I have a second cousin who is a retired teacher, who worked in Arizona (or New Mexico, I can't recall) who used to deal with Native American children stealing from the classroom and their classmates (from tables and desks and etc.).
When caught, the Native American students would say "It's not stealing. They left it behind so they obviously didn't want it, which means it's now mine".
My cousin came to understand that the tribe in question had a culturally different view and definition of stealing. He tried to accommodate the difference in his classroom, but could only do so much.
So I ask you, if someone went through your personal belongings, removed an item and refused to return it, then claimed, it's not stealing, would you say "You're right, according to your cultural view of things, it's not stealing and therefore, I won't seek my personal item from you."? Would you consider what they did a sin before God, seeing how no thief will inherit the kingdom of God (
1 Corinthians 6:9-10)?
Cultural norms, no matter how normal they seem to the people who participate in the culture, are not how God defines morality. His definitions and His alone, are acceptable to Him. All else misses the mark.
The chief, primary feature of God's morality is this: do unto others as you would have done unto you. It branches off from there.
If you would like to be free from having to view, in your eyes, an excessive amount of human skin and body parts, because it causes you some level of lust or other temptation, then you yield and do not do the same. You cover yourself up. Not because anyone is commanding it of you, but so you don't become a hypocritical do as I say, but not as I do believer in Jesus.
You realize your standard (there's the word again!) of dress and appearance isn't based on your culture. It's based on the morality instituted by God for all humankind, no matter where they live, jungle or not.
Hybrid Mode
