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

[shazza]

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.

Another clean freak here My husband calls me Ms Neato!! I too was brought up to have a clean house and care and respect of possessions. Maybe not OCD but just like everything in its place. I work full-time, and have 3 sons so I need some kind of organisation in the home. I have always taught my boys to pick up after themselves right from the time they were toddlers. Mind you my youngest is still learning.

I have mellowed over the years though and try not to worry so much if things don't always get done, my husband doesn't help as much as he should. God knows my efforts and my time with God is more important than having a clean house.

[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.

Another clean freak here My husband calls me Ms Neato!! I too was brought up to have a clean house and care and respect of possessions. Maybe not OCD but just like everything in its place. I work full-time, and have 3 sons so I need some kind of organisation in the home. I have always taught my boys to pick up after themselves right from the time they were toddlers. Mind you my youngest is still learning.

I have mellowed over the years though and try not to worry so much if things don't always get done, my husband doesn't help as much as he should. God knows my efforts and my time with God is more important than having a clean house.

Thank G-d. I thought I was a total freak, now I know you are too! Wait, that came out wrong.

[RedeemedByHim]

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.

my husband is also allergic to deodorant...but he can wear cologne and stuff...just not deodorant...

Cleanliness is very important...as a wife I try to make my home at least somewhat presentable if someone were to stop by...(not only that but I have a very nosy mother in law)....LOL

[stafy]

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.

We are the temple ( or house) of the god, if the inside of us is clean and in order then it will show on the outside. If ones enviroment is messy it is usually a refelction that they are spiritaully messed up on the inside,

[hupo]

I think you have the answer in your very question: Is it offensive to God to be physically offensive to your fellow man?

I would say that being offensive to your fellow man IS offensive to God. It's not the physical cleanlyness but the attitude or where one's heart is.

But her attitude is not what's offensive, Hupo. Do you mean that I should overlook the outer appearance and concentrate instead on this woman's heart?

Well, it takes two to tango.

I find all too often in my life that when I feel offended, there is something in me that isn't right. Something I don't like.

All too often it has nothing to do with the "offending" person at all.

God wants us to have a heart for each other. If I don't wash for a week and then go visit someone in their home, it would be offensive, and God would let me know that most likely. If I got lost in the jungle. Didn't wash for a week and someone found me and took me to their home. They wouldn't be offended by my smell. In both cases the smell is the same....bad.... but the offensive issue is not there. How come?

[shazza]

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.

Another clean freak here My husband calls me Ms Neato!! I too was brought up to have a clean house and care and respect of possessions. Maybe not OCD but just like everything in its place. I work full-time, and have 3 sons so I need some kind of organisation in the home. I have always taught my boys to pick up after themselves right from the time they were toddlers. Mind you my youngest is still learning.

I have mellowed over the years though and try not to worry so much if things don't always get done, my husband doesn't help as much as he should. God knows my efforts and my time with God is more important than having a clean house.

Thank G-d. I thought I was a total freak, now I know you are too! Wait, that came out wrong.

Its ok Marn, I have known all along

Now I know I am not alone

Sooooooo do ya think I need therapy????

[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.

Another clean freak here My husband calls me Ms Neato!! I too was brought up to have a clean house and care and respect of possessions. Maybe not OCD but just like everything in its place. I work full-time, and have 3 sons so I need some kind of organisation in the home. I have always taught my boys to pick up after themselves right from the time they were toddlers. Mind you my youngest is still learning.

I have mellowed over the years though and try not to worry so much if things don't always get done, my husband doesn't help as much as he should. God knows my efforts and my time with God is more important than having a clean house.

Thank G-d. I thought I was a total freak, now I know you are too! Wait, that came out wrong.

Its ok Marn, I have known all along

Now I know I am not alone

Sooooooo do ya think I need therapy????

The more I think about it, perhaps we are the the normal ones, and they all need therapy.

[irishcowboy]

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.

cloths can be washed in warm water to get rid of soil and persp...

as far as teeth, try baking soda or even just water and a good scrubbin, maybe chew on some mint leaves...

there may even be an organic type anti-persp... how is he with frankencense? or myrrh?

there are scriptures about how often or when to wash the hands and how much water needs to be used and the way to do it....

anyways, some people are not even helpped with the chemicles.... some of the odor is caused by the persons diet, what they eat, does cause them to have peticular odors.....

cleanliness is a type of witness..... clutter also is a type of witness....

if your pastors house was dirty, what would you think about his life???

if it was cluttered, how would you think of his witness then???

mike

[MorningGlory]

I think you have the answer in your very question: Is it offensive to God to be physically offensive to your fellow man?

I would say that being offensive to your fellow man IS offensive to God. It's not the physical cleanlyness but the attitude or where one's heart is.

But her attitude is not what's offensive, Hupo. Do you mean that I should overlook the outer appearance and concentrate instead on this woman's heart?

Well, it takes two to tango.

I find all too often in my life that when I feel offended, there is something in me that isn't right. Something I don't like.

All too often it has nothing to do with the "offending" person at all.

God wants us to have a heart for each other. If I don't wash for a week and then go visit someone in their home, it would be offensive, and God would let me know that most likely. If I got lost in the jungle. Didn't wash for a week and someone found me and took me to their home. They wouldn't be offended by my smell. In both cases the smell is the same....bad.... but the offensive issue is not there. How come?

I beg to differ, hupo. I don't have anything within myself that causes revulsion when confronted with filth; other than I don't think others should be subjected to our laziness and lack of caring what anyone thinks. I do have a heart for this person and I'm still trying to figure out how to help I truly believe she's without a clue about what other's think and say about her. It's a shame because she isn't accepted by a lot of people because of her appearance and living conditions.

[hupo]

I think you have the answer in your very question: Is it offensive to God to be physically offensive to your fellow man?

I would say that being offensive to your fellow man IS offensive to God. It's not the physical cleanlyness but the attitude or where one's heart is.

But her attitude is not what's offensive, Hupo. Do you mean that I should overlook the outer appearance and concentrate instead on this woman's heart?

Well, it takes two to tango.

I find all too often in my life that when I feel offended, there is something in me that isn't right. Something I don't like.

All too often it has nothing to do with the "offending" person at all.

God wants us to have a heart for each other. If I don't wash for a week and then go visit someone in their home, it would be offensive, and God would let me know that most likely. If I got lost in the jungle. Didn't wash for a week and someone found me and took me to their home. They wouldn't be offended by my smell. In both cases the smell is the same....bad.... but the offensive issue is not there. How come?

I beg to differ, hupo. I don't have anything within myself that causes revulsion when confronted with filth; other than I don't think others should be subjected to our laziness and lack of caring what anyone thinks. I do have a heart for this person and I'm still trying to figure out how to help I truly believe she's without a clue about what other's think and say about her. It's a shame because she isn't accepted by a lot of people because of her appearance and living conditions.

Maybe I'm just splitting hairs, but if I am lazy and lack caring for others around me, then it is that very attitude that is offensive and not the actual filthiness.

You obviously have a heart for this person you mention. You say she isn't accepted. If she doesn't see this or care, that would be offensive to God. Not the actual state of cleanliness.

It goes without saying that if one cares, they would do something about their physical conduct. The caring (or not) is what counts with God. Don't you think?

A person can be physically ugly and it wouldn't be offensive in God's eyes.

"He has no form or comeliness and when we see Him there is no beauty that we should desire Him. He is despised and rejected by men (Isaiah 53:2-3)