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To: SpinnerWebb
You're also not to lay a stumbling block before your brother. If your dress or appearance is distracting or unpleasant, then you've distracted your brother or a lost person from the focus, which should be on what you're saying, on Christ and the Gospel. It would be wrong to knowingly try to draw attention to yourself, to your own body, rather than to Christ. Understand, I like to express myself too w/dress, and I do, but not in excess or distracting. Humility includes dress and appearance.

Does anyone get what I'm saying (I did an earlier post on this w/some examples)? Jesus dressed like others around him - He didn't try to overly express himself w/green hair or colored tatoos or tongue piercings. Why? Because He wanted the focus on what He was saying, NOT on his physical outward appearance (the Bible says he wasn't remarkable in appearance in any way). Therefore I hope we can all imagine that He was also groomed and not grungy....in order to reach people...not lay a distracting stumbling block before them. Keeping our temple is a Godly thing. We have bodies while here on earth, and we still need to keep them and be courteous in the natural to others. Don't get so spiritually high and mighty that you think it's all heart and no outward. Faith w/out works is dead. So say "love" all you want, but show it. That's outward...and is a case in point.

294 posted on 08/20/2003 12:12:09 PM PDT by bets
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To: bets
the Bible says he wasn't remarkable in appearance in any way

In fact, had no stately form or majesty that we should be drawn to him. This would seem to suggest a short, plain looking man, not the taller, more handsome figure that is seen in popular depictions or on the Shroud.

295 posted on 08/20/2003 12:21:52 PM PDT by HiTech RedNeck
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To: bets; SpinnerWebb
So, who's going to reach the sub culture of green haired, pierced people. If being dressed in a shirt and tied accomplished that mission they'd all be mormons by now.

Its not about focus, its about conscience. If what I wear is causing my brother to sin, I need to be aware of it and act accordingly. But if the stumbling he experiences is merely that he is judging me as less than correct that's his stuff, not mine. He needs to get the judgemental log out of his own eye first. Otherwise, we're reduced to the lowest common denominator and can't offend anyone ... I believe they call it political correctness out in the world.

297 posted on 08/20/2003 12:45:36 PM PDT by tx_eggman
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To: bets
Sensible balance is always in order.

However the tie dyed hair doos belong to people either curious or barely into The Kingdom.

God takes His time cleaning all of us up in this or that area or set of areas. Gracious Love extends grace, patience and even covers over during the wait.
323 posted on 08/20/2003 9:06:52 PM PDT by Quix (DEFEAT her unroyal lowness, her hideous heinous Bwitch Shrillery Antoinette de Fosterizer de MarxNOW)
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To: bets
If your dress or appearance is distracting or unpleasant, then you've distracted your brother or a lost person from the focus, which should be on what you're saying, on Christ and the Gospel. It would be wrong to knowingly try to draw attention to yourself, to your own body, rather than to Christ.

I agree totally. But that IS a heart thing. If you knowingly approach the throne to draw attention to yourself, your heart is in the wrong place. My point is that God truly looks on the heart. He will see that. Humans don't see it, and are making a judgement call.
399 posted on 08/22/2003 6:37:13 AM PDT by SpinnerWebb
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