I dislike legalism.
I dislike the rules, regulations, must-do's and restrictions. I am not one to bow to any type of authority by nature, in fact if someone says to me I can't do something I'm probably going to take compulsory action and do it as fast as I can regardless of the consequences. I am also not disciplined enough to stick to one type of position or action for very long. The only stability I have in my life is Jesus Christ and Gods Holy word. My faith doesn't change. My knowledge is ever-changing with the renewal of my mind. (Romans 12:2) This can get quite complex if I allow it, but I'm a simple person and I believe in the K.I.S.S. theory. Another remnant of my tyke-military experience, but it works.
I know God holds me to His standard, as He does the whole world, and I will never measure up. To believe anyone is born and not immediately walking on the path towards Hell is arrogant. I'll be writing about that some other time I'm sure. My ONLY hope and security is in Jesus Christ. God looks through Him, and so I meet His standard for Eternity because I am IN Him. This does not negate me from my responsibility for obedience to Gods Word. The Bible is the instruction manual on life. It is easy for every denomination that claims God as Creator to accept. What is different about my reformed theology view as opposed to an i.e. Jehovah's Witness outlook is that one starts from a neutrality/dualism and one follows the T.U.L.I.P theory.
What does simple obedience entail?
Love God.
Obey His word.
Sacrifice yourself daily.
Live your life as a child in the light.
Love God.
Obey His word.
Sacrifice yourself daily.
Live your life as a child in the light.
It's easy to say, "I believe in God, and I am thankful that Jesus Christ died on the cross for me." With all the piety one can muster. But what should a Christian's life look like? Is there a responsibility we have to God in how we present ourselves to the world?
Ephesians 1:4-8 (NKJV) 4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, 6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
Colossians 1:22 (ESV) he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him,
Because I know I am a redeemed daughter of The King Most High, I believe I should reflect that in my mannerism, speech, the way I treat others and how I dress.
"Aha!" You're thinking, "That is legalistic!!"
And you are correct if I say how I dress is contingent to my salvation. No, my salvation has nothing to do with me. What I mean is, if I am in public, I try my best to be modest, or at least classy. I have always tried to be this way. When I was 14, wearing a grubby tee-shirt and jeans, I got more attention than I thought was appropriate from the older, opposite sex. Already knowing the weakness of the flesh since a young girl, this new insight gave me the determination that I wasn't going to show off parts of my body unnecessarily because I wanted to be seen for who I am, not what I look like. I have stuck pretty well to this. With God plucking me out of my autonomy, and changing my heart, this conviction became even more prevalent and necessary, and will continue I am sure.
"But what matters is the heart!" I've often heard, "Not how I dress!"
A heart that belongs to God mirrors His Perfect Standard.
How dare I call myself a Christian and wear clothes that reveal my body which is holy! It's like speaking out both sides of my mouth!
Not being aware of what's appropriate is one thing, but if someone mentions to me that maybe a certain item doesn't leave anything to the imagination, it's time to toss it, especially if I am claiming to be a new image of Jesus. What is the saying, 'you can't take back a first impression'? Well, if you meet someone for the first time and body parts are on display it would be a miracle for that person to respect you, or take you seriously. The world knows there are limits when it comes to age, size and avocation....The Converted should know better than the world.
This world preaches, "DO WHAT YOU WANT, WEAR WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD!! HOW DARE ANYONE JUDGE YOU OTHERWISE!!" And it seems clothing is getting tinier and trashier than ever before...but human beings still judge you on your appearence. Any knowledgeable business-person knows that before hiring or using another professional you first look at their shoes.(!) Then you look at what is/isn't covered. If a woman bears her cleavage that woman is inviting salacious behaviour, or at least a few snickers. That kind of conduct will only draw lawsuits. Simple. If a man wears jeans so tight that there's no doubt he's male, that is drawing attention and opening the mind of others to natural sinful areas of human nature. Simple. Is this appropriate behaviour for a God fearing Christian?
No.
But why?
But why?
Read the whole book of Ephesians. And then read Romans. Then read 1 Peter and 2 Corinthians. Also: Psalm 139:14; 1 Samuel 16:7; Proverbs 31:3; 1 Peter 3:3-4; 1 Timothy 4:8 Now read these verses with a Holy Perfect Saviour in mind, who now sees you as Holy and Perfect in Spirit, which then should reflect on the outward appearance. Does Jesus care how you represent Him to the world? Knowing that as a Creature, Forgiven, bound for Heaven, In Christ, the way others see you reflects on your opinion of your Saviour? If you're of the world, how you dress isn't an issue unless you're looking for attention, although the rule still applies. Even the non-elect know what's appropriate apparel, because there is a moral standard that is in our DNA. Gods commands are contradictory to what the World teaches.....if you can't see the contrast in your expression of who you are In Him, and who you were in the world, I say repent and turn to the truth!
You were bought at a price.
You can't serve two masters.
Ephesians 4:24 (ASV) 24 and put on the new man, that after God hath been created in righteousness and holiness of truth.
You were made in the image of God.
Act like it.
You were made in the image of God.
Act like it.
Let us not forget that Jesus came against the Pharisees for their preoccupation with what they felt were legitimate expressions of spirituality. They measured holiness by what was avoided and by what would be seen by others (Mat 6:1-2, 5, 16; 23:5-6, 23-28; John 7:24). The Pharisees were earnest in their religion, but they were preoccupied with outward expressions of holiness rather than hearts of humility and love (Micah 6:8) that would bear genuine fruit. I find it fascinating that in the gospels there is not one mention of Jesus coming against immodesty, even though among his followers were prostitutes and the like. Jesus emphasized cleaning up the inside while the Pharisees were the ones preoccupied with cleaning up the outside. We must ask ourselves: Which are we more like - Jesus or the Pharisees? Even now do we justify ourselves, insisting we emphasize cleaning up both the inside and the outside? Concurrently, let us also be careful of measuring everyone else's enlightenment by what we have decided is modest, spiritual, or holy.
ReplyDeleteIn setting standards for our family, each of us must work through a process of evaluation and analysis to decide what is safe, wise, or permissible. Once we become convinced of our personal standards, not uncommonly, it follows that we believe they should apply to others as well.
The Pharisees belittled others who didn't hold to their standards. We have gone their way when we judge others. It is easy to miss this area of pride because we may not express our judgments "arrogantly"; we may instead wrap them in compassionate-sounding words. Arrogance wrapped in concerned tones is deceiving.
Pride is so deceptive that we won't know our judgments are even judgments. We will think we are just making observations and feeling pity, when in fact, we are looking down on others from our lofty place of confident enlightenment. It is a high view of ourselves that allows us to condescend to and belittle others in our mind. And if you already knew all this, be careful - pride will even cause us to be amazed that others didn't see what was so obvious to us.
When pride is working its work in us, we sincerely believe our personal opinions reflect God's utmost priorities and standards. What we believe to be our "enlightened" perspective becomes a filter by which we gauge others' spirituality, and therefore limits our options for fellowship. We develop a very narrow definition of what we call "likeminded" people, based on the outworkings of our values and opinions. Now we are on a path to exclusivity when we will no longer associate with those who will be with us in eternity. Is it possible we have lost sight of fellowship based on love and devotion to Jesus, and have substituted personal standards and a narrow view of Christian liberty?
John 8:11.
ReplyDeleteThe command was to sin no more....not 'just try not to sin as best you can.' There's a 180 degree change that was commanded. Once converted, certain habits change and some all together disappear...the point is there is always change. The changing won't stop until we're dead.
The Holy Spirit reveals what He Will when it's Gods time. The point is, our views on any subject should be changing, >except< for the foundational truths of Christianity.
Guard scriptural truth like you would guard your children, even if it doesn't line up with what you know right now....in due time you will see it no other way because The Holy Spirit is always working.
Christianity IS exclusive and extraordinary, it is a narrow form of liberty. We are slaves to the commands of God, or else the Doctrine Of Election among others is a sham.
I think it abusive if we present ourselves to the world but don't look different than the world, and certainly not loving to one another in Christ Jesus if what we wear is offensive. Just like I'd be willing to abstain from alcohol when I was with a recovering alcoholic, so we should always be mindful of others weaknesses.
Are we to blend in, or be a shining light for all to see?