Posted on 06/09/2014 11:09:15 AM PDT by Laissez-faire capitalist
I believe that the show "19 Kids and Counting" is a very wholesome show, and more than worthy of watching.
This said, after the book, "Growing Up Duggar" came out, and after perusing it, I do believe that parts that talk abut hair lengths, clothing choices, etc, do perhaps need some discussion, given that there are some scriptural references stated within the book. And in reply:
1.) 1 Peter 3: 3-13 says:
"Whose adorning let it no 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. For after this manner in the old time the women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves being in subject unto their own husbands: evebn as sarah obeyed Abraham..."
While passages in the book refer to what Paul said, there has to be a proper hermeneutical and exegetical approach to this:
A.) If wearing gold, or plaiting of hair is condemned, then putting on of apparel (wearing clothes) is condemened, too. All three rise and fall together. This isn't what the passage talks about, though, as Peter would not have condoned walking around without clothes. What the passage shows is that the inward man being adorned is to be stressed in a Christian's life more than adorning the outward person.
B.) Genesis 24:53: When Abraham's servant went to look for a wife for Issac, he brought forth articles of silver and gold and gave them to Rebekah. Where would Rebekah have obtained this silver and gold jewelry? Obviously from Sarah via Abraham's servant. So Sarah adorned herself with silver and gold jewelry.
C.) In Moses time in Exodus 35: 20-29, when the wilderness tabernacle was being constructed, God told the children of Israel - those whose hearts were stirred by God - to bring forth those things for the construction of the tabernacle: It says that both men and women brought forth rings, nose rings, necklaces, etc (all jewelry of gold). Both men and women wore these things - even men and women who were Godly in heart.
2.) Showing the thigh shows nakedness? When Abraham made his servant swear that he would go back to Haran to look for a wife for Issac, Abraham made his servant place his hand on Abraham's thigh to seal the covenant that his servant wiould do as instructed by Abraham. (Genesis 24: 1-9).
3.) A man should not wear what women wear and vice versa? Yes... But in Moses time, women wore long sleeved tunics and robes for modesty, and wore more natural colors, while men wore short-sleeved robes and bright colors. They both wore robes --- it is just that there were robes for women to wear and robes for men to wear.
A.) Men and women can both wear pants, as long as men don't wear womens pants and vice versa.
B.) Men can wear kilts? Yes, as it is part of some cultures and is not a hindrance to winning souls for God in some cultures. Go back centuries and men wore stockings - even Godly men. Would I advocate this for today? Uh, a big fat NO. But God didn't senjd those men to hell for wearing stocking, wigs and powdering their faces. Times and cultures change...
C.) What do we do concerning those men who through the recent centuries past wore stocking, wigs, etc - even Goldy men? In their time and culture it wasn't a hindrance to winning souls for God. Doing such today would be a hindrance, with the exception I guess of wearing kilts, although wearing them would certainly not be for me personally.
And thus it comes down to that.
Long hair on a man in a culture (a culture that has no problem with this) would not be a hindrance for men winning souls for God in that culture, but in the U.S. it might very well be a hindrance depending upon the place. The same for short hair for women: The scriptures don't necessarily state how long is long or how short is short, other than Paul stating that a woman shorning was/is unacceptable.
In the end, if someone is invited to speak at a church that would frown on jewelry or even short sleeved dress shirts being worn (although wearing these articles doesn't bother that individual being asked to come and speak) they should nonetheless dress in such a way as to not offend. What good would it do for them to be preaching from behind the pulpit a message that God gave them, when the whole time people in the audience are stuck on looking at what they are wearing?
Wow! You got a problem!
Just mind your own business, will ya? Your elitist rant makes no difference, liberty is liberty, the Duggars are free to live how they wish, they harm no one, not even you.
They are a family, not some public chartered institution that has oversight from you or me.
No, rather than that blather from you against me, maybe you need to get on your meds.
You speak of liberty...that liberty is liberty...that the Duggars are free (and they are), and yet you tell me basically to shut up.
You wouldn't know the first thing about liberty or freedom. That makes you the elitist ranter, and your post proves this.
They can talk about whatever and however they wish - and I have no problem with this - but so can I on this thread.
You seem to want it one way: freedom for others but not for me. If you truly are otherwise then you cannot and will not tell me to mind my own business. Got it? Good. Now scram....
And did I ever say that they were harming anyone?
All you have is Ad Homs now, because you know as well as I know that their beliefs are not Biblical.
These beliefs cannot be proved to be Biblically-based, either, because no true exegetic and hermeneutic approach would bolster theses beliefs.
I apologize for any insult my comment has made.
I do not wish to argue, you are indeed free to voice your opinion, as am I. I do prefer to keep it civil, espc. in such an impersonal forum; in person we would act like gentlemen. We probably hold many similar beliefs/positions and likely have much more in common than not.
Whether I agree with the Duggars, or you, for that matter, is irrelevant to the Duggars choices. They are representative of what’s right with our society, bot with what’s wrong (opinion, take it or leave it, I suppose).
My only and final comment is that if you wish to advise or instruct the Duggars on matters of faith and living they are available. As a public family, I am certain they receive lots of mail etc.
Again, sincere apologies.
Best;
I do not wish to advise or instruct the Duggars on matters of faith and/or living. They have a television forum, and are free to talk about whatever they wish, be it morals, matters of faith, dating, manner and types of attire, what foods they eat (apparently lots of pickles), etc, etc, etc.
And other, like certain of their children, have a forum (via a book) and the television show “19 Kids and counting” to talk about whatever they wish to (be it matters of faith, morals, life encounters, obstacles they have overcome, what they are looking for, hoping for in this life, etc).
And we, too, here at FR have a forum, too, to talk about matters of faith, morals, etc.
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