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By Jason Hargrave
That the experience of a Christian is inward and heartfelt, we do
not at all contest. It is indeed an inward experience that grants
the soul new life and power over sin, but these truths will in no
wise negate our argument.
The rock and rap musicians of our age are consistent with their
profession. Not only do they profess to be something, but they look
like what they are. Take the young man with the sleeveless shirt and
baggy shorts who loves the game of basketball. Not only does he love
it in his heart, but he is consistent with that affection and
appears the part of a basketball player. Then we have the country
music singer who appears to be exactly what he is.
All of these that we have mentioned have strong merit to the claims
of what they are. Now we come to the professed Christian world, and
what contradiction greets our eyes. The so-called “Jesus people”
look like the “rap people.” The “Jesus lovers” look like the “rock
lovers.” We do not seek to offend any child of God whatsoever, but
may this simply awaken your better judgment. Let me put it this way.
If I were a soldier in the US Army and constantly affirmed my love
for my country, would I not be suspect if I wore the uniform of
another country? Who would trust me? My contradiction of dress would
discredit my claims.
May every true Christian see this clearly. The professed Christian
world, generally, cannot win the world today because they are
the world. They are involved in all that the world is involved in,
and not only so, but they look like the world also. We do not say
that the way we dress makes us Christians, but by virtue of being
Christians, we will look like Christians.
We cannot win the world by conforming to it. We know that Paul said
he became all things to all men, but this same Paul told us not to
be conformed to this world. Paul would have lawfully and
scripturally gone as far as he could to help people. If we do more
than this, we are operating in our own minds and this brings
tragedy, not salvation. The professed Christian world has conformed
so well to the secular world that there is nothing to win people to.
This is a fact. If our Jesus parties, raps, rocks, square dances,
dresses in Tommy Hilfiger clothing, and leaves people with no
definite soul transformation that gives them power over sin, what do
we really have to offer? May every true Christian rally to these
clear truths.
Does Jesus really care that much about our outward appearance? Yes,
insomuch that the scriptures teach us how to dress and how not to
dress (I Pet. 3:3-5, I Tim.2:9-10). If you had disciples whom you
commanded to represent yourself to the world, how would you want
them to represent you? Would you not want them to represent you
according to who you really were? If you were a cowboy, would you
want your disciples to look like rappers? Would the president of the
United States send people with pink hair and shorts on across the
seas for peace talks?
How much more would the holy and perfectly pure God of heaven not
send His people forth in this way. God is not a compromiser. He’s
not in the business of bending and bowing to the world. He
rightfully demands our obedience to His rules for our own good. In
ourselves we do not know how to win the world, but Christ does.
Worldly men will get tired of the world and all it has to offer. God
forbid that professing Christians offer these weary souls the exact
thing that they are weary of. May God help us.
Of course there will always be those religious people who hate the
truths that we here present. Such may discard all this as
“nonsense,” but the true child of God will be concerned about the
desires of Christ. Outward appearance is very important. To dress
like a Christian doesn’t make one a Christian, but this is hardly an
excuse not to dress like one.
Do you look like a Christian?
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