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NASB | Romans 14:13 ¶ Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this--not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother's way. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Romans 14:13 ¶ Then let us not criticize one another anymore, but rather determine this--not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block or a source of temptation in another believer's way. |
Bible Question:
I agree with you JCrichton, and I am referring to verses 1 thru 16 of 1 Cor. I realize that Paul is not trying to create a new law (man must have short hair and women must have long hair), but I also can't help but conclude that he is showing us an area that we should be mindful of. Isn't he saying that men should look like men, and women should look like women? We can do this by maintaining the common standard (both to the apostles and chuches at the time, and even to this day to some extent in our pluralistic society)of men having short hair and women having long. Because verse 16 makes it clear that it is not just a standard or common practice of the corinthian church. Isn't the intent of 1 Cor. chp 11 v 1-16 to teach us to be proper men and women by looking like whatever gender we are? Does it not matter at all to God if a man has long hair, or a women has short hair? |
Bible Answer: Yes, morleyde, Paul is doing that. But also he is indicating that man was called to serve God on a very specific level. That the male is the one responsible for the spiritual upbringing of the household and effectively the Church! Though there is a codependency, God did not ask eve what she had done; He checked Adam to whom the command had been given. Remember the parable of the wedding feast--where all the priviledged refused to show? When the servants went out and gathered everyone in sight, they all got on their best attire except one! He got reprimanded and thrown out of the banquet. Paul is telling the Conrinthians the same thing: If we come to God with strange services (Genesis 4:3-7; Leviticus 10:1-2; 1 Chronicles 13:9-10) God will most certainly spit us out! As with Adam and Eve we may not experience physical death... but the warning is not included jus for show (1 Corinthians 11:27,29). Does God care if a man has long hair and a woman short hair--the Spirit moved Paul to present such argument, there must be some reason, don't you think! As a Christian we are walking by Grace not by the Law, so we are free to do as we please; the question is, does what pleases us pleases the Lord? Our behavior, as representatives of Christ, affects not only the novice in congregations but also the those of the world. So, would God be concerned with the manner that we use to add new converts to the Church (come as you are, we're rock'n n roll'n here!) or would He just think: "Hey, these are spiritual people, it's ok to let some things sly--just a little." Paul saw things sliding way out of control--perhaps it started with the simple choices that the members made (hair, dress, dessension...). Ultimately, Paul tells us that we should search ourselves and determine how we are to offer our services to God. God Bless! |