Heads up on what matters

April 26, 2009

Today's Reading: Ruth 1-2 and 1 Corinthians 11

You ever read the Bible and discover things that don’t make much sense? Personally, I see verses in the Bible that I break every day. I would imagine that there are some ladies who break it periodically.

Apparently, women are not allowed to prophecy with their heads uncovered. However, I have been to churches, seen women prophecy, and many of them have their heads uncovered.

You want to know what is really a hoot? There is this verse saying that men should not have long hair. However, in most productions of the Jesus story that I have seen at churches, the man himself is always sporting long hair.

In fact, I recently went to an Easter production, and found that one of my Pastors was playing Jesus. He normally has short hair, but the make-up department added hair extensions. He ended up looking like Mel Gibson’s William Wallace in Braveheart.

Isn’t it funny how these customs in Christian circles arise, and then are quickly broken? I’m sure there was a time when Christian Rock was considered of the devil, assuming this time still doesn’t exist.

Sometimes you have to wonder how many things of the Bible need to be followed and how many things are up to us. The Bible says that we can “judge for ourselves”, and I am assuming this only applies in some instances. After all, I just mentioned just yesterday why the time of judges was so bad, because everyone did what he or she thought was right.

You know, I just don’t believe that God works in ideal conditions. If you look at the life of Ruth in today’s reading, Naomi and Ruth lived in a time of poverty. Not only that, Ruth lived with her mother-in-law. How weird is that? I’m sure that would probably turn some heads if she mentioned that at a party.

Can you imagine that: “you live with your mother-in-law”? Man, you must be some sort of loser.

If you look at a lot of situations, they are done by completely unconventional means. Abraham was given a son even though he kind of cheated a bit by making certain Hagar conceived one for him. Moses killed a man before the voice from the burning bush. David was hardly brought up in the house of a king or a priest.

This is why I never judge any book by its cover. Granted, you have to take time to read the pages within, but if you have patience, you may discover the story of how God truly works.