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Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

Welcome to Varied Expressions of Worship

This blog will be written from an orthodox Christian point of view. There may be some topic that is out of bounds, but at present I don't know what it will be. Politics is a part of life. Theology and philosophy are disciplines that we all participate in even if we don't think so. The Bible has a lot to say about economics. How about self defense? Is war ethical? Think of all the things that someone tells you we should not touch and let's give it a try. Everything that is a part of life should be an expression of worship.

Keep it courteous and be kind to those less blessed than you, but by all means don't worry about agreeing. We learn more when we get backed into a corner.

Saturday, December 7, 2024

Opus 2024-419: You Think You Have a Rough Life

You think you got problems with your wardrobe.  Consider what God did to the wandering Israelites,

(Deu 8:4 KJV)  Thy raiment waxed not old upon thee, neither did thy foot swell, these forty years.
Or to put it in more modern language,
(Deu 8:4 NAS77) "Your clothing did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years.
Picture wearing the same clothes for forty years.  When I was pastoring I wore my one suit every Sunday for ten years.  It didn’t bother me.  It still fit.  What was the problem?  My wife would not have felt the same way, I guarantee it.

Think of this as one of the great trials that beset Israel.  They gripped about not having meat and food.  They complained because there was no water.  I don’t remember them complaining about their wardrobes.  Maybe I missed it.  Maybe it was edited out.  Maybe as ex-slaves they didn’t know any better.

What if the ambitious rabbis that came up with the 613 laws decided this was number 614?

Contrary to popular opinion, God does care about how we dress.  It usually isn’t so much about style as about attitude.  The best known is telling women not to have fancy hair.
(1Pe 3:3-4 KJV)  Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
Even more frightening is the parable of the wedding feast where one of the invited guests did not dress right.
(Mat 22:11-3 KJV)  And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:  And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.  Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Does God care how you dress when you come to church?  I won’t reject you but I am not your problem.  It doesn’t tell us why the guest was not dressed appropriately.  It may have been something as simple as a green ribbon tied around the arm.  I would guess that the point has to do with attitude, just like Peter was talking about.

It is amazing how often the attitude of the heart comes up in the Bible.

homo unius libri

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Comments are welcome. Feel free to agree or disagree but keep it clean, courteous and short. I heard some shorthand on a podcast: TLDR, Too long, didn't read.