Do It That Way
Have y’all ever been to one of them churches where they expect you to be a certain way if you are going to be in their presence? It’s kind of like what I write. Y’all may notice a mistake or two along the way. Some are sort of intentional, but sometimes I make a mistake. I was just lookin’ back at a previous article, and it stuck out like a tree out in the panhandle that I should have used a question mark instead of a period. I use spell check, but sometimes that makes it worse. And it doesn’t like y’all, ain’t or any word I chop the end off of words. Or endin a sentence with of. But I digress.
How many have heard it said, “You must behave a certain way in order to attend ‘our’ church.”
Now, understand, I’m not talkin’ about leadership or even membership. They think you have to be like that (you can insert what “that” is) in order to just attend their church meetings. At the “Church of All That and Then Some,” the dress code likely calls for men to wear a suit and tie. And women are to wear a conservative dress modest in length with heels and such. Now there are some churches that state casual attire. But when you show up at one of their casual meetin’s you find out they mean casual for some foreign state dinner like maybe New York City!
And then there’s things said ‘bout how you’re supposed to conduct yourself at their church.
Now, there are certain things common decency things none of us should do, like trimmin’ toenails in church. I’ve seen it!
Some folks have been rejected by the church because they don’t wear the right kind of clothes or maybe it’s because they have been to the wrong places, or maybe they have been known to use the wrong speech.
Others of you are rejected because cowstuff somehow got on the bottom of your boots. Or maybe you don’t read or write. Or maybe you drive a dirty ole’ pickup. Or maybe you’ve a tattoo that you wouldn’t have gotten had you known you might want to encounter folks that go to “church.”
But the Truth is: God doesn’t care about those things! I’ve never read in the Word where Jesus said to his disciples, “Clean up before you go share the gospel, you smell like fish.” But it may not be a bad idea. And Jesus never said, “Make sure you use soap when you baptize in My name.”
Now y’all don’t get me wrong, it’s important we have good behavior, take care of ourselves, and use good personal hygiene.
But to judge someone who doesn’t have the best clothes? Oh, and just for the record, if you want to wear a suit and tie, there’s nothin’ wrong with that either. But just make sure that when you do go to the church of your choice that you go wearin’ some clothes. Thanks! Jesus, as He walked this earth, looked more like a carpenter than He did King of kings. We must remember that God’s not looking for those who look the part, but He’s looking for the those who will allow themselves to be used by Him to be who He calls us to be.
The boys that first followed Jesus mostly looked more like they should be puttin’ out their fishin’ nets than becoming disciples of the King!
1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Come to Him just like you are, and He’ll do the cleanin’ and the changin’! Choose Jesus, choose life and let your light shine! And find a Bible believin’ church where you “fit in” and know, grow, and follow Christ! Tell others! See y’all at church and keep PRAYIN’ for HIS HARVEST! Invite Him to bring forth the Rain! Amen!