My wife and I will be traveling in a few weeks across the country to a wedding of a niece. It has me thinking, again, about things. Do we Christians (because I'm absolutely certain that unbelievers don't care) ask the right questions going into a marriage? Or are we asking the world's questions with the world's outlook in mind? If marriage is as Scripture defines it -- the livelong union of a man and a woman for purposes of procreation and mutual support -- what kinds of things should someone considering marriage be looking at? This article lays out some good questions a man must ask himself before proposing marriage. These are important questions. And, in the same way, there are lots of important questions in life that we might easily gloss over but shouldn't.
So often we face life without asking, "What would God want?" We don't wonder if Scripture has something to say on our choices. We often don't ask other believers for insight into our selections. We often just proceed as if our daily choices are "secular" and we only need to consult God for the "sacred" things, which, as it turns out, is a false dichotomy. How do I know that? There are commands given for specific instances -- forgive, bear one anothers burdens, etc. -- that appear "sacred," but there are others that are universal, touching on everything. Commands like "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matt 22:37) and "Love one another, just as I have loved you" (John 15:12) (which is significantly more than "as you love yourself") affect all aspects of life. Ultimately, there is one overarching command that must be in mind at all times. It encompasses "Love the Lord your God" and "Love one another" as well as every other command. What is that? "Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Cor 10:31).
That's our singular question, isn't it? That ought to be our first consideration. "Is my choice of spouse going to glorify God?" And later, "Am I glorifying God in my marriage?" And everywhere else. "Do I glorify God at work?" "Does my choice of what to wear today glorify God?" "Is my conversation with others glorifying God?" If the command is "Do all to the glory of God," perhaps we aren't taking that command seriously enough. Even on Sunday.
7 comments:
Or even especially on Sunday. The say we gather to worship the Lord should be full of consideration for it's pleasingness (is that a word?) to God. So often we come to church "as I am" without considering if that brings glory to God. What does what we even wear to church say about our feelings about God?
Having been raised in a religious system that compartmentalizes the “sacred” and the “secular” to a great degree, it was quite startling to learn (after the Lord fully opened my spiritual eyes) that this distinction was, as you say, a false dichotomy in the yielded Christian life. Now, I wholeheartedly believe that “glorifying God in all things”--and allowing His Word to inform every aspect of my life--should always be foremost in my mind. As important as that is to me, however, I also recognize that I fail to carry out my good intentions way too much. May God grant the true desires of my heart (Ps. 37:4).
David,
I've been scolded more than once for daring to suggest that attending Sunday service dressed in whatever we pulled out of the hamper is not something about which God has any concern. While I doubt that, the real issue is what it says about how we revere God. We often concern ourselves with our sartorial choices for any number of other reasons....work, weddings, impressing chicks...yet it's OK to "come as you are" to church? I don't think so.
I was even told by someone who'll remain nameless (Dan) that wearing a jacket and tie (for example) will make the "po foke" uncomfortable. At least that's the excuse he uses for not dressing better to be in God's House.
Stan,
It seems I'm struggling more and more with the concept of glorifying God in all things. "Righteous anger" can be "un-righteously" expressed, and if anyone's guilty of that, it's me. I oppose tats, but I might get one on the back of my hand which says "glorify God in all things" as a constant reminder.
I understand the idea of God caring how we dress. I disagree, but I get it. Nadab and Abihu would beg to differ about God not being concerned about how you treat His worship. As I've delved deeper into my theology, I've come to see that the paramount attribute of God is His holiness. And how we approach God says a lot about what we think of Him. In response to the Dan types, if you're too poor and your Sunday best is a clean plain tee shirt and clean, unripped jeans, and you wear that with a heart of respect for God, then you have no reason to be jealous of the suit and tie guy (think the widow with her one coin). But as you say, we will dress nicely with respect for all sorts of secular events, but we profane the Holy on the most reverant of days.
Thinking first about marriage. When I first met my wife (Aug 1st will be 50 years since meeting) it was her looks and and the discussion which attracted me, but when I learned she was a Christian my esteem was much raised and I decided to ask her out. After about 8 days of my leave spent with her I decided that she was a woman I'd want to marry and being that we were believers, and I had been praying for a wife, I felt this was definitely who the Lord wanted me with and for the next several months it was letters and an occasional phone call (I was 10 hrs away in the Army). We married 2 years to the date that we met (I had to get out of the Army, get a job, etc first). Our goal has always been to glorify God in our relationship.
As for dressing up for church, long before I became a believer I had learned from movies (high school days) that people wore their best to got to church out of reverence for God. So I've always worn shirt and tie with slacks (except winter, then I wear good pull-over sweaters with slacks). I've seen many people whose best was a good pair of jeans and a nice shirt. And the heart is what matters.
David, when you said, "I understand the idea of God caring how we dress. I disagree, but I get it," did you mean to put a "not" between "God" and "caring," because I think you think He cares (at least about our attitudes in why we dress as we dress for church).
Glenn, I commend your pursuit of God's will in choosing a wife and applaud the longevity as an example of faithfulness to God and your wife.
Yes, not caring.
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