What are you wearing?

This week our President’s wife, Michelle Obama, wore an expensive gown to a state dinner honoring the President of France. People who generally disapprove of the President’s leadership are questioning the propriety of Mrs. Obama wearing such an expensive gown when millions of Americans are unemployed. Others simply exposed their heart by wondering aloud, "What does wearing a $15,000 dress feel like?" (I don’t know what wearing a $2.00 dress feels like, but I have worn second-hand clothes from thrift shops.)

Newspapers and television outlets reviewed Mrs. Obama’s dress as they analyze the costumes worn by actresses and singers on the morning after awards shows. Designers vie for high profile showcases because if the public likes their creations, sales will translate into dollars. Dressing up is big business!

A long time ago a guest in a homiletics class fielded questions. One knows it was a very long time ago because one of the memorable questions was, "Is it right for a pastor to wear a sport coat in the pulpit?" Notice, the question wasn’t, "Is it good taste to wear jeans, or cargo pants, or T-shirts, or flip flops, or . . . , no, ‘sport coats!?’" The answer was profoundly important, "If what you wear is what people are talking about, you have worn the wrong thing!" Alas, we are still talking more about what to wear than the Message!

As the media critiqued Mrs. Obama’s choice of gowns and political adversaries pettily pointed to the price tag, I wondered why Christians found it important to give it a moment’s thought or to even comment. Jesus’ teaching turns men’s thoughts from the outside to the inside. The outward symbols of worship in the Older Testament are refocused on the heart, the inward parts of man in the Newer Testament.

Would it be better if we spoke about eternal clothes? The Apostle Paul wrote, "For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." (Galatians 3:27) That’s priceless! A mere $15,000 for tastefully arranged yard goods is not worthy to be compared nor should it usurp the centrality of Christ who clothes us.

Peter added, "All of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble." (1 Peter 5:5) Second-rate criticism of a national leader and his wife certainly doesn’t seem compatible with being clothed with humility. Can we find deliverance from petty pickiness and live up to the Name by which we are called?

Have we lost sight of the ultimate clothing expo? Certainly not! It is for that event that we live in joyful anticipation. John foresaw the event on Patmos while wearing prison garb, "After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb’" (Revelation 7:9-10). No cheap designer togs here! Hemlines, seams, bodices and sleeves are unimportant! The robes have been purchased by the blood of the Lamb. (1 Peter 1:9) Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

For us who know Him, idle chatter about gowns and dresses here has little meaning. The third stanza of Edward Mote’s, "The Solid Rock," captures the truth,
When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.
Charles Wesley’s "And can it be that I should gain?" reinforces the priceless righteousness which allows us to enter the main gate of heaven!
No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in him, is mine;
alive in him, my living Head,
and clothed in righteousness divine,
bold I approach th' eternal throne,
and claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach th' eternal throne,
and claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Our White House, the Kremlin and capitals everywhere are testaments to man’s best efforts. To dress well for special occasions in those place is proper and good. One day, very soon, we will be dressed as none can imagine!