When should externals be addressed?

[GraceThruFaith]

It is no surprise that Fundamentalists emphasize externals so much that the internals are rarely, if ever, talked about. When the internals are finally brought up, it is because the externals were not enough to capture a person's heart and Christians need to try harder (like Cary Schmidt's most popular post on his blog, The Saddest Letter I've Ever Read). They'll say something like "Rules are not the problem, lack of relationship is the problem" to shift the blame from externals because externals are still so very very important, right? Or "He desires our hearts first, and then our lifestyle to reflect that heart."

So my question is: as post-Fundamentalists, when is it okay to address externals? When do externals matter? When does it matter to talk about what movies to watch (assuming there are bad movies) or what music to listen to (assuming there is bad music)? When?

[dthatcher]

I believe the New Testament sets no rules in this area except as it would cause another believer to lose their faith.
Matters of external behavior are usually issues of association which do not apply equally to all believers.
Basic morality and having the fruit of the Spirit ARE externals to focus on. But these manifest themselves as characteristics of our external behavior and not discrete external behaviors themselves.

[Natalie]

I think the teaching should be what you yourself feel that is right for you and your family.

I really don't like the idea of a preacher specifically telling me what movies to watch and what to wear, because those are things of personal discernment.

[Jenni]

I agree with what the others have said. Externals should flow from a person's individual relationship with God or the choices his/her family might make based on a study of the Bible. If one of my friends, saved or unsaved, chooses not to drink alcohol, watch R-rated movies, or get tattoos (just three random externals I picked off the top of my head), then that's their choice. No problem. I can respect someone else's decision.

My problem with focusing on externals is when another person, MoG or otherwise, decides that his/her interpretation of Scripture is the only correct interpretation and that anyone who disagrees is obviously wrong or sinning or bitter or rebellious.

[myotch]

Christians can agree that everything "good" comes from God - even our good works. How do we become a "conduit" for God's goodness? Are Christians, as "new creatures", automatically programmed to do good, or does good work take some effort on our part?

I'm Catholic, yeah, so it's understandable that I label the externals as "good work". As for the other externals, I'm not interested so much in the length of men's hair or whether or not women wear slacks as signs of their being saved. What about moderate drinking of alcohol or listening to rock music? If these issues have importance at all, they pale to the point of being almost insignificant to, say, the care of orphans and widows, feeding the hungry, etc.

How would the Old Testament prophets or John the Baptist be reconciled to a modern examination of the externals? Why should mid-20th century standards of dress be the benchmark of Christian attire? How much of fundy standards are simply fleeting conventions?

A person with real joy, real peace, and real modesty, humility, charity, and servant-mindedness - all through Christ - fits God's "standards".