Results 1 - 5 of 5
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Results from: Answered Bible Questions, Answers, Unanswered Bible Questions, Notes Ordered by Verse | ||||||
Results | Verse | Author | ID# | |||
1 | is it wrong to wear fine clothing | 1 Tim 2:9 | Aixen7z4 | 132104 | ||
I hesitate to get involved in this since it is not clear to me what is happening here. Are these women saved? Are they attending church because they want to be saved? Does that church make a distinction? Some churches recognize members, visitors and seekers. A distinction is made in Scripture between salvation and sanctification. I think we will find that practical sanctification is gradual (1 Thessalonians 5:23; Ephesians 5:26). But salvation is instantaneous (John 6:37;Luke 18:14; Romans 10:13), positional sanctification is instantaneous (1 Corinthians 1:30; 1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 Peter 1:2) It is a good and needed ministry, to help a new believer in the practical ramifications of their decision to follow Christ. But I understand the point made by PasserBy. A person must be willing to forsake all in order to follow Christ. Otherwise, as he says, we cannot be his disciples. We should try to help the people who have made that decision (1 Thessalonians 2:7). And may I say, it is one of the goals of our counseling ministry. We do not judge anyone, but we seek to help everyone who comes to us (Galatians 6:2; Romans 15:1). We need not judge God’s servants either (Romans 14:4; 1 Corinthians 4:5) as each of us is accountable to him (Romans 14:12; 2 Corinthians 5:10). On the original question, may I say that it is possible to train one’s mind so that we respect each other and not lust after people’s bodies. Consider 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; 2 Corinthians 5:16; 1Thessalonians 4:4,5. Meditate on these things. Think about God’s purposes for the human body. It might help to sanctify your thinking. People who dress and behave in a provocative way so as to arouse sexual desire in strangers should be pitied, especially if they earn their living that way. As we relate to them we would do well to remember the Lords word to Jeremiah, though it was given in a completely different context: “Let them return unto thee; but return not thou unto them” (Jeremiah 15:19). You are to influence them; do not let them influence you! (NLT). |
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2 | is it wrong to wear fine clothing | 1 Tim 2:9 | EdB | 132113 | ||
Since this seems to be so confusing to so many let me offer a explanation. A young woman called looking for help. My wife started to work with her finding her help. She was a young woman a victim of abuse with two small children. she was providing for her children by nude dancing but was trying to get out of that life style because she under conviction. In the process of helping this young woman my wife was able to tell her about Jesus and eventually lead her to the Lord. This young lady now attends church and is living a very Christian life. However through this process we learned a lot about the life she left. She will be the first to tell you, she never regrets the day she choose Jesus. However there were impacts in her life also. At one time money was no object she could in a few weeks could raise more money than most of us in do in year. This lack of money effected her children’s health care (happily we found a family that would help in this), it effected where she lived (again we found her a family to live with and later get her own apartment), it effected where she and her children attended school (once more through God’s mercies we found a Christian day care so she could work and finish school). Besides all of this she lost her friends, fame and life style that many see as heaven on earth but we know leads to hell. Yes God provided but there was times when this young mother had nothing and saw her children with nothing and at one of those times she actually gave into temptation and began dancing but within a few days she stopped and tearfully confessed to the God for forgiveness and the church asking them to pray she would be able to resist the next time. Which to the best of my knowledge never reoccurred. I then stated I wondered how many “Christians” would be willing to sacrifice this much to serve Jesus. I watched this young woman struggle and fight temptation, her motherly instincts and even addiction to live righteous before God. Yes at the time I felt symphony as I watched her struggle and resist. I also feel blessed that God allowed me to be a part of the process and to witness His goodness and mercy at work and even now as He pours it out on this young lady and her children. EdB |
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3 | is it wrong to wear fine clothing | 1 Tim 2:9 | Aixen7z4 | 132151 | ||
There is an answer, in the church. Our hearts were touched, and we came together at His Hows to discuss this case, almost as if it had been referred to us. What would we do? We think we have the answer and we trust that everyone everywhere can consider it. It is our judgment that this burden should be carried, not by one person, not by one family, but by the local church. We would base that principally on Galatians 5:2. We believe that other passages apply: 1 Thessalonians 5:14, Acts 20:35, Romans 12:13, Hebrews 13:6, etc. But we should not have left out Galatians 6:10. Luke 14:33 has been quoted, and it applies. But it does not stand in isolation from the rest of Scripture. In fact it goes very well with Matthew 19:29 and Mark 10:30. “So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life”. We believe that the Holy Spirit showed the early church how this was to be operational zed. So we read in Acts Act 4:34 “Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, and laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need”. We anticipate that many would object to that as a form of communal socialism. But we believe the idea can work even in a capitalistic society. There is enough wealth to go around. The church consists of a wide variety of people, some with too much and some with too little. Or do people have to give away their things. There are businessmen in the church who can offer employment to the needy, teachers who can train workers, retired people who can offer their expertise, men who are older and wiser who can give advice, and rule and oversee. In fact, it seems that churches should be geared and prepared for situations like this. As a large group they can solve a problem like this that is too much for one individual to bear. We would appreciate your comments. Let me add before ending this, that we have tried this solution, taking needy cases to the church the client came from, and we have not always gotten a positive response. It seems that most church have other priorities, including building programs and suchlike. We do not mean to be critical here, nor do we attempt to dictate to the churches. If you think our idea is worthwhile, please share how we might get it across to the churches. If it is not, please also show us why with scripture. Again, I hope you will not decline to help us by sharing ideas, as we continue our attempts to help people. That includes worthy cases such as the one we are discussing here. |
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4 | is it wrong to wear fine clothing | 1 Tim 2:9 | EdB | 132152 | ||
Aixen In my example the church did follow through on this. The whole church contributed to her support. Some provided housing, opening their home to a young mother and two children. Some provided tutoring. We had people mentoring her both in life skills and preparation for GED plus driver training (which became so trying one person paid to have a professional instruct her). We had people doing child care, and we had people taking her almost daily to various places to Doctors, to welfare offices, WIC, etc. Most importantly we had people that just became her friend and was there to share her joys, her heartbreaks and setbacks and to encourage her. Doing Bible studies and marriage counseling. In the same year as this was going on the church also reroofed a retired Cuban ministers house with donated supplies and work force made up of the men of the church. Men actually took vacation days or closed their businesses to help. Understand this is a very small church of less than 30 families and a yearly budget of no more than 36,000 dollars. So there is absolutely not excuse for any church not being able to accomplish the same thing. EdB |
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5 | is it wrong to wear fine clothing | 1 Tim 2:9 | following him | 132154 | ||
Brother EdB: This is a perfect example of what John was talking about. I've always believed that we are not witnessing to the world when we simply say "Jesus loves you!" It is truth, but in many cases it is just words until they see it practically touch their real day to day lives. Although these verses speak specifically of believers, I believe they can be applied to our actions toward unbelievers also. 1 John 3:16-18 We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world's goods, and sees his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth." Blessing to you and your church Aaron |
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