Theology 201 #14: Dressed for Success Part 3: I Wouldn’t Be Caught Dead in that Dress! LOL!

“A woman shall not wear a man's garment, nor shall a man put on a woman's cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God” (Deut. 22:5).

Why do you choose to wear the clothing that you do? Is it because of comfort? Or is it because it is a popular style to wear? Or is it because you are trying to draw attention or lack thereof from others? And more importantly, do the things that you wear bring glory to God?

The topic of clothing from a Biblical perspective is somewhat complicated (thus, the reason for discussing it in this teaching section). A lot of the confusion has to do with understanding the times. Or put a different way, we need to understand the cultural implications of clothing in the Bible, look at the heart of why people in the Bible wore the things that they did, and then bring that understanding into our modern times to grasp how we can be dressed for success.  The core of this teaching is not hard to understand. For example, back then, pretty much everyone, guys included, wore what might look like a long dress or bathrobe! Even still they were able to differentiate between what was appropriate for men and women; and there are differences between the two. Yet why does Deuteronomy 22:5 teach that it is necessary for men and women to dress differently?

One writer notes the following. “Scholars on Deuteronomy 22:5 note that cross-dressing would have likely been associated with homosexuality or would have been considered associated with the practices of other religious groups.

Some conservative Christians have taken Deuteronomy 22:5 to mean a woman cannot wear pants or slacks. This would be a misapplication of this and other passages in the New Testament regarding modesty. The clear focus is God's emphasis that men and women do not seek to appear as the opposite gender and that to do so is considered shameful. In Western culture, pants are regularly worn by both genders. Further, the specific law in Deuteronomy 22:5 is part of the Mosaic Law fulfilled in Christ and therefore does not require the same direct application in this matter, though the principles behind it still apply. Christians are called to dress in appropriate ways” (https://www.compellingtruth.org/cross-dressing-transvestism.html).

Therefore, what principles should guide a Christian with the clothing that they wear? There are three Biblical principles that can help us in doing just that. The first principle is to have a surrendered heart to Jesus. This is really the key to understanding the handful of passages that require women wearing head coverings (1 Cor. 11:6-10).

William Barclay said, “The place of women in Greek religion was low. The Temple of Aphrodite in Corinth had a thousand priestesses who were sacred prostitutes and every evening plied their trade on the city streets. The Temple of Diana in Ephesus had its hundreds of priestesses called the Melissae, which means the bees, whose function was the same…”

Historians likewise tell us that these temple prostitutes would never wear a head covering. This was their means of advertising. So if you wanted to know who a prostitute was, just look for the women who didn’t wear any head covering. Furthermore, it was common for them to shave their heads.

1 Corinthians 11:5, explains the effects of a woman who came into church with her head shaved. It is sending the same signal and the same message. This woman was a prostitute. A head covering conveyed the idea that she was in subjection to her husband, and more importantly, that she was in subjection to Christ. For a woman in that culture to not have a head covering would have been a total declaration of rebellion. In affect she would be saying to the church and to the world, “I am not under the headship of my husband. And more importantly, I am not under the headship of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

For me personally, I have never thought to myself whenever I see a woman who is wearing a head covering, that there is a woman who is surrendered to Jesus Christ. Frankly, in our culture, head coverings do not convey that idea. On the other hand, I have seen some clothing that clearly points to the opposite! Whenever a person wears something that is promoting a business, or certain type of lifestyle that goes against what the Bible teaches, then in effect, that person is communicating to all that they have not surrendered to Christ! Thus, does my clothing illustrate my surrender to the Lord and my commitment to holiness (Rom. 12:1; Titus 2:11-12; 1 Tim. 2:10)?

The second principle that should guide a Christian with the clothing that they wear is to have a transformed thinking. 1 Peter 3:3-4 “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” It is not that there is anything necessarily wrong with elaborate hairstyles, gold jewelry or fine clothing. The issue is one’s thinking.  For many all they focus upon is the outward appearance. Yet the Lord wants us to focus on our inner person, the hidden person of the heart. So are you as focused upon your outward appearance as you are your inward? How would you know?

1 Peter 3 tells us that you would seek to display your beauty with a gentle and quiet spirit. Gentleness and a quiet or tranquil spirit do not come nature. They are a result of someone who has surrendered their life to Christ and are allowing the Lord to transform them through the renewing of their minds by the Word of God (Rom. 12:2). So we must distinguish between the world’s evaluation of charm and beauty and the true loveliness of inward character. Cultivating godliness should be our priority.

And the third principle that should guide a Christian with the clothing is modesty. Modesty relates to both men and women. Modesty is not anti-fashion; it’s pro-adornment in godly ways (1 Tim. 2:8). Believers should adorn themselves in a discrete and above reproach ways (Pro. 7:10). 

Cultural discretion is a key component. Just as Paul acknowledged what was communicated by the culture of his day and warned early Christians not to follow these fashion patterns of his time, we must be aware of the messages and values clothing might communicate in our own culture. For example, in many countries, for a woman to expose her chest is not considered to be sexual advertisement but rather food for her baby. On the other hand, in some of those very cultures, for a woman to expose her knees would be considered as sexual advertising!  Thus, it is a matter of understanding one’s culture.

“When it comes to clothing these verses leave a lot of questions up for debate. How do you know what it means to dress modestly in a specific sense? What is too revealing? What is flashy and what is disrespectfully underdressed? One way to determine whether your clothes are modest or not is by looking at your intentions in wearing them. Are you wearing that outfit to attract the attention of someone of the opposite sex? [Or, even if it is not your intention to draw the attention of people of the opposite sex, what will they think? Thus, just ask people of the opposite sex what they think of your clothing.

Here are some other questions to consider.] Will your outfit cause others to be uncomfortable? Do you want to stand out as more stylish, as richer, or as more holy than everyone else? If your outfit is primarily intended to gain attention or esteem from others, then it might be time to evaluate your heart and your wardrobe. Seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit and follow the call of Colossians 3:17: "And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (https://www.compellingtruth.org/dress-modestly.html).

In His service,

Matt

Theology 201 #14: Dressed for Success Part 2: Clothed with Christ

I don’t know about you, but I love listening to and watching movies/TV shows that are based on real life events and how people overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles to achieve their goals in life. One such film is “The Pursuit of Happiness.” In that film, actor Will Smith plays the role of Chris Gardner. Chris Gardner was a single father who lost his life’s savings in an investment. However, he learns about an opportunity to work for Dean Witter. The opportunity was really for a 6 month unpaid internship whereby Chris would have to compete against 19 other individuals in order to get a job there. If Chris was successful in getting the job, it would radically change his financial situation for the better!

When he went to the interview for the internship, he had just been released from jail on account of unpaid parking tickets and had not had an opportunity to get dressed appropriately given the circumstances of his arrest and jail time. Those in the interview were taken back by his poor appearance. So they asked him, “What would you say if someone came in here looking for a job and they didn’t have on a dress shirt?” To which Chris replied, “He must have had on a great set of pants!” :)

Needless to say, Chris did get the job, and eventually went on to form his own multi-million dollar brokerage firm. Thus, Chris’s situation was radically transformed in spite of his poor appearance early on. This is very similar to us as Christians.

The Bible teaches that prior to becoming a Christian, we were dressed in the shameful nakedness of our sinful state (Rev. 3:17). However, when a person becomes a Christian, they are baptized into Christ and thus are clothed with Christ (Gal. 3:27). Translation, our filthy sinfulness has been washed away and we are now clothed with the righteousness of Christ. Isaiah 61:10 says it like this. “I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns His head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”

On the other hand, being dressed for success as a Christian is more than just accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Romans 13:14 says, “Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” In this we see an aspect that we need to do in being dressed for success spiritually. We are to make no provision for our sinful desires. This would including avoiding wild parties, drunkenness, sexual promiscuity and immorality, quarreling and jealousy (Rom. 13:13). This is a picture of living a pure and holy life. As we know in our culture, white is a symbol of purity as seen in a bride who wears white as a sign to her groom that she has remained pure for him. Jesus, speaking of those who are a part of the bride of Christ, aka, His faithful followers, says this: “The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before My Father and His angels” (Rev. 3:5).

Additionally, Colossians 3:9-17 speaks of it as putting on the new self. This putting on the new self includes clothing ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Let’s briefly consider each of those things that are to be a part of our spiritual clothing for success. Clothing ourselves with compassion: this is a genuine sensitivity and heartfelt sympathy for the needs of others. It is an attribute of God, who is described as compassionate and who acted so on our behalf.

Second we are told to clothe ourselves with kindness. Kindness is acting charitably, and benevolently toward others, as God has done toward us. God’s kindness is a continual theme in the Psalms and Prophets. Kindness takes the initiative in responding generously to others’ needs. Because believers have received kindness, we ought to act that way toward others. This does not come naturally; it is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22–23).

Third, we are commanded to clothe ourselves with humility. Humility is an attitude of one’s self-esteem that is neither puffed up with pride, nor self-depreciating. It is a true understanding of one’s position with God. As Christ humbled Himself (Phil.2:6–11), so believers ought to humble themselves in service to the Lord and Savior.

Fourth, we are commanded to clothe ourselves with gentleness. Gentleness is not to be confused with weakness; instead, it means consideration for others and a willingness to give up one’s rights for the sake of another. Again, Christ is our example.

Fifth, we are commanded to clothe ourselves with patience. For most people patience does not come easy, yet it is evidence that a person has truly been born again (see Eph. 5:22-23). The patient person might have the right to retaliate, but chooses patience instead (portions from Life Application Bible Commentary, p. 215-216).

Jon Courson said, “To put on Christ means to continually ask, “What would Jesus do in this situation?” And as you choose to put Him on, you will ultimately find yourself becoming the role and the role becoming you. Being grouchy or brusque, impatient or unforgiving because “that’s just the way I am” is then no longer an option because God didn’t save us to keep us the way we are. He saved us to change us into the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29)” (Jon Courson’s Application Commentary, p. 1323). Therefore, I want to encourage you to consider how you are dressed spiritually Are you dressed for success? May that be the case with you, as you seek to live for Him.

In His service,

Matt

Theology 201 #14: Dressed for Success Part 1

“Now the man and his wife were both naked, but they felt no shame...At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves” (Gen. 2:25; 3:7).

Why do you wear clothes? And why do you wear the clothes that you do? Are there certain types of clothes that people should or should not wear? For some of us, we could think about styles that we don’t care for, or things that clash, or things that are too revealing (or not revealing enough). Or perhaps you think of clothing, jewelry, or hair styles that you don’t think anyone, especially Christians should have.

The topic of clothing affects us all. For some, they don’t see a problem with any style, including wearing virtually nothing in public. Thus, some people advocate nudist colonies, beaches, or just open nudity period. Others believe that very little should be exposed: including necessity for head coverings, long dresses for women, and possibly even veils. Most people believe somewhere in between these two extremes. Yet what does the Bible have to say?

Before we can address this topic, we need to understand why we wear clothes in the first place. Yes, some will make the case that it provides warmth; yet that is not the reason why clothing first appeared. The reason that people first began to wear clothing comes back to the topic of shame of one’s sin. This was the reason that Adam and Eve first began to wear clothing.

Understand, it is not shameful for a husband and wife to be naked in each other’s presence. In fact, enjoying one’s spouse sexually is ordained by God, and celebrated in certain areas of the Bible. On the other hand, nudity in anyone else’s presence is considered to be shameful. This was the case with Noah’s son, Ham, seeing his father’s nakedness (Gen. 9:22-28). Again, the reasoning comes back to shame of one’s sin. Noah sinned by getting drunk, and then he uncovered himself in his tent. After which, Ham looked upon his father’s nakedness.  However, what is so wrong about Ham mistakenly seeing his father naked?

James Boice explains this issue by saying, Ham “could have covered his father as his two brothers did, but instead he went and told them, apparently making fun of his father's drunken and uncovered state. It was an attack on his father's honor.

Moreover, it may have been a repudiation of his father's religion. Robert Candlish makes this point well: "He [Ham] not merely dishonored him as a parent—he disliked him as a preacher of righteousness. Hence his satisfaction, his irrepressible joy, when he caught the patriarch in such a state of degradation. Ah! he has found that the godly man is no better than his neighbors; he has got behind the scenes; he has made a notable discovery; and now he cannot contain himself. Forth he rushes, all hot and impatient, to publish the news, so welcome to himself! And if he can meet with any of his brethren who have more sympathy with this excessive sanctity than he has, what a relief—what a satisfaction—to cast this choice specimen in their teeth; and so make good his right to triumph over them and their faith ever after."

The only thing that is worse than committing a specific sin is the devilish delight of finding out and reveling in that sin in others. This Ham did! His brothers, by contrast, grieved for their father and did what they could to remove the indignity” (Boice Expositional Commentary - An Expositional Commentary – Genesis, Volume 1: Creation and Fall (Genesis 1-11).

When Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden and realized that they were naked, they tried to cover their shamefulness by clothing themselves with fig leaves. Yet that was when the Lord came along, confronted their sin, and properly covered their shame (nakedness) through the sacrificial death of an animal (Gen. 3:21). Ultimately, that sacrificial death that the Lord made was a picture of Jesus’s sacrificial death on the cross.

Receiving what Jesus did for us is the only way for our shame to be removed. When we receive what Jesus did for us on the cross through the Biblical plan of salvation, we are clothed with Christ. “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Gal. 3:27 NASB). Furthermore, both the Old and New Testaments reveal clothing as a symbol of God’s mercy and redemption. Revelation 19:8 speaks of the Bride of Christ, aka, the church receiving this special type of clothing. “Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints” (see also Ps. 45:13-14).

However, today, people will try to cover their own shame in a variety of ways: works based religions, or rationalizing their sins, “Hey, nobody is perfect.” Yes, it is true that no one is perfect (except God); yet admitting to that is not the same as receiving God’s forgiveness. On the other hand, some will openly flaunt their sinfulness, glamorizing it. This is the case of the pornography industry. Pornography and open nudity deny this need to be clothed with Christ, and having our shameful sins covered, as the Lord had to do with Adam and Eve. That is idolatry! Thus, pornography and open nudity stand defiantly against Christ; this is a serious danger of these things.

Another serious danger of pornography and open nudity is that it causes people to stumble. The longer one looks at the nudity, the more they will be enticed sexually. Jesus stated that whoever even looked lustfully at a person has already committed adultery in their hearts (Matt. 5:27-28). The Bible warns that sexual immorality will lead a person to hell (1 Cor. 6:9-11; Rev. 21:8).

A third danger of pornography and open nudity is that it can bring pleasure for a period of time, yet it is fleeting and destructive.  Proverbs 6:32 says, “A man who commits adultery lacks judgment; whoever does so destroys himself.” Viewing pornography is committing adultery in one’s heart. The Bible teaches that we are to not let anything have mastery over us (2 Peter 2:19); however, sexual sins can be very addictive. Proverbs 4:23–27 commands us to do the following. “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity.… Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.”

A fourth danger of pornography and open nudity is that it leads to betraying your spouse and children. It is breaking your promise to be loyal to them. You are betraying them with the mental images of another person, committing adultery in your heart. Thus, it can ruin your marriage.

There are many other dangers associated with open nudity and pornography. Yet, it never ceases to amaze me how society flaunts it, yet when its negative consequences take place, society shames you. This is where the grace of our Lord comes in. He covers our shame with His righteousness. Therefore, every day when you get dressed, let it serve as a reminder to you of God’s grace covering your sin and shame

In His service,

Matt

Theology 201 #13: Cultural Commands Part 5: The Way We Love Others Matters

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John 15:12).

All of the commandments in the Bible can really be boiled down to just two: love God and love others. However, it might surprise you to know that the command to love others has great cultural implications! This is true for a couple of reasons.

First of all, some of the ways that people show love to others do not actually communicate love at all to those they are trying to love. This should not be too difficult to understand, especially if you are married. You might verbalize how much your wife means to you, yet your wife responds by telling you that you don’t love her or that she is not feeling loved. And then when you eventually get her to explain what she means, she might say something like, “Well, you aren’t helping around the house; that would make me feel loved.” Or “You aren’t spending enough quality time with me.” Or “You haven’t given me any gifts lately.” Or “You don’t hold my hand or hug me like you used to.” Thus, the way a person expresses love and feels loved can vary from person to person. And if we really want to express our love for those we are near to, we need to understand how the other person feels loved.

This principle transcends cultures as well. Take for example how a person expresses hospitality to others. Showing hospitality is a form of loving others and it is explicitly commanded   in Scripture (Rom. 12:13). Missionary Wayne Dye tells a story that illustrates this point. “When my daughter and I visited the Tboli people of Mindanao, Philippines in 1974, the Christians provided us with gifts and hospitality which added up to a month’s wages. Their culture sets a very high standard of hospitality, and this is the level of kindness they felt they should show to friends of their beloved translator.

As missionaries we are often the recipient of Christian hospitality in the United States. Many people have opened their homes and shown great kindness to us, though we were strangers. No one, however, has come close to giving us a month’s wages in hospitality. We don’t expect such a thing in North American culture” (Culture and Conscience Biblical Absolutes and Cultural Variation, pgs. 12-13). 

Thus, the command to demonstrate one’s love by practicing hospitality remains, yet the way in which it is practiced is completely cultural! Furthermore, as we have already discussed, it must be personalized in such a way that the recipient experiences the love that we are attempting to show them.

As a minister of the Gospel, having regularly counseled couples, I am convinced that one of the greatest struggles that couples have with each other is a misunderstanding of this principle. So perhaps, you don’t feel loved by those you are close to, or you are struggling to express love to someone. It could be that this is the issue. If that is where you are at, I encourage you to do two things. First, I would recommend reading a book by Gary Chapman entitled, The Five Love Languages. This book will help you to better understand yourself and others who are near to you. Second, after having read that book, I encourage you to be open and honest with others, seeking to communicate as clearly as possible how others can best demonstrate love to you. And at the same time, we need to be willing to demonstrate love to others in their own love language.

A second reason that expressing love to others has great cultural implications looks to actions that can be highly offensive. As an expression of love to others, the Bible commands us to take care of those who are less fortunate (1 John 3:17).

Ruth was a woman who experienced great financial hardships. Yet, God provided means for overcoming the issues of poverty. This was known as gleaning. Yet what is gleaning? In the Old Testament, God commanded the farmers to not harvest the perimeter of their crops, and anything that would have naturally been dropped as they were harvesting, was to be left there in the field. These portions of their harvest were fair game for the poor (Lev. 19:9-10). 

However, consider what was actually going on. The poor were allowed to go onto other people’s property without permission and take a portion of the crops without paying a penny for it. In our day and country, that would be considered trespassing and stealing. And a person in the times that the Bible was written did not even need to be in poverty to trespass and take things that were not theirs. Deuteronomy 23:25 allows for anyone to pluck the heads of grain with their hands yet they were not allowed to use a sickle. Jesus did exactly that (Matt. 12:1). And David took food that did not belong to him (1 Sam. 21:6). Thus, had David and Jesus done the same thing in our country in the year 2020, they would have been arrested for theft!

On the other hand, what took place back then was a God ordained means of taking care of others, fulfilling the command to love others. Therefore, in their day and location, Jesus and David had the right to take what they did.

Another expression of love that could be considered highly offensive relates to being generous with others. The Bible explicitly commands us to “be generous and willing to share” (1 Tim. 6:18). Generosity is again a demonstration of the command to love others. Yet the application of generosity varies from culture to culture.

Missionary Wayne Dye tells of a people group in the northern Philippines called the Isneg. “If an Isneg came into his village with a basket of pineapples from his garden, and gave away two-thirds of them, he would be considered stingy. The cultural standard is to give away three-quarters. If I returned from the grocery store and gave away two-thirds of my groceries to my neighbors, they would be concerned about my sanity.

We live in different cultures, with different standards and systems for sharing. The command is universal, but the application is culture specific” (Culture and Conscience Biblical Absolutes and Cultural Variation, pg. 13). 

Therefore, as we study the pages of the Bible, and seek to apply what it says, we must be always mindful of how to be culturally relevant. Yet being culturally relevant without undermining requires a clear understanding first of what the Scriptural commands meant to the original audience. And only when we understand what it meant to the original audience can we begin to understand what Scripture is commanding us to do today.

In His service,

Matt

Theology 201 #12: Cultural Commands Part 4: Building Wisely

“When you build a new house, you must build a railing around the edge of its flat roof. That way you will not be considered guilty of murder if someone falls from the roof” (Deut. 22:8 NLT).

As a former construction worker in the state of Michigan, I had a love/hate relationship with building codes. While Missouri is increasing the number of building codes, they still don’t have anywhere near as many as Michigan and certain other states. This can be a positive and negative thing all at the same time. As a former licensed builder and mechanical contractor, I can tell you that some codes don’t make a whole lot of sense. Honestly, some codes seem to only benefit building supply companies, as they only increase the cost of construction. Sometimes changes in building codes end in that same result: no increase in quality, yet an increase in cost.

On the other hand, most times changes in codes increase the safety and longevity of one’s house. Thus, if you are in the process of having a house built for you, you may appreciate the fact that the state requires that certain standards be met, helping to ensure your safety as a homeowner and the longevity of the place you call home.

 According to the Bible, God has certain building codes as well. And a careful examination of these codes reveals God’s motive behind them.

God has given certain Biblical building codes with the motivation of love and protection of lives. Deuteronomy 22:8 commands that we place hand-railings around the perimeter of our roofs. Chances are, you do not, and neither do I. Thus, are we in violation of this Biblical building code? Maybe, maybe not.

When the command in Deuteronomy 22 was given, most people had flat roofs, and flat roofs are still common in certain parts of the world. Also in the time and place that this command was originally given, a person’s rooftop would have been similar to our living-rooms of today. During the evenings, it was normal for people to go up on their roofs seeking cool breezes to give relief from the scorching heat of the average Middle Eastern day. Therefore, to protect homeowners and any guest that they might have who came over to visit in their living rooms (on top of the roof), God gave this command.

Now, in our day and age, most Americans don’t hang out on their roofs nor do they invite guests to do the same. Thus, the intent of this God inspired law is not fulfilled in most cases by simply building a hand-railing on one’s roof. The intent of this law is clearly to protect people.  Therefore, the intent of this law (aka, the spirit of this law) is to construct one’s home in such a way that it is safe for all people.

Thus, when a person fails to take care of sagging floors, broken steps, electrical issues that shock people when they turn on the light, failing to shovel a sidewalk, neglecting to deal with black mold issues, etc. that can be harmful to you or others is in fact to be in violation of the intent of Deuteronomy 22:8. Recently, with my son getting Legos for Christmas, our house is looking like a scene from the movie Home Alone, when Macaulay Culkin put toys all over the floor for an obstacle course for his unwanted guests. That is how my home looks at times, thus, I need to watch that I don’t allow my own home to violate the intent of this verse. :) Lol

 Leviticus 14:34-57 describes the procedure the Israelites were to follow when mildew was found in the home. While the Israelites may not have understood exactly what would happen if they allowed mold or mildew to continue to exist in their houses, God still gave them this command to protect them.

There are other building codes listed in Scripture like taking the time to count the cost of our building projects ahead of time (Luke 14:28-30). Yet the most important building code in Scripture speaks of building one’s life on the firm foundation of the rock, Jesus Christ (Matt. 7:24-27).  Jesus is the cornerstone for which we are to build our lives on (1 Peter 2:7). Yet He is more than that, He is to be the very Builder of our lives (Ps. 127:1). Adding these things together means that the way in which one builds their life on the firm foundation of Christ is to surrender to His control, allowing Him to build our lives. When a person builds their lives on any other foundation, the storms of life will eventually wash that individual away.

Thus, from Scripture we see that God not only wants our homes to be safe for ourselves and others, but also He wants our lives to be safe from the judgment that is to come. So are you building your life wisely from an eternal perspective? And are you seeking to keep people safe in a physical sense with the houses that you live in?

In His service,

Matt

Theology 201 #11: Cultural Commands Part 3: An Act of Humility

“It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for Him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved His own who were in the world, He now showed them the full extent of His love” (John 13:1).

For the past couple of months we have been considering the significance of understanding cultural commandments. Cultural commands can be defined as: something that applies to the letter of the law in one culture, yet only the intent of the law applies in other cultures. Thus, because of cultural issues, a person could follow the letter of the law and yet break the intent of the law. That is sin regardless of one’s culture.

This month we consider Jesus’ command to wash one another’s feet. Jesus clearly teaches that we are to follow His example of washing one another’s feet just as He washed the disciples feet (John 13:14-17). Perhaps you have attended one of the very few churches who, as they celebrate the Lord’s Supper, wash each other’s feet. Or perhaps you have seen a foot washing take place in a church service to serve as an illustration (I have witnessed that a handful of times). Yet apart from an illustration, for most Christians, the practice of foot washing is nonexistent. But why is that the case? Are the majority of Christians blatantly disobeying a direct command of the Lord Jesus Himself? Or is this an example of a cultural commandment, and how would one know? 

Applying the eight question method that we have talked about for the past two months gives us great clarity concerning this command. First, it important to note that Jesus (who) was speaking these words to His disciples (whom too) some 2,000 years ago (when) in the land of Israel (where). During that time foot washing was a common act that took place virtually whenever a person entered another person’s house. People mostly traveled on foot in sandals across the dusty roads of Judea. When entering a home, it was customary to wash one’s feet (portions from Bruce B. Barton, Life Application Bible Commentary: John). To not offer to wash a guest’s feet was considered a breach of hospitality (see Luke 7:44). At a bare minimum, the host would provide water for their guests to wash their own feet (Gen. 18:4).

 Washing guests’ feet was a job for a household servant to carry out when guests arrived (1 Sam. 25:41). If a person had more than one servant, it was always performed by the one who had the lowest position/seniority. Another clue is to see how the idea of foot washing is conveyed elsewhere. When John the Baptist desired to give expression to his feeling of unworthiness in comparison to Christ, he could think of no better way to express this than to say that he deemed himself unworthy of kneeling down in front of Jesus in order to unloose His sandal-straps and remove the sandals (John 1:27). Thus, John the Baptist saw himself as even unworthy to be considered the lowest servant with regard to Jesus’ greatness.

It is interesting to note how the disciples responded to Jesus’ action of washing their feet. Peter, as a representative of the twelve disciples was blown away by it at first. Peter even explicitly said, “No...You shall never wash my feet” (John 13:8). Peter viewed himself as a servant of Jesus, not Jesus being his servant. It was not until Jesus told Peter that if He did not wash Peter’s feet that Peter would have no part with Him that Peter agreed to have his feet washed (John 13:8).

By comparing the timing of the event within four Gospels, another significant fact is revealed. Just moments prior to Jesus’ washing the disciples feet they were arguing over who was the greatest of the disciples (Luke 22:24). The Baker New Testament Commentary said, “In the Upper Room everything was ready. There was water in the pitcher. Yet no one stirred. Each disciple was hoping that someone else would make the first move.” Included in that group was Judas Iscariot who would soon betray Jesus. Jesus, the all-knowing God in the flesh understood that, even still He chose to wash all twelve of the disciples’ feet, including those of His betrayer.

In conclusion, after considering the original context, the implications of Jesus’ actions was a call to great humility and servitude on the part of His followers. And it was a call to even serve those who hurt and betray us in unimaginable ways. Is that what people think today about washing someone else’s feet? Does the idea of washing another person’s feet in our 21st century American culture fulfill the role of a lowly and humble servant seeking to put at ease another person, even if that person is our betrayer? Hardly!!!

Typically, the only people who have another wash their feet are those who are physically unable to do it themselves. And I think that it is safe to say that even in those instances it does not convey the same meaning that this command would have had upon the disciples and others living in Israel in the 1st century A.D. Thus, for most people in our culture, the idea of washing another’s feet, regardless of one’s position is completely foreign. The average person does not walk everywhere that they go down dirty, dusty roads wearing open-toed sandals.

It is for reasons such as these that most Bible believing Christians contend that foot washing is a cultural commandment. Additionally, there are other reasons to believe that it is cultural. “There is never a record of it being done by any church in Acts; (2) it is never advocated in the NT letters; and (3) it is never specifically said to be an ongoing ordinance as are baptism (cf. Matt. 28:19) and the Lord’s Supper (cf. 1 Cor. 11:17–34)” (Robert James Utley, The Beloved Disciple’s Memoirs and Letters: The Gospel of John, I, II, and III John, vol. Volume 4, p. 120).

However, just because there is extremely good evidence that this is in fact a cultural command does not negate the spirit of the law. If you will recall from last month, the spirit of the law points to the intent of the law. The intent, as we have already seen, is a call to great humility and servitude on the part of Christ’s followers. Furthermore, the inspired word of God calls Jesus’ act a display of “the full extent of His love” (John 13:1). Thus, the full extent of Jesus’ love shown in His humble service to people who are not worthy to be His servants (which is true of every person who has ever lived). Jesus said that the reason that He came was “to serve and give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

Therefore, it is possible for someone to fulfill the letter of the law by washing other people’s feet yet fail to keep the intent of Jesus’ command. The application of this command is: are you a humble servant? Are you willing to selflessly serve others including those who have hurt you deeply? No doubt at this level it is much more challenging to fulfill Jesus’ intent than to literally wash another person’s feet. But that is the kind of service and humility that God calls us as Christians to fulfill.

The following are a few practical ways to fulfill the intent of Jesus’ command in our American culture: Taking on a menial task or accepting a lesser role. Not insisting on your “rights” or “privileges.” Meeting others’ needs before meeting your own. Looking for a job no one else will do and cheerfully doing it.

And ultimately focusing on the results being achieved, not who is getting credit (portions from Bruce B. Barton, Life Application Bible Commentary: John). Therefore, may we seek to follow Jesus’ example of love by being a humble servant.

In His service,

Matt

Theology 201 #10: Cultural Commands Part 2 The Letter of the Law vs. the Spirit of the Law

 “Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you” (Rom. 16:16 NASB).

Last month we began a discussion of cultural commandments. Cultural commands can be defined as: something that applies to the letter of the law in one culture, yet only the intent of the law applies in other cultures. Thus, because of cultural issues, a person could follow the letter of the law and yet break the intent of the law. That is sin regardless of one’s culture.

So last month we discussed four guiding principles that will help us to understand cultural commands; and these principles will help us to understand all of Scripture. The four principles are as follows. First, we need to understand that all of Scripture is always authoritative (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Second, not all of Scripture is written to everyone. Third, the core meaning applies to everyone.

The core meaning is discovered by asking the following eight questions: WHO is saying what is written? WHOM to were the words spoken? WHEN were these things done or said (meaning which covenant/age)? WHAT is the context in which the passage is found (one chapter before and after)? It is likewise important to understand what the historical context of the event or words spoken: WHERE did it take place (physical location)? HOW are the key words used here and elsewhere?

Next we need to ask, WHY was the passage recorded? And HOW did the original audience respond? Lastly, the fourth guideline to understanding Scripture is to always keep in mind that Biblical commands are there to help us to love God and other people. Like I said, these four principles are essential to understanding all of Scripture, and especially cultural commands.

If a person does not understand the original meaning, they will naturally misapply numerous verses in the Bible! If we apply literally, aka, the letter of the law, to every verse of Scripture, by default we can violate the intent of the command, aka, the spirit (or intent) of the law.

At this point some will object to the idea of merely following the spirit of the law instead of the letter of the law because they claim that it will lead to liberalism. However, in every instance in which the spirit of the law is more crucial than the letter of the law, the result is more conservative. For example, the letter of the law says, “Don’t murder” (Ex. 20:13). On the other hand, the spirit of the law states that if we even harbor hatred for someone else, we are guilty of murder (Matt. 5:21-22). Another example is the command against committing adultery (Ex. 20:14). Jesus taught that the spirit of law in this regard says that looking lustfully at a person is committing adultery in your heart (Matt. 5:28). Likewise, in the example of greeting one another with a holy kiss, the spirit of the law is much more conservative than the letter of the law.

Thus, let’s analyze this command. The letter of the law commands that we kiss each other on the cheek as a greeting. However, the spirit of the law says something radically different. In the Middle Eastern culture that the Bible was originally written to, a kiss was a sign of their perfect unity and mutual forgiveness. By calling it a “holy kiss” would symbolize Christ’s love mutually shared (portions from Gareth Reese, New Testament Epistles Romans, pgs. 745-746). No doubt in certain cultures today, literally greeting one another with a holy kiss, a kiss on the check, still conveys that same meaning. Therefore, if a person lived, or visited a place like that, as Christians, they should continue to practice that greeting. Yet keeping in mind its original intent.

On the other hand, in our Western culture, literally greeting others in that way would not convey the sign of their perfect unity and mutual forgiveness in Christ. Thus, how does one greet others in such a way to convey perfect unity and mutual forgiveness in Christ? It really is a matter of the heart.

When I greet other Christians, do I genuinely have Christian love for them? Are there any elements of jealousy that I might have regarding them? Do I desire unity in Christ among us? In this, am I willing to swallow my pride, and seek forgiveness of things that could be keeping us apart?

Thus outwardly, the command to greet one another with a holy kiss or in “Christian love” (Rom. 16:16 NLT), could be fulfilled with a handshake, hug, etc. Yet inwardly, there is a world of difference than simply giving a person a greeting. That is the spirit of the law. And as we seek to follow the spirit of the law rather than just the letter of the law, God does a work of the Spirit in our hearts and lives and in the lives of those that we come in contact with.

In His service,

Matt

Theology 201 #10: Cultural Commands Part 1

 “Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you” (Rom. 16:16 NASB). LOL! :)

The above verse appears in various forms five times in Scripture (1 Cor. 16:20; 2 Cor. 13:12; 1 Thess. 5:26; 1 Peter 5:14). Even still, the idea of greeting one another with a holy kiss is a rather awkward verse for the majority of Americans to apply in a literal sense (myself included, unless you are of course referring to my wife and kids). Therefore, most churches, commentators, and preachers just fly over it really fast or just ignore it altogether. I can even remember that being my experience in Bible College. Yet it is still Scriptural, so what do about a command that shows up five times in the Bible that is awkward for the majority of Americans?

This same case can be made with several different commands in Scripture. A concise list would include the practice of foot washing (John 13:3-5, 14-15), hand-railings around the perimeter of our rooms (Deut. 22:8), the commands against wearing jewelry, braided hair (1 Peter 3:3), the necessity to women having long hair and wearing head coverings (1 Cor. 11:3-16), etc. Again, how do we as Christians living in America apply these passages?

Over the next few months we will consider some of these individually. Yet the simple answer is that these are examples of cultural commands which could be defined as: something that applies to the letter of the law in one culture, yet only the intent of the law applies in other cultures. Thus, because of cultural issues, a person could follow the letter of the law and yet break the intent of the law. That is sin regardless of one’s culture. This definition will make more sense as we consider a few examples in depth. But before we do, we need to set some guidelines for all of Scripture and then see how it applies.

First, we need to understand that all of Scripture is always authoritative. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 in the New American Standard Bible reads, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.”  So both Old and New Testaments, is authoritative over all people, in every age and culture. All passages are for our benefit.

No commandments can be freely disregarded; no examples are to be ignored. Scripture is much more than a guide for action; it is our “Manufacturer’s Handbook” telling us all how to live.

Second, not all of Scripture is written to everyone. So even though all Scripture is authoritative, it does not mean that it was written to everyone. This should be an obvious principle yet many overlook this fact. But it can be easily illustrated. When Jesus told Judas to go out and betray Him quickly, Jesus was not telling us to go out and do the same.

Or how about when God told Noah to build an ark? Was God telling all of us to do the same thing? Of course not. So, throughout the Bible there are tons of commands that do not directly apply to us. Yes, there can be a spirit of those commands that applies, but the letter does not. Take Noah for example again. We are not commanded to enter into a physical ark. Yet the ark is a picture of Christ for us (1 Peter 3:20-22). And we are commanded to be in Him. Total difference between the two.

Third, the core meaning applies to everyone. This is what the spirit of a law is referring to. Thus, what is the intent behind the command? It is easy to see how idioms, poems, allegories, sarcasm, etc. can be used to command a person to do something, yet they are not meant to be literally applied.

In order to discover the core meaning, we must first discover the original intended meaning. This involves asking eight questions: WHO is saying what is written? WHOM to were the words spoken? WHEN were these things done or said (meaning which covenant/age)? WHAT is the context in which the passage is found (one chapter before and after)? It is likewise important to understand what the historical context of the event or words spoken: WHERE did it take place (physical location)?  HOW are the key words used here and elsewhere? The true meaning of words are determined by their context and how they are used elsewhere. For example, if a person said the word “gay,” a dramatically different definition would be given based upon when it was used, how that person used it elsewhere, and how it was defined in that same time era. Next we need to ask, WHY was the passage recorded? And HOW did the original audience respond?

Many of these questions can be answered through simply studying the Bible, typically about a chapter before and after. However, some of these things will require going to a Biblical background handbook or dictionary. Some study Bibles will include that information, otherwise Bible Gateway.com offers a few free ones.

If a person does not take the time to answer these questions, there will undoubtedly be verses that will be incorrectly interpreted. So by asking these questions we are able to gain the context of the passage. Thus, these questions are very significant, for if you do not understand the context, then you are apt to misunderstand what is being said, or done.

A fourth guideline to understanding Scripture is to always keep in mind that Biblical commands are there to help us to love God and other people.

When we consider these four guidelines and especially the eight questions for learning the core meaning to the command of greeting one another with a holy kiss, we learn several things: First, it was common in the Middle Eastern culture that the Bible was written to. Of course this practice still remains in certain parts of the world today. Second, we learn that it was typically done within one’s gender, and had no homosexual implications behind it. Third, it was a token that all offenses were forgotten and forgiven, and that there was nothing but peace and goodwill between them. So the kiss was a sign of their perfect unity and mutual forgiveness. By calling it a “holy kiss” would symbolize Christ’s love mutually shared (portions from Gareth Reese, New Testament Epistles Romans, pgs. 745-746).

By properly understanding what a verse meant to the original audience we are then able to understand what it means to us today. In our culture, seeing two guys or girls kissing each other on the cheek, who are not biologically related does not convey that all offenses are forgiven and forgotten through their shared relationship with Jesus Christ! Yet that was the intent of those verses (this is sometimes referred to as the spirit of the law). It is for that reason that the New Living Translation translates Romans 16:16 as “Greet each other in Christian love…”

So my goal with these Theology 201 articles is to be able to help you to understand verses in the Bible that can be challenging for us to understand in our day and age. And, as a result, God’s Word will come alive to you and you will grow in your relationship with Him.

In His service,

Matt