“As they departed, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind? But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft garments? Indeed, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses. But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I say to you, and more than a prophet” (Matthew 11:7-9). “Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey” (Matthew 3:4). “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he” (Matthew 11:11).
For what reason should we claim that someone is not of God. Should we look at their clothes and assume that we can know what is in their heart? How many people look for prophets and other ministry gifts in a three piece tailor-made suite and a new pair of Lumiani’s? How many judge a minister’s wife by her hem-line? How many of those would have gone out into the wilderness to be baptized by a man dressed in camel’s hair? “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?” (Matthew 6:25). Is there any reason we should offend a child of God and send them away from the body of Christ? Should it be for the way they dress? Is the body not more than clothing?
The Church is not a building. If you desire to send someone away from a building because they do not meet your standards, you are sending the Church away from a building. Listen, children of God! Are we sending the Church away because of the doctrines of mankind? The scriptures warn against offending the young in Christ, but mankind’s “church” doctrines tell us not to offend the elders. “It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones” (Luke 17:2). “But when He (Jesus) saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). Are we sending the Church away? Are they a multitude like sheep without a shepherd?
“Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts?” (James 2:5-6). “Then, in the hearing of all the people, He said to His disciples, ‘Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes'” (Luke 20:45-46a). “My brethren, do not hold the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with partiality. For if there should come into your assembly a man with gold rings, in fine apparel, and there should also come in a poor man in filthy clothes, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say to him, ‘You sit here in a good place,’ and say to the poor man, ‘You stand there,’ or, ‘Sit here at my footstool,’ have you not shown partiality among yourselves, and become judges with evil thoughts?” (James 2:2-4).
When I rise from my sleep dressed in my night-ware, with my hair all a mess, and my breath still on fire, God is there with me. When I bathe completely undressed, God is there with me. When I run and my cotton clothes are filled with my sweat, God is there with me. When I dig a ditch in the dirt and my clothes are coved with earth, God is there with me. Is it God that makes an issue out of me coming to praise Him in blue jeans and a cotton shirt? In the beginning God created mankind. It wasn’t until after the fall that God clothed mankind and then it was in animal skins. Do we come before Him in animal skins? Do we come before Him in a robe and sandals? “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you’” (Hebrews 13:5). He is always with me, no matter how I am clothed.
Since I originally wrote this a new bigotry has sprung up in the Church. There are some that now judge a man or woman for wearing nice clothing. The new fad is t-shirts or pull overs and old jeans or cutoffs, but the judgement is still ones preferred clothing. One argument is as unfruitful as the other. Once again mankind has found a way to separate instead of uniting. Our unity is in our faith and His grace not clothes.
© 2008, 2017 Tim D. Coulter Sr.