A call this week from a sister in Christ prompted the particular thoughts of this article. She was visiting in the “north” country, but the things she spoke about that are happening in the Lord’s church there are also happening around us. We’re seeing more and more ways that Satan is enticing Christians to get further and further from the truth of the Gospel of Christ.
She spoke of immodest dress in the church as young girls were attending worship service scantily clad in short-shorts and halter tops. There is a sense in which one’s clothing doesn’t matter as long as one’s heart is right with God. However, one can dress in such a way that he or she causes those nearby to have a problem in approaching God in true, pure worship; that is a problem. The apostle Paul warned the young preacher Timothy of such problems as he said, “women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety” (1 Timothy 2:9). Modesty is defined as “not calling attention to or exposing too much of one’s body; decent.”
Dressing in such a way as to interfere with the worship of others should make one ashamed. Further, let’s be reminded that it’s not always females who violate this teaching but males often do so when they dress inappropriately and call attention to their physique. In addition, this teaching does not apply just to how one dresses for worship services; it applies to how a Christian must always present himself or herself as a servant of God. When one dresses scantily at any time in public view, he or she runs the risk of causing someone to lust, and Peter taught that Christians must “abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul” (1 Peter 2:11). Dressing in a way to cause someone to lust is sin.
Our sister also reported that a man who led a public prayer in the assembly in question did not address his prayer to God but instead to Christ. Early on in Christ’s earthly ministry, He taught in His “sermon on the mount” that our prayers are to be addressed to God and not to Himself. He said, “Pray after this manner: Our Father Who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name” (Matthew 6:9). If Jesus felt the necessity to teach us to address our prayers this way, why would anyone risk not having God hear his prayer?
Then, the one who led that public prayer ended it by simply saying “amen” and not petitioning for God’s favor through Christ. Scriptures certainly leave no room for doubt that Christians must come to God through His Son. Paul made this clear in Ephesians 2:18 as he said, “through Him we have access by one Spirit unto the Father.” He said again in Ephesians 3:11-12, “According to the eternal purpose in Christ Jesus, our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence by our faith in Him.” God’s blessings are granted only as we seek God through the name of Jesus. Our Lord Himself said, “Whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in My name, He may give it to you” (John 15:16). That doesn’t mean that we will be granted every one of our heart’s desires if we pray for them through the name of Jesus, but it does mean that we must approach God through Jesus to receive the blessings for which we ask.
Paul put it this way: “Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Colossians 3:17). Why must we approach God through Christ? Because “God has highly exalted Him and given Him a name which is above every name; that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians. 2:9ff).
Christians are always expected to dress, speak and look like children of God. We must glorify God through the name of Jesus.
