Reverence in God's house

IOW, the shirt and tie (or whatever your church dress is) are there to impress the congregation, NOT THE LORD!

Thanks for clarifying that we do not need a special manner of dress to meet God.

 

I sleep with the pastor's wife.. does that count? :smilewinkgrin:

Maybe I should tell you I am the pastor!:laugh:

 

Who ever said our dress or undress impresses God? Naked came I in and naked I go out to meet God. Dressing nicely, not extravagantly, is not to impress anyone but simply to give God more than your work clothes or bathing attire. Reverencing God goes much farther than the threads we adorn. Do you think the world deserves more than God?

 

I just think that it is foolishness to think that you might actually "give God" something by "dressing nicely" versus wearing your "work clothes or bathing attire". I will agree with you that, "Reverencing God goes much farther than the threads we adorn." It is the cleanliness on the inside of the "cup" and not the outside of the "cup" that pleases God.

 

But you don't witness to God, you witness FOR God.

 

So how is me wearing my 'best clothes' a witness for God. Read James 2 about wearing apparel in church.

 

1) the ground on which he stood was 'holy'. Actually, the meaning probable goes deeper..... as earth is not holy.... but God is holy and whereever God chooses to meet and fellowship with us becomes 'holy ground' by his presence. The shoes represented one's travel through the world whereby soil builds up.... and so we are touched by sin in our lives and by the filth we come in contact through the presence of sin in this world.... so we confess our sins and we cast off the other weights which so easily beset us.

2) the concept of 'church' did not exist at that time in the minds of the people. so Moses wasn't being 'churchy'..... good point, Rev. But obediance and reverence go hand in hand. As the tabernacle represented a place set apart and uniquely built according to God's plan whereby the people would 'meet' and worship God..... in that day.... it also represents Christ.

3) In the OT, the people 'went' to the tabernacle. Today Christ comes to us and we become the temple of his presence through the indwelling of the holy spirit.

4) Agreed. Until recently rethinking this.... I was of the opinion that 'church' was a place for reverence. But, as I consider the spiritual impact of the church which is a building not made with hands.... realizing it is made of 'lively stones' which are the people indwelt by the holy spirit..... and that our building represent many things and purposes to us..... some worshipful and some of fellowship.... but the body of Christ is made up of many members.... people and not buildings, I think the focus should grow to our own yielding to God daily and allowing him to indwell and express himself in and through our body temples.... where ever we are as fitting of holy, God honoring living where ever we are and in everything we do. If I (or others) ever realize the impact of this reality..... our appearance might change.... not for Sunday worship.... but as an expression of modest and unaffected dress every day.... Our attitude might be changed from that of whinning, critical, selfish, boastful, and complaining (ouch.... my toes hurt.... maybe if I remove my sandals) to that of thankful expression, gratitude and praise to God first and then to those around us...... our homes to cleaner and more ordered living ....... and our work to better quality and more cheerfulness 'as unto the Lord'.... among other things...... so that it then matters little whether it is in a building or whereever we are, we are ever mindful of God's presence and in that there is a readiness and reverence and anticipation for whatever opportunity presents itself... to worship, or to praise, or to sing songs, or to share the gospe,l or to share fellowship, or to pray, or to do our work, or enjoy our play, with the reverence that God is with us...... not stuck in a building somewhere and remembered only on Sundays and other meeting times. This means.... I might leave the holy ground even in small things like grudgingly doing the dishes or cleaning or neglecting the house or watching a program of violence or seduction, or 'invite' the holy ground by being aware of God's presence in the joy of reflecting it in my housework (ouch ouc ouch... my feet again) and in my choice of entertainment or what thoughts I keep in my mind, etc.

 

Oh, the fashion show verse. That has nothing to do with worship and reverence to God. What a cheap shot! I don't dress all showy expecting favortism and social prominance and hope to have a better position in society by having a better seat. So how's the congregation meeting in your shower going? Have you all changed to your bed? You all dressed or not?

 

Good points, WC, now if we can get C4K and his congregation out of bed or the shower. Whichever is THE place today.

 

It (C4K's) was an honest question that you just glossed over. If YOU value the outward appearance so much, it is going to affect your perception of others. God sees what is important- the heart. Your clothing MAY BE a testimony for others, but it is NOT the adorning which God wants us to have as a testimony.

 

Well, it's nice to see that Pharasacism is alive and well...

 

The topic is reverence in God's house not in anyone's shower or bed. If you all want to change modest apparel into casual apparel that is your wish. C4K derailed the thread from God's house to any other place, so stop with the carnal blame games and name calling. I'm not going to be the morsel you all want to devour. I'm out on this one!

 

rbell, correct me if I am wrong... but I don't think your comment is expressed towards me or C4K as addressed in the quoted post.

Be that as it may.... whether or not intended.... Pharasieism....can be a subtle snare into which any of us get snarled from time to time and can profit from reminders, such as you give, to check ourselves..... and come clean. God is holy. His holiness is beyond my own understanding.... I will admit ..... but I do know the Bible gives me enough glimspes of his holiness to know that I cannot come close by a mere direction of my own will and strength ...... and even with his help, I'll not be perfected until he completes his change in me..... impossible until this mortal is transformed into immortality and that through his own provision of clothing me in his own righteousness. Nevertheless, he calls us out to be 'holy' as he is holy: I believe this means to let him apply himself and cleanse and fill every part of our life and do not cease to yield until Christ be formed in each of us.... and we become so transformed that when others are around us... it is Christ in us which they see and are drawn to and not we ourselves. Reverence, then, is more a part of our continuous relationship to God..... and there may be times we live so aware of his presence that that reverence in honoring him is present in whatever we are called to do..... and there are times we live where we are so disobediant or distracted or deny his presence that our own irrereverance is on display as in selfishness, pride, self-righteousness, judgement of others, etc. that the Christ who dwells within us is hidden, who is our hope in glory, is hidden from the view of others who would see him and be drawn to him had we stood on that holy ground or solid rock with a reverence or awareness of his presence through which he speaks to others ...... and not we ourselves.

I guess in a way, what I am trying to say is 'reverence is not a standard by which we can rightly judge each other...... but, instead, it relates to a standard by which we allow God to measure us and yield to his power to cleanse and transform us.... on an individual level; a process of growth in faith and obediance to God in which we cease to be satisfied at looking at our own reflection and allow him to transform us to mirror him to the world. This is not done in a building or meeting place.... but in everything we do, and we make our choice in ever moment we are aware of his presence. In this we become less self conscious of the judgement of others and more conscious of God's presence and allow him to lead and dwell within us.

 

You're right...it was not. :thumbs:

 

Here's what happened at the church we were attending last Easter:

One gal had a nice new fancy Easter dress, shoes, the whole outfit.

But when she learned she had guests coming who were unbelievers and too poor to afford even newer jeans, she wore a pair of everyday jeans and a simple sweater to church so they wouldn't feel out of place.

I do believe that was reverance for the Lord.

 

No one "changed modest apparel into casual apparel" except you. No one here is advocating "immodest apparel" which by the way does not necessarily equate to "casual apparel".

 

:wavey::applause::thumbsup: Amen!

 

Sounds more like sympathy than reverence. My wife's choice is to go to those "horrible thrift stores", sho gets upset if I buy her a new dress. Why, even Madea says "Clothes will make you poe". Ok, pack, feast on me some more. I see mexdeaf had to twist my words. Ruff, ruff!

 

Somethings twisted here- and it's not my quotations.