Get dressed (because I said so)

It looks almost like a track listing off some strange CD. I think it belongs there, rather than in church.

For a long time I have dressed up for church, so it is nothing new to me. I like to look nice, and I grew up having everything I ever needed and most of the stuff I wanted, so I can say that when it comes to puffing myself up in appearance and self-esteem, it was relatively easy.

Today in about 4.5 hours, I'm going to have to get up for church. We're going to a gospel assembly type service in Harlem... and the service starts at 8 AM. We're dressing up for it. My roommates were throwing around perspectives on dressing up for church and we all come from somewhat different backgrounds (although Aaron and I were both Methodists). We're different people, yet similar. Anyway, I said basically this... when did we ever think that giving God our best meant changing our outside and not our inside? and the crowd said, AMEN. And Aaron did too... gotta love him.

Our self-image and what we think of as "dressy" or "fine" or "classy" is nothing compared to the majesty of God, and it is not what He asks of us. He tells us that it is by faith we are saved, not by works. So because anything you try to do is an empty pursuit, let us throw off the chains that hinder us and run this race without feeling like we have to fulfill requirements. I just think if we truly understood, all of us, that nothing we do or wear even matters to God at all, that "putting our best before God" would look differently. In fact, I might even add, that it's the wrong idea. God sees the worst in us, so being as presentable as possible really has no functional place in the big picture.

HOWEVER. I realize that plenty of people who dress up for church keep God on their hearts all day and live passionate lives for him. I've just never met many. When I started going to my church in Greenville, I found more than a building with people my age and a colorful light show every service during the worship music. I found a place that I could go and be myself. You see, we're very busy people... and our time and our attention is a precious commodity. To concentrate on looking good during the scant free time on sunday morning is to shift my focus from God, onto my clothes. Please listen... he (or she) who has ears to hear, let him (or her) hear. For I am not here to condemn clothes or "make it an issue." (Keep in mind, if you take time out of your day to do it, it's at least somewhat of an issue already. You have to buy, iron, fold, store, put on dress clothes... they're not instant things.) For me, however, it was a distraction from better things. To change your life, you don't add things. You take things out and replace them with new things. Why? because you can't create more time in a day, that's why. You submit your sin to God, and replace it with the Word. You remove potato chips and creme brulee, and you replace it with _______ (choices include Diet drinks, Nutrisystem, or Richard Simmons... it's a free country).

Take out the bad, add the good. So take out the focus on clothes and having everything ironed, and put on your favorite shirt. Cause that way, you won't be thinking about it. And your wife won't have to dedicate any last-minute time to ironing your shirt. And your kid won't be near tears because his outdated shirt, the one you forgot to replace, is too tight. What possesses you to get vocal about your son's top button being undone, but when it comes to the non-Christian he dates or the way he never prays, you remain silent?

Funny how shopping for Sunday clothes is that much more burdensome. Now see, what can you cut from your life to make it that much less stressful? Take out the emphasis on having clothes that are "good enough", because you can't be good enough. Replace that emphasis with a desire to be with Christ.

I'm gonna quote Tim Keller here. He pastors a church here in NYC, and he's an author of books including The Prodigal God. He said this highly useful quote.

"Stop trying to be more like Jesus, and start trying to be with Him."

For you see, in trying to be like someone, it's a works-based pursuit. Self-worth in what you do = not good. However, if you try to be "with" Christ, it's more of a faith-based pursuit because it's based in your mind. In your faith. Faith, not works. Read Galatians. You'll find that's my favorite book to promote.

Tim is not saying here that trying to be like Jesus is wrong. He is saying that you can never be totally like Jesus. You will always fail. However, try to be with Him, and you will develop a faith that breeds its own works. Then you will not be without the good works you desire so much.

So when it comes down to Sunday morning, I need to prepare my heart for worship while I still have time in the morning. Because I'm rushed enough anyway, and my focus is needed elsewhere... on Christ. Not my tie. I need to go to church in a state of mind that loves God... fully broken and humble, not accessorized and sophisticated. And one more status step away from the poor. Start questioning yourself, and what you can do to change what it is that you value here in the moment. Because I do think we need change. And it's not really Obama... it's Jesus. And Jesus will ALWAYS change your life in unexpected ways. It starts with you surrendering yourself in this moment to Him. Do it often, do it with full desire. Pray something like this...

Christ, you are King and you deserve all creation bowing down to you for the rest of eternity. I am nothing compared to your glory, and although day in and day out I get caught up in myself, as if I'm so important... I pray that you break me apart. The selfish creature that I am needs to die to sin and live in You. As You told us through Paul, "what is your life? It is but a wisp of dust that lingers & vanishes." We're nothing, Lord... but you love us anyway. I submit the worst of me... the filth that haunts me and the chains that bind me... to You. The things I hate about myself. Or at least, I'm trying. Give me strength, Lord. You work slowly, but you work surely (Habakkuk 2:3). I focus on so many things, God... money, relationships, fun, leisure, and image... but you remind me that I'm fallen short of You no matter what I do. It's all loss, it's all crap, compared to You. I pray that you forever haunt my thoughts, that You might never leave me alone.

That's all I have to say about that.