So maybe the “Parable of the Wedding Banquet” is a portion of scripture that indicates that we need to watch what we wear in the presence of God.
Matt. 22:1-14
1Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2"The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
4"Then he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.'
5"But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
8"Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' 10So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11"But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless.
13"Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
14"For many are invited, but few are chosen."
This is a very rich parable with much that could be studied (i.e. who are those who were invited but refused to come; who were the servants who were mistreated and killed). But focusing on clothes, is this saying that if we aren’t clothed appropriately before God we will be rejected and thrown out of his presence? Yes! However, this parable is of the coming judgment. We are the second group of people that were invited (good or bad). But the “clothes” we must wear to be welcome in His presence are not physical. The only thing that will make us acceptable before God is being clothed in the righteousness of Jesus that became available with his victory over sin and death. We shouldn’t be so worried with having on a nice suit of clothes but we need to be very concerned with whether we are clothed in righteousness, which is free and available to all. With that covering us, we will be welcome to stay and enjoy the wedding banquet.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Clothes 2
More on what scripture says about clothes...
Matt. 6:25 - 34
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
This is a great promise that God takes care of our needs. Jesus uses clothes as an example of one of our basic needs that he will meet (along with food and drink).
This passage tells me that I shouldn’t worry about my needs being met. That is all clothes are – a need – and because of his love and generosity, he will provide. I shouldn’t fret about God providing me clothing and furthermore, I shouldn’t worry about or seek to have “nice” clothes to wear. When clothes become a fashion statement or are used to show my good taste or affluence, that is sin. However, if I am seeking his kingdom (promoting or doing the things demonstrated by Jesus) and I’m seeking righteousness through Him alone (and not because I’m well dressed), he will take care of my needs. In some cases, out of his love and generosity, he may even provide beyond my basic needs.
Having nice clothes isn’t a sin but seeking anything before his kingdom is. I need to guard my heart because seeking nice clothing is easy to pick on for me (have you seen the way I dress?) but there are plenty of other areas where I need to seek his kingdom first.
Matt. 6:25 - 34
25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
This is a great promise that God takes care of our needs. Jesus uses clothes as an example of one of our basic needs that he will meet (along with food and drink).
This passage tells me that I shouldn’t worry about my needs being met. That is all clothes are – a need – and because of his love and generosity, he will provide. I shouldn’t fret about God providing me clothing and furthermore, I shouldn’t worry about or seek to have “nice” clothes to wear. When clothes become a fashion statement or are used to show my good taste or affluence, that is sin. However, if I am seeking his kingdom (promoting or doing the things demonstrated by Jesus) and I’m seeking righteousness through Him alone (and not because I’m well dressed), he will take care of my needs. In some cases, out of his love and generosity, he may even provide beyond my basic needs.
Having nice clothes isn’t a sin but seeking anything before his kingdom is. I need to guard my heart because seeking nice clothing is easy to pick on for me (have you seen the way I dress?) but there are plenty of other areas where I need to seek his kingdom first.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Clothes 1
So what does scripture say about clothes? This may seem a trivial topic but I’m following a string from my “Reverence” post which was derived from concerns about how people dress at church.
Here are the first couple of New Testament references (not in exact order):
Matt. 3:4
4John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
Matt. 11:7 - 9
7As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces. 9Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
These two sections of scripture are references to John the Baptist. Now I’m not sure the quality of camel hair clothes but my impression has always been that this is a fairly rough cloth. Matthew 11 confirms that he wasn’t a finely dressed man, yet Jesus had a very high opinion of John: he was “more than a prophet”. Jesus also stated of John, “Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist."
Apparently, John didn’t have to dress to impress. His clothing wasn’t taken as a sign of irreverence. In fact Jesus’ comment that “…those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces” was a knock of the wealthy and powerful. Jesus is stating that fine clothing doesn’t make a person important or more reverent. Fine clothing was the attire of the leaders of this world whereas God’s servant was a wearer of common clothing. John was commended for his zeal and faith in God – his clothing selection didn’t seem to fit into God’s opinion. Can that relate to what we wear during services or other church-sponsored events?
Here are the first couple of New Testament references (not in exact order):
Matt. 3:4
4John's clothes were made of camel's hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.
Matt. 11:7 - 9
7As John's disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings' palaces. 9Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
These two sections of scripture are references to John the Baptist. Now I’m not sure the quality of camel hair clothes but my impression has always been that this is a fairly rough cloth. Matthew 11 confirms that he wasn’t a finely dressed man, yet Jesus had a very high opinion of John: he was “more than a prophet”. Jesus also stated of John, “Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist."
Apparently, John didn’t have to dress to impress. His clothing wasn’t taken as a sign of irreverence. In fact Jesus’ comment that “…those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces” was a knock of the wealthy and powerful. Jesus is stating that fine clothing doesn’t make a person important or more reverent. Fine clothing was the attire of the leaders of this world whereas God’s servant was a wearer of common clothing. John was commended for his zeal and faith in God – his clothing selection didn’t seem to fit into God’s opinion. Can that relate to what we wear during services or other church-sponsored events?
Monday, September 28, 2009
Reverence
Main Entry: 1rev·er·ence
2 : a gesture of respect (as a bow)
3 : the state of being revered
This happens to be on my mind lately - comments that some people need to show more reverence during church services. This includes concerns about talking, texting, and getting up to use the restroom (as you can guess these were primarily aimed at younger people). It also includes concerns about how people are dressed: should shorts be allowed in the Sanctuary? How about the need for a coat and tie to serve communion or preach?
Is God mindful of what we wear? I would think that for some people, wearing a coat and tie would indeed be a gesture of respect toward God - though the reverence wouldn't be from the quality of the clothing but the intent of the heart. We on the other hand cannot read the intent of the heart to know if someone's fine clothing is truly an act of reverence or just a chance to impress others. Likewise, someone wearing a t-shirt and jeans should not be assumed to be irreverent.
Jesus did have a few things to say about clothing but nothing as to if it demonstrated reverence of God. However, in the Book of Matthew (Matt 22:27) Jesus is quoted:
"...you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean."
This he said to the Pharisees and Teachers. I guess he wasn't that impressed with their clothing and other outward expressions of "reverence".
Should we, on the other hand, wear nice clothing out of respect for others' sensibilities or tradition? That is a different question.
Malachi 4:2 "But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall."
Mooo!
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin reverentia, from reverent-, reverens respectful, reverent
Date: 14th century
1 : honor or respect felt or shown : deference; especially : profound adoring awed respect2 : a gesture of respect (as a bow)
3 : the state of being revered
This happens to be on my mind lately - comments that some people need to show more reverence during church services. This includes concerns about talking, texting, and getting up to use the restroom (as you can guess these were primarily aimed at younger people). It also includes concerns about how people are dressed: should shorts be allowed in the Sanctuary? How about the need for a coat and tie to serve communion or preach?
Is God mindful of what we wear? I would think that for some people, wearing a coat and tie would indeed be a gesture of respect toward God - though the reverence wouldn't be from the quality of the clothing but the intent of the heart. We on the other hand cannot read the intent of the heart to know if someone's fine clothing is truly an act of reverence or just a chance to impress others. Likewise, someone wearing a t-shirt and jeans should not be assumed to be irreverent.
Jesus did have a few things to say about clothing but nothing as to if it demonstrated reverence of God. However, in the Book of Matthew (Matt 22:27) Jesus is quoted:
"...you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean."
This he said to the Pharisees and Teachers. I guess he wasn't that impressed with their clothing and other outward expressions of "reverence".
Should we, on the other hand, wear nice clothing out of respect for others' sensibilities or tradition? That is a different question.
Malachi 4:2 "But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings. And you will go out and leap like calves released from the stall."
Mooo!
Not Quite a Year...
Well, I almost made it a whole year without blogging. I probably should have just shut down the blog entirely. Didn't feel much like writing and still don't know that I do. I should have put something together last weekend to commemorate my Huskies' victory or USC but I didn't think about it at the time. Now its too late, they lost this week to Stanford and expectations have returned to earth.
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