I find it interesting that so many people who think we are too concerned about attending worship in clothing a little more dressy than every day, will come to the gathering in jeans but will dress nicely for the office Christmas party.
Are those in the church gathering less important than those who are in the workplace? Is God of less importance than those in the office?
Perhaps the ones who are dedicated to being comfortable at church are too concerned about clothing, not those who want to dress respectfully for worship toward God.
I don't care very much about what others do but I find it interesting that the frequent mention of clothing by those who love to be casual suggests they are the ones who are way too concerned about clothing.
1 Corinthians 10:31
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
Perhaps clothing is an indicator of a respectful attitude or a casual attitude toward God?
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."
Not everyone can afford expensive clothing but everyone can have some clothing that reflects a respectful attitude toward God's worship.
Luke 12:27
"Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."
Back in the day, even the poor had one respectful outfit befitting the worship of the Holy God. Everyone who attended worship gatherings respected the holiness of the gathering reflected in their modest but decent clothing.
There have been those who would use scripture misunderstood to justify holey jeans at church.
"1 Peter 3:3
"Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—"
This passage that describes a church gathering that has been turned into a fashion show has been used to justify looking downright ratty. Our clothing does reflect our inner heart attitude.
The more diligent we are in life as a whole the more our clothing will reflect this. The lack of respect for the worship of God is evident when the office Christmas party gets more respect than God in worship.
We do not reject or demean anyone who is authentically poor and cannot afford good clothing, but we do attempt to show respect for God no matter what our financial situation.
I suggest that most people in America have enough money for one nice outfit to wear to worship. The people I know who dress up for the office party and dress down to worship God are showing more respect for the office party than they are for God in worship.
I suggest that today's casual attitude about clothing and lack of preparation to worship God is right in line with the casual and flippant attitude toward God.
Revelation 7:9. We will wear clothes as pure as our hearts in the presence of our God.Sep 20, 2021
A mindset of "convenient and comfortable" is more about self than it is about anyone else or God. When self is on the throne everything and everyone else become unimportant.
How we dress actually creates an attitude that spills over into our speech and actions. "There is a moral and spiritual dimension to clothing" as one writer expresses it.
Clothing is a self reflection of an inner heart. We have heard it said that only 7% of communication is words and the other 93% are other forms of communication. Clothing speaks something about us and how we feel about others.
Clothing affects our moods, if we dress more casually we will be less likely to be restrained in our speech or actions. When dressed more respectfully we tend to act in more restrained and polite ways.
I suggest that the change in dress codes to casual in our time reflects the change in values in the past 50 years. Many who attend the worship of God do not value Him or anyone else around them. They value only their own comfort, which is the reason we see ratty-looking jeans coming into the church.
Fashion takes precedence over worship. And, yes believe it or not it is actually the fashion now to look as ratty as one can. I have known people who paid $80 for jeans with rips and tears all up and down the legs of their jeans. I am sure young people think this is just fashion but really it is an expression of disrespect toward God and everyone else.
We are living in the end days when our clothing tells on us. It reveals a flippancy toward God and toward others as unimportant and not worthy of respect.
When we respect God and others we care what they think of us through our clothing. It is the attitude of selfishness that does not care about God or others.
I know this will be a hot button for some because they are so obsessed with being casual and comfortable they will accuse me of placing too much importance on clothing. Just the opposite is true, my emphasis is not on clothing but on an attitude of respect.
Many things are being taken out of context in scripture to fit into our modern culture of rebellion. God said not to dress lavishly for worship, but that does not mean it is acceptable to dress disrespectfully in shorts and tee shirts either.
There is a mentality today that mocks those who enjoy and believe in excellence in all things because of the rebellion in the hearts of so many.
Leaders in churches today do not preach on excellence for fear of being labeled legalistic. It is not legalism to teach respectful behavior to the congregation. It is legalism to mock someone who believes in wearing respectful clothing to worship.
We can honor or dishonor someone in our clothing. This is a very foreign idea in this culture of rebellion and few will receive this message.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."
1 Corinthians 10:31
"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God."
There ought not to be rules in the church about this matter of clothing, but there ought to be teaching on what it is to honor God in all things, even our clothing.
No comments:
Post a Comment