Today's BUGB e-news sweep carries the story of a Christian midwife who is suing her employer for making her wear surgical scrub trousers in an operating theatre, something she sees as contradicting the Deuteronomy regulations on cross-dressing.  It is, for me, another example of Christians who actually don't understand their own faith, and don't understand that Christianity does not have 'thou shalts' or 'thou shalt nots' over dress, diet etc.  To be fair, unlike the people who get hoity toity over the wearing of crosses, she does at least have a scriptural mandate - but does she wear a poly-cotton nurses uniform or other clothes anyway?  I mean, that would be out, as mixed fibres are prohibited too.  Does she eat prawn sandwiches.  Does she work on Saturdays (or Sundays).  Would she want to exclude from service in the church a person whose eyesight was weak, or who had certain physical disabilities, as the law codes demand?

I am sure she is a very devout and caring woman, and it isn't really her I blame, but those parts of the church that espouse selective, unthinking literalism.  Given that in Moses' day we seem to think everyone wore dresses, maybe trousers are exempt any way? ;-)

And of course it is actually part of the legacy of the early Christian Missions that tried to supplant indigenous culture with white middle-class morality and norms... the white west has shifted its thinking and gets uppity when other now Christianised groups practice what we once preached..

The parallels people draw with the dress codes of Islam and Sikhism are not justified or justifiable - unless or unitl the whole Christian church, or a branch of it, agrees a mandatory dress code.  Quite frankly that ain't going to happen.

I recall many years ago reading the biography of Gladys Aylward (I think) who was asked at interview how she would work within the non-Christian home to which she was originally sent to care for children.  She replied that she would tell the children gospel stories at bed-time.  No, she was told, you must do your job  to the very best of your ability and that will do the speaking for you.  I've a suspicion that mission board knew a thing or two worth recalling...

And lastly, it always disturbs me when Christians resort to suing and claiming their rights... didn't some first century bloke say something about turning the other cheek...