Isolationists

I often wonder if Christians have developed a Cyborg mentality. We go out to try to make everyone be just like us. We often reinforce this idea through scriptures such as Jesus' instruction to make disciples of men. And anyone who does not do things the way we do, we avoid them like the plague, using such scriptures as "Shun the very appearance of evil," and if a brother will not repent of sin after two or three witnesses, then tell it to the church and let him be considered as a heathen. But I wonder if we have mixed up the messages of unrelated passages to develop an often isolationist mentality.

We are definitely instructed to share our faith by "going into the highways and hedges and compelling men to come. But come to what? Our way of thinking and doing things? That's not what Jesus said. We are supposed to compel them to come to relationship with Him. Not to become zombie replicas. Even though the scripture does teach us to walk in unity in Ephesian 4:3 and in St. John chapter 17, being at unity does not mean being identical. And it certainly does not mean that we can not be friends with those who are different.

Especially when it comes to dealing with those who are not believers. We know that the scripture trains us to refrain from being "yoked" together with unbeliever's, because evil communications corrupt good manners. But let us not compare apples with carrots. Dealing with an unbeliever is quite different than dealing with a believer. Jesus gave an example of how our relationships should work in Luke 16. He gave the example of the unjust steward, and tells us to make friends of unrighteous mammon in verse nine of Luke 16. We are to use our resources to be a benefit to others, and we should not shun connections with unrighteous people. However, we must diligently guard our hearts from being influenced by ungodly ideas.

This delicate balance is one that must be maintained by walking after the spirit. For the spirit searches all things, even the reigns or control center of our hearts. When we walk through life, the dust of the roads travelled often clings to our feet through no fault of our own. This is part of the revelation Jesus gave when he washed the disciples feet, showing that we must be humble enough to clean that dust away from one another to maintain a clean life. We must also be willing to allow others to clean that dust away from us. But Jesus did not tell them to never walk through the streets again in order to stay clean. So, through necessity, we must often have business dealings with unbelievers, in the work place, in the market place, at the doctor's office, etc. And often, we will see and hear ideas and ways of thinking that are contrary to the Word of God. These ideas can subconciously "stick" to us and begin to affect us. But we must come together to clean and be cleaned of the dust and dirt that unwittingly clings to us.

So never choose to be unfriendly to an unbeliever, but never choose to place yourself in a position that causes the ungodly ideas of unbelievers to have undue influence over your mind. Often, the only way to win an unbeliever to Christ is by befriending them. Just make sure that in your relationships, they are being led to Christ and that you are not be led astray from Christ.

When a Man Finds a Wife

Much has been said on the subject of singleness, the gift of singleness and the process of who seeks out whom in the marital relationship. The particular biblical references that come to mind are the proverbs of Solomon stating that "When a man finds a wife, he finds a good thing and obtains favor with the Lord." Another one is Apostle Paul declaring that he preferred single people to stay single, even as he was, so they could devote their attention to the things of God. Even the passage of the fairy tale like ending of Boaz and Ruth are favorites among the topic of marriage and singleness.

But all too often, teachers and preachers beat down singles, and particularly women, with these passages. This is usually in attempts to keep them from becoming mate-seeking missiles targeting the next eligible person who walks through the door, saved or unsaved, civilized or uncivilized, independent or still living at home with momma...just so long as they are breathing!

But if you look a little deeper, I believe there is another revelation in these passages, particulary Ruth and Boaz and Solomon's proverbs. For if you really study the story of Ruth, Boaz was not trying to find a wife. Ruth was trying to find a husband under the guidance of Naomi, knowing the law of the kinsmen redeemer. Ruth went out to the fields and I believe by divine providence, ended up in the fields of Boaz. But she was instructed on how to approach him after it was evident that she had found favor in his eyes. Basically, She put herself in a position to draw him. However, she never attempted to manipulate him, or trap him by unGodly means, though she did take advantage of the circumstances.

But, I suppose you could say that Boaz did find Ruth...
He "found" her to be busy, working with her hands, and not a busy body. For she went out to the fields to work(Ruth 2:3).
He "found" her to be polite, asking permission for what she needed rather than demanding what she wanted (Ruth 2:7a)
He "found" her to be hard working, instead of hardly working, gleaning
in the fields all day long, when others were pehaps just asking for
handouts or just hanging out (Ruth 2:7b).

He "found" her to be humble, for when he gave her instructions, she fell to her face, bowing herself to the ground out of respect for his guidance (Ruth 2:9, 10a)
He "found" her to be grateful, instead of being a spoiled brat. For she responded to him saying, "Why have I found grace in your eyes, seeing I am a stranger?" (Ruth 2:10b)

He "found" her to be taking care of her mother-in-law, even after her husband had died (Ruth 2:11).

He found her to be a submissive care-giver, for she followed the instructions given to her by Naomi, the authority figure in her life, whom she also was working to provide for. Thus he
"found" her to be submissive to leadership, above her own family and friends. (Ruth 2:11b)

He found her be evidently trusting in the Lord (Ruth 2:12)

He found her to be humble and comfortable among working class people. For she did not demand a seat of prominence at the dinner table, but sat next to the reapers, even though she was given a direct invitation to dinner by Boaz himself (Ruth 2:14).

He found her to be content with sufficiency, and not a glutton. For he reached her a peice of parched [corn], and she did eat, and was sufficed, and left. (Ruth 2:14b)

He found her to be industrious and not lazy. For after she left the dinner table, she went back to the field to glean (Ruth 2:15)

He found her as someone who finishes what she starts. For after she had gleaned until the evening, she then beat out what she had gleaned. (Ruth 2:18)

He found her to be a giver, for she took what she had gleaned to Naomi as well as some of the food she had reserved after eating what she needed. (Ruth 2:18)

He found her to be faithful. For she followed his instructions, not being found in another man's field, and staying with his maidens even until the end of both the barley and wheat harvests. (Ruth 2:23)

But even after all of this, Boaz did not ask her hand in marriage. Naomi being wise showed Ruth how to put herself in position to be redeemed by the kinsman redeemer. So it is evident, that just because a man may be impressed with you, that he may not pop the question. (Ruth 3:4)
Ruth was known throughout the city to be virtous woman, who did not chase after men, yet she put herself in a position which at first glance appeared, on the surface, to be ungodly. After uncovering his feet, she lay at the feet of Boaz, through the night.

At first thought, this seems to suggest something inappropriate. But many researchers suggest that this was a custom of showing reverance, similar to Moses putting of his shoes at the encounter of God's presence with the burning bush. This is a type of reverence which is not shown in common relationships, and makes Boaz nervous at first, for he did not immediately recognize Ruth, and since he had been drinking, probably did not remember what he had been doing. But when he saw it was her, he praised God, for he knew she was positioning herself for him to see what the will of God was, by expressing uncommon respect for him. He even expressed that her reputation through out the city was one of virtue.

Even after this, she did not ask his hand in marriage. She helped him see, that he needed to do the right thing, by humbling herself even more and laying at his feet.

So I say to my sisters who are single, but do not have the gift of singleness, don't sit idly by, waiting for your husband to find you. Get in position to be found. Become the woman God has created you to be and there will be great demand for your value from a man of valour. A diamond is not made without being tempered by heat and pressure. But when it is finished, it is sought after by all who understand its value. Be aggressive in seeking the will of God, and doing good. And don't be shy to show your spiritual strengths, for it was Ruth's good reputation as a virtuous woman that sealed the deal with Boaz. For he found her to be honorable in all her ways. What do single men find when they find you?