INTRODUCTION
In todays’ service sheet we focus on Peter’s recognition of Jesus as Messiah and ask the question, who do we say that Jesus is?
CALL TO WORSHIP
O come, let us sing to the Lord;
let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!
Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!
For the Lord is a great God,
and a great King above all gods.
In his hand are the depths of the earth;
the heights of the mountains are his also.
The sea is his, for he made it,
and the dry land, which his hands have formed.
O come, let us worship and bow down,
let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!
StF 46 “Everlasting God”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjOLDaSfIHQ
Prayer
Almighty and Loving God,
we come before you now,
at different times and indifferent places
to offer you our worship and praise,
to pray to you
And to hear your word for us.
Lord, unite us as sisters and brothers in Christ,
separated by time and place,
But united in our love for you.
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
HYMN: STF 15 “The Splendour of the King”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKLQ1td3MbE
PRAYERS
Adoration
Gracious and loving God,
we have come together
in all our different places and circumstances
to worship you, to praise you and to adore you.
We worship you as the source of all things.
Without you there would be nothing,
with you there is everything
for you are the ground of all being.
We worship you as Father and Mother,
a divine parent who cares for each of us
as your precious children,
who you nurture, teach and love,
forgiving our mistakes
and giving us eternal life.
We worship you as Christ,
The Lord and Saviour of our world:
God and man, fully divine and full human,
the Good Shepherd, the Bread of Life,
the Light of the World, the True Vine,
the Way, the Truth, the Resurrection and the Life.
We worship you as Holy Spirit,
as our Counsellor and Guide,
Dwelling within us and showing us
the way to live and love.
To you, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
the ground of all being,
belongs all worship, praise and adoration forever.
Amen.
Confession
Almighty God, loving and forgiving,
we come to make our confession.
We confess all the times our actions or inactions have hurt others.
We confess all the untrue and hurtful words we have spoken.
We confess our unloving and unforgiving thoughts.
Forgive us, loving God,
for the sake of Jesus who died for us,
and hep us to obediently and joyfully serve you,
this day and forever more. Amen.
READING: Matthew 16: 13-20
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”
And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Then he sternly ordered the disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.
HYMN: STF 363 “My Jesus, My Saviour”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mqSQvoinDE4
SERMON
Most people can point to significant turning points in their lives, to a time or times in their lives when things really changed.
I remember the big turning points in my own life; the day I asked Susan to marry me and she said yes, the day I gave my life to Jesus at Hollybush Farm Christian Fellowship in the Yorkshire Dales and the day I was ordained as a Presbyter in Coventry Central hall.
Our gospel account this morning marks several turning points:
It is a turning point in Matthew’s gospel, the lynch pin of the gospel if you like. It marks the moment in history when Jesus was first acknowledged by another human being as Christ.
It is a turning point in the life of Jesus. Before this time he seems to wander around somewhat at random, healing people, teaching large crowds and enjoying good company. After this Jesus spends much more time alone with just the twelve disciples, teaching them about his suffering and death as he sets off towards Jerusalem.
It is a huge turning point in the life of Peter. Knowing who Jesus was made a huge difference to him.
So, Jesus asks his disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” This is one of the most important questions ever asked in whole history of human race. Jesus asked it of the twelves and asks it of us today. “Who do you say I am?”
Various answers have been offered by people to that question over the years. There are hundreds of books published today with ideas about who Jesus was – it nearly is always ‘was’ too, few will admit the truth that Jesus is still alive with God in heaven.
Some say Jesus never existed, but they are in a very small minority.
Some say Jesus just a gifted teacher like the Buddha, or Mohammed.
Some say that Jesus a prophet. Muslims say he is indeed a prophet second only to Mohammed.
Some say he was a political revolutionary whose main aim was to overthrow Romans, and he was executed as a revolutionary.
I think that there are many ideas and theories about Jesus because truth too uncomfortable for many. If Jesus was and is who he said, the Son of God who died on the cross for forgiveness of sins, rose from the dead to bring the assurance of eternal life and ascended to heaven then that is the most important thing in the world. It means we have listen to what he says and live the lives he would have us live, selfless lives full of giving, self-sacrifice and love. Many don’t want Jesus to be who he really is because he is too challenging, so they come up with all sorts of ideas about who he might have been to avoid the very real and uncomfortable truth; that Jesus is the Son of God who died for our sins and rose from the dead.
Who do you say Jesus is?
Peter was certain who Jesus was. In answer to Jesus question he replied, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” As a result of this Jesus said, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my church.”
What did Jesus mean by this, and how does it apply to us today? William Barclay calls these verses “one of the storm centres of New Testament interpretation.”
It is possible to understand this passage as meaning that the rock is the truth that Jesus is the Son of the living God. The truth that Jesus is the Son of God is indeed the foundation stone of the church’s faith and belief.
Another way to understand these verses is that the rock is Peter’s faith. It was from that faith that Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, the day the church was born in Jerusalem.
The final way to understand it is that Peter himself is the rock, but in a special sense. The rock on which the church is founded is, of course, Jesus Christ himself. Peter, in his first Letter, writes of Jesus in these terms, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the very head of the corner.” The words of a hymn also come to mind: “The churches one foundation is Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Peter is the rock in the sense that he is the first person to profess faith in Jesus: the first person to declare that Jesus is the Son of the Living God, the first Christian, in fact! In that sense the church is built on him. What Jesus said to Peter was: “Peter, you are the beginning of the new people of the Lord, the new fellowship of those who believe in my name.”
There is something helpful in all these understandings. Peter’s faith in Jesus is the faith we should all share as Christian believers. When Jesus asks us “Who do you say I am?” we too should be replying “You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” That statement is the foundation of our faith, the rock on which we should be building our lives; the faith that, like Peter, we should be proclaiming to others in our words and deeds and our very lives!
HYMN: STF 331 “King of Kings, Majesty”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnuRIdNwiwg
PRAYERS
Please use the suggests headings as areas for your prayers of concerns.
Let us offer our prayer with all God’s people|
Through Jesus Christ our Lord
who ever lives to pray for us.
We pray for the needs of the world….
We pray for your church….
We pray for all in trouble or distress….
We pray for all who make a new beginning today…..
God of compassion and mercy,
listen to our prayer.
May what we ask in Jesus Christ your Son
be done according to his word who said,
“Ask, and you will receive,
seek, and you will find,
knock, and the door will be opened to you,”
To you, merciful God,
through your son,
in the lifegiving Spirit,
be glory and praise forever. Amen.
HYMN: STF 317 ‘At the Name of Jesus”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4d4UXSJXig
BLESSING
May the love of the Lord rest upon your soul.
May his love dwell in you throughout every day.
May his countenance shine upon you and be gracious to you.
May his Spirit be upon you as you leave this place.
And may the blessing of Almighty God, Spirit, Son and Father,
be with you all,
this day and for eternity. Amen.
Saturday, 22 August 2020
Sunday, 16 August 2020
Home Service Sheet - 16th August 2020
HOME SERVICE SHEET
16th August 2020
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to our Sunday worship. This mornings service is based around the Lectionary gospel reading outlining Jesus encounter with the Canaanite woman.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Psalm 67
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,
that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, has blessed us.
May God continue to bless us;
let all the ends of the earth revere him.
Click the link below to hear our opening worship song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccTX3djRl44
HYMN: StF 82 “How Great Thou Art”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GKhDCsLrUg
PRAYERS
Loving God,
we lift our arms in praise to you,
we lift our hearts in love for you,
and we raise our eyes to adore you.
You are our God, the only true God,
the God who created our world;
the God who called Abraham and Sarah to go to the land you would give him,
the God who called Moses and Miriam to lead your people to freedom:
the God who still calls people today.
You are our God, the only true God,
the God who came to our world in Jesus,
the God who taught, healed and worked miracles,
the God who went to the cross so we might know forgiveness,
the God who rose to new life, assuring us of our eternal life.
You are our God, the only true God,
the God who comes to live with us,
the God who is our Counsellor and Guide,
the God who is our power and our strength.
You are our God, the only true God,
we lift our arms in praise to you,
we lift our hearts in love for you,
and we raise our eyes to adore you.
This day and forever more. Amen.
HYMN: StF 421 “Empty, Broken, Here I Stand”
We sing our confession this morning in. the words of this hymn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72204B7fgqU
READING: Matthew 15: 21-28
Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.”
But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.”
He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”
He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”
She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
HYMN: StF 277 “My Song is Love Unknown”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNN9DBobCdw
SERMON
There’s easy no way around it, our gospel passage for this morning is a difficult one to read and a difficult one to hear.
A Canaanite woman comes to Jesus for help because her daughter is possessed by a demon. The disciples ask Jesus to tell her to go away. We expect Jesus to help her straight away, but he doesn’t. Jesus basically says I was only sent to help Jews and goes on, by implication, to call her a dog. Eventually, because of her faith, Jesus is persuaded to heal her. On the surface it doesn’t portray Jesus in the best light; but as if often the case with the Scriptures we need to dig beneath the surface.
Jesus was in the district of Tyre and Sidon, a place Jews seldom went to. We are coming near to the end of Jesus’ life here and the commentaries suggest that he went there with his disciples for a time of quiet; to spend time preparing himself and his disciples for Jerusalem and the cross. In that region Jesus wouldn’t be bothered by the hostility of the Scribes and Pharisees and he could take a rest from the demands for healings and casting out demons. Jesus wasn’t running from anything but he sought a time of quiet to prepare himself and his friends for the coming spiritual battle.
But even in Tyre and Sidon Jesus wasn’t left alone. As he and his disciples were walking along the road the Canaanite woman came to them, persistently shouting, ““Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.”
The disciple’s reaction is fairly typical of them and where they were in their spiritual development. ““Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us” was the demand they made of Jesus. They had little compassion for the woman and her daughter; she was just a nuisance they wanted rid of as quickly as possible.
Do we ever feel that way about people who come to us for help? That knock on the door from a friend with an urgent problem when we are halfway through a meal. That late night phone call from somebody who needs us to come out and help them? The person in the street who asks for help when we are in a hurry to get somewhere? How do we react to them? How do we react when we are busy or tired or just want some time to ourselves and somebody needs our help?
And so we come to Jesus; and I have no doubt that he was moved with love, pity and compassion towards the Canaanite woman. But he had a dilemma. Jesus understanding was that his Father had sent hm to the Jews and that was who he should focus his time and energy on. Yet here was a Canaanite woman who showed the beginnings of faith in God and had a daughter in need. How could he not help to bring a true and living faith to her.
So Jesus turned to the woman and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Now, when this passage is read out in church this sentence is often delivered in stern, judgemental tones; but what if Jesus said it lightly and playfully?
Then Jesus said, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” We don’t know the tone of voice Jesus used or the expression on his face. It could have been said lightly and Jesus could have had a smile on his face. In fact, given what we know about the character of Jesus isn’t this much more likely? Isn’t it incredibly likely that Jesus was smiling as he said it, urging her to go on?
And the Canaanite woman does. “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” What a demonstration of faith! By calling Jesus “Lord” she is equating him with God. By mentioning the crumbs, she is demonstrating faith that even the smallest bit of his power is enough.
The Canaanite woman has come to the faith that Jesus knows she needs. We can just see Jesus’ eyes lighting up with joy as she speaks and show such great faith. We can see the smile on his face and hear his pleasure in the comforting words Jesus speaks, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.”
Jesus sees a woman in need. He doesn’t reject her as his disciples wanted him to do. But neither does Jesus just heal her. He does heal her, but he also brings her to faith in him. Jesus sees both her need for her daughter’s freedom from demon possession and her greater need for faith in him.
How often do we help people both physically and spiritually? How often do we bring people to faith in Jesus?
HYMN: StF 685 “In Christ there is No East or West”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNRyGGSOQLQ
PRAYERS OF CONCERN
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For the peace that is from above
and for our salvation,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For the peace of the whole earth,
and for life and unity of the Church,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
That we may worship God
in spirit and in truth,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For all ministers of the Church
and the whole company of God’s people>
For Rev Louise and the people of Bright Street Methodist Church,
following the recent break in and vandalism.
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For the Governments of the nations
that they may seek justice and peace for all people,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For our own country and local community,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For the sick and afflicted,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
Almighty God,
to whom our needs are known before we ask,
help us to ask only what accords with your will:
and those good things which we dare not
or in our blindness we cannot ask,
grant us for the sake of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who taught us when we pray to say:
The Lord’s Prayer
HYMN: StF 327 “Jesus is King”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6WnLnaQUes
PRAYER & BLESSING
May the God of love
stir up in us the gifts of his grace
and sustain each of us
in our discipleship and service;
and the blessing of God,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
remain with us forever. Amen.
16th August 2020
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to our Sunday worship. This mornings service is based around the Lectionary gospel reading outlining Jesus encounter with the Canaanite woman.
CALL TO WORSHIP
Psalm 67
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face to shine upon us,
that your way may be known upon earth,
your saving power among all nations.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
Let the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you judge the peoples with equity
and guide the nations upon earth.
Let the peoples praise you, O God;
let all the peoples praise you.
The earth has yielded its increase;
God, our God, has blessed us.
May God continue to bless us;
let all the ends of the earth revere him.
Click the link below to hear our opening worship song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccTX3djRl44
HYMN: StF 82 “How Great Thou Art”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GKhDCsLrUg
PRAYERS
Loving God,
we lift our arms in praise to you,
we lift our hearts in love for you,
and we raise our eyes to adore you.
You are our God, the only true God,
the God who created our world;
the God who called Abraham and Sarah to go to the land you would give him,
the God who called Moses and Miriam to lead your people to freedom:
the God who still calls people today.
You are our God, the only true God,
the God who came to our world in Jesus,
the God who taught, healed and worked miracles,
the God who went to the cross so we might know forgiveness,
the God who rose to new life, assuring us of our eternal life.
You are our God, the only true God,
the God who comes to live with us,
the God who is our Counsellor and Guide,
the God who is our power and our strength.
You are our God, the only true God,
we lift our arms in praise to you,
we lift our hearts in love for you,
and we raise our eyes to adore you.
This day and forever more. Amen.
HYMN: StF 421 “Empty, Broken, Here I Stand”
We sing our confession this morning in. the words of this hymn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72204B7fgqU
READING: Matthew 15: 21-28
Jesus left that place and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, “Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.”
But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, “Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us.”
He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.”
But she came and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, help me.”
He answered, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.”
She said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.”
Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” And her daughter was healed instantly.
HYMN: StF 277 “My Song is Love Unknown”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNN9DBobCdw
SERMON
There’s easy no way around it, our gospel passage for this morning is a difficult one to read and a difficult one to hear.
A Canaanite woman comes to Jesus for help because her daughter is possessed by a demon. The disciples ask Jesus to tell her to go away. We expect Jesus to help her straight away, but he doesn’t. Jesus basically says I was only sent to help Jews and goes on, by implication, to call her a dog. Eventually, because of her faith, Jesus is persuaded to heal her. On the surface it doesn’t portray Jesus in the best light; but as if often the case with the Scriptures we need to dig beneath the surface.
Jesus was in the district of Tyre and Sidon, a place Jews seldom went to. We are coming near to the end of Jesus’ life here and the commentaries suggest that he went there with his disciples for a time of quiet; to spend time preparing himself and his disciples for Jerusalem and the cross. In that region Jesus wouldn’t be bothered by the hostility of the Scribes and Pharisees and he could take a rest from the demands for healings and casting out demons. Jesus wasn’t running from anything but he sought a time of quiet to prepare himself and his friends for the coming spiritual battle.
But even in Tyre and Sidon Jesus wasn’t left alone. As he and his disciples were walking along the road the Canaanite woman came to them, persistently shouting, ““Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon.”
The disciple’s reaction is fairly typical of them and where they were in their spiritual development. ““Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us” was the demand they made of Jesus. They had little compassion for the woman and her daughter; she was just a nuisance they wanted rid of as quickly as possible.
Do we ever feel that way about people who come to us for help? That knock on the door from a friend with an urgent problem when we are halfway through a meal. That late night phone call from somebody who needs us to come out and help them? The person in the street who asks for help when we are in a hurry to get somewhere? How do we react to them? How do we react when we are busy or tired or just want some time to ourselves and somebody needs our help?
And so we come to Jesus; and I have no doubt that he was moved with love, pity and compassion towards the Canaanite woman. But he had a dilemma. Jesus understanding was that his Father had sent hm to the Jews and that was who he should focus his time and energy on. Yet here was a Canaanite woman who showed the beginnings of faith in God and had a daughter in need. How could he not help to bring a true and living faith to her.
So Jesus turned to the woman and said, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Now, when this passage is read out in church this sentence is often delivered in stern, judgemental tones; but what if Jesus said it lightly and playfully?
Then Jesus said, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.” We don’t know the tone of voice Jesus used or the expression on his face. It could have been said lightly and Jesus could have had a smile on his face. In fact, given what we know about the character of Jesus isn’t this much more likely? Isn’t it incredibly likely that Jesus was smiling as he said it, urging her to go on?
And the Canaanite woman does. “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” What a demonstration of faith! By calling Jesus “Lord” she is equating him with God. By mentioning the crumbs, she is demonstrating faith that even the smallest bit of his power is enough.
The Canaanite woman has come to the faith that Jesus knows she needs. We can just see Jesus’ eyes lighting up with joy as she speaks and show such great faith. We can see the smile on his face and hear his pleasure in the comforting words Jesus speaks, “Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.”
Jesus sees a woman in need. He doesn’t reject her as his disciples wanted him to do. But neither does Jesus just heal her. He does heal her, but he also brings her to faith in him. Jesus sees both her need for her daughter’s freedom from demon possession and her greater need for faith in him.
How often do we help people both physically and spiritually? How often do we bring people to faith in Jesus?
HYMN: StF 685 “In Christ there is No East or West”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNRyGGSOQLQ
PRAYERS OF CONCERN
In peace let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For the peace that is from above
and for our salvation,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For the peace of the whole earth,
and for life and unity of the Church,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
That we may worship God
in spirit and in truth,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For all ministers of the Church
and the whole company of God’s people>
For Rev Louise and the people of Bright Street Methodist Church,
following the recent break in and vandalism.
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For the Governments of the nations
that they may seek justice and peace for all people,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For our own country and local community,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
For the sick and afflicted,
let us pray to the Lord.
Lord have mercy.
Almighty God,
to whom our needs are known before we ask,
help us to ask only what accords with your will:
and those good things which we dare not
or in our blindness we cannot ask,
grant us for the sake of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Lord,
who taught us when we pray to say:
The Lord’s Prayer
HYMN: StF 327 “Jesus is King”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6WnLnaQUes
PRAYER & BLESSING
May the God of love
stir up in us the gifts of his grace
and sustain each of us
in our discipleship and service;
and the blessing of God,
the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit,
remain with us forever. Amen.
Saturday, 15 August 2020
Negatively Commenting On the Appearance of Others
One of the things that has been on my mind lately is the compulsion some people seem to have to comment negatively on the appearance of others; to comment on their clothing choices, to comment on the length and style of their hair, to comment on whether or not they choose to wear makeup...... the list goes on.
My train of thought started with Boris Johnson and his comments a couple of years ago on a minority of Muslim women who choose to wear the niqab. He disparaging comments were both uncalled for and unnecessary. If Muslim women choose to wear the niqab or the burka, and it is their own free will choice not forced upon them by anybody else, then surely that is their own business. There can be no possible reason for commenting on it.
I then moved on to thinking about hair length. I sometimes have my hair reasonably short, but at other times grow it longer. I happen to like it longer even though there isn’t a lot of it left on the top, it expresses my personality. In my previous appointment there were people at one of my churches who would actually tell me it was time to get my hair cut; as if it was actually any of their business. The length of my hair, or indeed other aspects of my appearance, are completely irrelevant to how I serve as a Church Minister.
Today I read the following on Twitter:
“Doing my makeup on the train this morning and a random man told me he likes a woman to have a more natural look. I told him I like men to have a more silent look.”
Why did this “man” feel the need to comment on a complete stranger putting on her makeup? What business was it of his? He is entitled to his opinion, of course, but why did he feel the need to express it?
I have literally lost count of the number of times I have heard people critcise the appearance of another, and sadly it happens in churches too. A few years before I was ordained I heard a new Minister’s wife being criticised because she turned up for her first Sunday at church in a jumper and jeans, instead of the kind of smarter attire the vast majority of that church’s ladies favoured. I’m told by reliable people that there was horror amongst some when I turned up to church in my thirties one Sunday without wearing a tie!
How about we all just stop making negative comments about the appearance of others? Seriously. Just stop! It doesn’t really achieve anything except to upset and hurt the person about whom the comments are made. People think that criticising what other people wear is harmless, that they are “just expressing their opinion”, but it can cause emotional and mental damage and see that person repressing their true personality, the personality they are expressing through the way they dress, style their hair, choose their makeup etc.
Some who do this will defend the practice by saying they are just trying to help the person concerned: to help them look better etc..... Look better by whose standards? In whose opinion? It’s all subjective.
If you can’t same something nice about another’s appearance , why say it at all?
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