by Rev. Doug Gray
I’d say we are pretty savvy people here. I’d like to play a game with you called, “Name That Outfit.” I am betting that if I give you an occasion, you can tell me what to wear that would be appropriate. For example, if I said “Bedtime in the winter,” you might say “flannel pajamas.” Alright? So let’s play a couple rounds
1. Warm summer day at the beach.
2. Cool, drizzly day in the spring.
3. Work in the garden on a sunny day.
4. Going out to dinner with some friends to a very nice restaurant.
5. Funeral.
6. Wedding.
So that was fun! If you’re like me, as I was thinking of the occasion, I could actually see the clothes from my closet that I would pick. One of the fascinating things about our passage for today, is that Paul uses the metaphor of clothes to talk about living life with Jesus. How do clothes help us think about walking with Jesus?
First, wearing the new wardrobe. Did you ever watch the show, “What Not to Wear”? It’s on Amazon Prime Video now. [Slides.] It featured Clinton Kelly and Stacy London, two fashionistas who help people who are hopeless dressers. The first thing they would do is talk with the hopeless dresser about why they needed help, and then they would take away all the awful clothes. What I loved about the show was that as they are talking about clothes, often people confessed that they wore these awful clothes because they didn’t think they were beautiful or because they couldn’t find anything that fit. Clinton and Stacy would help the person learn how to put together an outfit that would look fabulous, even help the person learn how to shop for clothes. At the end, each individual wore their clothes with confidence and an inward sense of their own beauty that really showed. Paul says our old life—full of selfishness, self-indulgence and deceit—is like a set of clothes so filthy, so awful, that the only thing to do is throw them away. When we really want Jesus to be part of our lives, we lay all the clothes of our lives before Him, and we hear God say, “I love you! You’re beautiful in my eyes! I have something better for you.” Maybe a couple pieces of our life wardrobe are in good shape—but the rest? It’s all gotta go! God is giving us a brand-new wardrobe that fits our new identity in Him—loved and beautiful, powerful for peace. None of the brand labels the world looks for matter—just the “Made by God” one on our hearts. Once we have worn this new wardrobe, the old ways just don’t fit anymore.
Second, the new wardrobe goes with us everywhere. Unlike some of our clothes that are only good on certain occasions, the new wardrobe fits all occasions. When I was in college, I hadn’t figured out where God wanted me to go or be, but I remember I was copying some articles in the library, when Gregg Swope came up and said hi. Gregg was a seminary student at the seminary next to campus, and he was one of those people who is just cool—he was a marathon runner and played the guitar. But he also had this aura about him, and when he talked with me, I felt peace, as if the warmth of God’s love had come close to me. I felt like I could share my freshman stress with him, could share anything with him. As we walked back across campus, and said, “Goodbye!” I knew I had walked with Jesus. I’m pretty sure that Gregg was just saying hi, and pretty sure he had no idea that being with him that day affected me like that, but he was wearing Christ well that day. Compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline, forgiveness, contentment, love—whenever we go, wherever we go, people will know—even if they can’t quite put their finger on it—that we are wearing Christ.
Last week, we talked about how many people think of church as a place where we go apart