Is it OK for our churches to have Christmas trees, bingo games, or Easter egg hunts?ts,
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Does the New Testament teach us to think this way?
The Old Testament had a uniform for the priest and Hebrews could not wear mixed fabrics. I know of no specific temple uniform for nonpriests.
This is what I can find in the New Testament about dressing for church.
James 2
1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
I do some online ministry with some Indian preachers. I notice they wear a long-sleeved shirt with no jacket. I dress like them, rather than out dress them. I made the mistake of wearing dress shoes, slacks, and a nice shirt for an event which would be followed by distributing food to the homeless, so I was wearing that while trying to relate to the homeless. Later, when dealing with the homeless, I but on jeans or chinos and a plaid shirt and casual shoes. If I were to go to a church service for the homeless, I am not dressing up.
I see dress and class distinction as an issue taught in scripture--- not dressing up for the King. If I want to honor God with my clothing, shouldn't I do this based on what the Bible teaches rather than from other ideas I have heard.
The Old Testament had a uniform for the priest and Hebrews could not wear mixed fabrics. I know of no specific temple uniform for nonpriests.
This is what I can find in the New Testament about dressing for church.
James 2
1 My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. 2 For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, 3 and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, “You sit here in a good place,” and say to the poor man, “You stand there,” or, “Sit here at my footstool,” 4 have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?
5 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? 7 Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?
I do some online ministry with some Indian preachers. I notice they wear a long-sleeved shirt with no jacket. I dress like them, rather than out dress them. I made the mistake of wearing dress shoes, slacks, and a nice shirt for an event which would be followed by distributing food to the homeless, so I was wearing that while trying to relate to the homeless. Later, when dealing with the homeless, I but on jeans or chinos and a plaid shirt and casual shoes. If I were to go to a church service for the homeless, I am not dressing up.
I see dress and class distinction as an issue taught in scripture--- not dressing up for the King. If I want to honor God with my clothing, shouldn't I do this based on what the Bible teaches rather than from other ideas I have heard.
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The Bible does not say 'Thou shalt not gamble.' That being said, in general, gambling, if it is financially 'material' is a waste of money. Playing poker for pennies probably isn't going to hurt anyone. Gambling can also be associated with drinking also in some contexts.
I don't see where scripture teaches, 'Thou shalt not gamble.' I think we should discourage wasting money on slot machines and lottery cards. Can I say that God will never lead anyone to gamble for a specific purpose? I cannot say that, but just based on wisdom, it would seem a good thing to avoid. For some people, gambling triggers an addiction.
There is also the ethical issue that if you win, you could be taking the diaper money from another addict (e.g. in poker) and you are not doing something productive to earn it. Gambling doesn't do much to benefit society. Some people's jobs, also, aren't all that helpful to society.
Pool and playing cards are used for gambling. There are also some people who are against raffles. If you pay to play Bingo and have a chance to win prizes for fund-raising, isn't that technically gambling? (Is that how they do fund raising with Bingo?) I don't see a strong Biblical case for the idea that this is sinful.
There have also been Christians who are against 'worldly entertainments.' A lot of early Christians didn't go to the dramas, but they were pagan, with false gods and such. There were sporting events dedicated to other gods.
Post-Reformation, there were Protestants, for example among the Puritans, who seemed down on merriment, or certain types of it. In the Holiness movement and among many Pentecostals before the 1960's or 1970's, some Christians were against going to the 'movie house'. Some were against going to sporting events. I don't see a good case for this in scripture. (Of course, there are still Olympics, with images of other gods at the opening ceremony, at least arguably commemorating other gods, which may be a moral issue.) Some people get too obsessed with sports and waste too much of their time on entertainment. It's a matter of stewardship of time, in most cases, not 'thou shalt not.'
I don't see where scripture teaches, 'Thou shalt not gamble.' I think we should discourage wasting money on slot machines and lottery cards. Can I say that God will never lead anyone to gamble for a specific purpose? I cannot say that, but just based on wisdom, it would seem a good thing to avoid. For some people, gambling triggers an addiction.
There is also the ethical issue that if you win, you could be taking the diaper money from another addict (e.g. in poker) and you are not doing something productive to earn it. Gambling doesn't do much to benefit society. Some people's jobs, also, aren't all that helpful to society.
Pool and playing cards are used for gambling. There are also some people who are against raffles. If you pay to play Bingo and have a chance to win prizes for fund-raising, isn't that technically gambling? (Is that how they do fund raising with Bingo?) I don't see a strong Biblical case for the idea that this is sinful.
There have also been Christians who are against 'worldly entertainments.' A lot of early Christians didn't go to the dramas, but they were pagan, with false gods and such. There were sporting events dedicated to other gods.
Post-Reformation, there were Protestants, for example among the Puritans, who seemed down on merriment, or certain types of it. In the Holiness movement and among many Pentecostals before the 1960's or 1970's, some Christians were against going to the 'movie house'. Some were against going to sporting events. I don't see a good case for this in scripture. (Of course, there are still Olympics, with images of other gods at the opening ceremony, at least arguably commemorating other gods, which may be a moral issue.) Some people get too obsessed with sports and waste too much of their time on entertainment. It's a matter of stewardship of time, in most cases, not 'thou shalt not.'
I have never been at a Bingo game and had a church service break out, or been at a church service and had a Bingo
game break out. This idea of using Bingo in the church as a way to praise and worship God is truly a novel idea.
I can imagine people do likely say such things as, "Bingo!!! Thank God I finally won a game."
game break out. This idea of using Bingo in the church as a way to praise and worship God is truly a novel idea.
I can imagine people do likely say such things as, "Bingo!!! Thank God I finally won a game."
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"Beware the beast Man, for he is the Devil's pawn. Alone among God's primates, he kills for
sport or lust or greed. Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land. Let him not breed
in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him; drive him back into
his jungle lair, for he is the harbinger of death." From Planet of the Apes, as spoken by Cornelius.
sport or lust or greed. Yea, he will murder his brother to possess his brother's land. Let him not breed
in great numbers, for he will make a desert of his home and yours. Shun him; drive him back into
his jungle lair, for he is the harbinger of death." From Planet of the Apes, as spoken by Cornelius.
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