Months ago I had a survey on my website. The question was:
Are torn jeans appropriate for worship attire in a church service?
The answers given where:
1 – yes
20 – no
1 – depends on age group
10 – God doesn’t care
This was due to a post of mine about Torn Jeans for a King?
“I did not feel that torn jeans were a sin, but a matter of the heart. I felt it was disrespectful towards the Lord.”
What really surprised me was the number who felt that the Lord would not care about what is worn to worship Him. The post Modesty – Nakedness in the Bible covers the verse Ex 28:42-43.
Ex 28:42-43
42 And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach:
43 And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him. KJV
If the Lord is concerned about the under clothes of the priests do you not think that He is concerned about our clothing? Especially since, we are a royal priesthood chosen from the foundation of the World.
1 Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. KJV
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: KJV
Nancy Leigh DeMoss has covered this in a radio broadcast of hers Reflecting God’s Glory.
It is fashionable today for women to wear clothing that, and not just women, guys as well, the more beat up, the more torn up, the more ragged looking, the more sloppy looking, the better.
And I think that says something about our culture that’s not a compliment. Now, does that mean that we always have to go out looking “fit to kill” and just, you know, looking like the picture of elegance and loveliness? No. There are times when it’s appropriate to be more casual.
So, that’s what the apostle is saying here. “Clothe yourselves in a way that is becoming, fitting for your profession of godliness.” What is godliness? Being like God. You see, we’re giving the world an impression of God. And what are we saying by our physical outward appearance to people who can’t see God. And they’re getting their image from us.
So, the apostle has said, “It should be respectable apparel and the heart attitude with which you adorn yourself should be one of modesty and self-control.”
…
So, in our appearance, in our attitudes and in our actions, everything about us, nothing is insignificant. It all matters: the way you dress matters, the way you think matters, the way you talk matters.
The Bible says plainly in I Samuel 16:7 that “for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart”; therefore, it doesn’t matter what I have on, or what anyone else thinks of what I have on if I have a heart after God, that’s what he is concerned with…we lose a lot of people in the church because we condem them for the way they look on the outside. What if they don’t have anything else? God will meet you wherever you are…if you just reach toward Him.
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Berean Wife Reply:
October 7th, 2010 at 9:58 am
Anoymous,
Have you ever sat down and really read the whole Bible? End to end?
You are making a conclusion based on one verse that the Lord has no opinion, nor concern with what we wear.
Here are just a few examples:
The Lord was concerned so much about the attire of the priest that they were given instructions about their clothing and when to wear what.
Not only did the Lord show interest in the garments but He also instructed the priests on their undergarments.
But then others might say “Yeah, but that was OT priests, that doesn’t apply to us today.” What about the New Testament?
There is a proper way for a lady to dress.
“What if they don’t have anything else?”
That is a cop-out just like the “What about those in Africa that never hear the gospel?”
We can’t do that. We aren’t to be taking the focus off ourselves and saying “What about …?”
Remember
If it didn’t work for Peter it won’t work for us.
The poorest believers in other countries strive to wear their best when worshiping the Lord. They honor a HOLY, just and righteous Lord of all creation. They understand they aren’t just hanging out with one of the guys. They desire to honor the Lord with their best.
Our heart is reflected in our attire. Torn jeans for worship reflect a rebellious, self-seeking attitude in the average American who can afford clothes. A pair of nice pants without holes can be bought locally at the thrift store for under $5. Yet those wearing torn jeans to church are also toting a cell phone or iPod. It isn’t a money issue it is a heart issue.
You could also read “…man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart…”.
But more importantly read the whole Bible and don’t pick and choose verses out of context.
Berean Wife
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