14 Responses to “June 18, 2009”

1. Emanuel
   June 19th, 2009 @ 12:52 pm

   Dr Brown,

   I LOVE that you did this show. I am on the West Coast (Fremont, Ca -Northern California) so I’m not able to time it so that I am able to call in. I am listening to the show and I love it!!!

   Allow me to tell you that I am a Pastor of a very small congregation. Pray for us as we continue to move ahead for Jesus. Our members have come from so many different types of experiences, especially this generation and in this area of the country.

   All of my men are baptized in Jesus name and filled with the Holy Spirit. However 2 of them have had tattoos and piercings of various kinds, LOL. I was preaching and teaching on Holiness and being set apart in HEART to Christ. I as well have a tattoo that I have had since I was 19. I am going on 33 years this July, praise God! Anyway I don’t hide my tattoo yet I don’t promote it either. I view it as where God has brought me from and a reminder that I am NOT the same person. God has allowed me to witness to people when I may be out and it the process of doing something my sleeve may raise slightly and it is exposed.

   One Sunday after the Lord led me to begin a series basically called “Going through the Process, becoming more like Christ”. For the past few weeks, every message on Sunday has been (I tried to get away and Jesus wouldn’t allow it, LOL) about going through the process of sanctification. Well, after the 3rd week one of my men told his wife and uncle that he was taking out all piercings!!!!

   The other man, his uncle has recently taken out his lip, tongue piercing. He still has his nose piercing though but I am believing God that he will completely surrender to God’s process of holiness for his life.

   I had to take my opinion out of the situation and preach the word allowing God to move. I had frank but LOVING conversations with the brothers in our small church about what it means to truly follow Jesus.

   My view on it is as follows. Jesus said that if we truly want to follow Him then we must DENY ourselves, pick up the cross and follow Him. By being saved and continuing some of these things (piercings, tatt’s etc …) we are not truly following after him let alone denying ourselves. The number one witness for Christ is not what we can do for him but what He can do with our lives affecting other people.

   By the way, the brother that took out all piercings and earrings…
   there is a man on his job that noticed the change and asked him why he took it all out. This became a witness for JESUS and our brother has been ministering to this man along with another coworker that is saved. This man is desiring to have the same change that our brother (member of our church has experienced).

   Dr Brown, in my short time of pastoring God’s people I have learned that if we just preach the Gospel and nothing else … people will change. But it is a process.

   Love you in the Lord Dr Brown and respect you!!!!
   Please continue, know that I have been enriched and challenged by you for 4 years (from a distance). Bless you in Jesus name!!!

   Please pray for us, the name of our ministry is Jesus Movement

2. Tony
   June 20th, 2009 @ 4:13 pm

   I just wonder if, when Yeshua was talking about “the world”, did he exclusively have pop youth culture in mind?  I mean…..why was he often directing these “world” statements at the religious leaders of his day?  In the West, Christians associate the “world” almost exclusively with the music & styles of popular youth culture.  Dont get me wrong…I do not agree with much of the liberal attitudes in the Body but our definition of “worldiness” seems to be more based on cultural hang-ups than biblical standards….lets get Biblical.  I argue that “worldliness” applies to the long haired rocker AND the clean shaven hypocritical religious leader with a suit on. 

3. Ewan
   June 21st, 2009 @ 10:14 pm

   Thanks for the link to the book What’s Behind the Ink? I also found a YouTube video of the author here.

4. Bo
   December 1st, 2010 @ 12:56 am

   You know… if we would simply take Paul’s advice to use the law lawfully (1 Tim. 1:8) and let it instruct us in righteous behavior and good doctrine (2 Tim. 3:16-17), we could simply read that YHWH does not approve of markings and cuttings in our flesh. (Lev. 19;28) Instead we have to spend hours searching out the pagan customs and symbols and write books to convince people of the idea. Now, who is the person putting their trust in if they believe the books arguments instead of just reading and doing what the Bible says?

   Because we ignore the instructions of YHWH in the first part of the scripture we have need that one teach us the basics again (Heb. 5:12) because our preachers have forgotten YHWH’s law (Hos. 4:6), and the congregation loves to have it so.(Jer. 5:30-31)

   Psalm 19
   7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
   8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
   9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.
   10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.
   11 Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.
   12 Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults.

   We cannot understand our errors without YHWH’s perfect law.

   Jeremiah 17
   9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?

   YHWH’s perfect law brings liberty from sin. We are not smart enough or pure enough to decide for ourselves what is correct behavior. We must look into the perfect law that Messiah told us would not pass away and learn the truth. We must commit to being doers of the word, not just readers/hearers.

   James 1
   22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
   23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
   24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
   25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

   His law is perfect and good for instruction in righteousness. Let’s use it lawfully so that we know YHWH’s heart and will.

   Shalom

5. Dave
   December 1st, 2010 @ 2:51 am

   Yes, Bo.

   Just after the verse that states:

   ‘Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard…How’s your grooming holding up?

   and

   “nor wear a garment upon you of two kinds of material mixed together…I’m trusting your clothes are all fully of one material…no cotton/polyester mix etc.

   Such foolishness.

6. Dave
   December 1st, 2010 @ 2:53 am

   The “such foolishness” was directed toward your hypocritical application of laws you feel are appropriate.

7. Dave
   December 1st, 2010 @ 2:55 am

   Ok…I’m done. I’ve overstepped the boundaries of my conscience. I will refrain from this “law-keeping” dialogue from now on.

8. Juan G.
   December 1st, 2010 @ 5:33 am

   I am urged to describe my own ‘laws’ – which, although derived from the two “greatest”, summarizing commands (of Jesus) are, according to Bo, due to the indwelling of the spirit of the anti-messiah. It’s hard to worry about that, because I really don’t think the anti-messiah will be that similar to Jesus.

   “Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard” – Dave

   According to my beliefs or derivations thus far:
   On a short term basis I only trim facial hairs that interfere with eating. Longer term I cut my own hair to uniform length (with an electric trimmer) for ease of management, and in accordance with climatic conditions.
   I don’t employ hair styles whatsoever, my innate ‘style’ will suffice – which is all in-line with trying to avoid worrying about appearances (and being frugal).

   Relating to the question “tatoos and crazy hair styles: does anything go?” – I think both are a waste of time and money. I don’t care about whatever attention they might garner me if I were to utilize them. I was instructed to do right and show light, not to do weird things.

   My innate ‘style’ is slightly more wild and crazy in appearance than the usual super-trimmed american, but it comes naturally – it’s not done for attention. This is not particularly helpful when it comes to securing employment, but I’d rather not work for excessively vain people (or for those who cater therein) anyway.

   “nor wear a garment upon you of two kinds of material mixed together” – Dave

   I like pure breeds, but I’m willing to use mixed articles when it makes sense (e.g. I reckon socks with elasticity are nice).

   Bo, why are these absolutely restricted? This is another instance where I could easily obey, but cannot fathom why I should go to the trouble of it – sorting clothes and such.

   Bo: If the Federal government began making up laws out of thin air without any practical basis would you be happy to comply, or would you say “hey, wait a minute”?
   For example: If we are allowed to import hemp oil in the U.S., why aren’t we allowed to produce it? Hemp produces what they call “superfood”.

9. Jabez H.
   December 1st, 2010 @ 5:45 am

   Juan, Mikael (www.nakedicame.com, a title after Job’s reference FYI) has pursued the same hair management technique over his years of past service in many lands FYI.

10. Bo
    December 1st, 2010 @ 11:32 am

    Dave,

    Well you just might be surprised what rules I keep. You might just find that I am not much of a hypocrite. YHWH’s law is perfect…but you seem to think that you know better than He. They are all YHWH’s instructions.

    Adam was not created with a razor in his hand. Eve had no eye shadow brush. There is a deep principle in all of YHWH’s little commandments. Do we have the faith to accept the way YHWH made us? Or are we too good to put up with His design. Do we think we can improve on His creative genius? The pride of life runs deep…YHWH’s little laws are like smooth stones to slay the giant. Do not despise the day of small beginnings.

    If one wants to get tattoos and trim ones beard the way the pagan priests do, it is ones choice to go against the commandment of YHWH to keep ones traditions. As for me and my house we will serve YHWH.

    Romans 6
    16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

    Shalom

11. Bo
    December 1st, 2010 @ 11:41 am

    Juan G.,

    Keep pressing on. I appreciate your version keeping YHWH’s commandments concerning our appearance.

    As far as socks are concerned, I do not think that the wording or meaning of the commandment on mixed garments would preclude elastic. I could be wrong, but in much word study, and discussion with other Torah keepers, I have come to this conclusion.

    Shalom

12. Bo
    December 1st, 2010 @ 12:21 pm

    Juan G.,

    I also think you make a good point about spending money on vanity. Not that I have a problem with people getting their hair cut by a paid professional, but wasting money on excessive styling and such does not seem appropriate for most of the population. All of my family’s hair is cut at home. They are not the greatest cuts but they keep our within the scriptural limits of no baldness and not long. Quite a lot of freedom in those laws. I still wonder why we would rebel by shaving our heads or by letting our hair grow long.

    Now of course our girls have long hair. And my wife covers her head in keeping with YHWH’s commandment through Paul.

    But I am creeping off topic for this forum…

    Shalom

13. Bo
    December 2nd, 2010 @ 12:59 am

    There was a time…not to long ago that even the heathen looked down on Tattoos. Of course the rebellious heathen flaunted their “liberty,” but now it is the “believers” that have entered the arena of “in your face” liberty. If only the whole scripture was taught, believed and practiced…we would not have backslidden to this point. I guess with churches accepting homosexual clergy and other abominations, we should not be surprised. The great apostasy is gaining momentum. Tattoos seem like such a small thing at this point, but there was a time only 30 years ago that it was unthinkable in Christian circles to do such a thing…what will be next?

    Shalom

14. Juan G.
    December 2nd, 2010 @ 3:32 am

    “I guess with churches accepting homosexual clergy and other abominations, we should not be surprised.” – Bo

    At this point I don’t know where to go to church. People have told me not to try to find a “perfect church”. All I ask is that a church look to what is perfect – none I’ve visited have done that. They look elsewhere, and so do I.

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