This is an "I," and "ity" thing for us. (I'm working on getting her to at least get a purple streak in her hair).
Does this violate our commitment and obedience to Christ? Wellllllllll - no. Is it different? Is it uncommon? Sure. But is it wrong? I don't believe so. Of course if I ever find myself going to the church at Corinth I'll probably cut the 'tail.
There are many facets to our culture and most of us are in a couple. In those facets there are things which are permissible for believers and, of course, there are many that are not. The hard work is really digging to discern what is and what isn't.
Body piercing, tattoos, etc are tough calls. The key question is "Why?" Is it to demonstrate a rebellious spirit or is it something sentimental? "Why?" is the killer question and it can't be answered flippantly.
Immodest clothing is a no brainer as is gratuitous sex, senseless violence (I'm taking shots at TV) - but there are very clear and plain and main things which we may not engage in even if our culture sees no problem with them.
Our battle is NOT to change the culture in which we live - it IS to not allow the culture we live in to change us. We are not to CONFORM to our "world" but we are to be TRANSFORMED by the renewal of our minds.
Read this about 4 times:
Romans 12:1-3 NASB
Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. [2] And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. [3] For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
Catch that, "as God has allotted to each a measure of faith," thing? Young believers are going to do dumb things. Mature believers on the other hand are prone to doing insensitive and even "legalistic" things. We all mess up (sin) - it is what we do when we sin that is important.
Say you have a tattoo and at some point for some reason you decide that as a follower of Jesus the tattoo is either inappropriate or just not something a believer should have (no judgement here from me). What do you do?
Or say you are living with one you love outside of marriage and having a sexual relationship. Ahhhhh a much easier call to make right? Well the - no sex out of marriage- is a no brainer but what about all the other entanglements. You know, all the stuff that comes from living together. $, place, friends,-- all these will be affected and you'll find more decisions have to be made.
Godly counsel and dedicated attention to prayer and the Word are essential here! It's a TOUGH no brainer - it really rips at your affections. It hurts - like any surgical procedure.
Individuality - uniqueness is to be celebrated, cherished, honored AND most importantly - laid at the foot of God's throne and treated with all the respect due it from a follower of the Master.
"I want to .........." There's a question that has to have a deep and meaningful "Why?" and the answer must glorify the Lord. When we legitimately arrive at a "Yes!" then praise Him. but when we get to a clear "No!" we have work to do on any distress or bitterness that the "No." gives rise to.
"I gotta be me." "I did it my way." -- lyrics that epitomize our culture. Well - Kansas nailed it with "All we are is dust in the wind." But if so - we are God's dust and the "wind" is the Spirit. As long as the "me" I gotta be," and the "my way" flows from His Word, empowered by His Spirit and in is submissive to God - we have no problem.
What's at the root of the problem? Well - NO DISCILESHIP!
What I means is there is a failure on the part of the "church" to engage in real and meaningful discipling - the "teaching to obey" part of the Great Commission. We play around it topically and shallowly but we never get to the real meat of the process. We never really lay our the boundaries and expectations of being a a disciple - we do however create great fans.
Why? Because many --- MANY - MANY walk away grieving when they are told they must surrender XXX and submit to a process that is frighteningly intimate, academically rigorous and brings tough choices that demand tough decisions.
I won't go into a rant or climb on a soap box but if I had a dollar for every pastor I know who has bewailed the need for discipleship and then done nothing about it - I could fund a discipleship center (to which few would come ;-{ ).
Becoming His is easy - He does all the lifting - not just the heavy stuff. Being His and growing is tough - he promised us it would be - But we are, for the most part weinies when it comes to planting our feet and standing firm for Him. Most of us a Peters not Pauls.
Enough - be yourself - B U T -- make very very sure your self is His and seeking to glorify Him - not you. People need to see Jesus in you - consider if there is anything that blocks their view.
Love ya
Michael
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