21 Jul, 2008
What do your clothes say?
Paul makes a fashion statement.
It's the law: No sagging pants in Chicago suburb
LYNWOOD, Ill.—Be careful if you have saggy pants in the south Chicago suburb of Lynwood. Village leaders have passed an ordinance that would levy $25 fines against anyone showing three inches or more of their underwear in public.
Eugene Williams is the mayor of Lynwood. He says young men walk around town half-dressed, keeping major retailers and economic development away. He calls the new law a hot topic.
The American Civil Liberties Union says the ordinance targets young men of color.
Young adults in the village, like 21-year-old Joe Klomes, say the new law infringes on their personal style. He says leaders should instead spend money on making the area look nicer.
photo courtesy images.google.com & story twincities.com, 7/20/08
Colossians 3:9-14 (MSG)
9-11Don't lie to one another. You're done with that old life. It's like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you've stripped off and put in the fire. Now you're dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.
12-14So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It's your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about making a fashion statement for Christ?
What does the saggy pants style reveal about today's youth culture? How low is too low? How much should be seen by others?
After reading Paul's words you have to think about the fact that maybe our clothes aren't revealing enough - of our new nature in Christ.
Even if you wear your pants too high, we need to understand that God, our designer, has a selected clothing line for us to wear. Don't worry. Christ's fashion is not seasonal or trendy. Just holy.
Paul is challenging us to wear our brand new nature which is what Christ gives us when we receive His gift of salvation for our sins. It means that our actions should match our faith. If we claim to follow Christ, our "look" should be like Jesus. Christ-like clothing will not match the world's "look", but Jesus calls us to make a "fashion statement". Besides, wouldn't it be fun to start a new trend?
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Thank God for the new nature He has given you through your faith in Jesus Christ. Ask God's Spirit to daily help you clothe yourself with Christ's holy wardrobe.
- Memorize Colossians 3:10 as a reminder of what to wear every day.
- Paul mentions 8 items of Christ-like clothing. Pick out the one you have trouble "fitting into" right now and make it a daily prayer focus until you look Godly in it.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- This next week, every time you stand in front of your closet trying to decide what to wear, briefly pray for Christ-like character and for others to see Jesus in your style.
- Listen for conversations about clothes (try to count how many in one week) and listen to Jesus giving you the nudge to share a little about your story and the new "clothing line" He has given you.
- August 2008 [19]
- July 2008 [22]
- June 2008 [13]
- May 2008 [20]
- April 2008 [22]
- March 2008 [21]
- February 2008 [19]
- January 2008 [20]
- December 2007 [19]
- November 2007 [16]
- October 2007 [20]
- September 2007 [18]
- August 2007 [12]
- July 2007 [12]
- June 2007 [10]
- May 2007 [12]
- April 2007 [10]
- March 2007 [11]
- February 2007 [14]
- January 2007 [7]
- December 2006 [4]
- November 2006 [13]
- October 2006 [17]
- September 2006 [11]
- August 2006 [16]
- July 2006 [11]
- June 2006 [3]
