to exert self-control. I went to vespers at an Orthodox church one time with a friend of mine who was distracted by an attractively-dressed woman who was there and, in our conversation afterward, he put all the blame on her. He said her attire reflected poorly on her. I pointed out to him that, while she looked very pretty, her attire wasn’t immodest, that she had a prayer rope on her wrist, that someone like her could be plenty of other places of a Saturday evening besides church, and the problem was more his than hers. He saw my point. I related my own experience with distraction. Also at vespers in a Greek church, I was near a young woman and her mother. They both looked as if they had just gotten off the boat from Greece — plain, long, black dresses, hair simply tied back, no makeup, heads covered with a veil. I found the young woman stunning, probably one of the most naturally-beautiful woman I have seen. She did nothing to draw attention to herself. That was all on me.
I remembered what a monk once said he did when he found a woman distracting. He would pray, “Lord, I thank you that you have made someone as beautiful as this.” That works to bring one back to the proper state of mind.
‘Pastor’ Joanne needs to learn a few things herself.
I was an usher at my church before COVID eliminated the need for them. I used to hand out bulletins as people came through the door. I’ve had to pointedly look away many times - and not just the young chicks, either.
Old age will take care of that for you.
You win Post of the Thread.
Women can’t be pastors ... according to the B I B L E.
Leaving aside the question of men and their thoughts, scripture does tell women to dress modestly.
He should not have apologized.
We have a dress code posted in the back of our Catholic church here in the Philippines.
No short shorts, no short skirts, no tight tank tops etc.
And instructions to turn off cell phones.
We live in a poor area, so most people dress in jeans and tee shirts in church... only old ladies wear dresses. No hats.
But some of the local Protestant churches require that you wear skirts.
And our local Muslim gals wear veils on their head and long skirts but no facial coverings.
Yeah, some of those parishioners can be pretty gnarly! More than a poor soul should be expected to endure, on an empty stomach.
Regards,
How old?
I’m still waiting...
Pastor Joanne Chow, 38, a mother of two and youth minister [...]
Regards,
I like that prayer.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.