Saturday, August 6, 2011

Radical Christianity

Yesterday I posted a blog entitled "What it means to be a Christian." Today I watched the prayer event in Houston via the Internet in which Governor Rick Perry of Texas spoke. He gave a speech which was more of a sermon than a speech. Then another person spoke and spoke well asking if we are one nation under God, why is not the church one church under God? They were speaking to a diverse crowd of people, all of whom have different views of their Christianity. Questions began to arise in my mind why is it so hard for people to agree with  God's word.  I know there will be differences of views and interpretations, but some things just seem so clear.  Take 1st Corinthians 11:1-16 on the issue of hair length.  Is hair length so important?  Years ago I heard a young preacher say that if God wanted long hair, He could circle the earth with it several feet deep.  No the issue is not the hair itself, but God's order of things. First God, then Christ, then the man, then the woman.  That is why the Apostle Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost said in verse 4 that a man praying or prophesying with his head covered dishonors his head. Then in verses 5-6 said that it is a shame for a woman to pray or prophesy with her head uncovered, e.g., shaved or shorn, (cut) for in so doing she dishonors her head. Is the head of the man or woman that part of the anatomy that grows hair? Or is it what is referenced in verse 3, "the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God."  Does God care about hair length? No, a woman praying or prophesying with her head covered with uncut hair gives honor to her head, the man and the man praying or prophesying with his head uncovered, that is with short hair, gives honor to his head, Jesus Christ.  This is one reason I believe the Lord Jesus did not have long hair.  His life was lived in honor to God. In watching the event in Houston I saw many men with long hair and perhaps most if not all of the women with short or cut hair.  Is there not something wrong with this picture?

Today we see in the world, most who call themselves Christian, men and women who follow the fads and fashions of the broader society. They wear jewelry, e.g., rings on multiple fingers or pierced ears, noses, etc. They often wear tight clothes that accentuate the shape. Women wear pants that unzip in the front, (there is a reason trousers are made to unzip in the front). In many instances they look, as my late brother used to say,  like they were melted and poured into their clothes. Some may say I am being too judgmental, too critical.  But the question that arises in my mind is why?  Why does someone who professes to live for the Lord live to please themselves or to emulate Hollywood? Why do women for instance, wear trousers that are made for men, that have zippers in the front. Deuteronomy 22:5 does say that women or  men who wear that which "pertaineth" to the opposite sex are an abomination to God. Note it doesn't say what they do is an abomination but they themselves are an abomination.  What is wrong with a woman looking like a woman and a man looking like a man? Oh I know that I sound a little radical (and way too old fashioned), but then is not true Christianity somewhat radical?  Years ago I heard Larry King on a radio program called Larry King Live at Night say that it was no wonder there were so few true Christians in the world for who could live that way anyway. 

Only when all who claim the name Christian come to the conclusion of the Apostle Paul when he stated in Colossians 3:7-11 "But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead."  Only then will the church truly be one church under God our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. My daily prayer is that God will grant the United States of America a place of repentance. That we as a people will place God back in our consciousness and return to the principles upon which we were founded.

1 comment:

  1. If it is not in the bible then I do not want anything to do with it.This is what GOD wants for us or else it would not have been written. People today are so concerned with their outer appearance that they forget to honor GOD.

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