Matthew 22:1-14, Romans 13:11-14, Eph. 5:25-30, 6:10-18, Revelation 19:6-9, 21:1-4
Surely everyone here today has heard of "church clothes." We used to call it wearing your "Sunday Best." I remember going to a wedding not too long ago and the preacher said to the couple, "One way to keep your marriage strong is to get up every Sunday and put your best clothes on and go to church together. Not a bad piece of advice, if you think about it!
I started a series on "Church" and it seems appropriate to see what God has to say about this subject too. We hear plenty of opinions about it. Today let's hear what God's word, the Bible, has to say. Did you know that the Bible talks about "Church Clothes?" But it all started in another place far from here at another time long before culture and fashion had its grip. Let me introduce this by setting it up.
What are clothes for anyway? Jesus tells us in the sermon on the mount not to worry about our bodies, what we will wear. He pointed to the lilies of the field and said that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed line one of these. Then he said, "If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will He not clothe you, Oh you of little faith?" God makes sure his children have the clothing they need.
Clothing has an interesting biblical history. As human beings we are among the very few of God's creatures that need to cover our bodies with clothes. Most animals are just fine without clothes on. Generally speaking, humans are not. There are exceptions, or at least there were up until a few years ago. While Jenny was in the hospital, we read through a few books together. One was about Teddy Roosevelt's final and darkest adventure. He died not long after he went on a trek in South America on an uncharted river tributary of the Amazon River. This trek took them through territory of native tribes who were known for killing anyone that crossed into their areas. The book has several picture sections in it, some were of interactions with the native tribes. Many of them lived in the jungles, naked and uncivilized.
Now, let me ask you something: How would you bring the gospel of Christ to people like this? What might their church services look like? I doubt that they would think a thing about some of the dress codes for church that we take so seriously.
The Bible tells about a time in human history when clothing was unnecessary. When God created Adam and Eve they lived in the garden of Eden, naked and unashamed. God had blessed them, telling them to multiply and fill the earth with offspring. (1:28). They were created in God's image, after God's likeness, and that blessing of producing children appears to have been given them before sin and before clothing. Genesis 3 tells us that after Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit their eyes were opened and they knew that they were naked. Their immediate response was to make some coverings for themselves by sewing fig leaves together. These were the first clothes. They were hiding their nakedness because it reminded them of their shame of disobedience.
After God confronted them about their sin, God himself gave them clothing of animal skins to wear. (vs 21).
After this point, nakedness became a reminder of two things, actually: one is of innocence that is soon lost, and the other is of the abiding shame of sin. Clothing becomes a cover for the shame of sin. Clothing reminds us that our very bodies need protection and covering. The basic purpose of clothes is not to attract and expose but to cover and hide.
Genesis 9:20-27 tells a sad story of drunkeness, nakedness, shame and cursing. Let me just read the account. It says it all. (Read text).
I don't know what to think about Noah here, but it seems to me that Ham wasn't the only one to sin in the story. Noah's sin opened the door to Ham's sin. But one thing is clear: Noah's nakedness was violated by Ham and covered by Shem and Japeth. Shem and Japeth did the honorable thing for their dad and were blessed by Noah but Ham and his son Canaan were cursed by Noah.
Well... if we did a survey of what the Bible says about clothing and nakedness, it would take several weeks of lessons!
Clothing quickly took on a life of its own with new significance attached to it. Remember Joseph's coat of many colors?
Renting ones garments became an expression of grief or horror.
Genesis 38 tells a PG 13 story about Judah and his daughter-in-law, Tamar. In verses 14-15 we find that the Bible speaks of specific clothing for widows and also harlots.
When Moses receives the Law and God gives instruction about the priests, their garments are described in some detail in Exodus 28-29. Aaron and his sons were to wear these special clothes when ministering before the Lord. In fact, 28:35 says Aaron is to wear robes with gold bells on the hem when he goes in and our of the holy place, otherwise he may die. Pretty important, huh?
Aaron's sons were to wear undergarments when they went up to the alter to offer sacrifices so that their nakedness or bare skin would not be uncovered and they die. 28:42-43. God was serious about attaining and preserving the dignity of the priesthood, even in their clothing.
I want to make a connection to us now.
1 Peter 2:9-10 describes us as a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God. Our purpose, says Peter is to declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His light.
So what should a people chosen by God, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God dress like?
The New Testament is not silent here.
Jesus parable of the wedding guest who didn't have on wedding clothes makes a pretty strong point. If your in the wrong clothes, you'll get thrown out of the banquet. What are these wedding clothes that we must wear?
Let's look first at Revelation. Go to Revelation 19:6-9, and then we'll read 21:1-4.
Righteous acts of the saints, God sees a beautiful adornment, proper church clothes.
Now look with me at Romans 13:11-14. What are we to wear according to this passage? Verse 14 tells us to put on... the Lord Jesus Christ. Galatians 3:26-27 shows us when this begins. And look with me at Eph. 4:17-24. Colossians 3:1-14.
What we have here are church clothes.
When are you supposed to wear them?
Listen to what Jesus says in Revelation 3:14-19.
Let's not fool ourselves. If we are not walking with Christ and living in Christ and listening to Christ and following the example of Christ, how we dress is the least of our worries. But if we are looking to Jesus, listening to Jesus, learning from Jesus and seeking to live life like Jesus, we will wear robes of righteousness and our outer clothing will reflect our Christ centered priorities.
