Among Christians there has been a valid concern over the decline in clothing standards. Unfortunately, this concern leaves a large looming question over the discussion- what standard should we adapt? Opinions range from allowing the risqué to imposing legalistic parameters.
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Often the discussion centers around the clothing choices of the female- for obvious reasons- but I want to step back from that discussion to look at the broader issue. Not only is there division among the brethren over what is or what is not modest, there is division over what is or what is not casual.
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The discussion often goes something like this, “Our world has become far too casual and it is obviously creeping into our churches.” Some of those who make these statements may have people showing up to church in their pajamas, but I fear that some are wishing that they could get all the men to wear ties.
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Before going any farther on this discussion, I think we need to look at what the scripture actually has to say on this matter. James 2:2-4 says, “For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: Are ye not then partial in yourselves, and are become judges of evil thoughts?”
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It breaks my heart when I see how some Christians completely ignore this passage and actually do the complete opposite of what it says as they look down on those who they do not think are dressed up enough. Many need to repent and realize that even John the Baptist did not dress up like people thought he should. “But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses.” (Matthew 11:8) “And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey;” (Mark 1:6)
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Today I wouldn’t be surprised to hear someone say, “We didn’t come out to hear someone preaching in Carhartts and work boots.” In our culture, the standard for men dressing up is to wear a suit and tie, but we must understand that this is a cultural standard, not a Biblical standard. In Jesus’ day the cultural standard John the Baptist was held to was soft clothing, yet he did not match up with that standard.
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Now before I go any further, I can understand why some are concerned. I too have seen people going to Walmart in their pajamas, and think that maybe they should pay a bit more attention to their culture. As Christians it is tempting to go to extremes. The one extreme would be to expect that every man should come to church in a suit and tie. The other extreme would be to say, “just come in your pajamas.”
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As Christians, we should not ignore our culture so that we end up drawing undue attention to ourselves, but we also need to recognize that different cultures (whether it be different geographic locations or eras in history) have different ways of dressing.
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I also believe that it is good and proper for us to wear nice clothing as we go to church, but dressing up for one man may mean putting on a tie- dressing up for another may mean putting on his new Carhartts. Of course if all you have to wear is pajamas, please come to church in them.
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Friday, February 8, 2013
Happiness in Following God
Our second son recently turned 4, and on his birthday he got to request a favorite food. I found joy in seeing him enjoy what he had requested. It made me happy to give him what he wanted on that special day. Shouldn’t giving God what He has asked us for make us even more happy? This article will actually look at the first eight verses of Psalm 119 to answer that question.
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Psalms 119:1 says, “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.” As we think of the benefits of following God’s law it may be tempting to focus only on rewards or the avoidance of punishment, but “blessed” here is actually the idea of happy. I fear far too many Christians obey God for selfish reasons- to get a reward or avoid punishment- rather than for the sheer joy of being right with God.
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As we continue reading Psalm 119, verse 2 shows us that happiness comes not just from following God‘s word, but from seeking a closeness to God. “Blessed (happy) are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.” (Ps 119:2) You draw close to God as you follow Him with your whole heart.
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If you follow what God has declared in His Word and seek Him with your whole heart, not only will it bring happiness (blessed) but you will be doing what is right. “They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.” (Psalm 119:3) And if we are to do what is right, we need to do what God says to do. “Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.” (Psalm 119:4)
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But what happens to a believer when they do not do what God tells them to do? How happy are you when you are walking in disobedience? With sin comes guilt and with guilt comes a lack of happiness. If on the other hand we do what God says to do and walk in His ways, we do not have to live with the shame of guilt. Instead we can have the joy of happy fellowship with Him as we seek Him with our whole heart. “O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.” (Psalms 119:5-6)
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Perhaps you have run across Christians who live their life in a state of constant shame. Perhaps you are even one of them. Perhaps that is the reason why you do not have happiness in your life, but that is not the way the Christian life is supposed to be. Remember Psalms 119:1-2, “Blessed (happy) are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.”
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Sometimes people are not happy because they are not really following God. Perhaps there is unconfused sin in your life. Sometimes they are not happy because they are trying to avoid sin for selfish reasons- so that they can avoid punishment or earn some kind of reward- not because they really want to be close to God.
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Once we realize that there is joy in following God simply because of who He is, and that we have forgiveness for when we come short of His glory, then not only can we live in happiness as we do what He has told us to do, but we can praise Him with thankfulness and a heart that is right. “I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.” (Psalm 119:7-8)
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Some might argue that if we are simply motivated by happiness in serving the Lord then we will have little incentive to do right. I disagree. The Psalmist was definitely motivated to follow God’s commands. Essentially this section of Ps 119 is showing us that there is joy in making God’s commands a priority in your life. Have you done that?
-
Psalms 119:1 says, “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.” As we think of the benefits of following God’s law it may be tempting to focus only on rewards or the avoidance of punishment, but “blessed” here is actually the idea of happy. I fear far too many Christians obey God for selfish reasons- to get a reward or avoid punishment- rather than for the sheer joy of being right with God.
-
As we continue reading Psalm 119, verse 2 shows us that happiness comes not just from following God‘s word, but from seeking a closeness to God. “Blessed (happy) are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.” (Ps 119:2) You draw close to God as you follow Him with your whole heart.
-
If you follow what God has declared in His Word and seek Him with your whole heart, not only will it bring happiness (blessed) but you will be doing what is right. “They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.” (Psalm 119:3) And if we are to do what is right, we need to do what God says to do. “Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.” (Psalm 119:4)
-
But what happens to a believer when they do not do what God tells them to do? How happy are you when you are walking in disobedience? With sin comes guilt and with guilt comes a lack of happiness. If on the other hand we do what God says to do and walk in His ways, we do not have to live with the shame of guilt. Instead we can have the joy of happy fellowship with Him as we seek Him with our whole heart. “O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes! Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.” (Psalms 119:5-6)
-
Perhaps you have run across Christians who live their life in a state of constant shame. Perhaps you are even one of them. Perhaps that is the reason why you do not have happiness in your life, but that is not the way the Christian life is supposed to be. Remember Psalms 119:1-2, “Blessed (happy) are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.”
-
Sometimes people are not happy because they are not really following God. Perhaps there is unconfused sin in your life. Sometimes they are not happy because they are trying to avoid sin for selfish reasons- so that they can avoid punishment or earn some kind of reward- not because they really want to be close to God.
-
Once we realize that there is joy in following God simply because of who He is, and that we have forgiveness for when we come short of His glory, then not only can we live in happiness as we do what He has told us to do, but we can praise Him with thankfulness and a heart that is right. “I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments. I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.” (Psalm 119:7-8)
-
Some might argue that if we are simply motivated by happiness in serving the Lord then we will have little incentive to do right. I disagree. The Psalmist was definitely motivated to follow God’s commands. Essentially this section of Ps 119 is showing us that there is joy in making God’s commands a priority in your life. Have you done that?
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