What you wear tells you a lot about the person underneath the clothing. It reveals what is or is not important to you. It gives a picture of your values - not complete, but a picture nonetheless. In Colossians 3:1-17, Paul paints a picture for us of the outward actions of our life as being like the clothing that we wear. In every culture, there are items of clothing that are appropriate or not appropriate at different times and in the life of the follower of Jesus there are actions that are inappropriate and others that should be “worn” often.
I’d like to encourage you to read this Scripture in The Message translation as I think it helps give further understanding to this picture that Paul is attempting to paint.
Questions I ask as I read this:
How do the outer garments affect or reflect the heart of the wearer?
Is it possible that the heart changes before the clothes are changed?
Will we be a community that allows those with unchanged heart and unchanged clothing to be a part of us?
October 31st, 2006 at 3:19 pm
I wonder about the whole changing of clothes… If I think about it literally, the clothes that a person wears may or may not fully reflect who they are. A person may only be able to afford a certain “style” while underneath is really a fully different “style”, for example… or maybe they are using their outward appearance as a mask to hide behind, so no one knows who they truly are inside. Or maybe… someone is so focused on everything else, that they forget about their own outward appearance and the affect it may have on another’s perception of them. We may think one thing of them for what we see… yet that is really only a toss up as to whether it matches the person underneath or not.
If we apply this to our spiritual life, I can see very well that the heart may change before the “clothes” do. There may be a full on change in a person’s heart and life, but there is no time to shop for new “clothes”. Meaning that they may go about changing the outward appearance, only as time permits. Yet all the while, the heart is changing and being re-formatted.
If I want to know the heart of a person, I need to get past the exterior. In order to get past the exterior, I need to have patience and understanding for what I may not be open to or willing to handle or accept. I think it is safe to say that most of the time, the interior is not a mirror image of the exterior. There is always some unexpected aspect to what we thought we were getting into.
I know that when I open a present, or eat a piece of candy that has a middle to it, or when I go to a person’s house that I am looking forward to seeing… All of these things make me excited to see what’s on the other side…
How great it would be if we could look at our relationships like this… as an adventure to see what’s on the other side, instead of not even going there because we are unsure about the exterior.
November 1st, 2006 at 7:31 am
This section of scripture speaks directly into my life right now. Last year I made a decision to get “serious” about God. Some thought I already was serious, but when I looked at things from “his perspective” I was completely off the mark. A few months later I found Pathways and the decision to call this community home also included a decision to actively pursue a different life by letting the Word of God have “run of the house”. Not only did I immerse myself in it, but I daily try (and often fail) to apply it to my life. God impressed on me that his perspective is not for me to passively move through life and hope that I was doing what was right. I learned that being taught only happens as I submit and surrender to the teacher. If I am wearing a new wardrobe I can’t just show up, I need to actively seek and desire to learn, and be willing to apply what I am taught.
Dean has challenged us repeatedly to ask the question “What does it look like to follow Jesus?” I can say I have been doing that, and have also been asking “What does it look like to love him with ALL my heart, soul, mind, and strength?” I have lived my life doing whatever I feel like whenever I feel like it. Changing that is difficult because often I don’t even see how I need to change. I am learning that for me it means I have to be, think, and act differently. My priorities, goals, dreams, and relationships are changing, but often I am not sure what they are changing to, only what I am leaving behind.
Over the last three months I have wrestled with my faith and what God has shown me about “his perspective” more than ever before. The more I ask questions and seek what I should change, the more I am shown how much needs to change. My heart has broken as I have seen how deeply I grieve God’s heart. I have hurt others not only by my words and actions, but by my lack of words and actions. I have learned that I don’t let the peace of Christ keep me in tune with others, and because of that I hurt God, and others, and it impacts this community. This process is hard because my heart has MY perspective instead of HIS perspective. There is joy in this too though. During this process my love for God and my heart for others has grown, deepened, and expanded in ways I never dreamed were possible. I am learning what it means to loose my life for God and others, but only as my heart changes.
Is it possible for the heart to change first? Yes, but it is so much easier to change the clothes without changing the heart. Often that is what we try to do, but then we may hide from God because we know that only changing the clothes is a lie. My prayer is that I will learn to change both the clothes and the heart. I hope we will be a community that allows those with unchanged hearts and clothing to join us, because I am just starting to learn how much my heart and clothing needs to change but I still need to learn how to have them change. Often I don’t desire that change at all. This community is what we all make it and I for one want to do my part to not only allow but welcome all into the community. I believe in our mission to “worship one, love all” and I am going to choose to “wear love” as often as I can.
November 1st, 2006 at 11:00 am
Answer is here: Ephesians 1:3-7,11
Also here: 2 Corinthians 5:17: Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!
Verse one: Remember what you are doing where you are and how you got there and where you are going. Learn from the children in the desert, (the book of exodus).
Verse two: Again don’t weary over the landscape ahead or the current storms; again don’t cry for meat when you have manna.
Verse three: We live not for ourselves but for Christ. We are servants, ambassadors for the kingdom of God.
Verses four and five: As verse three: We are Gods representatives and our home office is in heaven, but our clientele is here on earth. They are now the visitors and we are the owners and caretakers in God’s kingdom. We welcome unbelievers to our beautiful resort. We don’t reject unbelievers and we don’t wear visitors clothing, but the clothing of Christ. We open doors and smile with graciousness and humility.
Verses six, seven and eight: To look at this place and to know that someday this will all be gone…down on our knees in defeat to this Almighty God. How dare us to lift ourselves higher than the unsaved. We still share the same breath of air and where once sharing the same condemnation. We no longer live in - or acknowledge the sin of the world, but look at what has been done in Christ and are called to urge the non-believers to reconciliation with their creator. (The Ten Commandments and the Holy Spirit will lay condemnation, NOT us). Flee from the things of the world for they will come to an end.
If you literally saw the cancer in the apples and saw the apples decompose, would you bite into an apple, or would you warn others about the contaminated apples???
Verses nine thru twelve: RENEW YOUR MINDS. Get out of the old thinking. You are a new creation in Christ…all things are BECOMING NEW. If you were not a virgin before accepting Christ, you are now! Death is now Life and Life is now death. You must die to live. These concepts are in opposition to the natural man and his world. It is not our thinking.
Verses thirteen thru seventeen: Again, we are more than conquerors, because the war has been won and the enemy has been defeated. We are living in God’s kingdom not the old world. Revelations is just that: REVELATION. God spoke it. It is done, because we know Christ is the beginning and the end. Our minds should be that of Christ-MIND, CHRIST-LIKE. Walk in faith knowing God has a purpose for each and everyone. We are not our own. We were bought with a price. Christ is our owner. The owner takes care of his precious merchandise and knows how to use and care for it. Rest in Christ. Lift one-another up.
November 1st, 2006 at 11:25 am
“So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.”…mmmm, absolutely scrumptous…if there is one thing I have learned from watching “What Not to Wear” with my wife, it is that clothes are often times the first impression…they are the first thing that we see…it takes much more time to get at the heart of someone, to learn about the real them…and that’s the way it should be in a relationship…however, the first impression made by our “garments” are the gateway…when people see those who claim Christ, what do they see?…are they impressed by our “garments” of love?…or do our “garments” not match our claims?…as far as what the community of God accepts and allows…I think God accepts you as you are, but loves you too much to let you stay the same…aloha means good-bye…and hello…peace, 805 OUT.
November 3rd, 2006 at 11:15 pm
Q: How do the outer garments affect or reflect the heart of the wearer?
Q: Is it possible that the heart changes before the clothes are changed?
Q: Will we be a community that allows those with unchanged heart and unchanged clothing to be a part of us?
Greetings and Blessings to all in the Pathways Community, I hope and pray you and your families are in good health and spirit. It is truly a pleasure to read the writings of others in search and study of our gracious Savior’s Words and Ways.
As to garments in Scripture, I see them in various references. The Pharisees liked to show by dressing up and being recognized as Religious. Garments used to stand out and show off. Ladies of the street were easily known by the dress of which they wore. Garments to entice and attract.
Reference is also made to Jesus’ robe as being seamless and was gambled for at the foot of the cross as He hung dying, a robe which was valuable for it’s quality yet plain and simple, (little did they know as to the value of the wearer). We also know that coverings are of little importance, as the reader will find in Scripture that a believer is not to put an effort of worry to the wants or where from to the cloths they are to wear. God dresses the Lilly of the fields and the birds of the air—He surely will care for a creation of His own image and we are told this in His Word.
We know from scripture that at a time of grief or repentance one would rent (tear) their clothing and cover themselves in ash. Kings would order entire communities or kingdoms to fast and cover in ash and to rent their cloths.
I believe a most important reference to a garment is made in the story of our Lord’s wedding feast. Since none chose to attend the invitation at first, it became open to all. Required to accept and participate in the feast is to dawn the robe given you. The guest who decided what he was wearing was good enough soon found himself out in the streets again and in an uncomfortable manner.
Many stories of and about garments are in scripture but in Colossians 3:1-17 I see yet a different definition to garment, as to clothing, yet not as to a covering. Many types of people are recognized by an attire or uniform. Military, police, mailman, even sport players can be easily know by their garments. Thus—to be recognized by something you cover yourself in—compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. To cover yourself in love and forgiveness, allowing these traits and virtues of Christ’s to be THE point of recognizing who you are. Not needed to proclaim being a Christian by mouth as the cover of your being is witness in the knowing of WHOSE you belong or follow. And as an overcoat adds that something to the dress so allowing love to be the most outer garment of which one is to be covered.
Scripture states that a Godly person is known by the love they show one another. And that is the garment I see mentioned here.
Can the garment be changed before the heart? I believe so. By the grace of God a true Christian (one of doing and not just by a self label, a verb not a noun), will change garments as a deeper relationship to Christ reveals that which need be changed. The neat thing about a relationship with Christ is He allows one to lean on Him in the on going relationship to salvation and eternity. Again, at the wedding feast, the invitation is to show up as you are (heart as is), then asked to wear the robe (and a borrowed one at that). The heart will start to change but it takes the process of a lifetime to complete, as one is to put the robe on daily.
Q: Will we be a community that allows those with unchanged heart and unchanged clothing to be a part of us?
I truly hope and pray that this community is bound by Jesus’ truth and love and not man’s tradition or prejudices. Not even a preconceived idea of family or friends but a heart to search it out on a one to one with the author of it all.
I have been attending Pathways for only a short while; about half the time they have been a church. I know only a few people somewhat, yet, I see a community of people, family orientated, friendly and in a genuine pursuit of God and His absolute truths. I believe the church of Pathways would extend its arms and hearts to those of unchanged hearts. As a bible believing community it would be known that Christ is for the sick and as the hands and feet of Christ in the community today, I see Pathways aiding the ill of heart through the love of Jesus. And to be a part of this community I consider myself to be doubled blessed.
November 4th, 2006 at 2:02 am
Listen, as I tell you something so precious and so true.
About the God of Creation, who loves us, me and you.
Let there be light, out of the darkness it comes, and only by His words,
Into existence He spoke—Dry Land, Cattle and even the Birds.
Scripture states that by His Hand, with Dirt, He does lovingly create,
Man in His image, breath of His own and with a rib for him, a loving mate.
By His Love so placed in a state of absolute and utterly Perfection,
To live a life with His guidance and directly by Him with His protection,
Yet, so soon, to come to the point of remorse and separation,
By mans start and own doing of a conscience sin.
Being Saved by Faith and Faith alone in Jesus and His Word,
With the old man dissolving away and a new man begins.
Pray for forgiveness and true repentance to start,
Love God with all your strength, thought and heart!
To love your neighbor as He so loves you,
And with His help as He will never leave your side.
He allows one to seek Him, find Him, believe and in Him to abide.
To love as He so loves each and everyone of His own,
Hoping that none should perish but all to come home.
Praying and studying for that, which by His name has been sown,
Reflecting to others a life of forgiveness and His righteousness worn.
And from sin there is all to be reborn.
As this is the requirement for the most proper start,
Simply by an asking of Jesus into your Heart.
To live life with your focus on Christ Jesus and His ways—
Then to have forgiveness and to love one another as the bible says.
With all Glory to God and to God’s will being done—
Living for Jesus and your fellowman.
Living for the glory of God and restoring His original plan.
In wearing the garment of Hope and Love in the world as told.
Seeking Him first—in your love for Him to be ever so bold.
Know He is there when we fall and offers a helping hand.
Thanking God always for being our promised land.
May by Your grace we love You as You so love us,
And please forgive us in our selfish and childish fuss.
Bless us all with wisdom and truth—walk with us to the end of it all.
And may we stand tall before you at the trumpets last call. Amen.
November 5th, 2006 at 8:45 pm
Q: How do the outer garments affect or reflect the heart of the wearer? Q: Is it possible that the heart changes before the clothes are changed?
To affect and reflect the heart of the wearer are two different things. On the one hand, the one who is actually trying to reflect what is going on inside may be too self indulged. If it is important to me that YOU see my garment a certain way, I (that is me and not all of mankind) am probably in a selfish or self caring mode. And spiritually speaking, if that’s where I am, I am the while sepulchre with rotting going on inside. Of course this isn’t always true as I may be going through a rough patch in life and it’s my way, right or wrong, of protecting myself. This would not be depravity as much as it’s self-preservation.
However, to put on garments in order to affect the heart is quite another matter. I may be evil, depraved, ugly, angry, etc., but I put on garments of righteousness to affect, that is, to change my heart. We’ve all been there. We’ve been angry at a friend, co-worker, child, - whoever - we’ve been ANGRY! Or we have thoughts of evil that would distrss anybody if they knew our heart. Money is left out and the thought, however quickly it comes and goes, enters our minds to lift it. Some kid talks back to you in class (I’m a teacher) and that thought, however quickly it comes and goes, enters the mind to put that kid down so deep he’s buried. A chance comes up to talk about that stinking friend of ours who .. . . . etc, and thought, however quickly it comes and goes, to let the world know about his/her life. BUT -
we don’t let loose. We put on garments of friendship and goodness - against our fleshly man - which is what Christ taught us. We are to walk in love. Because it comes naturally - NO! Because we belong to another who has taught us another way. Why would we love our enemies, and pray for those who despitefully use us? Because! That’s why! Because HE said to do so. Others will say “How can you put up with that stuff? You gonna let him talk to you that way? You gonna let him cheat you like that? Why?!”
Because I have a different point of view.
“What? (snotty) CHRISTIANITY????”
As a matter of fact, yeah. When I was a creep, I was accepted. When I will be a creep again, if even in a moment, I’ll be forgiven. So, yeah. Because I’m a Christian.
And that garment that we “put on” affects us inside. And as they say on all the talk shows, when you look good, you feel good. Or rather, when you do good, you will become good. That is as good as a man may get in this fallen world.
Q: Will we be a community that allows those with unchanged heart and unchanged clothing to be a part of us?
Man I hope so.
November 6th, 2006 at 11:59 pm
“wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.”
As I consider the basic garments of Love, compassion, kindnes, humility, quiet strength and discipline, even temperment and forgiveness. They seem to me to be more like a nice soft t-shirt and jeans than a 1K silk suit. More likely to be gray, black or white than pink, teal or loud stripes. More like Gore-Tex than like spandex. The “everyday wear” of the Christian seems to be far from the adjectives we use to describe those we think are spiritually “all that”. Powerful, on fire, exciting, life changing, really excited, totally awesome. That’s how we describe people who are leading big ministries, “major moves of God”, selling hit worship albums or starting the newest mega churches. There seems to be a big discrepancy in the clothing of our role models and what we are to wear. Is it possible that what we try to portray to the world as spiritual really is as plastic as it looks? Maybe the world isn’t as blind as we think they are. Maybe just one look is all it took. They have seen those false promises somewhere before.
On the other hand, if you are clothed in the above listed all-purpose garment, will they notice you when you walk into a room? Will you feel like a million bucks? Will others consider you dressed for success? Or will you have soiled hems, maybe a little bloodstain, wrinkles, some grass stained knees, ring around the collar? Is the everyday wear always so sparkling white that you are afraid to get it dirty?
There is a huge inherent danger in the vulnerable unassuming everyday wear of the Christian. No flash, no glitz, no acting, what you see is what you get. To get to this point, we must know ourselves well enough to not feel like we have to cover ourselves up. We have to move beyond being shamed for not blending in by having the newest and greatest. Our hearts must be willing to be exposed because it is reflected by what we wear.
November 7th, 2006 at 3:46 pm
I think it’s funny this and these questions were posted on Halloween! But that Dean is a smart guy, and probably intended the whole thing! So, how do garments reveal the heart of the wearer? In my own walk as a follower of Christ, what I choose to put on that day not only represtents my my heart over all, but the attitude I have that day! For example today I’m wearing shorts (of course it’s still 80 here is AZ) and my shirt is by a brand called “AFFICTION CLOTHING,” it is a loud blue color, has very detailed and strong lettering spelling Affliction on the front left shoulder, then on the back is a massive broken and rustic looking entrance to a mausoleum with angels and vines crawling over the building. Now what possibly could this say about my heart, and how does it relate to following Christ? My heart- I feel loud today (surprise surprise, loud shirt, have been listening to loud music all day…), I feel strong and secure in faith after listening to a podcast by Erwin McManus titled “Marks of a Disciple,” then taking care of household duties, begining my own business… meanwhile looking forward to my lovely wife coming home, dinner, Bible Study. Today my heart is strong, I pray for the same tomorrow…
Next question, I truly beleive the heart could and can change before the clothes do! Once again out of personal experience, I went through a period of time just after coming back to Christ, where my clothes were covered in half-naked woman, bad words, evil thoughts, and it didn’t bother me at all. I knew I loved Christ, he loves me, what’s the problem, right? WRONG! I wear what I want, and that was the constant attitude of that period in my life! Dean even set me up with the Bible Study I still go to (and am going to tonight), but the first time I went I made sure to wear the most offensive shirt possible, shorts that revealed tattoos, chains, blah blah blah, just to make them uncomfortable! Did it make them uncomfortable? Nope! They actually asked me to explain myself! Tattoos, nail polish, shirt and all, they wanted to know me! Then we read the Bible! I had finally met a group that just cared about my heart, not what was covering my heart. Now did I change all my clothes all at once, no. But in time they have changed, they are still loud, they still get attention, and they represent my heart! The attention I want is now different, instead of “OH MY GOD,” I want be able to share God with that person wearing my old clothes, because I beleive he is just covering the same thing I was while I wore them.
Will I be part of a community that allows those with unchanged hearts and unchanged clothes to be part of us? Without a doubt, I try to turn my back on sin, not the sinners. Who knows what I would be covering my heart with say my Bible Study turned their back on me back then. It’s such a battle, I love it, even though I fail more than I win. God, You RULE! Thank you! All my prayers to Pathways!
—-Love,
Chris Reece