Why do I have visions of sackcloth and ashes with a cotton rope cinch belt tastefully accentuated by blue eye shadow and hobnail sandals?
Sorry, but I just can’t help being catty about this…
That’s nicer than drawing the more obvious parallels to Burkha’s and the Taliban….
But then Christianity is all about Fashion for a certain segment of the population. It’s a Lifestyle choice and they insist on incessantly waiving it in everyone’s face. I’m not saying that’s the case with this particular group, but….
I call the group I’m referencing the “Professional Christians” as opposed to what I view as the true Christians- who I do deeply respect for their attempts to live their lives by Jesus’ true principles and teachings. Just as I respect true Buddhists, Jews, Muslims and all those others among us who seek to quietly and devoutly live their lives by their personal beliefs while not imposing them on others and helping others get through life a little more graciously and safely along the way.
One of the main things that really pisses me off about these Professional Christians is that they incessantly seek ways to stand out from the mainstream and scream: “Look at me!!! I’m better and more righteous than you! I’m special!”
They do this so they don’t have to actually deal with the poor, the hungry and the needy, you know, like Jesus did….
For this group, every week is Christian Fashion Week….
It’s all about them-the Professional Christian- and their alternative, self-congratulating universe with things like this ridiculous “Christian Fashion Week” being just another example.
And let’s not even talk about the sexism and paternalism this “Fashion” week implies.
And since Professional Christians hate Gays, who designs this stuff? Without the Gay designers, you know the clothes are really crappy.
But then, most of these Professional Christians just wear their “Christianity” as their Fashion Statement.
I just don’t see Jesus doing something like this…
From Salon.com:
Welcome to Christian Fashion Week.
Backstage, separate changing areas divide the male and female models. And while, sure, there is a swimwear show, only women are allowed in the audience. Gender segregation is an event choice designed to avoid any “awkward” feelings for audience members or models, according to Jose Gomez, co-organizer of the event.
“We are trying to be sensitive to the fact that our audience may be in different places about how they feel about it,” Gomez told the Associated Press.
Adam and Eve might have donned barely a fig leaf, but modesty rules this week in Tampa. The mission behind the event is to showcase designs that “promote and respect stylish moderation instead of sexuality and excess,” according to their website. “A lot of the designers we talked with looked at the challenge as a creative challenge: How do we push the boundaries — with boundaries?” Gomez said.
Christian Fashion Week is yet another example of a Christian cottage industry, from filmmaking to fashion, trying to distance itself from secular culture. It’s also an outgrowth of an evolving conversation on Christian websites about what’s acceptable for believers to wear — particularly for Christian women. Modesty talk is ostensibly directed at males and females alike, but it is most often women who are scrutinized for clothing that reveals “too much” or “provokes” male lust.
And I’ll close out these thoughts with a little info from a little book called The Bible.
I think some of these Professional Christians should pay a little more attention to the New Testament and sections like the ones below– and not just the select Old Testament parts on judging and killing others- where they seem to focus most of their emphasis now.
Matthew 6:5-6 ESV
“And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:1-34 ESV
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. “Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. “And when you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites. For they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, that they may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. …
Lost in the 21st Century 
Amen! People who strive to follow Jesus get a bad reputation since a lot of attention is focused on this type of thing. Think of how many hungry folks could have been fed if they would have used the admission fee to this fashion show for a good purpose.
LikeLike
Thanks, Renee!
LikeLike
Another Amen, Brother Scott! The real corner on true Christian fashion will always be held by the Amish. …Simple, elegant, and you can’t go wrong with basic black.
LikeLike
Scott – It seems like you’ve had your fair share of hypocritical Christians. But, I think you may be making quite a few assumptions about Christian Fashion Week, some that several others have made.
First and foremost, Christian Fashion Week is definitely not about waiving our righteousness in anyone’s face. We created the event to represent a market that is asking for modest fashion, which is a very typical requirement for even non-Christians when purchasing designer clothing. Christian Fashion Week is just another fashion week, but with a focus on designers who take the challenge of applying their art to people who prefer not to let everything hang out. While that might not seem as fun, there are a number of reasons why men and women prefer that. For us, it’s our Christian values. For others, it’s about taste and preference. Either way, we have the right to create a venue if none exists. Don’t you agree?
In terms of using gay designers, this is another area that might warrant some research on your end. We WELCOME designers of different backgrounds, faiths, etc. to take part in the show. We provide with a set of criteria for showing on our runway and they take on the challenge of designing a line that meets that criteria. We choose them based on their previous work PRIOR to giving them the guidelines, so we are assured excellent work. Several of our designers have previously shown at other fashion weeks, including New York. But, not all of them were Christian.
Finally, I think you’ve done the very thing you accused us of doing in your blog post. You have judged us and waived your prejudice and previous exposure to Christianity in OUR face. The show itself benefits Created, an in-the-trenches non-profit organization that helps women transition from the sex trade into normal life. In addition, all of us are involved to some capacity in local outreaches and have served in ministry to people all our lives. Mayra and I were pastors for 10 years in one of the worst neighborhoods in Tampa, Florida and love to work with homeless and low-income families. We even have a mentoring program for girls called TruModel.
I don’t say any of that to waive my “righteousness” in your face, since we are FAR from perfect people. But, I think that our hearts and actions are very different than what you have represented here. Hey, it’s your blog so you certainly have that right. But, we are here if you ever have any questions, or any interest in writing something true. At least, if you take time to talk to us, you can have a first hand opinion instead of a pre-judgment based on your general dissatisfaction with popular Christian culture. You might be surprised to find that we are a bit dissatisfied, too.
LikeLike
Jose: I appreciate you taking the time to respond. It’s all about the dialogue and I appreciate your input. Thanks, Scott
LikeLike
“Professional Christians” – the type you describe, drive me nuts, too. Unfortunately though, by categorizing someone as that, you’ve just judged them. Which makes you just as bad (or, doing exactly the same thing) as they are. I have to keep myself out of that loop all the time – it’s an easy irony to fall victim to.
LikeLike
As a mother of a professional MINOR male model, I experienced extreme professionalism with this show, and I appreciated the separation of the models in dressing areas. I was not exposed to any religious beliefs at the invite, casting, fitting or show! I say take the time to know the people before you cast a stone. Thank you Jose & Mayra for allowing my son this opportunity to give his time & talent for such a good cause, FEEDING the hungry is not the only place in need of giving.
Tina White
LikeLike
No problem, Scott. If you are ever in Tampa Bay during Christian Fashion Week, I have a VIP seat waiting for you. Blessings!
LikeLike
Thanks, Jose! Who knows? Take care.
LikeLike
I feel like saying that you’re frustrating me with your article. Would it be so far off the mark for you to think that “holy moly there just might be a person out there who is christian and loves fashion…” WOW! Why can’t that happen? Why can’t a christian love fashion and then celebrate it with other christians that love fashion? Why do all these titles – that MAY apply to some but not to all – be blatantly thrown over the whole entire lot of people involved with this?
I just get so frustrated with people who watch 30 min of Billy Grahm and think they know every single christian that has walked the earth and then start googling scriptures that they THINK relate to make them feel bad.
There MAY be some christians who use their beliefs to make others feel bad but that isn’t particluar to christianity. Every belief has this sect. SOOO unfair to be type cast….
I don’t know what christians you are talking to, but christianity 101 states that we become christians BECAUSE we are sinners. so there goes the “Holier than thou” arguement. Secondly although those scriptures you quoted are there in the bible you have to understand that if you reread them you will see they were particularly talking about showing off. That you don’t do those things TO BE SEEN! But if christians never talked about or showed their religions to others then how would other people become christians which seems like something Jesus wanted, no?
Jesus may not have thrown a fashion week while He was alive due to the fact that he was alive during 30BC and I am unsure of how many fashion weeks they had at that time. But Jesus is the God of yesterday today and tomorrow (according to that little book the bible) So that means he’s the God of SOME models, SOME fashion designers, and SOME fashionistas. These people who MAY feel they were born to sew or create and MAY choose to worship THEIR God in the way they FEEL they were CREATED. HOW AWFUL of you to tell them how they can and cannot do their thing? And how spiteful and mean of you to condescend their efforts because YOU don’t get it.
It’s always SO HARD for me to get people to understand to LIVE AND LET LIVE. Stop judging because someone insignificant hurt your feelings and stereotyping and entire group because of one or two persons.
I’m sorry this was such an exciting thing for me and I am just so angry that someone dissed it for no other reason than the fact that they are christians. How lame. So some of the outfits or talk about how they were mean, or how the event went. But to diss the event solely because it’s related to God, or someone’s religion? Well that’s sad. And truly UNamerican. Really it is.
LikeLike