The Clothes We Wear
I don’t know about you but I have some trouble deciding what to wear during this pandemic. I mean, does it really matter what I wear when no one (except my dear husband) is going to see me? I have to say that I do take a shower every day, as opposed to some, who prefer to stay in their pj’s all day long, having nowhere to go:-). And each day I throw on a bit of make up and mascara just for kicks.
In his sermon this past Sunday, Pastor Brian spoke about the parable of the Wedding Banquet that Jesus told his disciples. You can find it in Matthew 22 and Luke 14. In this parable, Jesus compared the kingdom of God to a wedding feast, prepared by a loving king for his son. He sent his servants to call the invited guests to come to the banquet, but they all went their own way, refusing to attend, having found more important things to do. When the king then sent his servants back out into the streets to invite anyone they found that had not been initially invited, the banquet hall was filled with guests! However, there was one man who had not come prepared. He was wearing the wrong clothes.
In Colossians 3, Paul describes what is meant by wearing the right clothes for the kingdom - to put on Christ’s attributes, to be ‘clothed with Christ.’ We can show up as Christians dressed however we’d like - but over our jeans or best dress, we are called to wear compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience like a garment. As Christ forgives us our mistakes and misdeeds, we are to forgive others any grievances we may have against them. This is not a suggestion for Christian living. It is a command. We are to put on Love, which binds all these attributes together and live in peace with one another.
How do you think we as a church are doing so far? I would venture to say that we are not doing so well. The current generation views the church as “judgmental, bigoted, sheltered, right-wingers, hypocritical, insincere, and uncaring.” (David Kinnaman, Gabe Lyons in their book unChristian). “Outsiders say our hostility toward gays -not just opposition to homosexual politics and behaviors but disdain for gay individuals—has become virtually synonymous with the Christian faith.”
Being ‘clothed with Christ’ is really very simple. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. That’s what I was taught as a child. In Colossians 3 Paul emphasizes that we are all the same in the eyes of Christ, “there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all and is in all.”
When we, as God’s chosen people, make it difficult for others to come to Christ, we are not wearing the correct clothes for the wedding. By showing favoritism to one group of people over another, we are not living as Christ commands. Whenever we talk about others with rage, malice, slander and filthy language, we grieve God’s heart.
The prophet Micah laid out how we are to live, saying “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
I’ll unpack that one next time. Until then, have a good week, and remember to dress warmly!
In Christ,
Merryl Dietz
February 10, 2021