“…to do that which is right in the eyes of the Lord…” Deuteronomy 13:18b
“…the Lord seeth not as man seeth…” 1 Samuel 16:7
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord.” Isaiah 55:8
“These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thyself..” Psalm 50:21a
“…be ye reconciled to God” 2 Corinthians 5:20f
We have all heard the expression–“beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” Perceptions are relative to the many variables that exist within the latitude of human passions and preferences. That is why things come in many different shapes and colors, with optional features. People are intrigued by differences. People distinguish themselves by being different. Opposites often attract each other.
In some cultures, certain disfigurement of the body is perceived to be beautiful. An appearance that would shock an outsider, is seen to be honorable to those raised up with that emphasis.
What we are pointing out is that the culture one is raised in, more often than not, determines what people’s perceptions of things are. And in every culture, there are standards that clash with God’s standards. For example, in some tropical cultures, tribal people wear little, if any clothes, some with the women going topless. But we all know these cultural standards clash with God’s standards of dress, thought they are not perceived to be wrong within that certain cultural frame of mind.
With these considerations in view, Christians need to examine just how much of their perceptions are from their culture, and just how much is from opening up their heart and mind to God’s Word.
Presently in our culture, to see a man dressed up in woman’s clothing, is looked upon by most as being perverse. Many parents would have second thoughts about taking their children into a restaurant to eat where they see men going in who are dressed like women. But at the same time in our culture, if a woman dresses in clothing that pertains to a man, she is considered to be chic. This is the way our culture slices it and the way most perceive it. But in God’s eyes, He doesn’t slice it this way. In God’s eyes, it is the same if a woman dresses as pertaineth to a man as it is if a man dresses up in a woman’s clothes: “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 (men or women) are abomination unto the Lord thy God.” Deuteronomy 22:5 WE HAVE A CHOICE! Reconcile with God, or perceive the issue through the eyes of our culture.
SHARING
