Christian Living – Shunning All Appearance of Evil and Being Temperance in the Good (24)

The Bible is a handbook for our daily life that includes counsel on how to please God in our recreation, entertainment, dress and diet. Christ continues to call us away from the vanity and emptiness of a worldly lifestyle, so we can more appreciate and understand spiritual things.

Novelist Henry Patterson (also known as Jack Higgins) was once asked what he would like to have known as a boy. He answered, “That when you get to the top, there’s nothing there.” The very essence found in the words of the wiseman: “I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.” (Ecclesiastes 1:14)

The worldly lifestyle, its pleasures, recreation, humour, dress etc. is different from a Christian’s. If the world fits, you are the wrong size for heaven. Christ knew the emptiness of a worldly lifestyle, and has warned us against its deceptions.

What did He say the world has to offer us if we deny God, and will that offer last forever? 1 John 2:15-17
“15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

Let’s get more practical and look at what Bible say about entertainment.

What happens to us the more we behold, or associate ourselves with something? 2 Corinthians 3:18
“18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

This is true with good or evil. Advertisement around us affect us subconsciously, and so does TV, movies, novels, games, music and the majority of entertainment.

What is the best plan of action? Psalm 101:3
“3 I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.” (See also Job 31:1, who confirms that, in order to stare away from wickedness, it will require a covenant between us and our eyes.)

Does music affect us physically and spiritually? 1 Samuel 16:23
“23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him.”

Music is a powerful medium that can be used for good or evil, surely then there should be music and leisure activity catered for our growth in faith.

What must we not conform to that we may grow in knowing God’s will and love to obey Him? Romans 12:2
“2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

What should we do with the mere appearance of evil? 1 Thessalonians 5:22
“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

Worldly entertainment of all kinds kills the relish for spirituality and the Bible. Are you willing to set a high standard for your music and entertainment?

What should we instead feed our minds and hearts with to keep them guarded? Philippians 4:7-8
“7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” (See also 1 Peter 1:13-14, which tells guard the mind and to be sober., while 1 Peter 5:8 we are told to be vigilant.)

Today’s fashion encourage vanity, or the lust of the eyes, how did God fearing women of former times dress? 1 Peter 3:3-5
“3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:”

What is an indiscrete woman, one dressed immodestly, compared to?  Proverbs 11:22
“22 As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.”

There is nothing wrong wanting to be beautiful, but what is of more value to God, the outward appearance or character? Proverbs 31:30
“30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.”

Is the gold, silver and other valuable stones inherently evil? Genesis 2:12
“12 And the gold of that land is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.”

What use of gold and silver makes it’s a curse? Genesis 35:2-4
“2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments: 3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went. 4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which are in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.”

Can we find any example of people making literal idols out of the precious stones? Exodus 32:1-4
“1 And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. 2 And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. 3 And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. 4 And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt.” (See also 2 Kings 10:29, which indicates some kept this practices in direct opposition to God’s direction.)

After some time in Egypt, the children of Israel had adopted the Egyptian lifestyle and needed reform.

Israels sin was haughtiness of heart, or pride and arrogance, exposed with their outward appearance; what was part of God’s solution?  Isaiah 3:18-23
“16 Moreover the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: 17 Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover their secret parts. 18 In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, 19 The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, 20 The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, 21 The rings, and nose jewels, 22 The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, 23 The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails.” (See also Exodus 33:1, 3-6, which reveals Israel had to remove their ornaments as part of reformation lest they were consumed when God walked among them.)

God intended Israel to be as the sanctuary, a place to dwell, being decked with jewels inwardly and not outwardly, to restrict jewellery leading to pride and vanity, this same principles we find in the New Testament.

Does Jesus want us as men and women to adorn our exterior? 1 Timothy 2:9-10
“9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.” (See also Exodus 28:42, which informs us to cover our nakedness is an important part of modest and healthful dress.)

1. Modest & inexpensive – 1 Timothy 2:9; Luke 12:37, 42
2. Lovely, Suited for service & Simple – 1 Timothy 2:9; Luke 12:37, 42
3. Appropriate in size & quality – 1 Samuel 17:38-39; Deuteronomy 18:4
4. Appropriate for what one is, male or female – Deuteronomy 22:5; Promotes circulation; Luke 13:11-13, 16
5. Symmetrical – Psalm 144:12; Proverbs 11:1; Proverbs 31:21
6. Healthful & Clean – 1 Peter 3:3-4; Rev 19:8; Songs 5:10, 16

Was Jesus concerned over His exterior more than interior by wear piercings or jewellery ? Isaiah 53:2
“2 For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.”

Does God care about our dress? Genesis 3:7, 21
“7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. … 21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.”

We have seen ornaments how the can lead to idolatry, but what about body paintings or tattoos, are they part of a Christian lifestyle? Leviticus 19:28
“28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.”

God feels the same way today if we cut or paint ourselves, as if they in the past had graffitied His earthly temple.

What should we be seeking to acquire first first before all the external things? Matthew 6:25-32
“25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? 26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? 27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? 28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: 29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Perhaps entertainment and dress seems like a something small, but what does Jesus say about small things? Luke 16:10
“10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” (See also 1 Corinthians 5:6, where we learn of the consuming power of bad habits.)

Friend,

Is it your desire to please Jesus in every aspect of your life? Would anything keep you from laying off jewellery or anything that does not please God?