Dressing Up For God

My grandfather sold men’s clothing in a very nice downtown Dallas establishment. And, believe me, he was a sharp dresser. He knew how to match a tie to a suit or which shirt looked best with a double-breasted sport coat. In fact, once a month the clothing store put on a little fashion show to highlight the latest merchandise, and Grandfather was a model in the show. He was dapper and he loved to show it.

I started my business career at the same Dallas store, but unlike Grandfather who was selling clothes on the first floor, I was in the basement, in a stock room, counting, sorting, and making sure the salesmen got all the correct items they needed. Not very glamorous, but necessary.

I don’t remember any Gospel verses that describe Jesus as a man of style, or any that tell us he was concerned about or conscious of how he looked. On the other hand, I recall more than one mention of how the religious leaders, the Pharisees, loved to look good in front of people. Appearance mattered to them, even if they had to fake it. And this was especially true about their religious appearance; “holier than thou” might have been their mantra. Well, they might have looked good on the outside, but they failed the inside test. And Jesus never let them off the hook: Be what you say your are. Show us how much you care, don’t just tell us. Roll up those embroidered sleeves and get your hands dirty.

That language, that approach to faith, hasn’t changed over the centuries. He’s still saying the same thing, except now it’s to us. Don’t wear your religion, weave it into every aspect of your life. Jesus could spot a phony a mile away…still can. It occurs to me that Appearance + Action = Authentic. Well, look at me! I’m a formula creator! Never mind.