Perhaps I should clarify. I am so done with being grouped together with those who call themselves a “Christian”. Allow me to explain.
I believe it is clear in scripture that ‘Christians’ are actually supposed to look different. We are, after all, ‘living epistles read by all men’ (2 Cor. 3:1-3) and we are to “represent’ our Lord. People are supposed to ‘know us by our fruit’. The changes that are, or at least should be taking place on the inside should show up in our lives and the way we live them. When the unsaved look at us and our lives, they should see a difference, not feel as though they are looking in a mirror.
I am not at all talking about putting on airs or only outward changes or some legalistic type of living. If there are no ‘outward’ signs that you are different than the world, it might be beneficial to do some soul searching and find out if we are actually saved. Praying a prayer and going to church on Sunday does not save us, nor is it evidence of true salvation. Just sayin’.
I have been astounded in the last week or so to hear and see things that “Christians” find perfectly acceptable. For instance, apparently “Christians” are reading a book called Fifty Shades of Grey en mass. It’s porn, ladies!
How about the Twilight series. How in the world does one justify reading these and seeing the movies? I dare you to find one scripture that says it would be okay to fill your mind with such filth. Perhaps it our ‘freedom in Christ’, right? 'It’s only a movie or a book’, right? ‘You are being so judgmental, what harm is there in it?’
The movies we “Christians” see. I personally am ever convicted in this realm, so don’t think I am being all self-righteous here. I too have seen movies I am ashamed to have seen and have repented. (even recently) Do we really think that the admonition to think on things lovely, pure, vitreous, good and praise worthy doesn’t include the two hours we are stuffing popcorn in your mouth watching movies with evil spirits represented, adultery, magic, violence and more?? Have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness! (Eph. 5:11)
Oh, and lest you think you are good girl because at least you don’t see rated R movies (which by the way, do you know how many “Christians’ see rated R movies??) the PG13 movies are not necessarily any better. Let’s stop judging a movie by its rating and start asking,' ‘would I be comfortable sitting next to Jesus Christ, GOD incarnate, and watch this movie’? I would challenge all of us, that if we do, we probably have no clue of the holiness of the God we are supposed to be serving. Tough words, I know. Again, I am not saying my behavior and choices are exempt here, I’m preaching to myself too.
One more subject that is stuck in my craw. The way we “Christians” dress. I will probably dive in deeper in another post, but come on!!!! This might be harsh, but I had the thought the other day, if Jesus walked into any one of the many churches, even in my own city, His first thought might actually be, ‘wow, they are doing so awesome, look at all the hookers and prostitutes here.’ Thems is fightin’ words, I know. But in the name of ‘freedom in Christ’ and fashion and harmless fun, do you really think it is okay to dress with skirts mid-thigh?? Cleavage showing?? Tight, form fitting clothes?? Not trying to offend anyone here, but my husband, nor my sons need to see the parts of your body that really should be enjoyed only by your husband!
Do we just throw out the verses that talk about modesty and being discreet because the fashion trend right now is trashy and sexy? And why is this okay with the husbands and the fathers? To see young girls with short shorts on with the words ‘delicious’ or ‘hot’ plastered across the back of her shorts. I am not kidding when I say I have all I can do to not go up and grab her daddy by the collar.
Back to my point of what we ‘look’ like. I know we aren’t supposed to judge on appearances and it’s ‘the heart that matters’ (insert finger into throat) but, sorry, we live in a very visual world and our behavior is being ‘judged’ by every single person who sees us. Does our behavior and/or our choices represent the King of kings and Lord of lords? Would our behavior (which often times represent our heart) get us spit out of the mouth of Jesus?
Revelation 3:15-16
“I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
I heard recently in a message on this scripture and it was pointed out how when people look at and judge another’s life, Jesus would prefer the Church to either be cold or hot, because then it would be obvious to the unbeliever whether or not you are His. When you are lukewarm, who can tell? Do we look more like Christ or more like the world?
So, at this point, I am not sure I am thrilled with being lumped into the “Christian” group. If being a “Christian” means being ‘relevant’ (don’t get me started on this one) and doing what “I” want, acting, thinking, and talking like the ‘world’, I am not sure about being called a “Christian”. Isn’t being a “Christian” being a ‘Christ follower’ anyway?!!
What really put me over the top this week was reading a review on “Christianity Today’s’ website of Snow White and the Huntsman. I did not find it ironic at all that a magazine called “Christianity Today” (which apparently represents Christianity of today) found nothing wrong with this movie and in fact found it to be a pretty good movie. WHAT??! A magazine/website called “Christianity Today”, one the ‘Christians’ might turn to for a decent review on whether or not they should see this movie, gave it a good review. Where is the admonition that this movie is FULL (actually rated extreme) in areas like, violence, scary/tense scenes, guns/weapons, disrespectful/bad attitudes. Or, HEAVY in, alcohol, drugs, blood/gross stuff and sex/nudity to name a few! How is this okay?? Sounds like a movie to sit and watch with Jesus, doesn’t it?
I guess this speaks volumes to what “Christianity” really is today, doesn’t it? I am so not done yet with my ‘rant’, but I had to get some of it off my chest, it has been building all week. LOL Please know that I am not exempting myself from this post. I have been challenged in all these areas this past week. I have done some repenting and some real soul searching myself.
AND, I am not ‘judging’ you or condemning you, just challenging you. I hope to share some companion scripture with this post, just ran out of time.
Yeah, I hear ya. Some friends recently went to a Christian concert and had their pictures taken with the performers afterward. One of the Christian performers had hair below his shoulders like a woman, one of our friends, a woman, had her hair practically shaved, like a man. The incongruity was stunning, seeing them standing there together. He looked like a woman without a skirt; she looked like a man in a dress. What's this world coming to? As Christians, we should do better, not be in the lead with stuff like this, to the extreme.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you said so I'm not gonna waste my time repeating it, BUT I do want to say one thing. I am so sick of trying to do something in my own life about all of that and then talking to people (warning them for their own good) only to be told we have "freedom in Christ" to do what we want. I am so sick of hearing "well, that's God's will for you, but not for me". Sorry I guess you hit a nerve, because I have thought every bit of those thoughts and like I said attempted to change the things I see in myself, only to be told I'm extreme and legalistic. Oh, well girl at least I know I'm not the only one. Love it.
ReplyDeleteI understand what you are saying in this post, but in reply to what "anonymous" said...who are we to judge someone by the way they wear their hair? I know of several girls with beautiful hearts for God with pink hair, shaved hair, body piercings, tattoos, but I don't think of them any less because of that. Yes, there are a lot of very "different" and "unique" looking CHRISTIAN artists out there who carry themselves in a different way then some of us would (such as their hair style), but I would never be the one to look at them differently because of that.
ReplyDeleteJust sayin...This is a topic I think a lot of Christians struggle with. I think in the end though...who are we to assume the way a person is based off of the fact that they do things differently than YOU would. I think it's God's judgement that matters and we as Christians should live our lives like we believe is honoring to God and not just assume so quickly that these people aren't Christians just because they do something or wear something you wouldn't. It's a topic that could continue to move in circles...In the end though...Christians aren't perfect and every one of us are sinners thankfully mercifully forgiven by our Heavenly Father...
Without getting into how long is long and how short is short, the word of God judges us about our hair -- it is a shame for a man to have long hair (it makes him look effeminate) and a woman dishonors her head with her hair shorn. That's Bible. People have a problem with the word of God, not me. The Word judges, and we can use it as a guideline. I have no doubt that the people you know love the Lord -- sometimes it takes a while for our outside to follow our heart. But, yes, you can look at a man with overly long hair and a woman with shorn hair and allow the word of God to judge their appearance. Jesus told us to make right judgments, and when we are judging by the word of God, that is right. We should not make hypocritical judgments -- telling a lady it is wrong for her to have shorn hair while our own hair is shorn, lol!
ReplyDeleteSo if we are living our lives following God's word to the best that we can, how far do us as Christians go with that? I understand that the Bible says that a man should not have long hair and a woman should not have short hair, but what about Leviticus 19:27, "Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard." It's almost like we as Christians draw a line to as far as we will follow God's word. Why do women not cover their heads anymore when they pray? The Bible says that a women should cover her head in prayer. Men uncover their heads as the Bible says, but women do not follow that. I just find it interesting that there are some things we so quickly as Christians say are wrong, but their are those things like trimming your beard or sideburns that isn't wrong (even though the Bible says it is). Follow God's word as you see that you should, but do it in humility and love those who do not do the same as you.
ReplyDeleteYou know what, you are all right in a sense. We do what we feel is best for us and our family, and that is all we can do!! We are all at difference places in our Christian walks and relationship with the Lord. Some of these folks you are judging may be new Christians and really just don't know any better. So you may gently try to encourage them about their appearance, etc, but then try to leave it at that. I think the problem comes in when we continually run things into the ground with others. Say something once, say it with love, then let it be and pray for them. Live your life out loud in front of others as a testimony of Christ in you, and let that shine louder than your words.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! I personally do not follow the ways of "no sideburns" and "covered heads when praying" in my home. But there are those that do that in their home and that is great It is true too that there are so many people that are new to Christianity and there is a very loving way to encourage them in their walk. We as Christians just need to be careful not to come across as "judging" to those who are new in Christianity (since those who are new may not understand God's word completely yet and everything is judging to them). It can often scare them away from continuing in a walk with God. I have seen many situations like this even in my own family member who was continually told what not to do, what they were doing was completely wrong and literally bashing them over the head with scripture. This is overwhelming to a new Christian and we MUST be careful and gently with them. We must love them and encourage them in their walk with God lightly. I LOVE what you said, "Live your life out loud in front of others as a testimony of Christ in you, and let that shine LOUDER than your WORDS." AMEN!
ReplyDeleteDear Michelle,
ReplyDeleteI agree with you completely. My husband has been disgusted with this stuff for some time now and so we have not been attending any church for over a year now. I so desparately want to be part of the body of Christ, yet the thought of being around women dressed immodestly and tempting the men in my family disgusts me! What thoughts do you have on this?
Would love to share this, may I?
ReplyDeleteAmein. This got me repenting! Thank you, and thank You Father!
ReplyDeleteWhen one really BELIEVES the Word of God, one MUST be changed. Living like the world is so different from living like Y'shua.
I love you Michelle. YHWH bless you.
Nat
Excellent post! Thank you for being bold enough to speak the truth in love! We women need to be encouraged to be more careful about how we dress, what we watch, and what we read. Thank you for your exhortations!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI feel exactly the same. Problem is, my husband does not. How do I deal with that? My husband watches movies or TV every night. Nothing rated X or anything. But R and PG-13. It's nasty. And the children watch PG movies and TV where the kids constantly disrespect their authority and have boy/girl problems. I've brought it my DH and I get told I'm legalistic. It's hard when the division is right in your own home.
ReplyDelete