Before i answer a question that i field often I wanted to explain things for those of you who have been wanting me to answer the follow-ups to "Love & Respect". The truth is i answered them once, for about an hour, and then my laptop froze up and i lost the whole post plus alot of research. So now if you want my response just call or e-mail me and i shall let you know. But on to the fun stuff.
I often get asked why our ministry team in the Contemporary service doesnt wear "church clothes". Well to be honest with you i have a few answers i always give, but they all basically mean the same things. I will give you 3 reasons here
1.I think the idea of church clothes is all together odd.
What i mean is, the American/Western way of church has risen so far into how church should LOOK or ACT, that it even places requirements on how to DRESS. Its a little silly. I wear a shirt and jeans most sundays, and for me, that is church clothes. To a certain outfit like a tie, jacket, dress shoes, etc, for the one-hour Sunday service makes very little sense to me. What i mean is, why portray a professional outfit to people, when, we arent? We arent a BUSINESS. Some say we are, but they are 100% mistaken. Jesus isnt a product, he is a creator, lover of everything good, and a savior, but not a product we are selling. E-mail me and i will expand on this thought.
2. Worship on sunday is killing worship monday-saturday.
What I mean is, as a church we emphasize so hard on that hour, that we leave very little reverance or importance for the entire week. Worship is so many things, from service, so appriciation, to effort, to love. And to be frank, listening and singing songs and hearing we talk for 30 minutes is sort of "mailing it in" as far as calling yourself a worshipper of God. When we ask people to dress different (or better as some say) on Sunday, we are calling Sunday the numero uno of days so get ready to experience God, and that is, well, stupid. Every day is a new chance to serve and experience. As scholars say, worship is a positive response to what God has done, is doing and will do in your personal life. For why call Sunday a "worship service" and not the rest of the week? So to me, to dress up on that day only furthers the importance of that day over all others.
3. I'm not traditional.
I know, no surprise, but i am not. The old songs are just that, OLD. They arent evil, they arent lame, but they are out of touch with today's society. If you dont listen to that style on your radio, why choose it to praise Christ? And with the tradtional type, i think you border on being religious. And when we are religious we seem to lose touch with Christ to begin with. It seems like we kind of forget that we arent hear for religious "practices", but we are hear for Jesus. Now i know we have many who consider themselves traditional, and i am fine with that. You have your woredrobe i have mine. Dont tell our contemporary tribe how to act or dress, and they wont do it to you either.
And a bonus forther:
4. I am who I am.
If you are coming to join us on Sunday or Saturday night (will explain this later) then you are here to see us, not someone else. People who identify with me, do it because i am 100% transparent. I will tell you my weaknesess, my faults, my loves, and the things that annoy me within a 30 minute sermon, because you need to see me, not someone i want to be or someone that anyone else wants me to be. AS the author John Burke once said, when it comes to church, No perfect people allowed.
So yes, i wont change, at least not anytime soon. I have been approached to, but i respectfully decline, always. But if you have anymore questions, let me know.
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