Torn Jeans for Worship

Nov17

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.

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2 thoughts on “Torn Jeans for Worship”

  1. 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.

    [Reply]

    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.

    Exodus 28:32-34 (ESV)
    32 It shall have an opening for the head in the middle of it, with a woven binding around the opening, like the opening in a garment, so that it may not tear.
    33 On its hem you shall make pomegranates of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, around its hem, with bells of gold between them,
    34 a golden bell and a pomegranate, a golden bell and a pomegranate, around the hem of the robe.

    Leviticus 6:8-12 (ESV)
    8 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying,
    9 “Command Aaron and his sons, saying, This is the law of the burnt offering. The burnt offering shall be on the hearth on the altar all night until the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning on it.
    10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment and put his linen undergarment on his body, and he shall take up the ashes to which the fire has reduced the burnt offering on the altar and put them beside the altar.
    11 Then he shall take off his garments and put on other garments and carry the ashes outside the camp to a clean place.
    12 The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not go out. The priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and he shall arrange the burnt offering on it and shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings.

    Not only did the Lord show interest in the garments but He also instructed the priests on their undergarments.

    Exodus 28:42-43 (ESV)
    42 You shall make for them linen undergarments to cover their naked flesh. They shall reach from the hips to the thighs;
    43 and they shall be on Aaron and on his sons when they go into the tent of meeting or when they come near the altar to minister in the Holy Place, lest they bear guilt and die. This shall be a statute forever for him and for his offspring after him.

    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.

    1 Timothy 2:8-10 (ESV)
    8 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;
    9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire,
    10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.

    “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

    John 21:20-23 (ESV)
    20 Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them, the one who had been reclining at table close to him and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?”
    21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about this man?”
    22 Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow me!”
    23 So the saying spread abroad among the brothers that this disciple was not to die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he was not to die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?”

    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

    [Reply]

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