Question:
Hello
Greg,
1 Timothy 2:9 is a topic of discussion for our small group this week.
A friend of a friend of one of our teenagers is using this scripture to
say girls should not wear shorts. This
particular attitude is causing our friend not to want anything to do with that
particular church.
Thank you,
Ron
Answer:
Dear
Ron,
The “friend of a friend” is doing just what you say—“using”
the Bible. Beyond that, he or she
is abusing and torturing it.
The Bible can be dangerous in the hands of someone who disregards
responsible reading and understanding of its message.
It can be proof-texted, pre-texted and lifted out of context and be
made to appear to say anything that someone may wish it to.
However, God has not provided the Bible to us as a way for us to
justify our own opinions and ideas. The
Bible is the inspired word of God, a precious resource to help us understand
God’s will and plan. To use it
for our own self-centered reasons and self-serving purposes is a serious abuse
of a resource God provides.
Some basic principles of understanding the Bible are in order.
Perhaps that would be a great long-term topic for your small group.
PTM has a booklet entitled just that: “Understanding the Bible”, as
part of our Bible study, “Experiencing the Word”.
In brief, this chapter in 1 Timothy is
titled, “Instructions on Worship”. Even
if this “friend of a friend” is correct in saying that women should not
wear shorts (based on verse 9), it would only apply in the formal worship
setting. But what does verse 9
say about wearing shorts? Where
do we get that? From “dress
modestly”? How do we determine
that shorts are immodest for women and modest for men?
Further, if we are free to subjectively decide what “dress
modestly” means, perhaps the Taliban and extreme Moslems are correct—women
should never appear anywhere in public (let alone worship) without wearing a
burka—a head-to-toe black garment that allows only slits for the eyes and
mouth.
Some have tried to make Deuteronomy 22:5 fit their cultural objectives
in trying to prohibit women from wearing trousers, Levi’s or any form of
“masculine” clothing. However,
they miss the point completely in their zeal to make women do and not do what
they think they should. The
background of the passage is a prohibition about cross-dressing, specifically
in a religious ceremony. Ironically,
if it were not, and if it stands as a universal prohibition from either sex
not to wear clothing that pertains to the other sex, we are all sinners.
If it is a universal prohibition, men should wear loose fitting
robe-like garments (which is what Hebrew men wore at the time), and women
should wear--especially when working in the fields and garden--some kind of
pant-like garment (attire worn by Hebrew women).
Those who abuse Scripture to prove their own agenda often experience a
boomerang-like effect.
In Christ,