Honoring God Even in our Clothing

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.

Just "Saying Stuff" has no Value!

So many Christians are thinking just "saying stuff", is tantamount to "doing something." I am called to the gospel, not to overthrow a government.

I was involved in politics back in the day, but as prophecy began to show its increase God showed me to switch my focus from effecting government to speaking the gospel and teaching God's principles.

There are people who attempt to make us feel guilty by not talking all the time about politics. I have lost all interest in politics because no leader in our day is going to please God.

Even if we get some things we think we want, they are worldly without wisdom about God's plan.

We cannot know God's calling on every life and we cannot know God's plan. We know what is happening but we don't know the sequence of events God is going to use as He brings the world into the tribulation.

Personally, I don't want to do anything that would thwart what God is doing merely so I can live a happier safer life. He has clearly stated that we are in the end times, the nations will be waring, the people would be wicked and He will bring it all down for its willfulness against Him.

Romans

"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

2 Peter 3:9

"The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."

Ephesians 5:17

"Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is."

Many churches in our day are apostate, they say they are "Bible Believing" but reject many if not most of the commands of Jesus Christ in His Word.

They seem to think if they follow a few things they are alright. The truth is that God expects us to follow all that He has in His Word. Jesus Christ is called the WORD, He is the very essence of His own Word, the Bible.

When we reject any part of the Word, refusing to go to prayer and study to clear up disagreements, then we have rejected Him.

I know that sounds harsh, but there are those who would argue with Jesus Christ if they were standing right in front of Him. It would be the same as reading His word and refuting it because they dislike what He dictated to His prophets.

Just saying!!!!

The Nations will follow the Antichrist

We are now seeing other nations of the world using the phrase; "make our nation great again."

I am convinced this is the mantra that will bring the world together, soon shouting "make our world great again" when the antichrist convinces them that he will be the one to make it great with all his plans.

He will appear to save the people from misery only to bring on much more than they had before. He will be the cruelest ruler of all time because he is the devil and will harm everyone whom he claimed he would help.

Those who follow him will go to hell without a chance to repent and be saved from the fate he has for them.

Revelation 13:3 "And I saw that one of his heads was, as it were, wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed. And all the world wondered after the beast."

Those who are looking for an earthly leader to save their nation or the world will be easily duped by the antichrist. They will be excited about his promises, fooled by his false miracles and believe every false way and word that he says, only to be cast into the lake of fire at the end of it all.

The devil has many clever devices to make people think he has something good to offer them. He has convinced many people their life here on the earth is the most important of anything, but in reality it is only their eternity that matters.

Hebrews 3:7-8 "7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear His voice, 8 do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness, "

Hebrews 3:15

15 while it is said,

“Today if you hear His voice,

Do not harden your hearts, as [a]when they provoked Me.”

Today is the day to turn to Christ and be cleansed by Him. You may not have tomorrow. No one is promised a long life, but we are promised salvation when we trust in Christ or hell if we refuse.

Joshua 24:14 "14 “Now, therefore, fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord."

This was written to the Israelites but it has application for us today. Not all things were written to us but all things were written for us to learn and heed.

An Important Overlooked Sign of the Times

Set Your Affections on Christ

We must stop looking for our comfort, love and support from church or families. We must trust in Christ Who lives in us.

Do Not Look to the Right or the Left!

There are thousands of people on the internet now who are warning about the coming rapture and the tribulation that follows, there will be no excuse when someone does not trust Christ and ends up in the tribulation to suffer the horrors there.

2 Corinthians 6:1-3 "1 As God’s fellow workers, then, we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. 2 For He says: “In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation! 3 We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no one can discredit our ministry."

Keeping brothers and sisters fixated on politics and the evils from news clips is a distraction to the gospel as well as to holy living.

Proverbs 4:25-27

"25 Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. 26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil."

Is that clear enough?

Group Think will Destroy You

Kamala Harris said something like this when speaking to a group of students: "Embrace your truth that is within you it is as valid as anyone else's."

If she really believes that all ideas are truth, then she must accept the fact that without Christ she will not make it to heaven. But another man's truth says she will make it on her goodness, which is true?

It is irrational to believe that all the ideas of the world are true. An opposite view of any matter cannot be true if the other view is also true. This is "ragingly insane" thinking.

If one person wants a yellow flower to be green, then the other person who sees the reality of the flower as yellow, then which do we accept since the persons in the house who wanted the flowers picked to come inside asked for yellow flowers.

One person believes there is a hell as God said there was, then another person says there is no hell, then which is true? We know that irrational nonsensical thinking leads to foolishness and chaos.

Since "everyone thinks they are right in their own eyes", then who determines truth?

As born-again believers, we know that all truth has to come from God Who created us. The only truth we must embrace is the Word of God and Jesus Christ Who is the very essence of His own words.

Sadly many churches have mixed the errors of the world with the truths of the Bible making nonsense appear valid to those who do not think beyond what they are trained to think by their culture and church leaders.

When we depend on the Holy Spirit to teach us and guide us we will be able to see foolishness for what it is, which is rebellion against God.

God said mankind is desperately wicked without remedy, which is why we needed a Savior Who could bear our sins for us to save us from our fate, that is hell.

A desperately wicked person without Christ can never save themselves or do good things without an ulterior motive. Only those who have trusted Christ can do good deeds with authentic kindness, love, and understanding.

Fruit of the Spirit lives in all born-again believers.

Galatians 5:22-23

"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Jeremiah 17:9 "“The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?"

Romans 3:23

"23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

If someone believes they are a Christian but have never been "crushed" with a contrite heart over their sinfulness to be born-again, they will not be saved. One must know they are desperately wicked without remedy while desiring to be changed into a new creation by Christ for God to save them.

It is total nonsense to ever say every idea and every heart's thoughts are equal, it comes from the devil to build pride in those who love to feel elevated, gods in their own minds.

2 Timothy 3:2-5

"2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, slanderers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self-control, brutal, [a]haters of good, 4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 holding to a form of [b]godliness although they have denied its power; avoid such people as these."

We are living in the last days of intense selfishness and arrogance as described in 2 Timothy. We must stay in prayer and Bible reading every day to keep from being sucked into the vortex, the massive swirling vacuous cavity of the wickedness in the culture around us.

Because we are not sucked into the cultural vacuum, we will be seen as strange and even be treated with contempt. Empty souls who groupthink cannot tolerate anyone who does not follow them.

Matthew 16:24

"Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me."

1 Peter 2:21

"For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps."

Rejoice that you have been saved out of the world into a greater hope!!!

James 1:2-7 "2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways."

Hallelujah!!!!

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