If you read nothing else in today’s piece please read the Bible verses at the end…
Yesterday I was bombarded by those who were aghast that I mentioned that people should be encouraged to dress comfortably for church. Some cited evidence that I am wrong, because early Old Testament priests were instructed to wear ceremonial garb and bathe in cleansing pools prior to worship.
Indeed they are right I’ve seen the cleansing pools in Israel where priests would bathe seven times in seven different pools prior to entering the temple. Of course God instructed them to go through that ceremony to demonstrate that we need to be purified before approaching a Holy God. He did so with the Ark of the Covenant too, and just accidentally touching it would cause instant death.
However it later became evident that water, pomp, ceremonial dress, animal sacrifice, and rituals were insufficient to bridge the gap between mankind and God, and once that was amply demonstrated to us, He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to accomplish that purpose. Now we have His blood that cleanses and washes away our black sins and satisfies that requirement once and for all, and now we can boldly approach God directly as adopted sons and daughters.
For you Catholics that wrote, at the very instant of His death the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple that separated the Holy of Holies (where the Arc was located), was torn in two, from top to bottom, demonstrating that we can now approach God directly, and there is no need to go through a priest, Pope, ritual, or religious ceremony to confess or pray and ask for forgiveness for our sins. God wants us to come directly to Him in prayer, (and do so even all alone in a closet), thanks to Jesus Christ.
Personally I feel more comfortable dressing up for church and do so out of reverence for almighty God. Others feel more comfortable dressing casual and it doesn’t bother me one bit, nor do I think it bothers God. (Some of you naysayers might try to keep in mind that everyone does not even own nice clothes, but God loves them just as much as you.)
I know from my Bible study that Jesus took people as they came. The old song “Just as I Am” was always used as the alter call song by the most successful evangelist since the Apostle Paul, Billy Graham. Billy understands this concept.
I love that song and I don’t think God gives a whit whether someone is wearing a coat and tie, or flip flops and Bermuda shorts when they come to worship Him. Along those same lines Jesus did not limit His church as being available only to a select few. Indeed His ministry is all-inclusive which means His message of hope, love, and peace is for everyone regardless of what they’ve done in life, (even murderers, thieves, rapists, adulterers, divorcees, liars, homosexuals, alcoholics, molesters, addicts, gossipers, brawlers, punks, and skunks…whatever).
One of the greatest things about God is that He does not look at us as we currently ARE, but what we can BE through forming a lasting relationship with Jesus Christ. I used to have long greasy hair that hung down below my shoulders. I wore dirty clothes for the most part. I had tracks, (needle marks), on my arms and my teeth were not nice to look at, and most of the time I’m sure I didn’t smell all that great either – (I know – sick!) I had a criminal record, was homeless and penniless, and was hopeless in the eyes of others and myself.
Jesus didn’t see it that way. He looked far beyond my current state including my appearance, body odor, financial status, and black sins. He saw me as I am today, He saw me as I’ll be 10,000 years from now, and beyond. He saw a different me. He saw the before-and-after-Jesus me.
No, you naysayers are wrong; Jesus would have loved to see me show up at church just as I was. Like the prodigal son He wanted me to come home where he could clean me up, clothe me in a fine robe, put a gold ring on my finger, prepare a feast for me, and celebrate His lost son finally coming to his senses and coming home where I belonged.
It is important for us to remember what the father in this example told the prodigal son’s brother who was madder than a wet hen because his brother was so readily forgiven.
Selah…
Luke 15:11
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.
“Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs.He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.
“The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’
“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”