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Simple Biblical Guidelines
for Clothing
Hard Topics
There are verses that some
people struggle with yet they will not try to understand them, but
will "excuse" them as being under the law and not applicable to Christians
today. The real issue, however is not a question of whether the law
is good or applicable. The real issue lies in understanding the
purpose and the meaning of the law.
This is where many people
today fail in their understanding of the Word of God. Take, for
example, the scriptures concerning slavery. Many people are greatly
offended by the subject. It may come as a shock to you, but the
bible does NOT prohibit slavery, not even in the New Testament!
Paul in fact, commanded slaves to
remain that way!
1 Corinthians 7:20-21
"Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called. Art thou
called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free,
use it rather."
Ephesians 6:5-6
"Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the
flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto
Christ; Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of
Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;..."
Colossians 3:22
"Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not
with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing
God:..."
Colossians 4:1
"Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing
that ye also have a Master in heaven."
1 Timothy 6:1-2
"Let as
many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all
honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed. And they
that have believing masters, let them not despise them, because they are
brethren; but rather do them service, because they are faithful and
beloved, partakers of the benefit. These things teach and exhort."
Titus 2:9 "Exhort
servants to be obedient unto their own masters, and to please them well in
all things; not answering again;..."
Peter also stressed this:
1 Peter 2:18 "Servants,
be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle,
but also to the froward."
I know there are many of you that will be
angered by those statements and in your anger you will accuse me of
supporting slavery. You are wrong. One Hundred Percent wrong.
I do not support slavery at all, but the TRUTH of the entire matter is:
The Bible does not condemn it. It does condemn the misuse and abuse
of a slave, but not the act of owning a slave. Paul commanded
Onesimus, a runaway slave to return to his master in Philemon chapter 1.
Whether you agree or not is between you and the Lord. There are many
(per)versions of the bible today that attempt to make these passages of
scripture read as though one was a "willing" servant under the yoke or a
hired servant. This is simply not true. These passages of
scripture speak of slaves.
Regardless of
whether you agree or not, let's move forward and examine an Old Testament
law that causes many people to stumble.
The law is
not evil or bad, but because in many instances we fail to discern the
meaning or the principle, we immediately cry wolf over the Old Testament
passages of law. For example, let's examine one that is
somewhat annoying and troubling to many people:
Exodus 21:20-21, "And if a man smite his servant, or his maid, with a
rod, and he die under his hand; he shall be surely punished.
Notwithstanding, if he continue a day or two, he shall not be punished:
for he is his money."
The second
part of the law is the part that causes people trouble. The key to
understanding the intent of the law should be very simple, yet is often
the very phrase that people stumble over. Look at the very last part
of verse 21:
..." for
he is his money."
The phrase “he is his money” means
that the master had such a monied interest in the continued life of his
servant, that it was not to be concluded that he meant to kill him,
unless there should be clear evidence of the fact. The law of
God does, as our laws do today take note of the INTENT of the one
committing the crime
(hence the
convictions of some for manslaughter versus murder)!
Do you
think this law was evil? If you do, you're reading it wrong.
Is this law ceremonial? There is certainly no ritual contained here
that one must follow. Is the law moral? Of course it is.
The first portion of that scripture clearly tells us if a man smites his
servant (or his maid) and they die, then that man will be punished.
Moral? Yes. Was this law abolished at that cross?
Not at all.
Because of
this, these laws still show clearly that God did not give to man a
law that was bad for man.
I believe we
miss the entire point of the scriptures concerning law when we begin to
ask questions such as "Is the law of Moses still binding upon Christians
today?” or “Is keeping this law required for salvation?”
Obviously, no
one believes keeping the law is required for salvation. The law
could not save and the Word of God is quick to point that out. It
doesn't mean, however, that the law is invalid.
Romans 8:3
"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through
the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and
for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:..."
As we
continue in the study, I want to examine yet another passage of the Old
Testament Law. As we read this next one, again, ask yourself
"Is this moral, or ceremonial?" and "Should we follow this today?"
Deuteronomy
25:4 "Thou
shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn."
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