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NASB | 1 Timothy 2:9 Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Timothy 2:9 Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves modestly and appropriately and discreetly in proper clothing, not with [elaborately] braided hair and gold or pearls or expensive clothes, |
Subject: Rowdy, Rowdy, are you sure? |
Bible Note: We should never give ground quickly or easily in any area of doctrine. That is, quite possibly, a more serious problem than the original error (James 1:8). You have focused on the phrase "the traditions of men" and used it to effectively negate anything that I might say. Of a truth, I am no more interested in embracing the traditions of men than you are, Nobel. Without knowing them, how do we recognize them? Without knowing them, how do we scrutinize them in the light of scripture? If we can't do the latter, how can we know not to jettison something inspired and committed to men by God? You are very kind and loving, sir. I appreciate that very much. Those virtues are well worth emulation. Furthermore, only the fool despises rebuke. So I have carefully weighed your thoughts. I will not discount every thing you say by labeling it and denying that any of it is of God -- doing that is not of the Spirit. I will continue to "test all things, and keep that which is good." While I "study to show myself approved." We are men, we operate in the world of ideas. Although it might sound spiritual to say that we can rise above such things, that is not very rational. Ideation is a way in which God has made us like unto Himself. Reason and knowledge are not to be scorned. God is, after all, eminently rational. I am grateful and praise His name that He has not left us with no other tool than the mind. We have the all sufficient Word, His Holy Spirit, and we are new creatures. Together these are more than adequate for the renewing of our minds. Thus, our great battle is to remove the lie, no matter how disguised, and replace it with the truth. Theology has a bad connotation to many modern people. Partly, I believe, because of some of the movements in the sixties and seventies. You might recall that there was much of the division and denominationalism that you spoke about during this time. These folks claimed they had found something better. Whole new non-denominational denominations were formed, and now have grown into some of the largest churches in the land. Sir, you state that you need help practicing what Christ and His apostles taught. Won't "He who spared not His only son, give us all things unto godliness?" He has empowered us with His Spirit and with truth. The Sermon on the Mount, for example, is entirely unsuitable for the world. It is not an evangelistic message, instead it describes the regenerate follower of Christ. Look at the Pauline Epistles. Lets take Ephesians as probably the simplest example. The last three chapters contain over thirty imperative statements. I used to despair over that, complaining, "Paul, how do you expect me to keep all these rules?" I had missed the point of the first three chapters. There is not a single imperative statement in the first three chapters. They are entirely theological. Consequently, as any good American would do, I thought, "Let me get past all this fluff to the brass tacks. I want the practical stuff." What I failed to understand was that theology (what we know and think of God) always comes before obedience (how we walk in His statutes). Almost all of the Pauline epistles are structured this way: theology then practice. You have chosen well in desiring to practice what the New Testament teaches. Christ defined the kind of love we were to have when He said, "He that hath my commandments and keepeth them... loveth me." Note, however, that this was after His statement "Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free." Our freedom to apply His teachings are rooted in knowing the truth. Sir, I understand that my message is odious to many. I call us all to a disciplined life of the pursuit of holiness and the embrace of sound doctrine. God is deserving of nothing less. He has equipped us with all that we need to live such lives. It is an antinomy that He has sanctified us and yet calls us to lives of greater sanctification. However, considering what He has done for us, can we offer Him anything less than our entire, strenuous, devotion? Our entire bodies, souls, and minds? In Him, Doc |