Terry Bowman recently shared the following at our men’s small group gathering. We do what is called a truth search. Our focus Scripture was Galatians 3. You generally start out with a question based on the passage. Then connect it with the passage and other verses in Scripture. The goal is to get to questions that you can ask yourself based on the truth revealed in the passage.
Terry’s truth was a question. He asked, ”Are you going to wear that shirt???” The implied answer is always “No.” Terry said that he heard the voice of his wife as she frequently asked Terry about his clothing choices. He then connected this concept to Gal 3.27, which reads “for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.”
All Christians are to take on the appearance/character of Jesus. Terry pointed to Rom 13.13-14, which says, “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”
We are to clothe ourselves with armor of light not darkness. Ephesians 4:22-24 adds to this concept. It says, “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Looking to the Old Testament, Terry found a similar link to idolatry, holiness and clothing as a way of putting off the old self. Gen 35.2 records that Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, “Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes.”
Terry then concluded with these probing questions. He asked, “What am I ‘wearing’ that I need to take off? – time devoted to television; time spent surfing for hacks and gadgets. What does God have for me to put on? – acts of service; time spent investing in other people.”
So do you need to change your shirt? When people see you do they say, “Hey, that looks kind of like Jesus?”
1 response so far ↓
Joanna // June 5, 2009 at 7:02 am |
I love this! Back in July 08 I also wrote a blog about “what we are wearing” (see link above) and I think it is a timeless truth for all believers to remember. I love connecting the everyday (clothes) with the spiritual. Thanks for the gentle reminder, Chaille.