We've all heard the age-old saying, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." The only question I have is, does that phrase hold any relevance in our Christian walk?
Too often we judge those working in the church based on an outward appearance and what WE feel falls into the guidelines of "beauty." We get worked up if a pastor dresses too formal, too casual, too trendy, too old fashioned, too this, too that, and the list rolls on and we don't hear a word he has to say.
Of course this statement applies in Christianity.
Too often we judge those working in the church based on an outward appearance and what WE feel falls into the guidelines of "beauty." We get worked up if a pastor dresses too formal, too casual, too trendy, too old fashioned, too this, too that, and the list rolls on and we don't hear a word he has to say.
Of course this statement applies in Christianity.
Look at this picture.. Tell me what you see. If you told me that you saw a man with massive holes in his ears, covered in tattoos screaming into a microphone I'd have to agree with you. But would you agree with me if I told you that this photo is of one of the most powerful ministers of our time? Watch this video and try to tell me otherwise...
See, we have to understand that music and appearances both fall into categories of beauty that are subject to personal opinion. Just because we don't care for someone's style doesn't mean it is not beautiful to them. And don't worry, I know what you're thinking. "What about scripture saying not to give the appearance of evil and not to mark or mar your body?" As far as the appearance of evil, we can yet again refer to the title of this post. If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I'm sure the appearance of evil is subject to interpretation as well. A biker gang that has only experienced hatred from the church may feel that a pastor approaching them in a three piece suit is giving the appearance of evil, while they may actually hear out the Word of God if spoken to them by a fellow biker. "But the Bible clearly states that tattoos are sinful!"
???
"Do not cut your bodies for the dead, and do not mark your skin with tattoos. I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:28 NLT emphasis mine)
My only problem with this is when we look at some of the surrounding verses we are told not to wear fabric made of more than one material and not to cut our hair or trim our beards.
"You must obey all my decrees. Do not mate two different kinds of animals. Do not plant your field with two different kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven from two different kinds of thread. Do not trim off the hair on your temples or trim your beards." (Leviticus 19:19, 27 NLT emphasis mine)
So my honest thoughts on this subject is that anyone who isn't Amish has already sinned as much as I did when I got the word "discipline" tattooed on my left wrist. God has made a diverse people, we must understand that our appearances don't define how Godly we are, because beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Now understand, I'm not trying to dismiss the rules either. But when you look at the ancient scriptures I believe many of these rules, especially that dealt with appearance, were cultural. The rules that affect morality are never and will never be in question, but I feel we need to stop using single verses of scripture without context to support the excommunication of ministers and Christians who look different than we'd like them to.
???
"Do not cut your bodies for the dead, and do not mark your skin with tattoos. I am the Lord." (Leviticus 19:28 NLT emphasis mine)
My only problem with this is when we look at some of the surrounding verses we are told not to wear fabric made of more than one material and not to cut our hair or trim our beards.
"You must obey all my decrees. Do not mate two different kinds of animals. Do not plant your field with two different kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven from two different kinds of thread. Do not trim off the hair on your temples or trim your beards." (Leviticus 19:19, 27 NLT emphasis mine)
So my honest thoughts on this subject is that anyone who isn't Amish has already sinned as much as I did when I got the word "discipline" tattooed on my left wrist. God has made a diverse people, we must understand that our appearances don't define how Godly we are, because beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Now understand, I'm not trying to dismiss the rules either. But when you look at the ancient scriptures I believe many of these rules, especially that dealt with appearance, were cultural. The rules that affect morality are never and will never be in question, but I feel we need to stop using single verses of scripture without context to support the excommunication of ministers and Christians who look different than we'd like them to.
*Photo and YouTube contents are not my property and I do not intend to infringe on copyright laws or claim these works as my own.
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