There is a popular belief that we are not supposed to judge others. It's not accurate, of course, but we are called to be extremely cautious. In the famous Matt. 7 passage, we are warned, for instance, to look first to ourselves. You see, while we find it very easy to pick out the problems other people have (or seem to have), I'm not so sure how good we are at it.
Consider the topic of how we dress at church. Today, most people argue, "God doesn't care what we wear to church." I would urge them to reconsider. They would say, "Man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks on the heart." And, you know, there is no room to argue with that ... since it's a quote from the Bible. On the other hand, the Bible is full of warnings that say that an inward change ought to produce an outward change. Faith without works, for instance, is dead faith. As a man thinks in his heart, so is he. So while I would agree fully that God looks on the heart, it is abundantly clear that we act on what we truly believe. Most people who argue against dressing nice for church do so because they want to make it more "casual", more "friendly", less "formal". They come from the perspective that says, "God is my buddy." They suffer from an overblown sense of "No sovereign" from America's Revolutionary War. But the repeated command in Scripture is not "Be best buds with God." It is "fear God." And when we approach Him lightly, well, it just isn't a wise thing to do.
So, if someone agrees with me, they'll look around at church on Sunday and shake their heads disapprovingly at the people who show up in less than ties and long dresses. That, of course, misses the point. How you dress isn't the point. What is in the heart is. If you're ready to start wagging your finger at folks because of how they're dressed, you missed the entire intent. And even if you convinced them they'd better wear nicer clothes to church, you haven't addressed the real problem -- a heart that misses the awesome majesty of God.
I really believe that a heart that knows God will want to wear their nice clothes to church. That may be their cleanest shirt and shorts if that's all they have available, and I wouldn't know it. But if they're dressing to make a statement to me, it's a lost cause and if they're dressing to conform, it's a pointless exercise. How we appear at church ought to be a matter of how our hearts respond to God and His presence. Our judgment of those around us cannot see the heart, so we don't get that opportunity to judge lightly here. So we need to be careful to look to ourselves and not others ... kind of like Jesus warned in Matt. 7.
5 comments:
I agree with your point, but actually am not sure I agree with the example. With regards to what you wear "to church," I'm not sure I see examples in Scripture that tell us to go to church at all (yes, we're not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together, hear me out...), but I see all over that we are the church. I see all over Scripture that I am always in the presence of God. I see all over Scripture that I'm to have a lifestyle of worship. Isn't the whole example missing a greater point?
And believe it or not, I'm actually wondering if I should submit this, because I can't believe there is actually something I might disagree with you on! ;-)
Someone once told me, "If two people agree all the time, one of them isn't necessary." I'd worry about you if you agreed with me ALL the time. :)
There appears to be confusion with the use of the term "church". The term is used in two senses. Generally, the two senses are expressed this way: church and Church. (Of course, without the bold print.) The "Church" refers to the Body of Christ, the entire group of the Elect, believers, living and dead, who make up what is called "the communion of the saints" and the "temple of Christ". It is a spiritual building (obviously), the Bride of Christ. The "church" refers to local gatherings, smaller groups of people who meet for fellowship and training (so to speak).
It is a fairly common error to think that "we are the church", but if you think it through, it makes no sense if you don't make a distinction between "Church" and "church". For instance, the Bible routinely references "the church" at certain locations. If all believers are "the church", then ... how can it be at any particular location? It's everywhere! In Romans 16 Paul talks about Prisca and Aquilla. "Greet also the church in their house," Paul says. What in the world could that mean if all Christians are the church? It is mandatory that we understand that there is the overall, spiritual "temple" called "the Church", and that this "Church" is populated by individuals who assemble together in "churches". Here is the basic purpose of "churches":
"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near" (Heb. 10:23-25).
"Most people" might want to argue against dressing-up for church because they seek an informal 'buddy-God'; but I am not one of them.
I agree with you that outward forms should reflect inward changes.
However, I do not dress-up for attending worship services. The reason is that I do not find it in scripture, do not belive that it is desired by God. He does require dress to be in keeping with His standards of modesty which is to say- not attention seeking for oneself, either with impressive tailoring or a provocative flaunting of the body. However I do not belive that He has anywhere commanded this to be any different than we are to observe in everday life. In fact - your argument that outward-should-reflect-inward is a powerful one for saying that we should always dress modestly as a reflection of the character Christ is building in us.
I am seated with my two bestfriends in the living room and we are chatting. Conversation turns from sports to our lives and we decide to pray. "Stop" I must shout, "I have a shirt and tie in the car!" Clearly nuts! Yet, where two-or-three are gathered...
Conversely I know a preacher who speaks with different words, in a different tone of voice and almost a different accent when in the pulpit... he put his suit on and assumes a persona... a disconnection with life.
And the thought that God does not require an outward ritual of dressing up, (the command the New Testament forgot to mention but the Victorians kindly added) has been confirmed in my experience. The most profound experience of the presence and holiness of God I have had in many years took place on a young people's camping trip this summer. We didn't take separate clothes for the meetings, what marked them out as special times was the powerful preaching of the word, the singing of praise, the sound of tears as young people and leaders repented of sin, and on the last meeting a tangible sense of God's Holy presence before which it was very difficult to speak. (I know - I was asked to close the meeting!).
- and I honestly can tell you I cannot picture what anyone was wearing that morning. Not me, not my wife, my kids, the young people, the preacher... suffice to say that it was probably ordinary camping gear.
I completely agree, and I didn't mean to sound like this is something I don't understand. I was referring to church within the context of what I wear when I gather with other believers. It seems to me that what we wear is missing a greater point. Whether I'm gathered with other believers or not, I'm always to be worshiping. I'm always in God's presence. I'm always to glorify Him.
I don't suppose you would argue that if I gather with my church to minister to a needy family in some physically demanding way (moving, cleaning, etc.) that I wear "Sunday best," though we'd be worshiping, serving, hopefully bringing Him glory, and possibly evangelizing. And I also don't suppose you would argue that one should wear "Sunday best" all the time in light of having a lifestyle of worship, service, and bringing glory to God. That's why I'm saying, aren't we really missing the greater point?
To both That Hideous Man (hey, you chose the name, not me) and Ryan,
I agree that "church", in some sense, takes place anywhere we gather with believers. And I agree that "appropriate clothing" ought to be worn. So if I gather at the church with other believers on a Saturday morning to, say, help paint the church, it surely won't be in my Sunday best. What I'm saying is "appropriate clothing".
You see, while "church" can be defined as "the Body of Christ" and the local group of believers who gather, or "whenever believers gather" and "that special gathering on Sunday", it doesn't mean that they are all the same thing. In human terms, as an example, a grand ball and a sock hop are defined as "dances", but they are not the same thing. You don't wear the same thing to them.
There is a lot that is "church", a lot of senses in which that occurs. It can be while painting the church or even your Christian neighbor's house. It can be away on a camping experience with young people. It can be over a cup of coffee. But there is one, special event that I have in mind when I talk about dress. That one, special event isn't my idea. It was God's idea. He termed it "Sabbath" and was intended as a special event to honor Him. So, at that one special event every week, "church" happens somewhat different than all those other events. In this observing of the Sabbath there is a gathering of local believers at the same time that other local believers gather. There is a Gathering, then, a spiritual attendance with the Communion of the Saints, a visit with all believers of all time to the city of the Living God where, along with the angels we all with one voice worship God. It is much bigger than the local coffee shop with friends or the youth camp experience. It is "church", but it is as much a "dance" as a royal ball is a sock hop. I am convinced that most of us just don't see that.
Still, I return to the basic premise of the post -- "Judge not." I don't know why you're wearing what you wear. Maybe you don't care about being in the presence of the saints and angels joining together in the biggest chorus of the universe lifting praise to the Sovereign of All. Or maybe you just don't know it. Or maybe that's the best you have. Or maybe it's your conviction that the best praise you can offer is to dress down rather than up, that the "appropriate dress" for this occasion is exactly what you're wearing. Because I don't know, I am not going to judge you based on what you wear to church. That was my primary point. "I honestly can tell you I cannot picture what anyone was wearing that morning" is an appropriate perspective.
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