The shaking

JonMiller · #61 10th June 2007, 07:39 PM

I see lots of people with very fancy clothes at church. In fact, people who come in teeshirt and jeans are talked about. Even someone like me who wears a button shirt and kakis is low dressed. But let someone come with 5$ earings and suddenly it is a big deal.

These verses are about adorning ourselves extravagantly. Not not looking nice (in fact, we are told to look nice). In the old times, braiding the hair took ages and generally was a sign that one had lots of money (because you had to spend it to get your hair braided like that). Same with jewelry, until the (tacky) recent jewelry, jewelry was expensive stuff, and often the jewelry would be a large part of the families wealth. This extravagance kept money from more useful things for the family, and was also a source of jealousy and other such things.

The jewelry that is common now costs 5$ at target, it isn't the same thing.

This is an example of not thinking about why the Bible says something. Many of adventists doctrines are based upon thinking about what the Bible is really saying (That is why we don't beleive in going straight to heaven/hell or that the Sabbath is on Sunday), but in other places we are strangely thoughtless.

Well, I should say we were strangely thoughtless. Now some of us are beggining to think, but maybe it will be too late to save the church in NA.

The jewelry thing is an example of the rampant hypocrisy that is present in the SDA church.

JM

JonMiller · #62 10th June 2007, 07:41 PM

Do you ever wear anything nicer than the cheapest of garments? Do you ever decide what you are going to wear based upon how it looks?

Think when you read the Bible. Many of the most regretful errors have arisen from people not doing so.

JM

maco · #63 10th June 2007, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by TrustAndObey

Typical of the SDA church? Aren't you a member?

That's kind of like me saying "That's typical of women" when I AM one.

Also? Is that what the verse said?

The verse specifically talks about adorning oneself. Symbolically the bible talks about adorning ourselves with knowledge instead of jewelry.

Considering he's already a man, I don't think it's a good example really.

Also? There's that word again. Is that really what the verse said? Wouldn't the word "instead" work better there?

I'm waiting for my crown Maco. It's all the adornment I need, that and knowledge. I don't deserve riches, I haven't received my reward yet.

I just sent you a study on jewelry via email.

JonMiller · #64 10th June 2007, 07:43 PM

TrustAndObey, this is the sort of stuff that makes people feel unwelcome at church. Then they stop coming.

Are you so sure that you are right here, and we are wrong, that you are willing to drive people from the church?

JM

TrustAndObey · #65 10th June 2007, 07:43 PM

Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

It's all about status and adornment.

JonMiller · #66 10th June 2007, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by TrustAndObey

Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

It's all about status and adornment.

Please answer my question about ever choosing clothes based upon how they look or buying more than the cheapest clothing.

What do you wear to church?

Do you cut your hair at home?

Do you do any dental care beyond that necessary for health?

Do you wear contacts?

Do you own the cheapest house?

Do you own the cheapest car?

JM
(replace you with your family when appropriate)

TrustAndObey · #67 10th June 2007, 07:50 PM

Originally Posted by mjona3

TrustAndObey, this is the sort of stuff that makes people feel unwelcome at church. Then they stop coming.

Are you so sure that you are right here, and we are wrong, that you are willing to drive people from the church?

JM

Me not wearing jewelry is going to drive people from the church?

I was asked if I had scriptural backing for what *I* believe in. I gave that scripture.

And for the record (it's sad I have to say this so often), I felt this way BEFORE I joined the Adventist church.

Originally Posted by mjona3

Think when you read the Bible. Many of the most regretful errors have arisen from people not doing so.

Well, that was rude. I do think when I read the bible, but thanks for that slam, I guess.

Originally Posted by mjona3

Well, I should say we were strangely thoughtless. Now some of us are beggining to think, but maybe it will be too late to save the church in NA.

Yeah, you smart ones are going to go to heaven a lot faster I'm sure.

Can we stop with the demeaning attitude and consider the fact that I answered a question Annie asked about if I would've come to these conclusions from JUST the bible.

I did. I came to these conclusions from JUST the bible. If I'm wrong, I really don't think me NOT wearing jewelry is going to run people out of the church or disappoint God.

JonMiller · #68 10th June 2007, 07:57 PM

Why do you think that jewelry was preached against?

If it was against all adornment, what is adornment.. what purpose does it serve?

Could you then answer the other questions I posted?

JM

TrustAndObey · #69 10th June 2007, 07:58 PM

Originally Posted by mjona3

Please answer my question about ever choosing clothes based upon how they look or buying more than the cheapest clothing.

What do you wear to church?

Do you cut your hair at home?

Do you do any dental care beyond that necessary for health?

Do you wear contacts?

Do you own the cheapest house?

Do you own the cheapest car?

JM
(replace you with your family when appropriate)

Wow, you really want me to answer these? Fine.

I wear a skirt and a nice shirt to church.

I do cut my hair at home, and have done so pretty much all of my life. I also cut my boys' hair.

I don't have any dental insurance, so I only go to the dentist if I have an emergency. I had to find one that lets me pay it out on credit. No credit cards.

I wear glasses.

I don't own a home.

I don't own a car. I drive my mom's 1995 Mercury Tracer with a rusty gas tank that groans going down the road. I can't put more than $15 in it, or gas spills out of it.

I'm also already $6,000 in debt in student loans.

Happy now?

When I become a nurse, I'll have more reliable things like a good car and dental insurance, but I still won't wear jewelry. I don't need it.

maco · #70 10th June 2007, 08:01 PM

Originally Posted by TrustAndObey

Luke 8:14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.

It's all about status and adornment.

Don't let your beauty only be known by what you wear or how you style your hair but let your inward beauty acompany the outward. What good is it to look beautiful outwardly and be ugly inwardly. All God is saying is that He is more concerned about the heart and not the outward. This is not saying wearing a ring or a pearl nacklace is sinful.

Is it sinful for a woman to wear a $20.00 necklace? How about a man wearing a $25.00 tie? Both the tie and the necklace have only one purpose and that is to make the wearer look nice.

Motive and manner is what God is concerned with, in other words, why and how you do something.

Did you know that you can be just as pridefull about not wearing jewelry as someone who is wearing jewelry? It's not the jewelry it's why and how of the heart.

Braided hair is not gold or costly pearls yet it's in the same category. How about if you part your hair in the middle, is that okay?

It's not about the outward, it's about the inward. The outward can be made beautiful with these things as long as the inward is beautiful and right with God.