Nagging Question..........

[MorningGlory]

This has been really bugging me lately......I'm not even sure why but I need to put it to rest.

As a Christian, how important is it to be clean? I mean literally clean; i.e. keeping your house and property clean, bathing, wearing clean clothes. Is it wrong for people to come to church unwashed? I'm not talking about in Bangladesh or somewhere; I mean right here, someone who doesn't HAVE to reek of B.O. or wear stained clothes but apparently either doesn't know better or doesn't care. Is it okay to not care because pride is a sin? Is it offensive to God to be physically offensive to your fellow man? Don't laugh; I am serious! And no, I'm not considering confronting anyone with their lack of hygiene and sqalid living conditions; that's not my place.

I'm going to defer to those of you that are much better versed in scripture than I because I seriously can't figure this one out.

[Marnie]

I am a clean freak, I admit it. I move my furniture every week, appliances too, to dust and mop the floors, etc. What can I say? I even clean my broom and my mop. I am OCD about my house being clean. It has nothing to do with pride or Scripture. Seriously, I was raised to treat what I owned with respect; that meant taking care of my home or car as well as my clothes and other possessions, not because I worship them but because your stuff will last longer and look better. I dunno... I also shower twice a day. You work up sweat cleaning so much .... I guess it's back to therapy for me.

[Giaour]

There might be a perfectly good explanation for the body odor.

My brother in law is allergic to chemicals.

He cant wear deodorant, cologne, or most soaps.

Mouthwash makes his throat swell shut and tooth paste makes his gums bleed.

Just something to think about.

[ladypeartree]

I dont remember ever seeing a verse that tells you how often to bath but some people just do not have any sense of personal hygiene and are genuienly not aware that they have b.o. As for their home being dirty ...well I have seen some horrendous homes that people are happy to live in It doesnt make them "bad" just different and believe it or not they are often far healthier that those who are very clean

[Guest lovinghim4ever]

Not that we shouldn't be clean and modest and all, but I think God is more concerned about what's in our hearts than what's on our bodies.

Jesus said in Matthew 15:11 . . . "Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, that defiels a man."

I do believe God wants us to practice good hygiene, but Giaour said it best I think.

There might be a perfectly good explanation for someone being not so clean as we'd like to see them.

Are we willing to inquire with these folks to see if maybe we can help in some way?

Maybe they are happy just the way they are.

Jesus walked on mostly dusty roads everywhere He went.

I would think that would make for a very "odorous" encounter with Him.

His clothes probably weren't always the cleanest either, but His heart sure was clean wasn't it?

I dunno, just some things to think about.

[Giaour]

And what was the way that people showed their love to Christ?

They washed his feet.

I say submit yourselves, humble yourselves and wash his feet for him.

[Guest lovinghim4ever]

And what was the way that people showed their love to Christ?

They washed his feet.

I say submit yourselves, humble yourselves and wash his feet for him.

Amen Giaour!

[deafcanada]

I dont remember ever seeing a verse that tells you how often to bath but some people just do not have any sense of personal hygiene and are genuienly not aware that they have b.o. As for their home being dirty ...well I have seen some horrendous homes that people are happy to live in It doesnt make them "bad" just different and believe it or not they are often far healthier that those who are very clean

I have struggling about cleaning up the house etc, are we spoiled in north america and being concern getting sick etc. require to be clean all the time Look at the other countries which they dont have any cleaner home, clean clothes, cant afford to have those stuff to keep them away being sick or spread the germs around. Remember what Jesus and Mary and Martha.

in Luke 10:38 to 42. As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to jerusalem, they came to a village where a woman named Martha welcomed them into her home, Her sister mary sat at the Lord's feet, listening to what he taught. but martha was worry over the big dinner she was prepareing. She came to jesus and said, "Lord doesn't it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while i do all the work? tell her to come and help me. but the Lord said to her, My dear Martha, you are so upset over all these details! There is really only one thing worthy being concerned about. Mary has discovered it and I wont take it away from her.

we have to remember those people who need Jesus Christ. we dont need to be embarrased and upset over things that it is not clean up or not prepare the dinner for the company who is coming over and they needed to know Jesus Christ. Which is the important clean up and prepare the dinner or word from the Bible ministry to them even though the house is messy.

their souls are more important their souls are at the risk zone.

I am having hard time to clean up because my husband get upset over things which it is not clean Must be clean so I respect him for that so i kept clean up to keep him happy. but look at the other countries, they cant afford to keep the h ouse clean like having washer and dryer machine, vaccum, mop and broom shovel etc. they are so poor and couldnt afford to have those things. however they are seeking Jesus Christ.

I am struggling for that for long time now, because when the people come here i must clean up before they come, because i dont want them to see my house messy, PRIDE??? is that sin? I often hear from Lord said do not be embarrased from this. but i having hard time because my sweet heart husband is very fussy and must have the house cleanest and shiny and want to be example for other who can know about Jesus Christ.

I dont mean we dont have to clean up but we should keep it clean to give God glory for that. to be honest my house is sort of messy but i keep clean up everyday to give God glory no matter what. if people come to our home unexpect them, I could not say sorry you cant come and tell them i am busy. dont want them to see my house being messy which important house being messy and not let them come or house messy, let them come and ministry them with God's words which is important for that? that is my question about that.

DC

[MorningGlory]

I dont mean we dont have to clean up but we should keep it clean to give God glory for that. to be honest my house is sort of messy but i keep clean up everyday to give God glory no matter what. if people come to our home unexpect them, I could not say sorry you cant come and tell them i am busy. dont want them to see my house being messy which important house being messy and not let them come or house messy, let them come and ministry them with God's words which is important for that? that is my question about that.

DC

Thanks everyone for the replies. I see a thread running through the answers; it's more important what is in one's heart than what's outside.

Deafcanada, I see your point about a messy house; my own can get that way too. And we don't usually want anyone to visit unless we straighten up. But the situation I'm talking about is not 'messy' but filthy. A toilet that a construction worker wouldn't use, a bathtub that's used for storing nasty, smelly mops instead of for bathing, wads of toilet paper stuck to the ceiling, dried spit in the sink, and used feminine products on the floor. She has no qualms about visitors seeing this or the trash and cigarette butts that litter the yard. Personal hygiene is nonexistent and, when eating in a restaurant ,all one can see is the dirty fingernails, greasy hair, dirty clothes, and then of course there's the ever present aura of old sweat. This Christian has no allergies to soaps or the like either because I've seen her wash her hands after pulling weeds and things like that. Maybe she is more concerned with living a good Christian life, and she does, but is it possible to do that if you are living in filth and garbage? Is sloth a sin? I wouldn't toss this person aside because of this but, frankly, I'm embarrassed to be seen with her or visiting her. Maybe the problem is mine, not hers.

[joyfullnoise]

I remember as a teenager my father used to gripe at me over what I wore to church and I'd always reply "God wouldnt care if I showed up in my birthday suit, as long as I showed up" LOL...I still believe that. Its not what's on the outside that matters but what's on the inside.