The
following essay appears on the website of a church for the purpose of
defaming the wearing of pants by women. It is revealing, however,
that Patti Williams reveals her own beliefs about the alleged power
of a small child to sexually entice grown men. She claims that she
sought such attention from men at a young age but also goes on to
ascribe this same motive and desire to all girls.Note also that her dedication to this concept if not a fear of the consequences extends to her infants whom she clothed in dresses as soon as possible. She does to to ensure their purity and their identity as if a dress over a onesie had a mystical power of protection and somehow made her infants more appropriate to others.
Significant sections are highlighted below.
Blog
Host: Please note that I corrected the many misspellings and
punctuation errors which says quite a bit for me because I'm a
terrible editor. But I did so because I found it so distracting.
Forgive any that I missed. It was hard enough to read without the
corrections.
Schizophrenic
Women
An
essay written in 1980
by
Patti Williams
(Wife
of Ronald E Williams, Director of Hephzibah House)
We
Have A Problem
One of
the hottest issues today among women is the pants issue and other
areas of clothing. Just the way a woman reacts to the whole subject
of pants modesty and dress reveals to me the seriousness of the
situation. There are many problems in the church today and I think
women constitute one of the main problems.
A woman
who is causing problems In the Body of Christ is either not dressed
properly or not under submission to her husband. In some cases she Is
nether dressed In a proper manner nor under her husband. A woman
greatly influences and brings out the Godly qualities of her man by
her actions and words.
Just as
Important are the fruits of her marriage: the children. Her dress and
character will bear fruit In her children. I work with the Hephzibah
House girls on Saturday evenings. As I listen to their questions
handle their problems and study the Word for answers I see that the
Bible holds us responsible as mothers for our part in helping or
harming our children.
Mother,
we are producing the ungodly generation. They are our fruits. We are
the fruits of the last generation and this must stop! Stopping a
curse can be accomplished by obeying God s Word. We must repent of
what we have done. Repentance means to turn around change be
different. You may now be thinking or wondering what she is getting
at? The Schizophrenic Woman what has that to do with me? She must be
crazy or something.
My
Personal Experience
I am
going to use myself as the prlme example. Perhaps you will identify
or relate to what I have to say.
I grew
up in a typical American home. We had pants shorts bathing suits
immodest clothing television movies dancing lessons circuses etc. As
a small child I desired to be a beautiful move star and practiced the
role by prancing and dancing all around the house. I
have a clear memory that goes back to my preschool years.
Even then i wanted to be beautiful. For what reason? Money? Other
girls? My pets? Of course not! It
was for men!
The
Inner Desire Of Women
I
dressed for men I desired to be beautiful for men. I wanted them to
notice me and I learned how to please them resulting in the character
qualities of the Biblical strange woman in Proverbs. I knew
what I was doing I was not Innocent. And I do not think any woman
is innocent in this area.
A woman
has an inner desire to attract men. Yet I was an ERA type woman to
the core. No man would control my life! I would control his! I soon
learned that i could control men with my eyes voice body movements
and dress. This resulted in many personalities. I was a different
personality for specific occasions and my dress fit the occasion. As
I have worked with women and teens for ten years i see the same
character in each female. I am not so sure any of us are really
deceived deep down Inside. We know how we are but we hide behind a
spiritual mask and a civilized veneer.
I am
very sorry to say I won my own husband by my dress and actions. This
resulted In many years of heartache for our lives. I was proud and
haughty at my catch but filled with doubts and suspicions afterwards.
We were not saved until we were In our late twenties. Those early
years of our marriage were a nightmare! The Lord has done a marvelous
work in our lives. But you Christian mothers. why are you allowing
your daughter to be a strange woman? A schizophrenic woman?
A
Christian Mother Has A Heavy Responsibility
Perhaps
you live a decent Christian life but why are you allowing your
daughter to live like a strange woman? She will suffer all the rest
of her life. The Lord will forgive and forget but her body and mind
will bear non erasable scars. Mother you can avoid this by rear ing
her properly or perhaps cleaning up your own life flrst and then
cleaning hers up.
What can
you say about my husband? Doesn't he have some responsibility in all
of this? Yes of course he does. But let us look at ourselves Mother.
The Lord has shown me the role of the woman in the home. A mother is
the primary influence on her daughter. She will be the person you
molded her to be and Dad will glow. Dad will burst his buttons with
praise over a pure virgin daughter filled with godly character if you
do it God s way.
How
We Dress Effects How We Live
Dress
definitely effects our personality. When I wear my house dresses I
feel like working on floors thai need scrubbing cooking and digging
in the garden. I do not mind if I get dirty which I surely do when I
really dig into a project. For church and special occasions or a
precious date with my honey I wear my finest. I want to look special
for the Lord and my husband. When I go shopping I try to take real
care concerning my looks because it reflects on my husband. I do not
want him to be embarrassed at how his wife looks but to be proud of
me. I want to be different from the dress of the world. I want to
please the Lord not man.
How
We Dress Reveals Character
We can
be dowdy and stand out in a ridiculous way or we can be sloppy which
reveals a sloppy character or be so fancy we appear proud and
haughty. The Bible tells us in I Timothy 2:9 that a woman is to dress
in a modest way. Our clothes should draw attention to the whole being
and not certain areas of our body especially areas that may arouse a
man sexually. Some think that women do not really make sense. For
example some women have hairdos with no makeup. The combination does
not really go together. Or similarly lots of makeup and a bland or
unkempt hair style is equally awkward. We ought to balance out what
we wear.
I know
this will step on toes literally but these new sandals with three and
four inch heels are not simple. They draw a lot of attention to the
feet ankles and leg. Besides being very hard on the back difficult to
walk in and cold on the feet in the winter when there is snow and
ice. We have allowed the world to dictate our styles. However common
sense is laid aside for the sake of style! How ridiculous. I really
admire the dress of the Amish and Mennonite women who live relatively
close to our mission. They are very beautiful to me and communicate a
sense of purity. They wear balanced simple and modest clothing.
Does it
make sense for a Christian woman to cover her body with modest Godly
clothing then take these clothes off to go in for mixed swimming?
That is an absolute contradiction of standards and another aspect of
a feminine schizophrenic personality. If a man's eyes are filled with
lust (Matthew 5:28 Proverbs 27:20) then how can we justify the
wearing of swimming apparel in mixed swimming? You may say, “Well
I am too old to make any difference I have huge bulges varicose veins
fat pockets,” etc.. Dear lady, you are then gross in a bathing
suit! if you still have retained your figure then you are attractive
and you are defrauding men and you will stand in Judgement before the
Lord for causing a man to stumble (11 Corinthians 5:10). If you do
not care, then you are in severe rebellion and rebellion is as the
sin of witchcraft (I Samuel 15:23).
What
Does God Say?
Deuteronomy
22:5 says you are an abomination to God if you wear the clothing of a
man. Well you say, “We are in different times. They wore
different clothing and besides they both wore robes.” I
personally believe obedient saints have always maintained the sharp
distinction between the sexes God ordered in this verse whether in
New Testament Palestine or in the modern era.
The
emptiness of a statement such as my pants are feminine is shown by
one clear example: What if a man would say my new skirt Is masculine?
Just how certain Christians have accepted women in pants and then
pronounced it all right despite Its error can be seen in this one
example? How would you react, Dear Lady, if your halry chested and
hairy legged husband attempted to justify his wearing a skirt by
pronouncing it masculine?
Many and
various are the arguments and excuses that I think I have heard over
the years concerning this issue. Can not you see what has happened in
the last twenty-five years? Especially the last ten? And do not you
see what the results have been? Maybe you have not connected the
thread, so let me share with you as a woman.
Our
Thinking As Women Is Not Consistent
I am
thirty-eight years old and have worn pants most of my life because I
wanted to, and no one was going to tell me differently! I bucked the
schools that I attended and the college where I obtained my degree. I
was a rebel against the rules. My school forbade the wearing of
pants. i did anyway, believing that I had my rights, and I won the
battle! One part of my thinking was correct. If I was going to wear
them, I would wear them where and when I wanted, and I was not going
to be a hypocrite about the whole matter. However today, the
schizophrenic personality allows women to wear pants to do certain
things and yet not to other functions. Pants are an integral part of
the ERA movement and the unisex movement contributing to the breakup
of our homes by confusing roles and the distinction of the sexes.
I tried
something about nine years ago to see what would happen. The whole
ministry was gone and I was alone in the house. So I dug out my pants
and wore them for one entire day. I could not believe myself. Soon, I
felt bold hard haughty and unfeminine. I was very unsubmissive and I
grew worse as the day progressed. As soon as I took them off, I
changed my personality inasmuch as I felt softer, meeker, feminine,
and gentle. I was conscious of how I walked and sat.
That
same year I tried something else. Those were the days of the ungodly
provocative lets-go-to-bed look/fashions. These fashions included the
mini skirt.
I
again pulled out one of my mini skirts and my shiny black boots, and
immediately, I felt like a strange woman, and I desired to dance and
prance. Perhaps you have worn these and did not desire these
things. That is wonderful, but you
were just as guilty because you caused a man to lust or to
attempt control over his vision.
I also
see this change in children. My daughter Naomi has never worn pants
unless under a maxi, and that is rare. She is so feminine. The
girls call her a Holly Hobbie doll. Heather wore pants until
she was five when we got saved. It is hard to imagine now, but she
was a real tomboy. Naomi is not a
tomboy, and I think it is because she has been in dresses and
feminine styles from her birth. I put a dress on her within two hours
after she was born over her stretch sleepers and she has had dresses
on ever since. Our daughters are virtuous women because we have
obeyed the Lord's commands.
A woman
is not submissive in a pair of pants. She becomes either bold or
sloppy perhaps slobby. A woman is either attractive and causing a man
to stumble, or she is a slob and gross in appearance when she wears
men's clothes. Neither characteristic is a godly one.
Perhaps
you are wondering how you can have freedom of movement in a dress.
Then you say, “Women have been bound for thousands of years and
they ought to be allowed more freedom.” Perhaps we need to be
bound up? ERA has definitely won a battle among Christian women. Our
ungodly dress has resulted in our unsubmissive, bold, masculine
spirits.
Anita
Bryant is a prime example of what the Bible condemns. Many times I
warned my husband about this woman and could not understand why godly
men across this nation followed her. The role she played was not
and is not the role of a woman who is a keeper at home. Titus
2:5 says we are to be keepers at home. How can you be a keeper at
home -- rearing your children, loving your children, and your husband
– and at the same time be leading a movement across the nation?
Older
women are to be teaching the younger women how to live godly lives,
cook, sew, clean, submit to our husbands, and to be the virtuous
woman. This is a full time job that we might become virtuous women
(Proverbs 11:16). If you have obeyed the Lord and have a large family
(or as large as the Lord has allowed you to have) and have nursed
them, taught them, daily etc. – you could not be a busybody, nor
could you be running your church, etc.
You are
wondering how I got off the subject? I am not. This area ties in
with the pants and other men's clothing, the ERA movement, being
swayed and controlled by worldly styles, movie stars, and big
leaders, etc.
You
Can Dress Feminine
Some say
your job requires pants. If you are convicted and truly believe pants
are a sin, then you are sinning against God by working at a job that
requires you to compromise your convictions. I would suggest that you
wear feminine culottes. These are easy to make or to have made. Have
them made mid-length then wear long underwear or tights with boots if
you are cold. We use a pattern that makes a culotte that looks
exactly like a pleated skirt yet has plenty of room for movement. You
can have them made for most jobs at which you work. Culottes can be
worn for recreation. I prefer maxi skirts. If the sport is too active
for either, then the sport is not for ladies in the first place. I
have so many physical problems, and I have been told a lot of them
are from my childhood sports. I was involved in football gymnastics,
hoola hoops, roller skating, on and on. I am not saying these sports
are a sin, but I was competitive and took a lot of serious falls
trying to prove I could do anything that a man could do.
There
Are Problems We Must Face
A woman
that wears pants is either rebellious or ignorant. Whichever is true,
both will give an account to the Lord.
It is
interesting to note that as far as I can tell, we have never had a
girl or woman come into our program at Hephzibah House that did not
wear pants. One of the greatest shocks our girls go through is to
have their pants taken away! They do not know how to walk, sit, or
act. We have noticed that after a few weeks, their outward appearance
changes. They are softer, sweeter, and submissive. Yet inwardly, they
are not changed and would wear pants at the first opportunity. Just
getting a girl out of pants changes their personality, and they are
not even aware of the change.
What
effect do pants have on our children? Our children are being molded
by our character whether we like it or not. They do an excellent job
of imitating our bad qualities. A
woman who wears pants or immodest dress will produce a daughter that
will have either masculine character or rebellious character or the
qualities of a strange woman. That daughter will reveal this
in her marriage.
Lesbianism
among teenagers is common and routine. Being bisexual is common.
Because we are disobeying the Lord, a mother who wears pants will
produce a daughter that may not have a servant spirit to men or her
husband unless she wants something special from him.
The
effects of a pants-wearing mother is just as devastating on a boy. He
does not know how to treat a woman. His role becomes more confusing
with relation to a girl.
We put
men down by wearing pants. Men like to be sweet to ladies, but we are
not very sweet anymore. As I watch teenagers in a group, it is not
uncommon to see guys hit girls on the arm, back, or legs. Then the
girl chases after him and slugs him and is sometimes offended if he
is rough with her. You will be treated as you dress. I cannot imagine
a teenage boy slugging our beautiful daughter with her flowing long
hair and dresses. I do not think he would desire to hit her, yet he
may not know how to treat her because the pants-wearing unisex mother
has confused his development. This results in problems in their
future marriages.
Statistics
indicate this is correct and believe me, Christian marriages are a
disaster in many cases. The divorce and separation rate among
Christian homes prove this as a sad fact.
Change
Is Difficult But Possible
Ladies
it was and is hard for me to change. I had a lot to crucify In my
life. It was not easy, and I am still running the race, striving to
be like Jesus. Oh, to be like Him! I genuinely desire to be like my
precious Savior. The position we have taken is hated not necessarily
by the world as much as it is by fellow Christians. Our position does
not win friends and influence people to love us. But the most
important position in my life is to obey the Lord in all areas of my
life and leave the results to Jesus.
When the
Lord revealed to me clearly the sin of wearing pants, I was faced
with what to wear. The Lord provided in many ways. Through garage
sales, others giving me dresses they no longer wanted, and my
constant shopping, I was able to pick up some things. I am very
frugal and a bargain hunter. After searching many clothing sales and
finding things at a very reasonable cost the year around, I would
pick up desirable fashions, watching for patterns that could be sewn
during the winter months. When we were married, I did not know how to
sew on a button. I have learned after I was saved that I needed to
learn sewing if I truly wanted to be a virtuous woman (Proverbs 31).
I have not had extra time to take sewing lessons, so I purchased
simple easy patterns, asked everyone I knew to guide me, and they
were more than willing.
Sewing
is very difficult for me and a job I would gladly give up, but I do
not think it is an option for the virtuous woman unless, of course,
you can find good bargains. The Lord wants us to be wise with our
money and time.
Look
At Our Responsibility
Mothers
and single adult women, you are responsible for the molding of young
girls and children. I have heard many mothers say they do not wear
pants and do not believe in them – but you know how it Is! Peer
pressure forces us to allow our girls to wear them. No, I do not know
how it is! If God tells me pants are sin (and He does), then my
children are not wearing them whether they do at Christian Camp,
Youth Group, Church, or Christian School. Your children need to obey.
You and your husband need to let
these groups know where you stand on this issue. If he does
not desire to speak out then do not speak out, either – but
pray the Lord protect your child.
In our
own case, we are in total agreement as a husband and wife. Our
children are no longer a part of any group where the leaders sanction
or wear pants. We would rather keep them home than have them
influenced by carnal disobedient believers. And I know God is going
to bless us for our standards, and He will with you as well.
We will
not need 666 stamped on most of us. We already have the world firmly
stamped and indelibly imprinted on most Christian women today.
My dear
Sister in Christ, look around! Our
daughters are no longer pure. Oh, how I pray some will stand
for Jesus! I pray that some will stand for His sake and not let the
world control our dress and our lives. Do not be a schizophrenic
woman but a virtuous woman! Be willing to resist the pressures of the
world and disobedient Christians. You will stand alone, but then so
has every earnest Christian since the First Century.
(source)
