ONENESS ONENESS

• Messages sorted by:[ date ][ thread ][ subject ][ author ]

Now, since Bro. Basset has been so kind as to post part of my message to an
unidentified, anonymous Bro. Michael, I would like the opportunity to post
the rest of that part of the message so that you all could judge for
yourselves the whole thing....

4.A. Is It Unholy To Wear Jewelry? 

"I too believe in modest dress. My wife wears dresses. We wear no jewelry.
We wear no costly
apparel." -Michael 

"I assume you get this from such scriptures as 1 Peter 3:3, correct? What I
would like to ask you here, is- If this verse is saying _not_ to wear any
gold or braids _at all_, is it not also saying to wear _no apparel_ at all?"
.e.- 1 Peter 3:3 "Whose adorning let it _not be that outward... putting on
of apparel_" -Tom 

"First, Its not speaking of ALL clothing instead only those things which
Ornament or Adorn. (Didn't You know this?)..." -Michael 

First, Unger's Bible Dictionary's definition of "adorn"... 

"Adorn: to ornament, to embellish with HONOR, gain; followed by participle
designating the act by which the honor is gained" 

Now, "to honor" means- 

"1. HIGH RESPECT, as that shown for special merit; esteem. 2.a. Good name;
reputation. b. A source or cause of credit. 3.a. GLORY OR RECOGNITION;
distinction. b. A mark, token, or gesture of respect or distinction. c. A
military decoration. d. A title conferred for achievement....
etc." -American Heritage Dictionary 

1Pe 3:3 "Whose adorning (embellishing with honoring) let it not be that
outward adorning (embellishing with honor) of plaiting the hair, and of
wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it (embellishing
with honor) 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 (embellishing with honor)
THEMSELVES, being in subjection unto their own husbands: 6 **EVEN AS SARA**
obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do
well, and are not afraid with any amazement. 7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell
with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the
weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your
prayers be not hindered." 

So, according to your interpretation, we should NOT find ANY Godly examples
in the bible wearing ANY gold, or jewelry, etc. WHATSOEVER, right? And if
they do, they must be transgressors, and Babylonish, and idolatrous, and
LAODICEAN, right? 

And yet in application, the scriptural examples absolutely ABOUND that
contradict your opinion- 

Gen 24:22 "And it came to pass, as the camels had done drinking, that the
man (Sara's husband Abraham's servant messenger) took a GOLDEN EARRING of
half a shekel weight, AND TWO BRACELETS FOR HER HANDS of ten shekels weight
of gold; 23 And said, Whose daughter art thou? tell me, I pray thee: is
there room in thy father's house for us to lodge in?... 26 And THE MAN bowed
down his head, and WORSHIPPED THE LORD. 27 And he said, Blessed be the LORD
GOD OF MY MASTER ABRAHAM, who hath NOT LEFT DESTITUTE MY MASTER of his mercy
and his truth: I being in the way, the LORD led me to the house of my
master's brethren... 29 And Rebekah had a brother, and his name was Laban:
and Laban ran out unto the man, unto the well. 30 And it came to pass, when
HE SAW THE EARRING AND BRACELETS UPON HIS SISTER'S HANDS, and when he heard
the words of Rebekah his sister, saying, Thus spake the man unto me; that he
came unto the man; and, behold, he stood by the camels at the well. 31 And
he said, COME IN, THOU BLESSED OF THE LORD; wherefore standest thou without?
for I have prepared the house, and room for the camels." 



Gen 24:47 "And I asked her, and said, Whose daughter art thou? And she said,
the daughter of Bethuel, Nahor's son, whom Milcah bare unto him: and I PUT
THE EARRING UPON HER FACE (NOSE-RING!), AND THE BRACELETS UPON HER HANDS. 48
And I bowed down my head, and worshipped the LORD, and blessed the LORD God
of my master Abraham,... 50 Then Laban and Bethuel answered and said, THE
THING PROCEEDETH FROM THE LORD: we cannot speak unto thee bad or good... 53
And THE SERVANT BROUGHT FORTH JEWELS OF SILVER, AND JEWELS OF GOLD, AND
RAIMENT, AND GAVE THEM TO REBEKAH: HE GAVE ALSO TO HER BROTHER AND TO HER
MOTHER PRECIOUS THINGS." 

Here, according to your interpretations, Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, and
Abraham's servant, and Abraham's family ALL are transgressors!!! 

Gen 41:42 "And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon
Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold
chain about his neck;" 

Remember that 1 Pet. 3:7 said "Likewise, ye husbands..." so men shouldn't
have been wearing ANY gold or jewelry either!!! Remember Daniel, how he
refused to obey the command to not worship any other gods? If it were
LIKEWISE as unrighteous to wear gold, WHY DIDN'T righteous Joseph REFUSE???
According to your interpretation, then, wasn't Joseph a compromiser, an
idolater and a Laodicean??? "For AFTER THIS MANNER IN THE OLD TIME THE HOLY
WOMEN ALSO... LIKEWISE, YE HUSBANDS..." 

Son 1:9 "I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses in
Pharaoh's chariots. 10 Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck
with chains of gold. 11 We will make thee borders of gold with studs of
silver." 

Now we see King Solomon transgressing while he was still holy enough to be
writing scriptures! 

Exo 32:1 "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." 

The people didn't take the earrings off of their wives until AFTER Moses
left them!!! Was Moses a compromiser for allowing his people to be decked
with gold??? According to your interpretation HE MUST HAVE BEEN!!! 

Isa 61:10 "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my
God; for HE HATH CLOTHED ME with the garments of salvation, he hath covered
me with the robe of righteousness, AS A BRIDEGROOM DECKETH HIMSELF WITH
ORNAMENTS, AND AS A BRIDE ADORNETH HERSELF WITH HER JEWELS." 

Uh-oh, God is following after the pattern of ungodliness ACCORDING TO THE
TRADITION TO ABSTAIN FROM ALL JEWELRY!!! 

But this is by far the only time that God transgresses your tradition... 

Eze 16:8 "Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time
was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy
nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee,
saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine. 9 Then washed I thee with water;
yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with
oil. 10 I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers'
skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.
11 I DECKED THEE ALSO WITH ORNAMENTS, AND I PUT BRACELETS UPON THY HANDS,
AND A CHAIN ON THY NECK. 12 AND I PUT A JEWEL ON THY FOREHEAD, AND EARRINGS
IN THINE EARS, AND A BEAUTIFUL CROWN UPON THINE HEAD. 13 THUS WAST THOU
DECKED WITH GOLD AND SILVER; AND THY RAIMENT WAS OF FINE LINEN, AND SILK,
AND BROIDERED WORK; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou
wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom." 

God even COMMANDED His priests to adorn themselves with gold and costly
array... 

Exo 28:13 "And THOU SHALT MAKE OUCHES OF GOLD; 14 And two CHAINS OF PURE
GOLD at the ends; of wreathen work shalt thou make them, and fasten the
wreathen chains to the ouches." 

("Ouches"? Does that mean God made them wear so much gold it hurt? It means
"a brocade; by anal. a (reticulated) setting of a gem" -Strong's) 

And Jesus must have been talking about an unrighteous father in his parable... 

Luk 15:22 "But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe,
and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:" 

And what about the New Jerusalem?... 

Rev 21:2 "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God
out of heaven, PREPARED AS A BRIDE ADORNED FOR HER HUSBAND." 

Rev 21:9 "...Come hither, I will shew thee the bride, the Lamb's wife. 10
And he... shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of
heaven from God... 18 And the building of the wall of it was of jasper: and
THE CITY WAS PURE GOLD, like unto clear glass. 19 And the foundations of the
wall of the city were GARNISHED WITH ALL MANNER OF PRECIOUS STONES. The
first foundation was jasper; the second, sapphire; the third, a chalcedony;
the fourth, an emerald; 20 The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth, sardius; the
seventh, chrysolyte; the eighth, beryl; the ninth, a topaz; the tenth, a
chrysoprasus; the eleventh, a jacinth; the twelfth, an amethyst. 21 And the
twelve gates were twelve pearls: every several gate was of one pearl: and
the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass." 

Imagine, God adorning that holy city like a Babylonian idolatrous woman!!! 

I don't at all imagine that city is patterned after BABYLONIAN brides!!! 

I believe these scriptures totally contradict your interpretation of the
scriptures, though. Just as Acts 2:38 (etc.) contradicts a Trinitarian's
rendering of Matt 28:19! 

Mat 6:25 "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 (Strong's #1746 Greek: enduo "TO INVEST WITH CLOTHING (lit. or fig.).
Is not the life more than meat, AND THE BODY THAN RAIMENT?" 

Jer 9:23 "Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let NOT the rich man GLORY in
his riches: 24 But let him that glorieth glory in this, THAT HE
UNDERSTANDETH AND KNOWETH ME, that I am the LORD which exercise
lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these
things I delight, saith the LORD." 

That (Jer. 9:23) is what the scriptures you use for your proof text are
really saying. 

1Co 3:21 "...all things are yours" 

1Co 6:12 "ALL THINGS ARE LAWFUL unto me, but all things are not expedient:
all things are lawful for me, BUT I WILL NOT BE BROUGHT UNDER THE POWER of
any." 

Rom 14:14 "I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that THERE IS NOTHING
UNCLEAN OF ITSELF: BUT TO HIM THAT ESTEEMETH ANY THING TO BE UNCLEAN, TO
**HIM** it is unclean." 

1Co 12:31 "But covet earnestly the best gifts: AND YET SHEW I UNTO YOU A
MORE EXCELLENT WAY. 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of
angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling
cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all
mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could
remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing." 

Col 2:16 "Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink... 

Col 2:18 LET NO MAN BEGUILE YOU OF YOUR REWARD IN A VOLUNTARY
HUMILITY... 

Col 2:20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the
world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, 

Col 2:21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not; 

Col 2:22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and
doctrines of men? 

Col 2:23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and
humility, and
neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. 

Col 3:1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above,
where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 

Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 

Col 3:3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 

Col 3:4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also
appear with him in glory. 

Col 3:5 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth;
fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and
covetousness, which is idolatry: 

Col 3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of
disobedience: 

Col 3:7 In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. 

Col 3:8 But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy,
filthy communication out of your mouth. 

Col 3:9 Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with
his deeds; 

Col 3:10 And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after
the image of him that created him: 

Col 3:11 Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor
uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and
in all. 

Col 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of
mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 

Col 3:13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have
a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. 

Col 3:14 And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of
perfectness. 

Col 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye
are called in one body; and be ye thankful." 

These are the things HOLINESS is all about- they ALL have to do with putting
on the INWARD MAN, just like 1 Peter says! And I don't see totally
abstaining from clothing or jewelry ONCE here!!! 

Gal 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, TEMPERANCE: against such there is
no law." 

Neither temperance, nor modesty, mean abstinence! The godly women of old
didn't ABSTAIN from jewelry, they just didn't consider it, in any manner, to
be a sign of holiness!! Which is exactly opposite of interpretations such as
yours do! 

1Ti 2:9 "In like manner also, that women adorn (to embellish with HONOR)
themselves in modest (orderly, i.e. decorous) apparel, with shamefacedness
and sobriety; not with (as in NOT- to embellish with HONOR by) broided hair,
or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing
godliness) with good works." 

1Pe 3:5 "For after this manner in the old time THE HOLY WOMEN also, who
trusted in God, ADORNED THEMSELVES," 

And the holy women of old DID NOT ABSTAIN FROM WEARING GOLD AND JEWELRY! So
how does your interpretation fit the historical applications of the passages
without making Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Joseph, Moses, Solomon, etc.
INCLUDING God, even Jesus, transgressors? 

Why do you take thought for your life what you shall wear then? Why do you
give glory and honor to your outer man in a voluntary humility, and will
worship after the commandments of men? 

Gal 3:2 "This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works
of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in
the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" 



4.B. What Is "Costly" Apparel? 

"Let me ask you a question. Can you wear certain clothing without it being a
Decoration/Ornament/Adornment to you? I Can and that is why I stated "We
wear no costly
apparel." Now, Can you wear Diamond rings, Rolex watches, and Gold/Pearl
Necklaces without them being a Decoration/Ornament/Adornment to you? I Can't." 

Yes, I can, for "I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is
nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be
unclean, to him it is unclean." - Rom 14:14 

Besides, what IS "costly"? Do you, then, get all your clothes for free? If
you pay a "cost" for your clothes, aren't they then "costly" and aren't you
then going against your very own holiness standard, and are become a lax
Laodicean? And if not, why not? Where does the Bible specifically say what
"costly" signifies, or where the line is drawn between being costly and not
being costly? Or do you have to add your own words in order to make the
scriptures complete? And is ADDING WORDS to what the scriptures say
acceptable? But then, aren't you an anarchist if you don't make up
extra-biblical man-made ordinances to define exactly where the line is drawn
between "costly" and "not costly"??? 

You've kind of put yourself in a pickle, haven't you? 

But I'll admit to you here that I don't wear fancy clothes or watches. I
wear a plain wedding band. But my wife does wear jewelry, in modesty and
temperance (rather than abstinence) just like many of the women in the Bible
used to do- and as the Lamb's bride also does in Revelation! 

Rom 14:1 "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful
disputations. 2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who
is weak, eateth herbs. 3 LET NOT HIM THAT EATETH DESPISE HIM THAT EATETH
NOT; AND LET NOT HIM WHICH EATETH NOT JUDGE HIM THAT EATETH: for God hath
received him. 4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own
master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able
to make him stand. 5 One man esteemeth one day above another: another
esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind." 

"These things are exactly what was talked about in Mat 23:5-6 But all their
works they do for to be SEEN OF MEN: they make broad their phylacteries, and
enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at
feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, (You already quoted this but
it fits in here better). All this is done to be SEEN OF MEN! Again
Ornamentation!" -Michael 

No Michael, I don't wear my clothes as a means of showing holiness (more
than in temperance and modesty), let alone "for to be seen of men". You wear
clothes as a holiness issue, and you wear clothes to be seen of men as being
holy, and feel that makes you all the holier for it, in comparison to such
as me who do not feel so compelled. THAT which you are doing IS what Matt.
23:5-6 IS talking against! 



4.C. What Is Your Dress Code? 

"I ask, does your church have a "dress code"? If it does you have proven
yourself a hypocrite. If it does not, why did you tell me that your pastor
has corrected some from the pulpit for breaking it." -Michael 

Our dress code is- modesty, and temperance. We're talking about adding
specifics beyond that. 

Anything greater than that is adding to the word of God, and I've already
told you how I feel about that. 

1Jo 3:19 "And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our
hearts before him. 20 For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our
heart, and knoweth all things. 21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then
have we confidence toward God." 



"It occurs to me that some in society feel comfortable with no clothing at
all. Would that be a "dress code"?" -Michael 

Is it modest and temperant? Obviously not. So why would you want to add more
than that to the word of God? To enforce a man-made dress-code? Remember the
council of Nicea? All they did was impose a few man-made ordinances to try
and keep things organized and "understandable". 

"This seems to be the same wickedness that had plagued Israel and now the
church since the beginning. We allow ourself to criticize saints who desire
a closer walk in holiness while at the same time we test the boundary to see
just how "worldly" a we can become before a point of backsliding begins.
This is not only ridiculous but also tempts the very God which made us! Re
3:16 So then because thou art LUKEWARM, and neither COLD nor HOT, I will
SPUE THEE OUT OF MY MOUTH. Would you be critical of me if I told you that I
felt I needed to pray two hours a day or more?... If I said I felt I needed
to fast two days a week for every week? How about If I felt that the Lord
had told me to sell my home and become a missionary?" -Michael 

So, we have a man who doesn't pray at all- therefore, we know he's not
spiritual at all, right? Another prays 10 minutes a day- he's obviously not
to spiritual, but more so from the first. We have a third man who prays
about a half hour a day, and he's a bit more spiritual, and closer to the
Lord than the first two. Finally, we have a man that devotes hours in prayer
every day, as much as he can, so that this man is as spiritually close to
God as he can get, right? 

Now, to use your likeness, praying and wearing jewelry are equally the same
principles, so we would start with a man who wears necklaces, and earrings,
and rings, and maybe even a few body rings- definitely not at all spiritual,
right? The next man started out like the first, but takes off the body
rings- so now he's a little more spiritual than the first guy, right? A
third removes the body rings, and the necklaces- he's even more spiritual
and closer to God than the first two, then, right? Finally, we have a guy
that takes off all his jewelry, and this man is then what? As spiritually
close as he possibly can get with God? 

Don't you see how foolish this is? And again, I must ask you- 

Gal 3:3 "Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made
perfect by the flesh?" 

You are yet, merely building walls on the foundations of your interpretations. 

I'll tell you what- I'll teach and base my ordinances of holiness standards
on the exhortations expressed in such passages as- 1 Cor. 13:4-7; Matt.
5:3-7:27; Gal. 5:22-24; Phi 4:8; and Col. 3:1-25, and rather than "put-off"
such things as my modest gold wedding band, I'll "put-off" such things as
are mentioned in scriptures like- 1 Cor. 6:9-10; and Gal. 5:19-21. 

Meanwhile, you go ahead and raise your holiness standards as being seen in
the clothes you wear, or don't wear, in not allowing women into the
ministry, and in not allowing remarriages no matter the situation, and the
such like. 

And then, let's just wait and see which one of us makes the rapture. 

Now, which one of us do you think God will consider, and judge, has been
adorning himself according to the inward man, and which one of us will have
been adorning himself according to the outward man? And which one of us do
you think God will judge as having the higher holiness standards? 

I am more than willing, even anxious and determined, to gamble my eternal
soul that the standards that I follow are higher than ones such as you've
expressed. Are you as willing? 



4.D. Are These Salvational Issues? 

"Let's not allow the LAX spirit of LAODICEA in our churches." -Michael 

Could you please show me the word "lax" in the passage about the Laodiceans? 

Rev 3:17 "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have
need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and
poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the
fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be
clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine
eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see." 

Laodiceans are very much like those false brethren spoken of in Matthew- 

Mat 7:22 "Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy
name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I profess unto them, I
never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity." 

Do you see how in both incidences the people considered themselves to be
God's based on their own standards, and the outer trappings signified by the
"gifts" rather than the "fruits", but God was requiring inner-man holiness
which they had neglected? 

The passage on Laodiceans has to do with those outwardly serving Him (in lip
service), and not serving Him inwardly, in the heart. This mixture is what
is cold and hot, and produces a lukewarm (godly mixed with ungodly) attitude. 

There are many scriptures which bear witness to this semi-(un)godly attitude
among (self-professing) people of God- 

Deu 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I
have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose
life, that both thou and thy seed may live: 

Jos 24:15 "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this
day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were
on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land
ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD." 

Rom 10:1 "Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that
they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that THEY HAVE A ZEAL OF GOD,
BUT NOT ACCORDING TO KNOWLEDGE. 3 For they being ignorant of God's
righteousness, and GOING ABOUT TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN RIGHTEOUSNESS, HAVE
NOT SUBMITTED THEMSELVES UNTO THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD." 

Do you see this? Having a zeal of God, but it is established on their own
ordinances of righteousness! 

Now, as to your implication that my attitude toward your holiness standards
are "Laodicean" compared to yours, to that I MUST TOTALLY DISAGREE, and
earnestly contend the opposite to be true! 

To be "Laodicean" is to let "people rule", rather than God. Which is exactly
what happens when you set extra-biblical ordinances and laws and judge
holiness standards accordingly by them. 

Laodicea S#2993 "from a comp. of 2992 and 1349" -Strong's 

Strong's #2992 Greek: laos,... Definition: a *PEOPLE*... 

Strong's #1349, Greek: dike, Definition: right (as self-evident), i.e.
justice (the principle, a decision, or its execution)" 



Okay, now I have some questions for you. We agreed- 

'"I have NO problem accepting a person AS a brother, without any prejudice,
who holds slightly different views of holiness, because the scripture says-
Rom 14:1 "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful
disputations."' -Tom 

"I agree totally! :)" -Michael 

In my mind these are unimportant issues because I could care less whether
you feel to wear jewelry or not, or whether you don't feel to remarry under
any circumstance, etc., that's YOUR business. (I take exception to refusing
women in the ministry, though, because that IS respect of persons- which is
sin.) 

But when you start pushing these things as SALVATIONAL issues, then YOU have
also elevated them into DIVISIVE issues. (I'm not saying that there aren't
any divisive issues PERIOD, mind you- like Oneness, and Acts 2:38 etc. ;-) I
believe wholeheartedly in standing up for the truth that is indeed truth.) 

You have said these issues were of a Laodicean spirit. Michael- Laodiceans
WILL NOT ENTER INTO HEAVEN- "I will spew thee out of my mouth..." That means
if they are Laodicean issues, they ARE SALVATION ISSUES, does it NOT? 

And if these ARE SALVATION ISSUES to you, why did you say- "I agree" when I
told you "I have no problem accepting a person AS a brother, without any
prejudice, who holds slightly different views of holiness"??? 

This I don't understand! 

Which are they, salvation issues or not salvation issues??? If they're NOT
salvation issues, why do you accuse me of a Laodicean attitude in doing
differently than you in them? And if they ARE salvation issues, why do agree
that you accept people as brothers who practice them contrary to your
convictions that they are essential? 

Jam 1:8 "A double minded man is unstable in ALL his ways." 

Am I your brother, or not? Am I within or without the church in your eyes? 

1Co 5:12 "For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? DO NOT
YE JUDGE THEM THAT ARE WITHIN? 13 But them that are without God judgeth.
Therefore PUT AWAY FROM AMONG YOURSELVES THAT WICKED person." 

What I want you to see is- I can accept people as brothers who feel as you
do about these things, but ONLY if they keep them between them and God- AND
NOT AT ALL when they start preaching them as if they were God breathed
doctrine and essential for salvation! 

Do you see the difference, and understand? 
                                      \ | /
                                  _ _ _\|/_ _ _

                      May God Bless you! From Tom Raddatz
                   http://www.corecom.net/~tomrpp/watchman.htm

"That I may know him;... Not as though I had already attained, either were
already perfect:... I count NOT myself to have apprehended:... I press
toward the mark for the prize..." -Phil. 3:10-14. 
                                  _ _ _   _ _ _  
                                       /|\
                                      / | \