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!
