Culture vs. the Bible

[nightingale]

I would like to confess I do not cover at this time and I don't wear dresses all the time...I am working on it though...Here is the problem...Everytime I think I am doing something right (study head covering/wearing dresses) other Christians in my life including my Pastor tell me that it is not for today, it was a culture thing with the covering, and with the dresses, well our culture allows women to wear pants...Now I would like to share a eye opener I had to day, I believe it was from the Lord, but I will continue to pray about it...I was walking through the parking lot at Walmart...I passed a Native American with her small child, the young boy had long hair, and the mother had fixed it into two briads...he was very cute and as I passed them I thought it is OK for their men to have long hair, it is their history and culture....and then all of a sudden a bell went off in my head...WHAT!! Why is it OK for a man to have long hair just because he is Native American, anymore than an African running naked in the bush because that is their culture .........Here is my thought...the Bible, God's holy word was written for all sinners all over the world...so when a person comes to the saving knowledge of our dear Lord and Saviour, then they must obey God's holy word no matter what the culture, right....So, just because in today's American culture it is OK for women to wear pants, and forget the covering does not make it right...Do you all understand what I am saying? CULTURE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GOD'S WORD DEBORAH LYNNE!!!! (Thats me) you know what I will be praying about tonight...Boy, when you ask, plea, and cry out to God to let you know about something, He is faithful to show you...I thought I would share this...Love Debbie

[George]

Let me ask this one question then. If it is not for today who is it exactly that determines which parts of the Bible we should follow and which we can ignore?

My word! I got into a "discussion" one time with one of those women "preachers." When I questioned her about the parts of the Bible which say the women are to remain silent in Church she told me, "That was then and this is now." Excuse me? I asked her the same question. Who is it that can tell me what parts of the Bible I can obey and which ones I can safely ignore?

I have enough problems in my life while trying to follow the Bible. It seems my favorite hobby at times is arguing with the Holy Spirit of God. Of course I never win but the point is there are enough pitfalls in life while trying to obey God's Holy Word. If I were to try to decide there are some parts of it I can ignore I would be in rather serious trouble.

It is sort of like modern psychology. The world got along fine for many years in the counseling area before Sigmund Fraud came on the scene. How did they do that? They used the Bible as the basis for counsel. It is really rather simple: If the Bible says do it, do it. If the Bible says don't do it, then don't do it.

If I were to become involved in one of these modern, liberal Churches I would be dead in a very short time. First they would have me compromise the Bible and I would have no Truth to stand on. Then they would have me listen to rock and roll music they call "Praise Music." One I start listening to the rock and roll music I will be completely reminded of my past life and then I will find myself hanging out with the wrong crowd. Once I start hanging out with the wrong crowd it will only be a short period of time before I start drinking and drugging again. Then I die. Simple as that.

Let me try to express something to everyone here that has been on my mind for a couple of days now. I love this forum and all the people who belong to it. I mean that sincerely. There is a sweet savor of love here. There is evidence of love for each other and an absolute love of God's word. To me that is exemplary and deserving of my love.

You see, I have belonged to a number of discussion forums previously in which there was a lot of arguing, boasting, pride and such like. I still belong to one that is seemingly trying to find its way back to a God-honoring site. However there are still a number of people that want to argue the Bible. I do not believe the Bible is open to debate.

I cannot say I have seen none of that here, but...Brother Ben does an excellent job of separating the wheat from the chaff. It is nipped in the bud immediately. That is a God-honoring attitude and conviction which I regard very highly. Brothers and Sisters on this forum love God's Word. We all try to do our very best (with a great deal of help from above) to maintain a position of complete trust in The Lord and His manual for life.

Another thing I really appreciate here is that no one will tell someone else what they want to hear. On this forum people are told what Almighty God has to say. My goodness, go back and read some of the threads like the one on depression and then look at the victories people have achieved through The Lord by believing the scriptures! Not once in any of that did anyone here tell someone what they wanted to hear. Not once do I recall anyone saying something akin to, "Oh it's okay, you just keep doing what you are doing and we will pray for you." No, we can't just keep on doing what we would like to do and what feels right to us. That is present here in a big way.

The bottom line is that the primary reason I love everyone here so much and I love this site so much is that the people here love God. We love Him because He first loved us.

God bless each and every one of you. And stick to your ways. Teh Bible says there is a way that seemeth right unto a man but the end thereof are the ways of death. so we stick to God's way. It is so much easier that way.

In Christ,
George

[prv31wife]

I agree with you Bro George and Sister Debbie. Our society is so far gone it's just down right ridiculous. Don't get me started on women preachers. Read my post in I think it's in the Theology section called " Women Pastors. Evangelists, ETC.
I try so hard to honor God in all I do and I don't want to have a holier than thou attitude. I fail at times but God is always there to pick me up.

[zholden]

I have a question about this.

I've heard the arguments about how covering was a cultural thing and though I still believe covering is relevant for today, I've heard an interesting argument.

I've heard that Paul was basically saying that if it's in YOUR realm of culture, do it so it doesn't cause dissension. For example, in many Eastern countries long hair on a man is considered very manly, so it's okay to keep your hair long if you're a man as long as it doesn't cause a rift between fellow believers in your culture.

Does that make sense? I'm sorry I can't go into further detail right now, but I have to head off to work.

[George]

so it's okay to keep your hair long if you're a man as long as it doesn't cause a rift between fellow believers in your culture.

What if it causes a rift between the man and God? Does anyone there take that into account?

(1 Corinthians 11:14) Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

My Bible says it is a shame for a man to wear long hair. Paul said a number of times there is no respect of persons with God. That means everything in the Bible pertains to all of us. We are all equal in the eyes of The Lord. I don't find any exceptions to this anywhere in my Bible.

In Christ,
George

[benshelpmeet]

Dear Zoe,

Quote: I've heard that Paul was basically saying that if it's in YOUR realm of culture, do it so it doesn't cause dissension. For example, in many Eastern countries long hair on a man is considered very manly, so it's okay to keep your hair long if you're a man as long as it doesn't cause a rift between fellow believers in your culture.

Does that make sense?

I believe that argument comes from a liberal, one who second guesses the word of God. I've heard them preach on the radio before, and I've read their books and commentaries. Most of them do not even use the word of God...KJV... they use other versions. Bible doubters. Stick with the word of God you cannot go wrong. People will tell you all kind of things, they will twist, and try to disprove scripture, they will use humanistic thinking, they want an easy, feel good christianity, no one gets offended, everyone does what is right in their own eyes. That's how people can boldly say ''I'm not convicted about''.... wearing pants ( that's the Old Testament...what is a mans garment anyhow), or having short hair ( how short is short they argue)...etc... even though the scripture is clear. People (''christians'') like to do what is right in their own eyes...

Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Pro 30:12 There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.

Isa 5:21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!


I was looking for another verse...but these will do.

Christians do not want christianity, or following Christ to cost them anything, especially if they are ''not convicted''. What will it take to ''convict them''?... a bomb ...Isn't the word of God good enough??? Bible doubters. Shame on us when we doubt Gods word. I do it too when it comes to faith issues. I often have to repent, because I did not put my ''full trust'' in the Lord when I should. God is good, He loves us and wants us to trust Him 100%. His word is good enough....it's all we need, we do not need to try and make it fit our culture or try to figure God out...

Isaiah 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.


If every culture could do what they please, then we would need to have a different bible for different culture groups that matched their practice, so they could be considered right with God ....right ..... Wrong!

I agree with Bro. George and the fact that God is no respecter of persons.[/b]

Act 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

When my 19 year old son was 7 , he was out side with the sweet Southern Baptist neighbor lady, and they were watching the Oil Rig men work on the Pump Jack in our yard, Benjamin said to the neighbor lady that man has long hair, and thats sin...she replied...''Jesus had long hair"..... He quickly replied without much thought '' Jesus didn't have long hair because he would not disobey Gods word. Jesus was sinless.'' Wow! out of the mouth of babes.


Sister Debbie, I was blessed by this post so much. It is neat how the Lord speaks to our heart so clearly at times. What a nugget He gave you. That's great! Thats a good observation the Lord gave you.

Any time the Lord gives light on a subject, satan wants to cast doubt, and try to discourage you, or make you second guess God. Learn to recognize the wiles of the devil and then you will be able to follow the Lords promptings and leadership with no doubts.

If we were to believe what the liberals teach us, we would look and act just like the world around us, We would listen to Country, Rock, Rap, Pop, etc...with a Christian label on it, We would read other versions of the bible instead of the KJV, christian ladies would have short, and even bobbed hair and would wear pants, and immodest revealing dresses, wives would work outside the home, they would control their womb instead of letting God decide how big their family should be, they would get a divorce ( because they do not get along with, or do not love each other any more...any excuse would do), Christians would watch TV, go to Disney World, Dollie World, buy a Harley, etc...They would do all type of ungodly unacceptable things if they did what was culturally acceptable. We do not go buy what our culture finds acceptable, we live by the Word of God that liveth and abideth forever!

[George]

(Proverbs 16:2) All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits.

How about that one sister Darlene? Everything we do we believe is right. We are full of self-realization. It is the sin nature we are born with. As you said,what does Almighty God have to say about it? If we stick to the Word of God there can be no argument.

In Christ,
George

[benshelpmeet]

Amen Bro George...Good verse! Here's a good one...

Pro 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Our preacher Dr Bob Grey in Tx used to say... That in the bible there is only good and evil, there are no grey areas. The bible says ''it was good in the site of God'' or ''it was evil in the site of God''... Why do people think they can choose less than what the Lord calls good and then say that there right with God in their choices?... and say that there not doing evil? For instance the phrase...''I'm not convicted about that''?

Have they searched the scriptures?

Have they begged God to show them the truth?

Are they willing to obey the truth?

Where does the Lord fit in?

Christianity is full of choices, but if we make wrong choices we cannot say we are right with God because we are not convicted in that area. We should always be seeking to do the will of God in every choice we make, we should not just go with the crowd ''the christian crowd'' We should seek the Lord with our whole heart. He will guide. Christianity is not just doing what we think is right in our own eyes. We are to live for the Lord, he wants our who life and heart 100%...

What percentage are we giving God?

If we make wrong choices we can get right with God... Change our direction , our ways. God is faithful to show us the truth if we will but ask.

John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full

So many christians struggle with the scriptures, getting in long debates, trying to be convinced or maybe trying to convince themselves that it's not what God wants them to do. All the while resting in the fact that there not convicted in that area.

One day we will stand before the Lord and give account for our decisions. God knows all.

Have a great day Bro George! Your a blessing...

~ sister Darlene ~

[homeschoolmom]

Here's a little analogy~I believe the term is "Basket Robbins Christianity"

(you know the ice cream store with the 100 flavors)

Choose what you like and then leave the rest behind. Choose what tastes good. Choose what looks good. Ignore the other stuff.

The Bible is not an ice cream store. You cannot pick one flavor and then discard the others you don't think you like or suit you at the moment. Or take a taste of this or a taste of that.

Either you take the Bible as a whole or you don't.

Sometimes that analogy makes sense to people. You can try it. If nothing else-at least you have a name for it. My husband and I call it the "baskin-robbins church".


Ok, gotta run...I'm heading out to get some bagels. ;D Not as good as in NYC but still very

Alice

[zholden]

Thank you all for your answers. It makes much more sense now.

[Andrea]

Thank you Sis. Debbie for sharing what the Lord has shown you! It was truly a blessing to read!

Sis. Darlene, your post is so refreshing to me. Whenever I'm feeling down, I know I can come here and be renewed in my spirit with your posts! *HUGS*

Bro. George, All I can say to your post is...


AMEN BROTHER!!

;D

[Andrea]

I found this interesting statement concerning culture and the Bible and thought I would share it.

Are There Cultural Aspects of the Bible?*
(and, thereby, Portions of Scripture Not Applicable for Today?)



"... as we approach the Scriptures and interpret it, we interpret it in a literal or normal way according to the rules of grammar in light of the historical setting in which it was given by God. We need to be very careful we don't write-off portions of the Word -- [saying] 'That was cultural.' Because everything in the Word of God was cultural -- it was written within the culture within which it was given.

"So the cultural arguments simply become an excuse [for some] to reject whatever portion of the Word of God that does not fit with what [they and] the world ... [are] doing in this area today. The Word of God transcends culture ... What is important here is that it is God giving these instructions. Some say, 'Well, these portions simply reflect the cultural practices of that period of time.' That is a denial of the inspiration of the Scriptures."


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* Taken from a sermon titled Family Fitness: Equal But Different, preached 4/24/88 (Gil Rugh).

[Brother Ben]

Amen!