ALONE WITH GOD------

QUESTION: In the 13^th chapter of I Corinthians where it gives the definitions of charity, one is, it "thinketh no evil." If I have known my loved ones to do evil and I think that they will or are doing wrong, does this mean I do not love them? Also could you tell me what it means, "Doth not behave itself unseemly?"

ANSWER: To think that the wrongs people do our loved ones or anyone else is evil is not what is covered in this text. Black is black and white is white. If the thing done is wrong it is just plain evil and we think it is evil and would not be justified in thinking anything else. Brother C. E. Orr said that God did not want us to be blind and not see anything as evil but He did want us to have grace and wisdom enough to know how to handle what we see in the right way. However, to think one is doing wrong, or will do wrong, because he has done wrong before could be mere suspicion or imagination inspired by what we know has been done in the past. It would not be charitable to do this unless the wrong has been repeated sufficiently to establish a pattern. Zechariah 8:17 says, "And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour;..."

Adam Clarke says that the original text here implies that he does not invent or devise any evil; or, does not reason on any particular act or word so as to infer evil from it. To do this would destroy his love for his brother and would be ruinous to charity and benevolence. A heart filled with and governed by this divine love could never think of evil only where evil was evident and would not ascribe a bad motive to a good deed. (End of quote.) Then for one to judge one by any particular act or word and say in his mind, "He meant this or that by that" because we just did not have a very good feeling toward him anyway, would be uncharitable and wrong. Again to say when a person with whom one is at some variance does a good, kind deed toward us that he is just trying to gain some advantage now by doing this good deed is surely uncharitable and wrong. Also some other translations present a pretty clear idea of what is here meant. One translation says, "It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong." The Amplified Bible says, "It takes no account of the evil done to it pays no attention to a suffered wrong." Phillips’ Translation says, "It does not keep account of evil." The 20^th Century New Testament says, "Never reckons up her wrongs." The New English Bible says, "Love keeps no score on wrongs." All of these translations carry the thought that a person who is actuated by love never allows his mind to think on the wrongs done to him and never wastes his time by thinking on these things. There is also the angle of thinking and devising in one’s mind evil things to do as people of the world sometimes do. Certainly no child of God, actuated by the love of God, would ever spend time thinking of such things for himself.

None of these things relate to the thought expressed in your question, so I conclude the statement regarding "charity thinking no evil" does not relate to what you mention in your question. NEXT: "Does not behave itself unseemly." The word unseemly is defined in the dictionary as: 1. Not according with established standard of good form or taste. 2. Not suitable for time or place:

conforming to and in accordance with the accepted standard of what is right, fitting, or regarded as good form) and good manners, and is never rude, brutish, or discourteous. To be rude, unmannerly or discourteous is entirely out of harmony with the Spirit of Christ and the love of God. Christians are admonished in I Peter 3:8 to be of one mind, to love as brethren, to be pitiful, and to be courteous. Surely one possessed of this true love would always seek to avoid rudeness and brashness and seek to avoid paining, wounding, or offending any with whom they deal. A meek and quiet spirit is in keeping with the disposition and manners of Christ and to manifest anything of a boisterous nature or to be self-assertive and brash in one’s behavior would surely be "unseemly" behavior for one who names His Name. We are to be like Him (Romans 8:29; II Corinthians 3:18; I John 3:2-3; I John 4:17) and anything not in keeping with the nature and disposition of Christ is unseemly behavior for a Christian.

Saints are instructed in Titus 2:10 to adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. Again, saints are admonished in Philippians 1:27 to have our conversation as it becometh the gospel of Christ. In I Timothy 2:9-10 godly women are instructed to dress and behave in a manner becoming to women professing godliness. The immodest and indecent styles and dress prevalent in the world today and all the adornment with gold, pearls, costly array, fancy hair-does, etc. are all contrary to the pure, meek, holy, humble, quiet, reticent spirit of Christ and are unseemly and unbecoming to women professing godliness.

"Doth not behave itself unseemly" is rendered in Moffat’s Translation as "Is never rude." The

Berkeley Translation says "or unmannerly." Beck’s Translation says "It isn’t indecent." The Amplified