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From Anonymous on Wounded:
Just another consideration for you to think about…Could dress be a stumbling block on either side, the rich and the poor? Is the target area anyone who needs Jesus? Did Jesus want the people to see Him or see God?Keep looking to Jesus. He will steer you to what is right.
Could dress be a stumbling block? I think the obvious answer is yes it is.
Is the target area ANYONE who needs Jesus? Yes. But I feel like the western church, particularly West Little Rock, is guilty of exactly what the Temple was in the day of Jeremiah and in Jesus - the people who need God most are shunned the most from church. They can’t to “God” (the Temple) because they can’t afford to dress right and they are shamed when they get there.
Plus the complete avoidance of dealing with the poor on a large scale by MOST churches is appalling. And when confronted about it, we will break out in double speak saying “Rich people need Jesus too. Who is called to reach the rich people?”
Well, who is ‘called’ to reach the poor people? According to Jesus’ words - we all are.
And here is the selfish thing about all of this - I didn’t ask for this battle or issue. It’s not like I’m on this crusade to crush all of those who wear dockers…hey, some of my best friends wear dockers!!! (he heh…)
It’s just in the process of being real and trying to do the ‘right’ thing, I got a shot from someone who I thought was ‘on my team.’
Welcome to ministry in the Bible Belt….he heh.
7 responses so far ↓
1 Nelson // Sep 25, 2005 at 7:54 pm
Jesus didn’t dress like the religious leaders of His day, either. They gawked at him and his “dining with sinners” many times. You’re in an interesting position: ex-youth pastor who’s dress code fit in totally with the current culture who is now in an adult-focused ministry position. I’ve found that many adults are harder to root out of their non-important traditions than students.
2 Allen Arnn // Sep 25, 2005 at 10:42 pm
Our church is helping several Katrina families get set up with furniture in their new apartments as they have settled down in our city. One of them told me today that he’s going to find some new clothes this week and come to our church next Sunday. I was SO glad to be able to tell him that people at our church wear jeans, shorts, whatever. I told him that I wear jeans even when I’m on stage to let him know that he should feel comfortable wearing whatever he has.
3 Mile20 // Sep 26, 2005 at 1:22 pm
Interesting that the rationalization came from “anonymous.”
The reason may be simple, that the person just didn’t have a username on Blogger. Or it may have revealed the real underlying shame in having to justify the church’s disregard for one of the most fundamental teachings of Jesus.
I know, I know, loosen up, it is just a shirt. Believe me, I wish that was all it was.
4 Anonymous // Sep 27, 2005 at 8:05 am
Just one more comment and you will not hear from me again… Some of you have made an assumption of my comment so I thought I would make my comments clearer. I believe the Bible is very clear on taking care of the widow, orphaned, and poor and we in the church in general are not being faithful in that area, however in light of the recent hurricanes the church has risen up. Praise the Lord! All that to say, that God has led many to our churches, rich and poor alike (we are all poor, poor in spirit); do we pass by those with money in order to go to the poor. Can we not minister to both since both need to see Jesus? I am fearful that we are “throwing out the baby with the bathwater”. What a great picture of the kingdom when we can have all types of people in our churches and not just rich churches and poor churches.
I hope that you can see my heart for the lost in all walks of life and also those that are trying to know Him better.
Praise the Lord for all of you, brothers and sisters! We are in this together for His sake.
5 Barry // Sep 27, 2005 at 9:41 am
What ever happened to, “Come as you are”, and “just as I am”?
Anonymous says, “All that to say, that God has led many to our churches, rich and poor alike (we are all poor, poor in spirit); do we pass by those with money in order to go to the poor. Can we not minister to both since both need to see Jesus?” That is true, both must be ministered to, but why the preconception that the one ministering, or the voice of the church must be wearing attire that says, “I am teaching all of you, but I am part of the ‘better majority’ of you”? If Jesus had taken that stance, (after all, He is without fault, and perfect… definitely better than all of us combined) wouldn’t He, being the Son of God, have worn snow-white robes and a crown of splendor while healing the sick and lame?
6 Mile20 // Sep 27, 2005 at 2:28 pm
How can someone named “anonymous” that things personally? Don’t go away, just come out it the open and let’s talk. I hear where you are coming from, I am just not persuaded.
I am not losing any sleep over whether the rich will be thrown out with the bathwater.
7 Grant // Sep 27, 2005 at 4:10 pm
the good thing about the rich being thrown out with the bathwater is that we seem to always find a nice place to stay…
then we steal the bathrobes so that when we are thrown out again…
we have something to wear…
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