Facts Found~The Early Church and Standards~

[Sister Alvear]

While peple fuss and fight about so many "THINGS" millions perish both in spiritual and natural hunger....

[houston]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

To many suffering saints in millionaire churches....

This is true and ridiculous. I have a friend who used to ride the train to go to work. He had cataract problems and was not able to drive. He'd see church folk driving around town all the time as he'd be walking home. These fine church people would honk and wave to him. Not once through the few yrs did any of these fine church folk stop and ask if he wanted a ride.

[Cindy]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

To many suffering saints in millionaire churches....

Amen!

[Sister Alvear]

Wonder what God thinks about the hungry, the lost, the suffering... I often read church history...The Early church site has this comment:
“A person who does not do what God has commanded shows he really does not believe God,” Clement declared. To the early Christians, to claim to trust God while refusing to obey Him was a contradiction (1 John 2:4). Their Christianity was more than verbal. As one early Christian expressed it, “We don't speak great things—we live them!”

[Socialite]

Originally Posted by jaxfam6

what about the cultures where they grow up running around naked? are we to go there and change them and make them dress like us? which is what a lot of missionaries used to do. You suddenly had to change your life style to be saved. You had to dress like the missionaries to be saved. These people were living like their culture. So if your culture were to run around naked would that be wrong of them once they became 'saved'?

To them it's not a sin. It's nothing to do with sensuality and pleasure. Their saggy breasts and sweaty loin cloths are a way of life. If they moved to the US, then we'd need to teach them our culture, just as the early Christians learned. Us to move there, it'd be a hard custom to follow with a good conscience -- we'd eat with them, but maybe leave our breasts covered.

[Socialite]

Originally Posted by LUKE2447

Actually Keith, if you think they had liberal tendencies.... You better keep reading because the did not look upon makeup, jewelry and many other things in a positive manner and that is pretty consistent across the board.

Also culture never negates the Word and modesty. Especially if modesty is wearing just a small cloth. When will you tell the natives they need some clothes on?

Your word "modesty" is maybe not what the word "modesty" means. Appropriateness for the occasion has cultural consideration.

[Socialite]

Originally Posted by Pastor Keith

I think the approach of Hudson Taylor to be appropriate, by the way, modesty is not the same of being against culture. But believing that a 1950's modesty is applicable in our culture today is missing it in my opinion.

Clothing the natives is not our commission either...

[Socialite]

Originally Posted by Sister Alvear

To many suffering saints in millionaire churches....

Amen. At a recent church meeting, one of the executive board members said "what a marvelous church that we have millionaires and homeless people all part of the same community." At first I smiled at the beautiful diversity, because that's what he meant. Then I shuddered at the thought that some have such an excess and others have not even a roof for their head. Something sounded wrong about that.

[Sister Alvear]

Originally Posted by Socialite

Amen. At a recent church meeting, one of the executive board members said "what a marvelous church that we have millionaires and homeless people all part of the same community." At first I smiled at the beautiful diversity, because that's what he meant. Then I shuddered at the thought that some have such an excess and others have not even a roof for their head. Something sounded wrong about that.

It would seem to me that at the same time God is happy to bless us HE also gives us natural blessings to bless others...

I think while many are so concerned "looking the standard" living the standard is different....if your brother has need....we must not shut our eyes and be cold and infifferent to the needs of others and especially those of the household of faith....


note Early church History says this...

The very fact that Christians were willing to suffer unspeakable horrors and to die rather than disown their God was, next to their lifestyle, their single most effective evangelistic tool. Few, if any, Romans would die for their gods. There had to be some substance to Christianity if it meant so much to those who practiced it. In fact, the Greek word for “witness” is martyr. Not surprisingly, this is also the Greek word for “martyr.” In many places where our Bibles use the word “witness,” the early Christians were reading “martyr.” For example, in our Bibles, Revelation 2:13 refers to “Antipas, my faithful witness, who was put to death in your city.” The early Christians were understanding the passage to say, “Antipas, my faithful martyr.” Although most Christians tried to flee local persecution when possible, they rejected any mass exodus from the Roman Empire. Like little children, they believed their Master when He said His Church would be built on a rock and that the gates of Hades could not overpower it (Matt. 16:18).

[Sister Alvear]

I know my opinion is so different...than most people's opinion....however holiness is a way of life not a manner of dress. Now by saying that it does not mean I run around half dressed....those that know me know I am an old missionary and try to dress in a way that attention is not drawn to me but to my lovely Lord...However all the layers of clothes I could put on would never make me holy enough to crawl into His presence...

I have found out over the years you can dress up a devil....however if you can really get people converted ther desires and affections are on things above. A true christian is not out trying to have some lust party...

Origen once said: “Eventually, every form of worship will be destroyed except the religion of Christ, which alone will stand. In fact, it will one day triumph, for its teachings take hold of men's minds more and more each day.”

Holiness if that is the term we want to use is a 24/7 way of life...not a Sunday and Wednesday social gathering to show off our new clothes....


I think I willl run to the jungle....