Dressin’ For Jesus
In a recent conversation with a family member, we spoke about going to church. Her objection was that she “didn’t have anything to wear to church.” It’s profound how often this issue is raised; moreover how much it deters people from experiencing the Gospel. Again, I recently went to my hometown, and was making the rounds visiting the people who have been important in my life, the topic came up again when speaking about church culture in that town. My heart breaks to see people hurt by this, or when people get turned off to church because they think they have to look a certain way to go to church.
Jesus wants to meet with these people regardless to their appearance. So often, it’s said, “You gotta give your best to God,” unfortunately, these people are only referring to the outward appearance. 1 Samuel 16 speaks at this in verse 7: But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
So, our best is our attitude. Our best is our heart to serve. Our best is our willingness to love and be loved.
Our example is found in Jesus, obviously because He is the Author and Perfector of our faith. Jesus was meeting with the Pharisees, and they are critical about Jesus not washing before eating; they question him because the Pharisees have specific washing rituals before they eat. Their focus is so much on what they are doing and what they need to do that they miss out on a few things. Luke 11:39-40: Then the Lord said to him, “Now then, you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness. You foolish people! Did not the one who made the outside make the inside also? But now as for what is inside you—be generous to the poor, and everything will be clean for you.”
It is my understanding of Scripture that God isn’t concerned with my attire at church. If I choose to wear shorts and a t-shirt with sandals, it’s not a cardinal sin. If I wear Jeans and a button-up shirt with a pair of TOMS, God isn’t going to strike me down. If I wear a suit with polished shoes and sweet tie, God isn’t more pleased. Again, it’s on the inside that my best is given – a glad heart willing to serve, to give, and to love.
It’s a two way street, those who feel the desire to wear a suit and tie shouldn’t be boastful, and those who don’t shouldn’t judge the motives of those that do wear the suit. I feel pride swelling in my heart sometimes when I show up in shorts and a t-shirt, because I’m “trying to prove a point.” Don’t let it get to that. It’s much more important to put yourself aside and focus on the needs of others and communication of the Gospel.
If this was too long and you didn’t read, understand a couple things. Jesus is less concerned with your outward appearance and more about your inward appearance. Don’t judge those who disagree with your point of view, and most importantly, let the Gospel of Jesus be your motivation for everything.
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