Only two "mutton breath" characteristics have been addressed so far in this series, and not yet even very completely. I intend to return to expand somewhat upon the matter of adornment with gold, but let's return our attention to 1 Timothy 2 and consider something of the context. FYI, if you are willing to dismiss what is written in this passage of scripture, as a "breath check" report, yes, it's one sign there might be mutton on your breath.
9) Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with proper clothing, modestly and discreetly, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments,
10) but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.
1 Timothy 2:9-10
I'd like to introduce the similar passage from 1 Peter 3.
3) Your adornment must not be merely external--braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses;
4) but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.
1 Peter 3:3-4
Wait - WHAT? MERELY external? That changes everything! Well, it would if that was really what the Bible said. That's how it's rendered in the NASB, but the NIV, KJV, YLT and others render verse 3 more faithfully.
"Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;"
1 Peter 3:3 (KJV)
Before I begin commentary on the context, there's more background to consider that relates to Genesis 6 and the conditions that led up to the great flood of Noah's day.
1) And Azazel taught men to make swords, and daggers, and shields, and breastplates. And he showed them the things after these, AND THE ART OF MAKING THEM; BRACELETS, AND ORNAMENTS, AND THE ART OF MAKING UP THE EYES, AND OF BEAUTIFYING THE EYELIDS, AND THE MOST PRECIOUS STONES, AND ALL KINDS OF COLOURED DYES. AND THE WORLD WAS CHANGED.
2) And there was great impiety, and much fornication, and they went astray, and all their ways became corrupt.
3) Amezarak taught all those who cast spells and cut roots, Armaros the release of spells, and Baraqiel astrologers, and Kokabiel portents, and Tamiel taught astrology, and Asradel taught the path of the Moon.
4) And at the destruction of men they cried out; and their voices reached Heaven.
Enoch 8
6) SEE THEN WHAT AZAZEL HAS DONE; HOW HE HAS TAUGHT ALL INIQUITY ON THE EARTH AND REVEALED THE ETERNAL SECRETS THAT ARE MADE IN HEAVEN.
7) And Semyaza has made known spells, he to whom you gave authority to rule over those who are with him.
8) And they went into the daughters of men together, lay with those women, became unclean, and revealed to them these sins.
9) And the women bore giants, and thereby the whole Earth has been filled with blood and iniquity.
Enoch 9:6-9
The historical record suggests that the early church was not unfamiliar with what Enoch had written, unlike most folks are today. When Paul and Peter wrote about the adornment of women, I can't accept that they would have done so in ignorance of Enoch's testimony about the fallen angel's activity. When you read what was written and simply accept what they wrote, hair braids, gold and pearls must be rejected as unacceptable ornament for women of faith. They weren't suggesting in the Bible passages I referenced above that the kind of adornment taught by Azazel could legitimately be supplemented by a godly character.
In the matter of clothing, the direction given is such that it must be understood as somewhat relative to cultural norms. With regard to the plaiting of the hair and the wearing of gold and pearls, these items are clearly defined and not therefore relative to changing fashion.
In this blog, Lord willing, I'll be expanding on how women are directed to adorn themselves "by means of good works" but first I want to address clothing, because in my culture, clothing isn't optional in the way braids, gold and pearls are optional.
If you want to know what not to do, get a copy of Cosmopolitan magazine or Teen whatever and see how to exploit the inventory of Azazel's boutique. "If you've got it, flaunt it" - That's the essence of what you do to get everyone in sight lusting after you. What should rather be done is to love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Don't exalt yourself over others or try to make them envious. Don't be a stumblingblock to the weak. If you've "got it," tone "it" down with clothing until whatever it is you've got for feminine physical attributes isn't going to draw attention to you. Dial your bling factor to zero, appropriate to whatever context your activities require. Don't be showy, using apparel or ornamentation to draw attention to yourself. On the sexy-prudish scale, keep the dial adjusted to where you don't stand out. Don't wear a barrel or try to look like you live with cartoon Pilgrims because that will still draw attention to you. With regard to adornment, it's not about you. When you adorn yourself properly, it has become all about the Lord, and that's what people must see.
Not that it isn't already pretty obvious, but a "current events" example of how women's clothing can be a stumblingblock conveniently highlights the extreme.
Body Scanner Operator Caught Masturbating at Colorado Airport
This is not related to the actual clothes the women wore because, to the scanner, they were practically unclothed. While such a thing might have been the man's fantasy dream come true (for a while, at least) and it might have been the fantasy dream come true for some of the girls passing through the scanner, there's just so much that's wrong there. Ladies, men, as you know, are nearly universally weak when it comes to such temptation, so it's incumbent upon you to keep this in consideration as you seek to avoid being found as a stumblingblock. BTW, the scene of the crime happens to be "that" DIA, the airport with the famous occult murals and the "Bluecifer Stallion," and with Anubis featured out front, the Egyptian god of death.
Coming soon, another edition of "What Mutton Breath Smells Like - 101" - Lord willing.
[update]
These two very pertinent links came to my attention today, the work of Glenn H. Jackson from 12/7/2010.
THE GREAT DANGER OF MAINTAINING A DESIRE TO BE "SEEN" [RECOGNIZED] BY OTHERS from FIRE BY NIGHT "Reflections Upon Reflections" [of The Father's Heart]
