It's not about "BOYS wear pants" and "GIRLS wear dresses." It's about an inward transformation by faith in Jesus Christ and spiritual growth in the Word of God which creates in us a dialogue that says . . .
"Skin tight pants or revealing clothes clearly show my upper and lower body which draws (sexual) attention to me:
(Ro 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof)
But looser, less revealing clothes hide my upper and lower body, keeping fleshly thoughts off of me and makes provision for thoughts to be more aptly focused on God."
This is the spirit of "Christian" dress for both men and women as seen in Scripture. Attire is NOT a system of "do's" and "don'ts." It's an attitude not a checklist.
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It's not about what music Christians CAN play or CANNOT play in church. It's about an inward transformation through faith in Christ and growth in His Word that says, "Hey. Does this music draw me to look at Christ or on how I FEEL about Christ?"
Re 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.
Revelation 15:3-4 gives us a glimpse of the "music" in heaven. It seems quite different from what passes as "Christian music" in churches today. Can you imagine these same lyrics attached to a modern beat and rhythm?
No, no, the believer's music is about focusing on the Lord Jesus Christ, NOT on making us FEEL good about Him. This is why spiritual music is so unappealing to the flesh. The flesh likes the 'beat' and the 'rhythm' but the spirit is the 'melody.' You never really hear the melody in these modern 'Christian' songs, which seem more on entertaining than worship.
Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Scripture teaches us to make MELODY, and NOT 'beat' or 'rhythm' in our hearts unto the Lord. Why? Clearly it is because the 'melody' is what God desires. The beat and rhythm appeal to the flesh. Examine the natural order: Children require whistles, gongs, baby bells, beep, and anything else that makes noise to get and maintain their attention. But as Paul says,
1Co 13:11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. {thought: or, reasoned}
As we grow into adulthood (traditionally speaking) the symphonies, with their melodies can be appreciated. They stir us to greater heights so to speak, as we have outgrown the need for 'noise.'
Apply that same order spiritually, and we can see there are what are called "carnal" Christians, or "babes" (1Co 13:1) who may need that banging,clanging, foot-tapping, hand-clapping music that makes us FEEL good ABOUT the Lord, but as we grow, the Lord teaches us a better way: to be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18) and let HIM 'make' melody in our hearts to the Lord.
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Christianity is NOT a set of rules to be followed. It's about an inward transformation (2Co 5:17) by faith in Jesus Christ which creates in us a new heart (Jer 31:33) and new desires that cultivate that new heart with the seeds of the Word of God, and seeks to please God and follow Christ in knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness (Eph 4:24; Col 3:10).
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