Wednesday, March 19, 2014

What Am I Going To Wear To Church?

When you’re locked in to one church…one place of worship, it’s almost impossible to know what  other churches are doing - how they’re worshipping - and how they’re dressing.  Not so long ago getting dressed for church, for me as a preacher, was simple.  Put on a suit and tie and I was ready to go.

It’s just not that simple anymore.  I have been out preaching in different places for the past several weeks, and after a six year absence from the traveling preacher circuit, I have noticed some changes:  #1… how people dress when they come to church.  I find myself asking pastors these days, “What should I wear?”  So far, I have worn a tie only once on Sunday morning.  If I ask about wearing a tie at the evening meetings the pastor says something like, “If you do you’ll be the only one.”  

Most folks in the pew are not just dressing casual…they’re dressing very casual.  This winter I’ve seen ladies dressed in everything from dresses to sweat pants/sweat shirts.  Guys are wearing khakis, jeans, and shorts with polos and t-shirts.  

So why this article?  Good question?  Does it matter what people wear to church as long as they’re dressed modestly?  When did church become a “dress-up” event…and who decided it was time to dress down?  

Even when I was pastoring, most men in the congregation didn’t wear ties.  And, about as many ladies were wearing slacks as were wearing dresses.  So…does it really matter?  

My preacher friend Junior Hill says I am on the “bubble.”  At 50 years old, I am twenty years away from being 70…and twenty years away from being 30.  I like the music the 30 year olds like…and I like the music the 70 year olds like.  I’m ok with being new and relevant…I’m also ok with being old fashioned and traditional.  I like music from the Eagles…I also like Maroon 5.  I like Chris Tomlin…I like Bill Gaither.  ….Which brings me to my point - I can preach as good in a pair of jeans and a polo as I can a suit and tie.  I’ve preached in wing-tips…and I’ve preached in Sanuks.  

Does it matter what people wear to church in 2014?  …No.  No more than it mattered in 1914.  It matters that we are dressed modestly and that we come with a heart ready to worship and hear the Word of God.  Fashions may change but the Word of God never changes.  

Some would say, as I have said in the past, “We should dress our best for God.”  But, what is our best?  Listen to Peter: Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for, “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.


The “best” thing I can put on as I get ready for church is “humility.”  One size fits all.  See you next Sunday.  What you gonna wear?  MM

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Bigger Than The Grand Canyon

In America, we’re digging a hole bigger than the Grand Canyon.  In Arizona last week the Bible’s teaching about marriage was vetoed.  I understand the reasoning.  I don’t agree with it but I certainly understand it.  The reasoning was to prevent the backlash of protests, financial hurdles, and greatest of all… the Super Bowl might go somewhere else.  I wish there had been a better reason…

I’m not angry.  Not even surprised.  But I can’t believe it’s good for America when the Bible loses and popular opinion wins.  This brief article is not really about the issue of same-sex marriage.  This article is about a slow, down-hill slide away from the absolutes that God established as right and wrong.  My writing is simply an attempt to call anyone who’s interested back to God…back to the Bible…back to morals and values.

I don’t have to be right.  I got over that a long time ago.  I don’t have all the answers…I don’t even understand all the questions.  But what I see is a downward spiral away from God’s design.  I don’t support discrimination against people for reasons of race and sexual preference.  All people are valuable and deserve to be treated fairly.  My problem is when the Bible’s teaching is considered irrelevant in favor of whatever sin is up for a vote.

Some of us used to ask, “What would Jesus do?”  Now we ask, “Does it even matter anymore?”  When presidents, governors, mayors, and other elected leaders are pressured from what appears to be a majority who have forgotten God and a larger majority who really don’t seem to care…what are they to do?  Arizona’s governor did what most any governor would have done.  She is not the problem.  

The problem is bigger than one person.  Here’s the problem(s):  The Bible has become just another book on the shelf.  The church is just another building on the street.  God has become inconvenient and unnecessary. 

Listen to the Psalmist, “But as for me, my feet almost slipped; My steps nearly went astray. For I envied the arrogant; I saw the prosperity of the wicked.” (Psalm 73:2-3)  This is an easy thing to do as we become envious of those who prosper in a lifestyle void of any trust or belief in God.

This a hole bigger than the Grand Canyon…bigger than the state of Arizona…bigger than the issue of same-sex marriage.  Like the Psalmist admitted, and we have gone even further…we have slipped away- fallen away- gotten away from God.  In his day, the prophet Isaiah said it like this, “We all went astray like sheep; We all have turned to our own way…” Isa. 53:6


Jesus said in John 3:17 He was not sent to condemn the world… “but that the world through Him might be saved.”  Jesus is the hope for the world.  May God have mercy on us.  MM