Christian modesty, courage and holy boldness are topics, today. The “Yahoo! Answers” writer using the ID “ChristianModesty” (Level 1 with 169 points, a member since July 25, 2012) posted the following:
Why don’t Christians seem to care abut modesty anymore?
It seems there are less and less Christians who care about dressing in a way that is pleasing to God. I’ve heard some people say that God really doesn’t care, but shouldn’t we as Christians try and follow everything in the Bible, not just the parts we want to hear or obey?
1 Corinthians 8:13
1 Timothy 2:9
1 Peter 3:3-4
Matthew 5:28
THE BATTLE AXE: Why Courage? (10/14/2012)—In the excellence of divine provision for mankind, much of what believers are required to do is accomplished through faithfulness and obedience, rather than courage or fortitude. Even so, all Christian believers must know courage and holy boldness, because all must endure as spiritual beings upon an earth that is overspread with ignorance of sacred truth, sin, violence, unbelief, and unclean spirits that have been ousted from heaven. In addition, believers must make balanced and uncompromising responses to indifference, persecution, separation for the Gospel, suffering, and uncertainty. Also, it is through balance that arrogance, overconfidence and presumption are avoided. While courage is essential for beginning, holy boldness is vital when seeking higher ground, and zeal must be present to continue and maintain the progress of sanctification. The work of sharing and spreading the Gospel to those who have never heard it requires confidence and flexibility that are provided by the Holy Spirit along with faith, insight, joy, perseverance, righteousness, truth and wisdom. Mature believers in Jesus Christ, often experience as he did the full range of human conflicts such that, at the same time there is sorrow, there is joy; in spite of fear, there is courage and boldness; when there is doubt and insecurity, there is still expectation and hope. An important aspect of freedom in Christ is that each believer makes choice of their own focus between and among contradictory alternatives, and choice of what they themselves will act upon.
THE GOLDEN ARROW: Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4: 5-7, King James Version)
THE DOUBLE DAGGER: On Religious Items (08/29/2012); On Cults (08/30/2012); Girdle 44: The Good Seed (12/31/2011); Dispatch 38: Shamefacedness (09/17/2011); Diet and Food? (12/31/2010); Not Sure? (01/01/2011); Why Clothing? (10/15/2010); Known by GOD? (10/16/2010)
Be encouraged. There will always be a great diversity among believers that comes by such differences as academic background, age group, culture, doctrinal emphasis (e.g., Advent, baptism, chrism and spiritual gifts, tithing, Incarnation, intercession by saints) ethnicity, levels of maturity, practice, prayer, and scriptural training. While the ministry by silent example and lifestyle often seems to be less effective and less spiritual than preaching, or witnessing from the pulpit, it truly is the work of every mature believer. Both the understanding and acceptance of sacred duty develops gradually, and by degrees. More than this, the ability to recognize the denial and rejection of GOD, and to continue undisturbed—rather than denial and rejection of oneself, ones message, and what they may have shared—comes only by an extended process of sacred growth.
In the same way that a broad range of differences are found among the rose (e.g., color, fragrance, size), differences among believers are easily understood as irrelevant and insignificant when seeing with new eyes that are focused upon discerning the Spirit. The carnal, material and social aspects fade in their importance. The carnal mind is enmity against GOD; has not been equipped to respond to the law of GOD; and therefore, will never perfectly obey the will of GOD (see Romans 8: 6-8, KJV). Believers are not required to serve, or make appeals to the carnal mind.
There is far more to be said, correctly applied, and spiritually apprehended. (For example, Christian circumspection, modesty and shamefacedness derive from self-awareness that has been shaped by the character and spirit that identified Jesus during his ministry in the earth. Humility and meekness in believers are emanations of the Holy Spirit along with such divine content as faith, holiness, joy, longsuffering, righteousness, truth and wrath against sin. Until the conclusion of judgment, and finish of the second death, there will be problems in the earth that come by sin.) Even so, I trust this fragment will be useful. Be it unto you according to your faith.
THE BLACK PHOENIX
Washington, DC
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