I don't mean to brag, but I am a pretty big deal. You might say that I have somewhat of a celebrity status. When I go places, people recognize me. Ok that sounds a little like bragging (actually a lot), but in my line of work I get a lot of exposure. From weddings and funerals, to being on stage every Sunday morning, I am in a very unique light. So imagine my surprise when I was given a reality check the other day.
I was simply picking up a few things for the church at our local hardware store. As I was heading to the checkout, I noticed a lady who just recently started coming to church with her family. She just moved to the area and I think this was her first day on the job because she was being trained by another lady. I purposely went to her line to give her confidence and tell her how grateful I was that she had been attending the church. As I began to checkout, I noticed that she had not recognized me, so I started to talk about the church. Finally she asked if I was the pastor at that Christian Center Church. When I told her yes, she immediately said "I am so sorry pastor, I didn't recognize you with your clothes on." I looked over at the other girl that was there with us and saw the expression on her face. She must have been thinking "what kind of church is this". I assured her, and anyone else within earshot, that I usually wear clothes but am a little more dress up on Sundays besides jeans, a T-shirt and Hat.
We all know what the lady meant, but I think it brings up a good point. We often live two lives. One we live at church. You know, the dress nice, watch your mouth, carry your Bible with you Sundays. But then on Monday, we seem to live another life. Just like changing clothes, we change lifestyles.
For example, if we were to come to work dressed like we did on Sunday, our co-workers would think we flipped a lid. If we showed up at the ballpark or at a social gathering with our church clothes on, it would just make people look at us and make us feel uncomfortable. The same is true if we acted the same way on Monday that we do on Sunday. People just would not know how to take us. So we blend in.
James 1:21-24 says: "Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was."(NKJV) James also calls this type of person "double minded"(James 1:8).
We have the opportunity to see things in our encounters with Jesus that can change our lives. Just like looking in a mirror, we notice the things that need changing, but often we only want them changed on Sundays. We simply walk away and forget what kind of person we were.
God's desire for us is to look like Christians all week long. So even though we may keep our Sunday dress and suit in the closet, we can still live like it's Sunday all throughout the week. People might not recognize you at first but at least you've got the right clothes on.
