CHARITY DOTH NOT BEHAVE ITSELF UNSEEMLY: chapter VI
This one is easily understood in the simple phrase, "does it seem good?".
However, as with many things in the word of God, it does not matter what seems good to you but rather what seems good to God. Same with how charity does not behave itself unseemly. As scripture twice states, "there is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death" (Proverbs 14:12, 16:25 KJV).
And as much as people often frame mischief by a law. It does not make it right with God, just because it is now right with men.
Psalms 94:20 KJV Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law?
...and the following verse...
Psalms 94:21-22 KJV They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood. (22) But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.
It doesn't matter what the law of the land is. That just makes something to seem right before men. That which seems right according to the word of God is much better. And those who do what is right according to the will and word of God will have the Lord as their defence. Of course the unrighteous are angry with the righteous and desire to make them look bad. Scripture also declares this:
Proverbs 29:27 KJV An unjust man is an abomination to the just: and he that is upright in the way is abomination to the wicked.
And so as they make their laws to make it seem well in their own eyes what they do. It can not be in true charity according to the word of God.
Some men would suppose otherwise and say, "we should hate the sin but love the sinner". However God does not say this. But rather...
Psalms 5:4-5 KJV For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee. (5) The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
Psalms 7:11 KJV God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
So why make up such a thing to do what seems good in your own eyes? Do you not just make way for the iniquity, the sin to continue? And taking instruction from the workers iniquity you can never be of any good to the use of edification to them (Psalm64:2 KJV).
But when considering charity, understanding charity is not love. The matter of what is seemly is a matter of truth. Just as one can not have the fruit of the Spirit except if it be in truth. So too must a matter be in truth for it to be known to seem good or bad.
Ephesians 5:9 KJV (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
John 17:17 KJV Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.
Deuteronomy 32:4 KJV He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
Well if you have the truth of the word of God, then you can be justified in your sayings... so long as they seem right according to the truth of God's word... As there is not law against the fruit of the Spirit. Neither is there is there a law against true charity, if it be according to the charity in the word of God.
Romans 3:4 KJV God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.
Galatians 5:22-23 KJV But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, (23) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Titus 2:15 KJV These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
This is what we will talk a bit more about in this video Bible study as we brake down another aspect of charity.
