Re-thinking - Taking Things TOO Literally

Just a few more thinks going on around here.

Be careful of taking things too literally.  Apply the principle of the matter to today.

Here are some quotes from a dear dear friend that kinda brought me back to reality just a little; she sounds so much like my husband.  I go to her for advice and perspective regularly because I know that she and J agree on many topics that I go flying off about!

"If I wore a swimsuit with cloth down to my wrist and ankles and said I was trying to obey the Bible I think I would cause people to run the other way."

"If I modestly fit in to my environment, but concentrate on Christian love and behavior, that's what gets noticed by others, that my behavior is different and that's what attracts them."

"Unsaved people at work love me, they know I don't judge them, they are comfortable with me and the Bible shows us that sinners were comfortable with Jesus."

"I'm not going to risk all that to make a point about clothing or some such unimportant thing.  It's kinda like the Scribes and Pharisees, straining a gnat and swallowing a camel.  I like to major on the majors and minor on the minors."

Modesty is a fairly minor issue.  It still needs to be taught and discussed.  There still needs to be a standard.  I don't know what that standard is and it very well may be different for each person, just like alcohol consumption and watching television is different for each person.  There are many other verses that direct us to love others where they are, to examine our own hearts.

There are verses that tell us that God looks on the heart while we look at one's appearance.  Maybe I'm guilty of looking at the appearance of those around me, and not at their hearts and where they are with God.  Yes, maybe they need to learn a little more about modesty and proper dress for our culture (to be in the world but not of the world, to not cause another to stumble, etc).

I come on very strong and very harsh, even when I'm just in the learning stages; it's my way of working through an issue, my way of figuring it out for myself.  I am to the point where I need to have a standard for my girls and for me; I will continue to study and learn and research until I find a standard J and I are comfortable with for our family.  I will share what I find, probably.  You will have to come to your own conclusions.

Oh, but I still plan to answer commenters from that previous post.  It's started, just not complete.


Striving to learn and live God's purposes,