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- Oct 26, 2007
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- 12,424
would disagree with you on the culture thing, even with the examples you gave.
We know that circumcision was done away with through nailing the ceremonial law to the cross, not based on culture, but based on the word saying so, but there are times Paul did things not because he was into their culture, but to show that he was not against God's law perse, God gave the law of circumcision, not culture.
And even concerning the things he said in Acts, about not eating the blood, and so on and so forth, which is also mentioned in the law, was a law of God.
And then there are factors of weak faith, and eating things sacrifice to idols, this had nothing to do with conforming with culture, but rather it was an issue, of if a brother saw a strong brother in the faith, eat things sacrifice to idols, his faith might be weakened, via his conscience in many different ways, which we must walk in love towards a weak brother.
Yes Paul was all to all, but never in a way to conform himself to this world.
To the Jew, he would speak after a certain manner so to gain them to Christ, and to the Gentiles likewise.
It's all come around to not giving offense doesn't it.And is all culture wrong ?
No, there is issues were a certain culture eats certain foods and stuff, but in the issues we are covering, it has nothing to do with culture.
Being in the World yet not of the world.
Again, I'll give you more on the effect of culture in the Church even today. Take a look at 1 Corinthians 11:2–16 (Head covering amongst a few other instances.) So, now we see where Paul is dictating covering of the head in Corinth. Why there when the Jewish faith does not require it of women or for men far as I know. Do, you know what the local custom of heading covering of women signified in Corinth? In Corinth, women's head coverings signaled marital status, modesty, or social class in Hellenistic/Roman society. Uncovered heads could imply promiscuity or dishonor. The absence of a head covering could be seen as a lack of respect or a sign of a woman's independence, which was often associated with promiscuity in the eyes of society.
Do, you want me to go on and show the effect of how cultural affected the early church? What is important is that God's Will be done and not trying to tie one to a law. We know that Paul saw the Law as righteous, but are we seeking that in place of the righteousness accorded to us through Jesus instead?
Think of Deborah in the OT. Check out her story and see how that is to affect to what is being discussed, of leading men, or even dictating what would be done over men.
I tell you of truth, don't put God in a box, because the minute you do so, He will prove you wrong. (Heavy sigh) Which is what we do time and again when it comes to the Bible. Sola Scriptura is awesome, but it does not contain the all in all of God, or how He moves in and through the individual believer by the Holy Spirit. Unless you believe that this dictate of Paul, and I do believe it to be his dictate, affects a person's salvation, or believe that one who comes to Christ through the preaching/teaching of a woman is to no effect. I'd be careful tying what is in Scripture in such a way that makes the very pages you hold on to, worthy of worship. We know, then, that my brother would fall into idolatry, which is probably why God ensured the original autographs did not survive.
Do not think that Paul did not make dictates that were his and not ones of God and why I pointed out his use of "I" in his dictate. It does not mean that God did not approve, but more to the effect that it had none to His will being done. (1 Corinthians 7:25–40) Keep in mind that seeing it through the lens of Sola Scriptura without the Holy Spirit’s guidance to discern its relevance could lead to a perspective quite different from, dare I say, than the bigger picture of God’s will, even while not dismissing its intended message. (Think about slavery in scripture and you'll see what I mean by the last statement.)
With the Love of Christ Jesus.
YBIC/Moderator
Nick
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