Short Hair, Don't Care

THIS:

When Suits Become a Stumbling Block: A Plea to My Brothers in Christ - See more at: http://thesaltcollective.org/modesty-whensuitsbecomestumblingblock/#sthash.z16WBDam.dpuf

When Suits Become Stumbling Blocks: A Plea to My Brothers in Christ

Read it.  Savor it.  Then go, and sin no more.

From the comments:

"What about saving your body for your future husband?"
Well, looking at something doesn't mean you own it.  Exposing something doesn't mean you share it.  This is why you neighbor doesn't occasionally drive your car to work, even if it's sitting in your driveway every day.
And while we're on this metaphor, can we stop comparing women to cars and, occasionally, cows?  Weirdly, people are different than objects.  The fact that we can compare a woman to a car and then go on, in the same metaphor, to show how cars are more respected is really, truly alarming.

"But your body doesn't belong to you, it belongs to God and your husband."
First of all, if you're so concerned that I'm desecrating the holy temple that is my body, I hope you're really, really fit.  Like, mostly vegetarian, working out several times a week kind of fit.  Anyway, God said to be "modest."  Modesty is cultural.  Paul talks about braiding hair or not having short hair, and we tend to ignore those rules because, really?  Who thinks about hair that much?  Ancient Romans, evidently.  Modesty is a moving target.
I would argue that the intent of the exhortations on modesty had more to do with the intent of the one being modest.  Why are you wearing that?  Because it's comfortable?  Because you like it?  Or to attract sexual attention?  I have a baggy hoodie that I have worn, on purpose, to attract sexual attention, back in my naughtier days.  It may sound odd, but it worked like a charm.  No one on earth would have called that sweater "immodest," but it was, because I was immodest in my intent.
Also, a man's body is also God's, but nobody shames them for jogging shirtless.  Or wearing basketball shorts with nothing underneath (one of my favorites).  So let's not pretend this article isn't relevant.
As to your body belonging to your husband, his body also belongs to you.  Read the WHOLE VERSE.  It's not about possession.  It's about mutual respect, commitment, and taking care of each other.  It's about - wait for it - consent.  Consent.  Good word, consent.  We should talk about consent more often.  Because consent is important!  Boy, do I like consent.  It's weird that consent seems to be something only "the left" or "the feminazis" are talking about, because consent is right there in the Bible.  Inside marriage, consent is still a thing.  Wow!  Consent!  (Ok, I'm done now.)

"Men and women are different.  Women don't think that way...Something something Testosterone" (also, any comment where womens' "lust" is put in "quotes" like a "unicorn" who "doesn't exist")
I'm sorry, have you met me?  Here's an awkward fact: I have only once dated a man who could match me in sex drive.  Not that it's a big pool, but that's like 25%, so still less than half.  So don't talk to me about women having less of a need for sex.
Also, where is that in the Bible?  Where does it say that men and women are innately built to be different?  I haven't figured that one out yet.


"Women can't be sexist!" (A complaint that an article written by a woman was one of those satirized)
Yes, in fact, they can.  Next question

"Paul argues against tempting others in 1 Cor 8"
This is an interesting passage, and I tend to view part of it as evidence that sin is whatever we think it is - that is, if something is not specifically forbidden by scripture, but we, for some reason, think it's a sin, then do it anyway, we actually have sinned, even if it wasn't originally a sin.  That's a whole different discussion, with so many tangents and dangerous arguments, but I'm well aware of the verse.
Anyway, Paul is talking about peer pressure.  If we were to apply this to clothing, it wouldn't be: That person is wearing a short skirt -> I'm going to go have lust over here and/or I guess it's ok to rape her.  It would be: As a lady, I notice that that person is wearing a short skirt, which I think is a sin -> But if she's doing it, I should too -> Oh no, I'm wearing a short skirt and now I have sinned.  We should, certainly avoid causing our brothers and sisters in Christ to sin.  However, we simply can't have enough knowledge of a complete stranger's tastes and moral standing.  We do our best.  But the amount of shaming that flies around about this one thing is ridiculous.
So: If you have a male friend, and you know he has a thing for, say, tennis skirts, maybe don't wear a tennis skirt around him.  Maybe don't play tennis with him.  But if you're playing tennis with other people, don't feel like you have to wear sweat pants just to avoid having complete strangers lust over you.  Play tennis like a human.


WHY CAN'T WE ALL JUST BE HUMANS?
I don't know, It's like 6pm and I work at Starbucks now, so I'm too tired to end this post because it's almost bedtime and I haven't eaten supper yet.  I just got all...infuriated on my insides while reading the comments to this awesome satirical article.  I don't know why I went down there.  YOU NEVER GO DOWN THERE.  I wasn't even going to do this tonight.  LEAVE ME ALONE, WORLD.
Um...
KBYE

This is one of the most misunderstood teachings in Christianity… Christians believe that our bodies, in marriage, belong to ONE ANOTHER. Not “your body belongs to your husband” or “to your wife”, but to each other. .. which means you are to treat one another with the utmost in respect and love.
It’s not about possession. It’s about commitment and mutual respect.
- See more at: http://thesaltcollective.org/modesty-whensuitsbecomestumblingblock/#sthash.z16WBDam.dpuf

This is one of the most misunderstood teachings in Christianity… Christians believe that our bodies, in marriage, belong to ONE ANOTHER. Not “your body belongs to your husband” or “to your wife”, but to each other. .. which means you are to treat one another with the utmost in respect and love.
It’s not about possession. It’s about commitment and mutual respect.
- See more at: http://thesaltcollective.org/modesty-whensuitsbecomestumblingblock/#sthash.z16WBDam.dpuf

When Suits Become a Stumbling Block: A Plea to My Brothers in Christ - See more at: http://thesaltcollective.org/modesty-whensuitsbecomestumblingblock/#sthash.z16WBDam.dpuf

Grief, Anger, Prayer

Here's one that's been mulling a while as well.  Another big one, like the forgiveness thing.  It comes from places very personal to people close to me.  
My mom is going through a very painful (and biblically sanctioned) divorce right now - after 20 years of marriage.  It's a difficult process anyway, but made all the more difficult by an unsupportive pastor, a soon-to-be-ex-husband who continues to disrespect her, and a community of fellow Christians who judge her for being angry.   
At the same time, I have friends who recently found out that they can't have children.  Perhaps they'll adopt or take some other option, but for now, I imagine it hits like a betrayal.  A betrayal of one's own body, and even a betrayal by the One who made those bodies.  A strong Christian couple, who I have no doubt would be awesome parents - how can He do this to them?  Here again, there are people - fellow Christians - who want to say, "You shouldn't be angry."
Now honestly, I have no real clue what the people in either of my stories is going through.  I haven't had to go through anything like that myself.  But I know grief, and that's what this is.  People talk about grief in situations of death, but it can (obviously, I would think) be relevant to other situations as well.  It's still death, of a sort - death of a marriage, of a dream, whathaveyou.  The Bible certainly takes such things seriously - barrenness and adultery are used frequently as illustrations and examples of bad things in the Bible.
Now, I've got 3 things all tangled together in my mind as a result of this - Grief, Prayer, and and Anger.  What is grief?  Is grief different for a Christian?  How do grief and anger affect prayer?  Is it ok to be angry?  Is it ok to be angry at God?