Proper expectations on unbelievers

Christian ethics and theology with an Anabaptist perspective
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Josh
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Proper expectations on unbelievers

Post by Josh »

A few months ago, I heard a plain Anabaptist person express that he finds his business partner's wife's hair distracting when it is down and long and flowing, and he discussed with him that he would like it if she were more modest and put her hair up when around him (or better yet wear a covering).

Keep in mind neither his partner nor his partner's wife are what I would describe as kingdom Christians.

What are reasonable expectations on unbelievers? I feel like expecting women to have their hair up is a very specific application of modesty, but hardly a universal biblical principle. And it seems very unreasonable to expect people who aren't even Christians to start complying with certain items of a specific church's standard.

(Regarding that standard, my own church does expect that, and I think it's a good application, but I can't find where the Bible says a woman's hair must be up - it just says uncut and that her head should be covered for prayer & prophecy.)
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Robert
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Re: Proper expectations on unbelievers

Post by Robert »

I wonder what motivated him to go into business unequally yoked. This might be the real issue.
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Re: Proper expectations on unbelievers

Post by Sudsy »

Josh wrote:A few months ago, I heard a plain Anabaptist person express that he finds his business partner's wife's hair distracting when it is down and long and flowing, and he discussed with him that he would like it if she were more modest and put her hair up when around him (or better yet wear a covering).

Keep in mind neither his partner nor his partner's wife are what I would describe as kingdom Christians.

What are reasonable expectations on unbelievers? I feel like expecting women to have their hair up is a very specific application of modesty, but hardly a universal biblical principle. And it seems very unreasonable to expect people who aren't even Christians to start complying with certain items of a specific church's standard.

(Regarding that standard, my own church does expect that, and I think it's a good application, but I can't find where the Bible says a woman's hair must be up - it just says uncut and that her head should be covered for prayer & prophecy.)
Reasonable expectations of an unbeliever, imo, is they are sinners by nature and if Jesus lived among them, so should we just as they are.
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Re: Proper expectations on unbelievers

Post by appleman2006 »

Josh wrote:A few months ago, I heard a plain Anabaptist person express that he finds his business partner's wife's hair distracting when it is down and long and flowing, and he discussed with him that he would like it if she were more modest and put her hair up when around him (or better yet wear a covering).

Keep in mind neither his partner nor his partner's wife are what I would describe as kingdom Christians.

What are reasonable expectations on unbelievers? I feel like expecting women to have their hair up is a very specific application of modesty, but hardly a universal biblical principle. And it seems very unreasonable to expect people who aren't even Christians to start complying with certain items of a specific church's standard.

(Regarding that standard, my own church does expect that, and I think it's a good application, but I can't find where the Bible says a woman's hair must be up - it just says uncut and that her head should be covered for prayer & prophecy.)
Wow. just Wow! I agree with Robert. But I would also say that if this guy has that kind of problem with his thoughts that he is the problem and he better take a real good look at why he has this problem. Blaming his thought life on someone else is a real cop out IMO.
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Re: Proper expectations on unbelievers

Post by MaxPC »

appleman2006 wrote:
Josh wrote:A few months ago, I heard a plain Anabaptist person express that he finds his business partner's wife's hair distracting when it is down and long and flowing, and he discussed with him that he would like it if she were more modest and put her hair up when around him (or better yet wear a covering).

Keep in mind neither his partner nor his partner's wife are what I would describe as kingdom Christians.

What are reasonable expectations on unbelievers? I feel like expecting women to have their hair up is a very specific application of modesty, but hardly a universal biblical principle. And it seems very unreasonable to expect people who aren't even Christians to start complying with certain items of a specific church's standard.

(Regarding that standard, my own church does expect that, and I think it's a good application, but I can't find where the Bible says a woman's hair must be up - it just says uncut and that her head should be covered for prayer & prophecy.)
Wow. just Wow! I agree with Robert. But I would also say that if this guy has that kind of problem with his thoughts that he is the problem and he better take a real good look at why he has this problem. Blaming his thought life on someone else is a real cop out IMO.
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Re: Proper expectations on unbelievers

Post by KingdomBuilder »

This reminds me of whenever people try to guilt trip those not in the faith who are going through divorce by saying "You made a covenant before God"

I do not hold unbelievers to the Scripture. The law and decency? Yes. But not the Word.
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Re: Proper expectations on unbelievers

Post by ken_sylvania »

KingdomBuilder wrote:This reminds me of whenever people try to guilt trip those not in the faith who are going through divorce by saying "You made a covenant before God"

I do not hold unbelievers to the Scripture. The law and decency? Yes. But not the Word.
Why not?
Is it decent for a man to break his promise?
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Josh
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Re: Proper expectations on unbelievers

Post by Josh »

ken_sylvania wrote:
KingdomBuilder wrote:This reminds me of whenever people try to guilt trip those not in the faith who are going through divorce by saying "You made a covenant before God"

I do not hold unbelievers to the Scripture. The law and decency? Yes. But not the Word.
Why not?
Is it decent for a man to break his promise?
If someone didn't make a covenant before God, it's not reasonable to tell them to honour their covenant before God.
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ken_sylvania
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Re: Proper expectations on unbelievers

Post by ken_sylvania »

Josh wrote:
ken_sylvania wrote:
KingdomBuilder wrote:This reminds me of whenever people try to guilt trip those not in the faith who are going through divorce by saying "You made a covenant before God"

I do not hold unbelievers to the Scripture. The law and decency? Yes. But not the Word.
Why not?
Is it decent for a man to break his promise?
If someone didn't make a covenant before God, it's not reasonable to tell them to honour their covenant before God.
Can a person make a covenant that is not before God?
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Re: Proper expectations on unbelievers

Post by KingdomBuilder »

ken_sylvania wrote:Why not?
Is it decent for a man to break his promise?
Didn't say I'm fine with divorce amongst unbelievers. Nor did I say it was decent. I'm just not okay with holding them to the standards of believers.
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