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Right about the time someone says that last part I always imagine loud sirens going off as confetti falls and an anouncer rattles off a list of prizes they've won. The Bible is a "rule book".
I've actually had a close friend say that I was turning the Bible into a rule book...it wasn't fun. I got really angry because he believes in the Bible.
Tell me something...actually, I'll tell you something: If you say you believe in the Bible and you say you have a relationship with God but you think there are some things you don't have to follow then you have nothing. How is unbelief or unwillingness to obey God in every aspect of your life any better than someone who doesn't believe or has turned their back on God.
I've heard people (who have been Christians a long time) say that some of these verses that I'm going to be talking about don't matter. That God doesn't care. People if God didn't care He wouldn't have written it. The Bible has stood as our lifeline to God for thousands of years--God knew the importance of getting it exactly right. He is a God of perfection. I firmly believe that every line and every word has a purpose. He didn't leave it to the foolishness of man to convey the salvation of His holy Word.
God didn't inspire the writers with an outline.
It was exact. Now having said that, I get to the main point of this piece: The Bible says that we are to acknowledge God in every way but some people still tell me that apperance doesn't matter and that God sees the heart.
(Christians, I'm talking to you)
That is true. God sees the heart....but men see the outer appearence. As my pastor would say, a light house doesn't ring a bell to let you know it's there--it shines it's light.
We are to shine the light of Christ to everyone. You may be saying, "Matt, your just a Holy Roller-your trying to be a god"
(you don't have to actually say that). The Bible says over and over different variations of: "Therefore be Holy for I am Holy."
Even if we take a look at the word "Christian"---To be like Christ. Jesus Christ a man without sin, Holiest of Holy. We are to walk like Him.
So many people today see all religion as being hypocritical, why? Because in their life they've seen some professing Christian do something un-Christ like. It might not be fair (since we are just as much humans as the rest of the world) but we are studied and judged more harshly by the world than someone who doesn't believe.
But people still say appearence doesn't matter because God sees the heart and men see the body. That makes even more important (if you needed another reason to obey God's Word) to make sure our outer appearence is what it should be.
Let's turn in our Bibles to a few verses. First off, 1 Corinthians 9:14 says, "Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel."That's telling me I have to follow the whole gospel if I'm going to talk to people about Jesus.
(This is all from New King James)
God doesn't like when you pray with your head covered. That's why you take your hat off in church. But all this scripture says is "covering" -is that just talking about a hat? Let's read on.
1Corinthians 11:5 "But every women who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head was shaved." [You can read the verses in between that last one and the next one I'm going to mention but I'm skipping them because I think these next ones make the clearest case:]
1Corinthians 11:14 "Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?"
11:15 "But if a women has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her has a covering."
Now some will say, "Jesus had long hair." All the famous pictures of Jesus were painted during the Renissance period when it was fashionable and prestigous to have long hair.
To the Christian women: the verse says that your long hair was givin to you for honor when you pray. Who gave it to you? The Lord your God, the Giver of Life--the Giver of all things. What are you doing with His gift? When you pray with short hair you (like the men) are a disgrace in the sight of God-not of man.
I have heard that this was just some tradition back then. Back then??? When did God change? Where does it say that now, we only have to follow some things and leave out others?
Tattoos: it seems strange to me to even have to mention this but there are "Christian" Tatto parlors out there and a lot of Christians who think Tattos are OK. They are not OK.
In Leviticus (and I'm paraphrasing) the Lord tells us not to tatto ourselves-not to scar ourselves.
Again, if Christ dwells within you then you are the temple and by tattoing you are defiling the temple. Now, it's a completly different matter if you got a tattoo before you came to God (as long as you repent:ask God's forgiveness and then never do it again).
JEWLERY/MAKEUP/MODESTY/DRESS
Jewlery and make-up: So many Christians) are completly missing the whole point of modesty in Christ. It isn't painting (or glittering) up your face and throwing on pounds of jewlery. Make-up is a pride issue. We all want to look good-I understand that, but why do you need to wear make-up? A girl in the love of God is so much more attractive than any painted up supermodel. Make-up is for attention and not to the glory of the Lord and it's wrong--it's that simple.
1 Timothy 2:9 "In like manner also, that the women adron themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing."
The Bible cleary is against jewlery-much for the same reason as it is against make-up. It says that a women should not even adorn her hair with gold and silver. Again, it's all for show--and that's not right. Some people think wearing a cross isn't jewlery--it is. Secular people wear crosses all the time. A cross has become less and less a symbol telling people that one is a Christian.
Does that offend you? It offends me that people who spit upon the face of Christ can wear the symbol of my salvation around their neck like some glittering toy.
How many non-Christians do you know that wear crosses?
Wearing a cross necklace is NOT a sign that your a Christian anymore--it's not even a sign saying you believe in God. A cross necklace (or earings) is as worldy as any piece of jewlery can be. Those WWJD, FROG,etc. braclets--jewlery. Some are cloth but but you wear them just like you would if they were metal. It's the same purpose.
If you need to wear some braclet or a cross or a Christian tee-shirt(which, I'm not at all against T-shirts--it's just an example) to show someone your a Christian then there is something wrong.
People should be able to tell by your words,actions and modest dress.
Modest Dress: Christians, espeacially women, you need to stop and think about what your wearing. I'm going to try to be as delicate as I can without backing down. There is a church where I live that I don't entirly agree with but I learned from their pastor and various other people that one of the biggest complaints the guys have at that church is that the girls dress so immodestly.
I'm talking about shirts that end right wear the waist line begines. If your standing perfectly straight it is fine...but who stands perfectly straight all the time? Any movement cause the shirt to reveal more than we need to see.
I'm talking about tanktops. This is for guys too. Why do you feel it necessary to show so much skin? You have Christ in your life, why debase yourself? Why tempt your brethern? Guys, why tempt your sisters in Christ? Make no mistake though, guys have a harder time with lustful thoughts than women.
I'm talking about shorts. Now there's a trend to wear them baggy but there are always those that go for the shorter ones. Do you women think your pleasing us by wearing these clothes? Do you not know that the spirit fights against the flesh? Therefore you tempt the flesh but our spirit that is of the Lord is repulsed. We have enough problems with worldly women. Women, come out from among the world and be sperate.
I'm talking about (yes girls in certin churches do wear this) tight shirts. The same as I've mentioned for the other clothing goes for this appral. Women, it is a safe bet that the men are already too familiar with your body type then their spirit would like to be (I'm talking about unavoidable glances--nothing perverted). Don't allow them to able to see a mole on your body just by looking at the bump it makes where the fabric clings to your skin.
Women, Men, put on a shirt if you go swimming. That is perhaps the worst of all the things I've mentioned about clothing. Because it's swimming , people think it's OK to wear their underwear. Women, a few years ago, have honestly gotten arrested for wearing more than what women of today would consider a bathing suit. This was only about forty years ago. Look at your bathing suit....do you wear more to bed? A lot them are just a bra and underwear--or for guys: a pair of boxers.
Christians, this is wrong.
Deuteronomy 22:5 "A women shall not wear anything that pretains to a man, nor shall a man put on a women's garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God."
I really wanted to underline abomination but I didn't want to change God's Word least you call me a liar.
This leads nicely into my belief that men and women should (as they did in Bible times) be sperated in dress. That is, women should wear dresses or skirts and men should wear pants (not shorts). I'm not saying that not wearing a dress or skirt will make you go to Hell. But not obeying God, will.
Is the unisex movement His will? Women would never have even thought of wearing pants in the past.
Oh, but this is the 90's.....has God changed? Or is His Word the same today as it was yesterday? Christ is the Truth. Unchangeable. The Bible says, "But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of women is man, and the head of Christ is God." 1Corinthians 11:3.
Did God establish this order for no reason? Or is there to be a seperation of man and women, of Christ and man, and a seperation between the fleshly body that Jesus Christ was in and the Spirit that was Him?
Christians, I talk to you alone. I already know anyone who does not follow God will find this foolish. The world is their teacher. Have I changed God's Word at all? Or are these the verses as you see them in your Bible? What then is holding you back--certinly not God!
I pray that pride and unwillingness to sacrifice does not abound, but that you conduct yourselves as childeren and obey His Holy word in faith and without question.
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