Another question:
Help. Nobody else covers around me and I don't want to be the only covering woman. I want to give it up. Thousands of other women are not modest. Why do I have to dress differently?
Clevsea's Answer:
What keeps me covering is there is ZERO option to stop. The Word says to do it and I can't get out of it. I looked for a way to get out of it 20 years ago and could not find a way. That is why I know the passage in Greek so well. I looked hard for some loop-hole so that I wouldn't have to cover my head.
The letter to the Corinthians does not say to drive around in the USA in the year 2010 and look around you. Whatever you see being worn, wear that.
I not being mean, just truthful. We cannot go by what others are wearing. If I did that I would look like a prostitute.
The Bible teaches us to dress like a woman professing godliness.
You ought to set your thoughts and your entire mind on Christ and give up the fashions and what the world around you is doing.
If you allow non-believers to influence you then you will be mis-led. Would you live among Vegas Show-Girls and do as they do? No. Your mind needs to get back to the pure Word of God.
Here is a "mini" reading assignment:
Set your mind on things above---Col 3
How to dress---I Tim 2 and I Pet 3
Covering---- I Cor 11
... and there is so much more to read and think about.
Shrug off what you see around you. I have to do that all the time because I live downtown in a university town. There are lots of universities and lots of drinking, party kids and other drunks and Wiccans and gays, and plenty of tattoos and facial piercings.
If I went by what I saw I'd be gone from all things modest and I would be disobeying the Lord and His Word.
The worldliness around me cannot be my standard. Dont allow other's disobedience to influence you.
Friday, July 30, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
what to say when asked about headcovering
Common Question~~~
I'm new to covering and I don't know what to say to those who ask me about it. What do I say?
My Answer:
As to what I say to people in real life; I find that most of them are not teachable.
It's important to me to figure out if someone really wants to know something or if they are justing verbalizing to hear themselves speak.
The vast majority who comment or ask do not want to know anything about covering. They want to assert their lack of approval.
The main thing that works on other people is praying for them to get it.
IF --- in all caps---laugh.......IF someone really wants to know why I cover then I've learned to condense my answer down to one sentence. They seem to have short attention spans so the fewer words the better.
Come up with a short sentence and memorize it. If the Lord wants you to teach further then you'll know that at the time.
My short sentence is this: "I'm trying to obey a New Testament passage in the Bible that says women ought to cover their heads when they pray."
See how short that is?
Short as it may be it packs a lot of info. First it says the whole matter in what is known as an "I" statement. It is said that other's have a harder time arguing with "I" statements. If I say, "I'm feeling tired." it's difficult for someone else to say, "No, you're not." If I say, "I'm feeling defeated." again, it's difficult for someone else to assert that I am not.
There is something a little more humble about saying "I'm trying to obey...." because it sounds a lot different than...."There is a teaching in the Bible..........." and launching from there because that implies that they are
not in compliance with the Bible. They aren't....we know that....but it's good (in my opinion) to kind of "own" this choice of obedience as your own thing when talking to someone new to the teaching.
The other components of my short sentence is that it does establish covering as being from the Bible and not from my brain or my Pastor or from any other notion I might have come across. For the "Church going Christians" that you will be answering you may well find that to be very powerful.
I clarify that it's a New Testament teaching because almost 100% of Christians I've talked with have accused me of legalism. I know of 3 definitions of legalism and none of them have anything to do with following a New Testament teaching in simple obedience. That would be like someone saying that we don't have to follow the Great Commission that Jesus gave us. Or we don't have to any of the many teachings in the NT.
You will eventually find some woman who really is teachable and really does want to know. If you do then take her aside and read I Cor 11 out loud to her. Show her there are 3 reasons given in the passage. When she belly-aches about culture then show her that none of the 3 reasons are cultural.
There is a lot more to say to such a person but prayer and leaning on the HOLY Spirit of Jesus Christ at the time of teaching will work for you.
I'm new to covering and I don't know what to say to those who ask me about it. What do I say?
My Answer:
As to what I say to people in real life; I find that most of them are not teachable.
It's important to me to figure out if someone really wants to know something or if they are justing verbalizing to hear themselves speak.
The vast majority who comment or ask do not want to know anything about covering. They want to assert their lack of approval.
The main thing that works on other people is praying for them to get it.
IF --- in all caps---laugh.......IF someone really wants to know why I cover then I've learned to condense my answer down to one sentence. They seem to have short attention spans so the fewer words the better.
Come up with a short sentence and memorize it. If the Lord wants you to teach further then you'll know that at the time.
My short sentence is this: "I'm trying to obey a New Testament passage in the Bible that says women ought to cover their heads when they pray."
See how short that is?
Short as it may be it packs a lot of info. First it says the whole matter in what is known as an "I" statement. It is said that other's have a harder time arguing with "I" statements. If I say, "I'm feeling tired." it's difficult for someone else to say, "No, you're not." If I say, "I'm feeling defeated." again, it's difficult for someone else to assert that I am not.
There is something a little more humble about saying "I'm trying to obey...." because it sounds a lot different than...."There is a teaching in the Bible..........." and launching from there because that implies that they are
not in compliance with the Bible. They aren't....we know that....but it's good (in my opinion) to kind of "own" this choice of obedience as your own thing when talking to someone new to the teaching.
The other components of my short sentence is that it does establish covering as being from the Bible and not from my brain or my Pastor or from any other notion I might have come across. For the "Church going Christians" that you will be answering you may well find that to be very powerful.
I clarify that it's a New Testament teaching because almost 100% of Christians I've talked with have accused me of legalism. I know of 3 definitions of legalism and none of them have anything to do with following a New Testament teaching in simple obedience. That would be like someone saying that we don't have to follow the Great Commission that Jesus gave us. Or we don't have to any of the many teachings in the NT.
You will eventually find some woman who really is teachable and really does want to know. If you do then take her aside and read I Cor 11 out loud to her. Show her there are 3 reasons given in the passage. When she belly-aches about culture then show her that none of the 3 reasons are cultural.
There is a lot more to say to such a person but prayer and leaning on the HOLY Spirit of Jesus Christ at the time of teaching will work for you.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Brain Cleaning Thoughts
I have been making a serious effort to focus my mind and thoughts on Jesus Christ and good Biblical topics.
One of the BEST passages is this well-known one:
"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."--Phil 4:8
AND............there has been a giant "side-effect" which is:
When I redirect a negative, accusitory thought and turn my mind to anything noble, just, pure, lovely, good report and of virtue then the very NEXT thing that happens in my mind is that I praise God.
Why?
Because it seems like all the pure & noble and praiseworthy things to focus on are also the very things that God has given.
I wind up praising pretty much non-stop due to the wonderful content and quality of thoughts.
It is a GREAT side-effect.
There are a few more verses in case you are new to the concept of cleaning your brain and thoughts. Here are a few:
taking every thought captive----
"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ..." II Cor 10:4-6
the mind of Christ----
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus..." Phil 2:5
in this one we learn that the Word of God is able to discern the thoughts of the heart:
"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."---Heb 4:11-13
AND my favorite, set your mind on things above----
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Col 3:1-3
One of the BEST passages is this well-known one:
"Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things."--Phil 4:8
AND............there has been a giant "side-effect" which is:
When I redirect a negative, accusitory thought and turn my mind to anything noble, just, pure, lovely, good report and of virtue then the very NEXT thing that happens in my mind is that I praise God.
Why?
Because it seems like all the pure & noble and praiseworthy things to focus on are also the very things that God has given.
I wind up praising pretty much non-stop due to the wonderful content and quality of thoughts.
It is a GREAT side-effect.
There are a few more verses in case you are new to the concept of cleaning your brain and thoughts. Here are a few:
taking every thought captive----
"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ..." II Cor 10:4-6
the mind of Christ----
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus..." Phil 2:5
in this one we learn that the Word of God is able to discern the thoughts of the heart:
"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account."---Heb 4:11-13
AND my favorite, set your mind on things above----
"If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God." Col 3:1-3
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