Is there Biblical precedence........

[JerryNumbers]

Just because some one seems to be a great Christians dedicated to God does something like piercing their ear or ears, is not a reason to accept that as right.

But, I believe the homosexual movement brought about men wearing ear rings, since them rebellion has kicked in bit time and many Christians have accepted it, and the verse used done no condone any one to pierce their ear showing they are making their self a salve to God.

Plus the New Testament is quite clear, which this has been mentioned already, only baptism is given to be a sign that we have been born again, dedicating our lives to God and Christ.

Also, that verse you used to justify it, it has to be taken out of context to make it mean its a sign showing your making yourself a slave to God.

The longer this earth stands, the more biblical stuff man will accept.

[trc123]

Is is still very interesting how culture has conditioned even Christians.......

[John81]

Like I said, it is interesting how culture conditions us........

Cultural conditioning isn't the point; the point is we are to avoid the appearance of evil, we are not to put any stumbling block before others.

If I go to visit traditional Japanese and I refuse to take my shoes off before going into their home because that's just a matter of their cultural conditioning, I'm tarnishing my testimony before them as my actions will be viewed as rude, very disrespectful, and give the appearance of evil and place a stumbling block before them.

Scripture says we are to esteem others as better than ourselves. Scripture says we are to submit our will (our wants, wishes, desires) to the Lord.

So, it really doesn't matter what we think of something or how much we might like something or want to do something, we are to willingly give up these things for the sake of Christ.

[ptwild]

Men have been piercing their ears since the beginning of time. It is a common practice in many cultures still today. As far as it being a sign of earthly servitude to an earthly master, that is cultural aspect of the people who are the subject of the above quoted verses, i.e., just because they see/saw it that way doesn't mean all people of every culture see/saw it that way. You speak as if everyone on the planet has had the Bible (or Old Testament) since the moment it was penned. You also assume that Christianity is an American, or even a Western (globally of course) creature. Lets all try to remember where our Lord and his first group of followers were from: The Middle East.

If you are going to take every aspect of personal appearance (clothing, jewlry, hair style) and hold it up to a biblical standard so as to judge what is "right" or "wrong", I believe you are going to have to go back to immitating the personal apperance of Jesus and the apostles (who were themselves only wearing what others in their culture wore).

[John81]

Men have been piercing their ears since the beginning of time. It is a common practice in many cultures still today. As far as it being a sign of earthly servitude to an earthly master, that is cultural aspect of the people who are the subject of the above quoted verses, i.e., just because they see/saw it that way doesn't mean all people of every culture see/saw it that way. You speak as if everyone on the planet has had the Bible (or Old Testament) since the moment it was penned. You also assume that Christianity is an American, or even a Western (globally of course) creature. Lets all try to remember where our Lord and his first group of followers were from: The Middle East.

If you are going to take every aspect of personal appearance (clothing, jewlry, hair style) and hold it up to a biblical standard so as to judge what is "right" or "wrong", I believe you are going to have to go back to immitating the personal apperance of Jesus and the apostles (who were themselves only wearing what others in their culture wore).

As per usual, you are wrongly interpreting Scripture. The Word of God is for all of us, it's not a book of cultural aspects meant only for those in the Middle East or Jews. Scripture tells us that all that's in the Word of God is there for us today, whoever we are, whereever we are.

We are to live by the Word of God regardless of what country we live in or what culture we are among. It takes little discernment to know what is decent attire that meets biblical standards regardless of culture or country.

God gives us the choice to walk in our own ways or to walk in His. God's ways are clear in Scripture if we will simply read Scripture with the guidance of the Holy Ghost and accept His Word.

If we attempt to rationalize away the Word of God or interpret the Word of God contrary to Scripture itself, that leads to walking in our own ways, not God's.

[trc123]

Nothing I've heard here has given Scriptural references against this clearly cultural practice. What has been given are man's reasons and preferences (mostly based upon the poster's narrow exposure to their own country's standards).

It is interesting how culture conditions us, Christians and non-Christians alike......

[ptwild]

As per usual, you are wrongly interpreting Scripture. The Word of God is for all of us, it's not a book of cultural aspects meant only for those in the Middle East or Jews. Scripture tells us that all that's in the Word of God is there for us today, whoever we are, whereever we are.

We are to live by the Word of God regardless of what country we live in or what culture we are among. It takes little discernment to know what is decent attire that meets biblical standards regardless of culture or country.

God gives us the choice to walk in our own ways or to walk in His. God's ways are clear in Scripture if we will simply read Scripture with the guidance of the Holy Ghost and accept His Word.

If we attempt to rationalize away the Word of God or interpret the Word of God contrary to Scripture itself, that leads to walking in our own ways, not God's.

As per usual you are failing to comprehend what has been stated. No one is suggesting that a cultural practice which is adverse to Christian principles is acceptable. Neither is anyone suggesting that the Bible is only meant for a certain group of people of a certain culture.

Let's see if we can simplify things: As used in a previous example, failing to remove ones shoes when entering a home is a sign of disrespect in some cultures. It is of course not so in American culture. In the ancient culture of the subjects of the above quoted verse, a slave owners pierced the ears of their slaves (notice the scripture does not say that ONLY slaves had pierced ears). A pierced ear is not a sign of servitude in American culture. The point being that failing to remove ones shoes is no more a sign of disprespect for most than having a pierced ear is a sign of servitude.

I will however agree that if within ones own culture, only homosexual men wear earrings, then Christian men should not.

What you are doing is taking something that makes you personally uncomfortable and then trying to twist scripture so as to prohibit that thing. It is an evil practice.

[Crushmaster]

Thoughts...

It seems that ornaments (necklaces, and related) have always been distinctly feminine, for the most part.

Agree, or disagree?
God bless,
Crushmaster.

[ptwild]

Thoughts...

It seems that ornaments (necklaces, and related) have always been distinctly feminine, for the most part.

Agree, or disagree?
God bless,
Crushmaster.

Again, it depends on what culture you're in.

[SouthernGal]

I will however agree that if within ones own culture, only homosexual men wear earrings, then Christian men should not.

Glad to hear you say that..........Christians should be separate from what the rest of the world is doing. Our lives and the way we treat others should be our testimony, not an earring we wear, not a cross tatoo, not because we tell someone we're a Christian.(I've heard of those that will tell you they're a Christian run business, but then mistreat the customer in their dealings). What happened to treating others in a Christ like manner?

Anyway, Interesting subject......Luanne & I grew up in the same era (a man wearing earrings meant one thing & for me it still means that). I can't imagine why a man would want to wear earrings. The same applies to tatoos (seemingly everyone has them today). For a gal or guy to permanently have this done to an entire arm or whatever, is....well, permanent. I love the arms/legs God gave me without doing this. Sorry, off subject.

This is just a thought......but if we continue to accept everything as "culture", one day there will be NO Standards. It will be "everything goes" and everything will just be "o.k."?????

To the younger guys & gals here, one day, 20, 30 yrs from now, you'll see things that just are just unbelievable. I wonder if then, you'll just accept it as "the cultural"?

I'll leave a few verses.....most of you probably know what they say......But if you don't, take time to read them.......Romans 12:2, Titus 2:12, & I John 2:15,16

Question........In reference to I John 2:15....."The things that are in the world" is becoming increasingly blurred by Christians..... would someone comment & list what they consider fitting into this category?

[ptwild]

Southerngal: That was a thoughtful post.

I don't think that anyone is saying that anything is "ok" because it is a part of "culture." What is being stated is that there isn't anything inherently wrong or sinful about an earring. The wrongfulness or sinfullness of it is determined by what culture you are in. Let's say you go to Africa and evangalize an entire tribe of pagan people there, of whom all the men have their ears pierced. Do you believe that, in order to fully convert them to Christianity, they must adopt YOUR culture's personal appearance standards? After all, it is your culture, not Christianity, that has told you that earrings are for homosexuals.

A lot of the problem is that some of us have had so little expericene with the rest of the globe that we believe that every Christian on the planet looks like us, dresses like us, listens to the same hymns as us, speaks the same language as us . . . I think you would be surprised to see that the majority of Christians are not Americans of Anglo decent. Christians in the Middle East and Africa (whose Christian history is much much older and closer to the time of Christ than our own) look like Muslims, eat the same food as Muslims, dress like Muslims . . . The only thing is that they don't even see it that way. They don't consider their way of dressing to be "Christian" or "Muslim." It's just the way the people of their time and place dress.

[trc123]

Now we are starting to see some sanity check in the last couple of posts. Thank you.

Southerngal.......I'll compile my list of what I think is worldly and post it a bit later.....

[JerryNumbers]

Its sad, so many determine something is A-OK because the Bible simply does not state its wrong.

Many will say something is A-OK even when the Bible forbids it. Tattoos for example, they are spreading like wild fire through the Christian community.

Le 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.

Yes, we can reason in our mind and come to the decision that many things are right that are completely wrong, that has happened since the beginning.

Pr 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Sad, to many of us let what we grow up seeing people do determine what we think is right and or wrong in the sight of God.

[1Timothy115]

We are definitely conditioned by our culture in some of these areas, that is for sure.....

"conditioned by our culture" I wonder how much the church can allow before it has no difference in appearance from the world of the lost.

I'm not in favor of the "way justifies the means."

[ptwild]

Its sad, so many determine something is A-OK because the Bible simply does not state its wrong.

Many will say something is A-OK even when the Bible forbids it. Tattoos for example, they are spreading like wild fire through the Christian community.

Le 19:28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.

Yes, we can reason in our mind and come to the decision that many things are right that are completely wrong, that has happened since the beginning.

Pr 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Sad, to many of us let what we grow up seeing people do determine what we think is right and or wrong in the sight of God.

Do you look at someone that wears clothing made of linen and wool in the same light as you do someone with a tattoo?