If Jesus walked into your worship service wearing a dirty robe and dusty sandals, how would people respond?   I would hope I would be very welcoming and never look twice at his clothes.  But I probably would.  Not because it was Jesus, assuming I didn't know his identity.  Because of his clothes.  But what does it matter, truly? 

Jesus wore a robe in Israel. Kweku wore a dashiki in Ghana.  Anfisa wore a sarafan in Russia.  Ki-woong wore a hanbok in Korea.  Farrah wore a hashimi in Iraq.  Steve wore jeans in America.  

Each type of outfit whether in different cultures or within the same culture could be acceptable for worship if first the heart is acceptable to worship.  If the heart comes before God is spirit and in truth, God is praised, because that is who he seeks (John 4:24).  Let's not put each other into boxes.  Doing so is akin to putting God in a box, since God is the one who created us in the first place (Jeremiah 1:5).   He gave us freedom to live! 

Let's remember that Moses took off his sandals to worship God in bare feet (Exodus 3:5).  I believe God was pleased.  Let's remember that David danced without any outer clothing (2 Samuel 6:22).  I believe God was pleased.   Let's remember that Jesus took his outer garments off to wash the disciples feet (John 13:4).  I believe God was pleased.   Let's remember that Peter, Paul, and many others worshiped God in dirty, grimy prisons (Acts 12:5; Acts 16:25).  I believe God was pleased.

God knows your heart.  The person who criticizes you for how you dress in worship does not.  Take freedom to dress as you desire in worship.  Yet take to hear this caution... your body is the very temple of God (1 Corinthians 3:16).  Consider that when you pick out your outfit Sunday morning. 

Do not easily forget that worship is not simply about what happens on Sunday morning.  Worship happens on Monday morning and Friday night and Saturday afternoon.   Worship happens when God is glorified.  Worship happens when the believer's surgical scrubs has blood on it, when the believer's overalls are covered in dirt, when the believer's shirt is layered with grease.   Whether you eat or drink, whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God (Colossians 3:17). 

If we can worship God with blood or dirt or grease on our clothes, surely a polo shirt rather than a jacket will suffice for Sunday morning. 

worship Him 24/7...
scott

Have you ever been reprimanded for something you have worn in worship?  Did you deserve it?  Have you ever looked at someone and thought what they were wearing was not appropriate?  Was it your opinion?  Would you have said it was fact?

We are people with opinions.  Lots of opinions.  We are also people who usually gravitate towards those who look like us, talk like us and believe like us.  Heaven will not be like that.   There will be one common point to those of us in heaven: Jesus.  You may be standing next to someone who is a suit lover.  Get over it.  You may be standing next to someone who lives in shorts and a t-shirt.  Get over it.  (Of course we may all be dressed in white robes. Revelation 6:11 And I'll have to get over that!)

Although there is a great deal of freedom in what we can wear in worship (see my other posts on "dressed for worship"), there are constraints as well. 

We are asked to put on a heart of compassion, kindness and humility (Colossians 3:12-13).  How we dress should be affected by our humility.  Jesus did say that what is on the outside of a person is a reflection of what is in the inside (Matthew 15:18).  I personally don't wear sleeveless shirts because my guns are just too large and chiseled.  I need to have sense of humility in how I dress my arms, so people aren't looking at my arms rather than God in worship!  (Okay, okay... they are more like chicken wings, but you get the idea.)

Women are told in scripture to adorn themselves in modest apparel with propriety and moderation (1 Timothy 2:9-10).  In the Greek, "adorn" means to beautify by adding something.  Paul is not saying here that women can't look beautiful!  Quite the contrary.  But he is saying that women should do so with modesty, with humility.   The heart of the passage is also applicable to men.  It's okay to look good!  Just don't dress in a way which draws attention away from God!  In other words, Paul is encouraging people to dress as they normally dress.  Nicer than your work clothes, but not overly fancy.  Some people use this passage to say that we should be dressed up for church.  It doesn't.  Just dress normally. 

Here are some guidelines I offer , which reflects the constraints within scripture, yet allows freedom.  After all, God is a God of freedom.  More on that in the next post. 

1. Keep It Clean.  Keep your clothes distraction free.  No inappropriate skin.  No short skirts which could distract.  No  overly tight clothing which accentuate muscles and other body parts.

2. Dress As You Dress. Within the boundary of number one above, dress the way you usually dress.  Be yourself.  God wants you and your heart.  Not a show.

3. Respect Others & God.  We worship a God who is father and friend.  Yet, he is also Almighty Creator and Wrathful Judge.  Best not roll out of bed unshowered for 4 days and throw on the wrinkled clothes in the corner if you are capable of better.  Oh, and spritzing some perfume or cologne does not cover the stink, so think of the person next to you.

I often will tell our worship team to Reflect Your Church.  If the average person in the church is a suit and tie and that is comfortable for you then go for it.  If it is jeans and a t-shirt, that's fine too.  Those who are on stage should be a refection of the overall church body.   There is nothing wrong in and of itself for someone to wear a kimono on stage.  But within the culture of our church that would be a distraction for worship, so no kimonos. 

Check in next post to be reminded of the great freedom we have in Christ in how that can affect how we dress for worship.

worship Him 24/7...
scott

I've heard people talk and debate about how people should dress for worship.  I'll be honest... in the same instance I can simultaneously be laughing on the inside at the ridiculousness of what is said as well as have my blood boil.  Hey... I told you I'd be honest.

"It's disgraceful to see him up on stage wearing jeans."  "Why he just can't wear a buttoned shirt is beyond me."  "She cannot be honoring God with those pants on."  "I wish that teenager would stop wearing those sneakers."  "He is being disrespectful to God and to us by not wearing a jacket and tie."  "That can not be her best."

Deep breath.  (I'm talking to myself.  Not you.  But depending on what your thoughts are, maybe you should take one too.)

Everyone matters to God.  God loves all people.  There's a verse that just might sound familiar to you:  God so loved the world that he gave his only son so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). 

Jesus said whoever "believes" in him would have eternal life.  Not whoever wore a dress, suit, or tie. 

Jesus said that all who come to him, all the weary and burdened, he would give them rest (Matthew 11:28).   Not everyone who stopped wearing sneakers in worship. 

Everyone matters to God.  Not just those who dress a certain way.  He loves everyone.  Not everyone can afford to dress as nice as Donald Trump.  If a homeless man, who loved the Lord, came into your house of worship to lift his praise, would he be chastised for his dress?   If a child from the slums of Guatemala was transported into our worship service, would she be looked down upon because of the rags she wears?

God loves them too.  And he accepts them because of who they are and the decision they made for him.  Not because of what they wear.   To God, everyone matters.  Not just those who dress like you.  Don't make people feel like they don't matter because they don't fit your mold.  God's molds are wide and varied.   

End of story. 

Okay... not quite.   There is more to it.  And I encourage you to tune in over the next couple posts to see what the scripture does say about how we dress for worship. 

But for now I'd like you to ponder this topic in light of this fact: God is far more interested in your heart than what is on your skin.  People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). 

worship Him 24/7...
scott

In the world's economy someone who builds themselves up is to be respected.  In the world's economy someone who elevates themselves is to be admired.  Not so in God's economy.

Your life is not about you contrary to popular belief.  Life is not about making yourself known.  Life is about God because life belongs to God (Psalm 24:1).  Rather than working to make yourself known, work to make him known.   This is the primary role of my job as a worship leader.  Pointing people to God.  Not myself.   John is an example to me... and is an example for all of us.

Consider John's beginnings.  He is the son of a priest... a respected man among his community.  John's father and mother were without children.  His mom had been barren.  Late in their years, God gives them a child... John.   He is a miraculous gift.  A gift who is ties in time to thee gift to the world... Jesus himself.  John and Jesus are cousins by birth.  John has a rather incredible start to life.  A start which he could easily claim to propel himself.  A start which he could have easily made himself known.

Instead he points to Jesus and God the Father.  In the process he becomes known.  Not because of elevating himself, but by elevating God.   Then, after he baptizes Jesus, the crowds which had followed John diminished and began following Jesus.  Here's how it plays out...

Now a discussion arose between some of John's disciples and a Jew over purification.  And they came to John and said to him, "Rabbi, he who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you bore witness - look, he is baptizing, and all are going to him."  John answered, "A person cannot receive even one thing unless it is given him from heaven.  You yourselves bear me witness, that I said, 'I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him.' The one who has the bride is the bridegroom.  The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom's voice.  Therefore this joy of mine is now complete.  He must increase, but I must decrease." (John 3:25-30)

My job as a worship leader, and yes, even a believer, is to make Jesus known.  Not myself.  I count it as a joy to point people to the bridegroom.  I am very happy to stand aside and simply hear his voice calling others.  In that my joy is complete.  Just like John's.  He must increase.  I must decrease.

I ask you... are you seeing Jesus increase in your life?  Are you pointing others to hear his voice and not your own?  Are you seeing him increase?  Are you seeing yourself decrease?

Everything belongs to the Lord.  Make him known.  That is an act of worship.

worship Him 24/7...
scott

Ever tag a wall?  Be honest.  Did you secretly like playing with the spray paint?  How about carving a comment into a bathroom stall?  Knock over a grave stone?  Key a car?  Toilet paper a house?   Defacing property can range from a misdemeanor to a felony.  From a fine to a few days to years in prison. 

In most societies, the goal for each individual to be a productive citizen.  Work to make the society better.  For those who deface property, not only is that act unproductive for society, but having a record can keep a person from having an opportunity to become a productive member of society. 

And we each do the same thing.

Maybe we are not defacing physical property.  But we deface ourselves and each other. 

In ancient Jerusalem, defacing the temple of God earned a penalty of death.  The temple is no longer here.  Now you are the temple.  Your brother is the temple.  Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?  If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him.  For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). 

Be careful with yourself.  Be careful with your brothers and sisters in Christ.  We often look at the above passage in terms of our treatments of the physical body.  Our health, our diet, etc.  This passage is not simply referring to the physical self, but the whole self.  Heart, soul, mind, etc.  

Are you treating yourself and others well?  Allow me to rephrase.  Are you treating God's temple, yourself and other people well?  Do you hold bitterness and forgiveness for yourself and others?  For your own past mistakes and those of others?  Do you love yourself and others well?

Jesus said that by loving each other well, people would know that you are his disciples (John 13:35).  By loving each other well, others will see not you, but a temple of God.  A reflection of Jesus himself. 

How we treat ourselves and each other has a direct impact on our worship.  In fact, Jesus clearly stated that if you are worshiping the Lord and you remember a conflict or issue with a brother, you need to go and be reconciled to that brother first.  Then you can be free to come before the Lord (Matthew 5:23-24). 

To worship is to be before God.  It's to glorify him and give him recognition.  That means seeing him.  But he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen (1 John 4:20).  

Let's not deface ourselves.  Let's not deface each other.  Let's allow ourselves the freedom to love ourselves.  Let's love one another.  Just as Jesus has loved us (John 13:34-35).    Then we can truly be together for worship.

worship Him 24/7...
scott

Are you in the construction business? Or the demolition business?  Or are you just standing around doing nothing?   Someday someone will explain to me how after sitting in 30 minutes of traffic you finally get up to the construction area only to see two guys working and a dozen standing around!

You can build.  You can destroy.  Which do you prefer doing?  Most people would say they prefer to build.  After all it's only the three year boy that likes to destroy things, right?  I can say that because I have one.  They simply don't know any better. 

Now, building, that is something that takes maturity.  Any child can destroy.  But adults can too.   Are you living like a child who destroys or an mature adult who builds?   What are you building?  What are you destroying?  How are all your relationship going?  Are you building them?  Destroying them? 

As Jesus followers we are told to encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11).  We must build each other up.  Not destroy each other.  And not stand around doing nothing like those construction workers!

Too often we stand around and keep our hands off the work of molding each other.  It's tough work.  Construction is tough work!  But don't be caught standing around doing nothing. 

In 1 Peter 2:5 we learn that we are like living stones which are being built up as spiritual house, to be holy ministers, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God.  Peter is saying that the end game is offering spiritual sacrifices to God.  Living for him!  Glorifying him.  Worshiping him.  Peter says that the means to the end is by being built up as servants.  Being built up!   One of the most significant ways we will be built up to worship God is through life together with other believers.  Brothers and sisters who will encourage you, challenge you, reproach you.  Friends in Jesus who will be a construction worker in your life. 

If we are not built up well we cannot worship God well.  If you're brothers and sisters in Christ are not built up well, they cannot worship God well.   Together we are the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:12).  Together we worship. 

Don't destroy.  Don't stand around doing nothing.  Build. 

worship Him 24/7...
scott

"Can't we all just get along?"   Its a famous and often humorous tagline to many conflicts in our lives.  In 1992, Rodney King made this statement during the LA riots.  He is usually misquoted as I have done here, having originally said, Can we all get along.  Regardless of the particular words, the thought behind this phrase has been declared decade after decade for centuries.

As a worship pastor, it is my prayer that we as believers would love each other more than we love ourselves.  More than we love our preferences.  More than we love our styles and genres.  Romans 12:10 implores us to honor each other.  Philippians 2:3 calls us to do nothing from vain conceit but in humility, considering others before ourselves. 

Among Jesus' last prayers were these words...  I pray also for those who will believe in me, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you.  May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you have sent me. (John 17:20-23)

Jesus desired us to love each other.  To be in each other as he was in the Father.  How well do you know the person you worship next to on Sunday morning?  Do you know them well?  Are you even trying to know them?  Do you know them so well that you would say you know the inside of their mind?  Do you care about them that much?   From Jesus' words... if we worship together truly knowing one another better and living with one another in humility, there will be a much greater sense of unity.  And that unity will make God famous.  It will draw others to Him who are lost. 

Isn't that why we are here? To make him known?

Occasionally, we may think that our lives together as brothers and sisters will be better in heaven.  Without the conflict.  No one will bother each other.  Where we "can all just get along".  Yes.  That is true.  But this life is practice for an eternity to come.  Why wait? 

Occasionally, we may think that our worship together as brothers and sisters will be better in heaven.  Without the conflict.  No one will use the music we don't like.  Where we "can all just get along".  But why wait?  Jesus calls us to this now.  Today. 

"To dwell with the saints above we love in grace and glory, but to live below with the saints we know, that's a different story."  It's a phrase I heard somewhere, that I can't find an original source for, nevertheless true.  We yearn for the day to be in heaven with those brothers and sisters when everything will be perfect.  Yet we lose sight of the fact that those we worship with here on earth, those same brothers and sisters whose choices in life and preference of worship styles irritate us, are going to be the same brothers and sisters standing beside us in heaven. 

Ironic?

Why not get to know and love them now?  You'll be standing next to them for eternity. 

worship Him 24/7...
scott

Fresh starts.  Those are nice, right?  Many of us look at the new year to make a fresh start.  Diet.  Gym.  Reading our bible.  Focusing on the family.  Etc, etc.  But there is a fresh start we can make every moment of every day. 

A fresh start with God.

How about we make this our prayer for the new year and every day thereafter...  God, make a fresh start in me.  Shape a new beginning from the chaos of my life.   Don't throw me out with the trash or fail to breathe your holiness into me.  Bring me back from the bleak exile of life and put a fresh wind in my sails. (Psalm 51:10-12)

We all have ups and downs in life.  But personally I find that my ups are usually when I'm more focused on God and what he wants than myself.  And those downs... well, it's usually when I'm more about me, me, me.  Usually when I'm not going to God with my joys and not asking him genuine forgiveness for my failings.

Keeping our eyes on God and consistently turning from our failings and asking God to make us new us is the best "fresh start".  A fresh start to life every time we ask for his hand of forgiveness.  Every time we surrender to his order in the chaos of our lives. 

How fitting a time to think of the New Year this way.  We celebrate the birth of Jesus at Christmas, one week prior to the New Year.  Jesus is the one we have to thank for the forgiveness and fresh start we can experience daily.  And how truly happy a new year would be to live this way.  Surrendering daily.  Being refreshed moment by moment.  God's wind in our sails. 

I wish you a Happy New Year.  And I wish you God's winds to your sails... a fresh start. 

worship Him 24/7...
scott