H
His child
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Hi Nimrod,
Sorry to have taken so long to respond to your questions. I'm not able to spend much time reading here, and just noticed tonight your post.
You've asked some good questions, and I hope others who are much more knowledgeable will offer their thoughts also. From my admittedly limited understanding here's my viewpoint.
I believe there are enough supportive written documents available to help us establish a basic sense of the customs & laws, etc. during the NT times. Scholars have researched many of the issues that crop up in discussions such as this. What I find important to remember for myself is that while they are in agreement on the basics, often there will be differences in beliefs even amongst themselves on some minor issues.
So where does that leave us? I feel we must be accountable as Christians to follow God's plan for us, to the best of our understanding. How do we know God's plan for our lives? Our Bible is one source. Prayer is another, and through prayer & meditation we can learn to listen & heed God's voice and guidance.
If I follow you correctly, you're saying that in Deut.5, some of the verses would be speaking of a civil law, while others would be considered issues of moral or sacramental laws. Interesting viewpoint, and I honestly hadn't given that much previous thought.
As to my interpretation of Deut 22:5? I believe God wants men and women to honor His choice of gender for us. If I'm born a female....I should live as a female. Depending on when and where I was born, that may vary according to the customs practiced at that point in history. If it's unacceptable in my current society for a woman to wear pants, then I wouldn't wear them. Likewise, it would be inappropriate for a male to wear a dress, high heel shoes, etc. today in society.
I really feel the message in that verse is more about the intention behind the choice of attire. Homosexuality & cross-dressing were not what God had intended when he created Adam and Eve. However, as a married mother of two, I see no harm in wearing pants. Nobody is mistaking my gender, and I'm not intending to mislead anyone into thinking I'm a male. It's far more immodest to garden, or horseback ride in a dress!
I didn't call you legalistic I was just sharing a tiny bit of my background. Facts are facts, and I was raised in a legalistic group. You have a good point however about "have to" making something legalistic. That pretty much sums up my early experience. There were so many "have to's" that many, many people missed the Gospel message...myself included. I guess that's why it's important to me to understand much more than the words alone in my Bible. I want to feel God's Spirit through the words - guiding me.
This is getting long, but you asked about 1 Cor. Everything I read has been previously "filtered" through my past teachings, and I've had to work hard not to, as the saying goes, throw out the baby with the bath water. I'm aware there are several groups who interpret those infamous long hair verses to mean all women, for all times, should have long hair. I've met many wonderful Christian ladies who certainly couldn't claim long hair. I call them Christian because the fruits of the Spirit are so evident in them, not because of the length of their hair. On the other hand, I've been on the receiving end of some extremely judgmental, self-righteous and mean spirited behavior...by ladies who profess to be Christian, with the long hair to prove it!
My hope as a Christian is to lead others to Christ. How? Most likely not by my choice of clothing or length of hair. Others are watching my actions - my choice of words - my spirit to others - my dedication to Bible reading, etc.
God's words are important Nimrod, but we can't take them out of context. God's Spirit of love and mercy shines through every bit of the Bible. That is what I fix my sights on.
God Bless.
Sorry to have taken so long to respond to your questions. I'm not able to spend much time reading here, and just noticed tonight your post.
You've asked some good questions, and I hope others who are much more knowledgeable will offer their thoughts also. From my admittedly limited understanding here's my viewpoint.
I believe there are enough supportive written documents available to help us establish a basic sense of the customs & laws, etc. during the NT times. Scholars have researched many of the issues that crop up in discussions such as this. What I find important to remember for myself is that while they are in agreement on the basics, often there will be differences in beliefs even amongst themselves on some minor issues.
So where does that leave us? I feel we must be accountable as Christians to follow God's plan for us, to the best of our understanding. How do we know God's plan for our lives? Our Bible is one source. Prayer is another, and through prayer & meditation we can learn to listen & heed God's voice and guidance.
If I follow you correctly, you're saying that in Deut.5, some of the verses would be speaking of a civil law, while others would be considered issues of moral or sacramental laws. Interesting viewpoint, and I honestly hadn't given that much previous thought.

As to my interpretation of Deut 22:5? I believe God wants men and women to honor His choice of gender for us. If I'm born a female....I should live as a female. Depending on when and where I was born, that may vary according to the customs practiced at that point in history. If it's unacceptable in my current society for a woman to wear pants, then I wouldn't wear them. Likewise, it would be inappropriate for a male to wear a dress, high heel shoes, etc. today in society.
I really feel the message in that verse is more about the intention behind the choice of attire. Homosexuality & cross-dressing were not what God had intended when he created Adam and Eve. However, as a married mother of two, I see no harm in wearing pants. Nobody is mistaking my gender, and I'm not intending to mislead anyone into thinking I'm a male. It's far more immodest to garden, or horseback ride in a dress!
I didn't call you legalistic I was just sharing a tiny bit of my background. Facts are facts, and I was raised in a legalistic group. You have a good point however about "have to" making something legalistic. That pretty much sums up my early experience. There were so many "have to's" that many, many people missed the Gospel message...myself included. I guess that's why it's important to me to understand much more than the words alone in my Bible. I want to feel God's Spirit through the words - guiding me.
This is getting long, but you asked about 1 Cor. Everything I read has been previously "filtered" through my past teachings, and I've had to work hard not to, as the saying goes, throw out the baby with the bath water. I'm aware there are several groups who interpret those infamous long hair verses to mean all women, for all times, should have long hair. I've met many wonderful Christian ladies who certainly couldn't claim long hair. I call them Christian because the fruits of the Spirit are so evident in them, not because of the length of their hair. On the other hand, I've been on the receiving end of some extremely judgmental, self-righteous and mean spirited behavior...by ladies who profess to be Christian, with the long hair to prove it!
My hope as a Christian is to lead others to Christ. How? Most likely not by my choice of clothing or length of hair. Others are watching my actions - my choice of words - my spirit to others - my dedication to Bible reading, etc.
God's words are important Nimrod, but we can't take them out of context. God's Spirit of love and mercy shines through every bit of the Bible. That is what I fix my sights on.
God Bless.