Growing up with Jesus

In Brother's class, they are reading a book called Growing up where Jesus Lived. This book has been fascinating to me. I do realize that this is a 2nd grade book, but they really do a good job (to my uneducated mind) explaining what things might have been like if we grew up in Jesus' time.

In 1 of the chapters it talks about the clothes that they wore back then. I have always known that men and woman wore robes. But they go into greater detail in the book about the clothes that were worn.

What people wear is something that is so unimportantly important in "my world." Does that make sense? People of course say that what you wear doesn't matter and that other's really shouldn't judge you by what you wear. That is what is said, but not done. But you KNOW when you are getting the once over. It happens to me ALL the time. And I will be the 1st one to admit that I have been guilty of it as well.

1 of the most hurtful instances was when my husband (then boyfriend) was judged b/c he wore blue jeans to church on sunday nights......and he went to THAT church.....don't you know what they do there??? They hold their microphones!! (really?? even as a teenager I knew that was absurd)

Yes. I have lived under the bible verse......... Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God. I have lived under we wear skirts and dresses.....b/c.....b/c.....we just do. Now that I can make my own decisions, I am free to live in my pant bliss. I think it great even to see so many people who I thought were to adamant on not wearing pants realizing that it isn't as big of deal as some make it out to be. And then you see them out and about in pants.

I firmly believe that the bible is the same yesterday today and forever. The truths in the bible are timeless. This I believe.

Something that changes so often is fashion. I don't see to many Baptist/religious men walking around in robes these days. So something had to have changed between bible times and the time we are living in now.

So I think the truths in the Bible have to be applicable just as much today as they were back then.

If the Bible says that you shouldn't wear something that pertains to a man and vice versa then by George we should obey it.

But my question is........who said that pants belong to a man?

I realize that looking back at history men wore pants and woman wore dresses. But when did men stop wearing robes? I mean in Bible times, that's what they wore. They wore an inner tunic and then when they went out they would put on an outer tunic or robe.

Men's robes and women's robes looked alike.

Except.........

wait for it......

the only difference between a man's robe and a woman's robe was men wore a stripe all the way around the bottom of the robe. And woman wore a square looking piece of fabric at the very corners of the robe. A man's robe would also have fringe at each corner with blue thread in each fringe. The fringe would remind him of the law of God.

I also realize that we are living in a day of grace and are free from the law. I haven't seen anywhere in the new testament that says something about what to wear.

In the stores that I shop at, there are very clear distinctions between a man's section of clothing and a woman's. Hunny's pants are cut very different from mine. He has never and will never take a pair of pants out of my closet and decide to put them on.

I think that the most important thing when deciding what clothes to wear is find something that is modest. You can find some awfully immodest skirts and dresses. Just like you can have pants that are very immodest.

So instead of teaching my child that she can only wear a skirt or a dress, I am going to really try and instill in her that she needs to be modest. That's it. Just modest.

Culottes are.....a joke and I won't even get into those.

Another chapter in the book that was fascinating to me was the chapter on the Sabbath. I have really been thinking a lot about the Sabbath of late. It has been something that I have really put some time in studying. And I thought it was humorous to run across this in my child's reading book from his school. (if you know anything about that, then you would know the irony)

The book said that the Sabbath was on a Saturday. That is the day that they worshiped in church. I have always known that Jewish people go to church on Saturday. And I of course know that Jesus was a Jew. So I can only conclude that Jesus went to church on Saturday. So when did church get switched to Sunday? (this is a serious question by the way. When did people start going to church on Sunday?)

I have always gone to church on Sunday. That is the day that is set aside for church. It was that way as I grew up and it is that way now that I am an adult. That is what I am used to and that is what I like. I will probably never change my opinion on that.

I have rarely given thought to going to church on Saturday night b/c I have always thought that it wasn't the right thing to do. "good Christians" do NOT go to church on saturday night. Church is on Sunday. Everybody knows that.

But then I read Romans. I have fallen in love with Romans. Truly in love it. As I was reading in Romans, these verses almost screamed off the page at me.

Romans 14:5-13
One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.

He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself.

For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living.

But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.

So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.

Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

Now I am not saying that I am educated in the full knowledge of the Bible at all. But to me these verses are saying this.......1 man says that 1 day is better then the other day. The other man says that they are all alike. Each man needs to know fully in his mind what he thinks. Each man regards it to the Lord. (I'm sorry, but I had to look up regard. It means to show respect for. That makes sense to me then.....each man will show respect for a certain day for the Lord.)

I love even more how it doesn't stop there. It goes on to say that we shouldn't judge the other men. This subject of the sabbath is such a stinking point to many people. It can be some heated conversations between people when they discuss it.

For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

We are all going to give an account of ourselves before the Lord 1 day for how we lived our life. Every single 1 of us. So from now on.....I have decided this......that if you decide to worship on another day.....good for you. I am glad that you are setting aside time to worship the 1 true God. For me, I choose to worship on Sunday. B/c that's what I like. I will not judge you for when you go to church.

but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

Hmmm.....but judge rather this.....do not put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.

I think that when we get so adamant about church can only be on Sunday. That's just the way it is and thats just the way it will always be.... well....I don't know, but......maybe that could be a stumblingblock.

Romans 15:5-7
May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus,

so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

vs 13~ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Amazing verses.