Why Do Mennonites Dress Like That?
The Old Order and especially Old Colonists will tell you they do it because it's their tradition, their lifestyle that God wants for them and any other way of dressing is sinful.
The KG will tell you it's the way they should always dress to obey the church decree and to keep the tradition of their forefathers; also to please God by keeping their clothing plain, simple and modest. But many understand that ultimately it is not your clothing that will save you but your faith in God. At least the more spiritually minded ones say that while the rigidly traditional have a mindset similar to the Old Colonist's. Quite interesting that they skimp, stretch and save on their clothes but drive luxurious cars, expensive furnishings, and costly farm machinery.
Holdemans, Beachy and Conservative Mennonites have a different explanation. Actually their way of dressing is held as a doctrine, agreed upon and decided by baptized members only. Briefly: God approves of male and female Christians dressing modestly, simply and without adornment
A distinct line of separation in clothing must be kept between men and women because it is pleasing to God
The style and code is not to be altered because if it has been approved by the majority then it means God's blessing is on it.
They do believe that anyone who is a non-member and dresses fashionably and wordly can still be saved as long as the person has been born again and truly repented of his past life. But to become a member in their church you do need to agree with their dress code, not just mutually but spiritually SEE it their way and understand it from their point of view.
The KG will tell you it's the way they should always dress to obey the church decree and to keep the tradition of their forefathers; also to please God by keeping their clothing plain, simple and modest. But many understand that ultimately it is not your clothing that will save you but your faith in God. At least the more spiritually minded ones say that while the rigidly traditional have a mindset similar to the Old Colonist's. Quite interesting that they skimp, stretch and save on their clothes but drive luxurious cars, expensive furnishings, and costly farm machinery.
Holdemans, Beachy and Conservative Mennonites have a different explanation. Actually their way of dressing is held as a doctrine, agreed upon and decided by baptized members only. Briefly: God approves of male and female Christians dressing modestly, simply and without adornment
A distinct line of separation in clothing must be kept between men and women because it is pleasing to God
The style and code is not to be altered because if it has been approved by the majority then it means God's blessing is on it.
They do believe that anyone who is a non-member and dresses fashionably and wordly can still be saved as long as the person has been born again and truly repented of his past life. But to become a member in their church you do need to agree with their dress code, not just mutually but spiritually SEE it their way and understand it from their point of view.
