More On Beards

[JoeBandy]

Originally Posted by Amanah

I have won many families, many who still are in contact with me and thank me for teaching them home bible studies and such.

But I almost lost my son while I was so busy in church ministry, teaching home bible studies, visitation follow up, bus ministry, teaching Sunday School. Involved with the Youth Group. When he walked away from church I felt like I was going to die. I feel like I was gone more than I should have been reaching others and somehow missed seeing what my own child needed.

Now I feel like the first priority needs to be securing our children, and then reaching the lost.

If you don't agree that is fine.

I agree with "children'' being a priority. However it is impossible to "secure" them as they become adults.

[returnman]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I've seen churches let down the dress standards and something strange happens... the preachers don't return to those passages that teach modesty as frequently as they used to. It's almost as though they don't know how to interpret those things outside of the "standards" they were taught back when they held those standards. Christian modesty is indeed a biblical practice. Even if a church ceases to require dresses and skirts on women, or allows men to wear short sleeves, it doesn't mean that now Daisy Dukes and muscle shirts are appropriate attire. Just because you allow shorts, it doesn't mean that Speedos are appropriate.

There has to be a spiritual balance to it all.

And when it comes to beards... there is absolutely no biblical basis for requiring them or prohibiting them. And some preachers might say, "Not on my platform.", well, that might not be the kind of preacher you want. Because the church isn't his, it's Christ's. And if Jesus had a problem with beards, the Bible would make it plain.

Most churches I visit don't make a big deal out of beards at all. But in Apostolic churches I'm often treated like a second class citizen and my salvation is questioned. Why? Because I'm a man? Because I'm growing what my Father naturally gave me? Doth not even nature teach you that only women and children don't have beards? LOL What gives?

This weekend a Methodist pastor who is a dear friend of mine paid for me to go on a non-denominational retreat known as The Walk to Emmaus. Beginning on Thursday night, myself and about 20 other men from various denominations will be shut into a church for prayer, discussion, life application teaching, confession, and healing. Oh, and there will be food. That's why I'm going. lol We'll be there until late Sunday evening. But I'm willing to wager that not a single person on this retreat will even really care if I have a beard. If it were an Apostolic church, I'd not even be invited.

It's a security set within cultural walls. Period. No pastor is ever going to admit that rather he will use his authority to exercise the enforcement of it.

[TakingDominion]

Originally Posted by Amanah

This is an important issue and also a slippery slope, I watched a UC church circle the drain when it let down standards in the hope of trying to save the youth group we were losing. I don't have answers but like your wife, it's one of my biggest concerns.

The other being, how do we make course corrections without becoming worldly and lost in entertainment forgetting the prayer closet.

We need to focus first on saving our families, and then on reaching the lost. If we save 30 people and our kids die lost, what is that worth?

Again, I'm not advocating changing dress standards. I don't think teens mind holiness standards if we're honest with them about the reason for standards.

It's not about changing standards, it's about the Church staying relevant!

[n david]

Originally Posted by TakingDominion

Again, I'm not advocating changing dress standards. I don't think teens mind holiness standards if we're honest with them about the reason for standards.

It's not about changing standards, it's about the Church staying relevant!

I was waiting for the "r" word.

smh

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

I was waiting for the "r" word.

smh

I know. Everyone knows that the last thing we want is to be relevant.

[n david]

Originally Posted by Aquila

I know. Everyone knows that the last thing we want is to be relevant.

Relevance is overrated. A large problem with modern Christianity is it has fallen for the lie of the need to be relevant.

[TakingDominion]

Originally Posted by n david

Relevance is overrated. A large problem with modern Christianity is it has fallen for the lie of the need to be relevant.

wasn't that what Paul was striving for when he wrote 1 Corinthians 9:19?

19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

[n david]

Originally Posted by TakingDominion

wasn't that what Paul was striving for when he wrote 1 Corinthians 9:19?

19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;

21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.

22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.

No.

[Aquila]

Definitions:

rel·e·vant.
.[ˈreləvənt]
ADJECTIVE
closely connected or appropriate to what is being done or considered:
"what small companies need is relevant advice" ·
[more]
synonyms: pertinent · applicable · apposite · material · apropos · to the point · germane · connected · related · linked · on-topic
•appropriate to the current time, period, or circumstances; of contemporary interest:
"critics may find themselves unable to stay relevant in a changing world" ·
[more]

ir·rel·e·vant.
.[əˈreləvənt]
ADJECTIVE
not connected with or relevant to something.
synonyms: beside the point · immaterial · not pertinent · not germane · off the subject · unconnected · unrelated · peripheral · extraneous · inapposite · inapplicable · unimportant · inconsequential ·
[more]

Personally, I'd rather be "relevant".

Whenever we have these conversations about relevancy, I picture some old-timer from the brush arbor days all in a tizzy over churches wanting air conditioning. lol

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

Relevance is overrated. A large problem with modern Christianity is it has fallen for the lie of the need to be relevant.

What exactly is it about being "relevant" that you disagree with? We might agree on most things. I've never had it broken down for me.