"Beards are sin!" False doctrine?

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by n david

Verse 2 is a good indicator. "For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in,"

Let me know when you see it.

It doesn't indicate their being saved or not. In fact, during that time, Christians just didn't let anyone know where they were meeting. People didn't just wonder in off the streets. They met primarily in homes, barns, caves, catacombs. I believe the case can be made that these are both saints of God come to attend the assembly. One poor, the other wealthy. The wealthy is offered the seat of honor and the poor man offered a place of subjugation.

Now, if you wish to see them as unsaved visitors, that still doesn't change the polemic. Unless you're trying to say we should only care about how we treat visitors and not the saints of God. lol

"Among themselves" is not referring to the rich man. The rich man is not a brother, nor is the poor man a brother.

Let's look...

James 2:4
4 Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?

The ESV renders it more accurately:

James 2:4 English Standard Version (ESV)
4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

Here, James clearly states that the saints who show such partiality are making "distinctions among yourselves", not "distinctions among the visitors". If drawing distinction between the wealthy individual and the poor individual, they drew distinctions "among themselves", the rich man and the poor man are clearly accounted among their number... they are saints.

But, as I said before... even if you wished to interpret these as being visitors, the polemic doesn't change.

Of course that's not what you're saying. You're just complaining about beards and want something in scripture to point to so you can make your point that you're mad as you-know-where and you're not going to take it anymore.

Oh, we're just hammering this single passage about partiality. We can move on to Christ's rebuke of the Pharisees and their propensity to glorify the doctrines and traditions of men, over the Word of God, making it of none effect, and how such were placing unnecessary burdens upon the people, shutting men out of the kingdom, and making converts twice the child of Hell they were... but I'm relatively certain that when we get into Christ's opinion of adding human opinions, doctrines, and traditions to God's Word, you'll get pretty frustrated with the unbiblical traditions of man that you are so heartily embracing.

But you believe James said you're not to discriminate against anyone. (Not really, but we're pretending to make you feel better about the beard)

You like "what ifs" and fantasy stuff:

So here comes a Trinitarian minister into your church. He's not immoral. He prays five times a day, fasts three days a week and talks in tongues like a chinese laundromat. He wants to attend and preach.

Or what if Simple Sally comes in. She's by secular accounts a good and moral lady. She's never been saved, but wants to sing in the choir.

You know that's not what I'm saying.

Let's imagine more...

Sam comes in. He's laid back. Doesn't wish to "conform" to "institutional" church dress. He's saved, sanctified and filled with the HG. But he doesn't want to spend money on dress clothes. He believes you should be able to "come as you are." After all, there's no Bible chapter and verse telling him he's required to wear dress slacks or shirt, much less a suit and tie to be a minister and preach. So he typically wears jeans or shorts and a graphic t-shirt to church. Poor Sam. He's got anointing, too. He loves to testify, because it's the only time they let him speak. He knows the scripture and always blesses the congregation. But alas, he sits on the pew in his t-shirt and shorts. One day, he thinks, I have a dream one day I'll be able to wear my shorts and t-shirt on the platform to preach a message.

I know pastors who would give Sam the mic. Why wouldn't a pastor do so? Is he... chicken?