Funny, when Jesus said that we are his friends when we do whatever he commands, I thought He was talking about the "mundane" stuff and standards. I guess He didn't mean that we are to live by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.
Really? Please show me in the scriptures where Jesus says 'Thou shalt not wear wedding bands?' I fail to see how certain church standards seem to have the direct stamp and approval of scriptures in the minds of some traditionalists when much of what they deem as salvational, Christ would classify under the 'straining the gnat, swallowing the camel' scenario. The SDA church has their own set of rules and standards just like the Pharisees did...for some reason, many can't seem to see that. Yet (just like the Pharisees) their outward appearance and minding of the standards is NECESSARY to be a good Pharisee/SDA, and apparently has the stamp and approval of God, Himself.Yet, we see both Jesus and Paul with strong words against them for their standard and law keeping and expecing everyone to keep the letter of the law while missing the big picture.My how history repeats itself, and (again, just like the Pharisees) many 'good' SDAs can't seem to think that there is anything erroneous about what they've established for all to follow.
I must admit you strike me as too intelligent to take this route. Whipping out the Pharisee argument is old, tired and does not apply. Lashing out only shows the lack of depth in your position.
I will not discuss this with you further because I know we don't agree on inspiration, etc.
Not wanting to really get into the crossfires here...and I admit upfront...I fall on the traditional side, conservative train of thought. However, it is true, we each must decide for ourselves concerning this and other issues........ what we think God is asking.In saying this, I wonder if "how" we are coming to our conclusions is perhaps the criteria God will use to judge our decisions.It seems the issues are many, but........ "how" we come to our conclusions may be the equation we need to evaluate.Eve's problem was, she did not use God's Word as her criteria...she used other information that skewed her decision.Perhaps each of us needs to ask ourselves "how" we come to our conclusions.If you think I'm off base, thats' fine....God's Blessings'Deborah
"Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaitting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparal;" (1 Peter 3:3)
1Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3Your (***these submissive wives) beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands,
"In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparal, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing." (1Tim. 2:9 NKJ)Those texts do not seem to be unclear of fuzzy at all.
I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, 10but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. 11 A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent.
Concrete, it sounds like I'm hearing from you that lifestyle is not an indication of character. Really? So your dress, music preferences, tv and movie watching habits, language, and behavior are not an indication of who a person is on the inside?I bet almost all secular people would fight this idea tooth-n-nail. Most people will tell you that they dress a certain way or listen to certain types of music as an expression of themselves. The language and behavior is also a indicator whether one likes to admit it or not. The Bible also tells us that lifestyle is an indication of who/what one is on the inside....Mat 12:33 Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by his fruit. Mat 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Mat 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. One more question if you don't mind. Instead of calling Mrs. White, Ellen White you called her Ellen as if you were on a first name basis with her. I wonder is this a sign of respect or disrespect? I very well could be wrong so correct if I am. But it has been my experience in interacting with people (in person) that when they use only her first name it's a way of indicating disrespect. But since I can't see your facial expressions or hear your tone of voice I'm willing to give the benefit of the doubt. Which is why I'm asking directly.