“And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons.And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty.” (Exodus 28: 1-2)
The indiscipline and disobedience in the body of Christ has reached an alarming rate. We are at a place where sin is no longer an issue in many Christian gathering. This is because many church leaders have compromised the truth.
Unlike the Apostles and Prophets of old who did not fear speaking the truth at all times, most of today’s men of God are afraid to rebuke those who go wrong in the church. The main reason for such ungodly attitude is because of the crave for material things. The crave for material acquisition has led most church leaders to turn blind eyes to the disobedience of many believers in Christ under their care. Many of us have sacrificed obedience and holiness on the altar of prosperity.
Instead of rebuking those who err, greedy men of God will tell them sweet words because of the material benefits they receive from them. The church of Christ has come to a place where what is not acceptable in one place of worship is welcome in another. We have different doctrines in different churches. Worshipers go where they can do what they like and avoid where the truth is being told. When such believers are told the truth in one church, they take offense and run to where the practice is “See no evil and speak no evil.”
This is the reason believers in Christ can put on any type of dress, including torn, mini and tight fitting ones to church. They have deceived us that God does not care about what we wear. That is a lie, He cares. If God did not care about what we wear, He would not have designed dresses for Aaron and his sons whom He called to serve in his temple. Listen to what the Lord told Moses concerning Aaron and his children regarding their dressing.
“And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron’s sons. And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office. And these are the garments which they shall make; a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a broidered coat, a mitre, and a girdle: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron thy brother, and his sons, that he may minister unto me in the priest’s office.” ( Exodus 28: 1-4)
The entire chapter 28 of the book of Exodus speaks about God’s instruction to Moses concerning how the Lord wanted Aaron and his sons to dress and appear before His presence. Apart from describing the things which will form the material for their garments, the Lord also gave an instruction which many churches have ignored. It was about making sure that they did not appear before the Lord without being well covered.
“And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach.” (Exodus 28:42)
The above scriptures show us that God is interested in how we appear before Him. The Lord does not approve of His children coming to His presence without being properly covered. But what do we see today? In Many churches, believers in Christ, especially women dress in mini-skirts and other type of clothes which expose their breasts to the congregation. Even the wives of many men of God are guilty of this inappropriate behaviour.
Many of us have neglected God’s instruction that women should not wear what belongs to men and vice versa. Even wives of some men of God were tight-fitting trousers to church. They have neglected God’s commandment concerning how children of God should dress.
“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.”(Deuteronomy 22:5)
Some say the above commandment is no longer relevant because it is in the old testament. The same Pastors who say so also stand on the word of God in the same old testament to ask their followers to pay tithe and give first fruits. We approve of the old testament when it speaks about what we like it and condemn it when it does not.
Another group of people who dress as they like to, say the commandment about dressing was for the Jews and not for us. Yet, the same people claim the blessings of Abraham the father of the Jews for themselves. We choose what suits us and obey, then rejects what we don’t like. Meanwhile, both what we like and what we dislike are the word of God. We forget God will judge us based on His word and not on what we accept or reject from the same word.
Truth be told, if the church of Christ wants to stand out, church leaders must shun the greed for materialism. We must tell our followers the truth about Christ and the need to obey his commandment. We must differentiate ourselves from the world. We cannot be followers of Christ and dress like those in the world.
Many years ago, once you see a Christian lady, you will know her by her dressing. Today, there is no difference between how a prostitute dresses and some people who call themselves believers in Christ dress. Worldliness has entered the church and we have gladly received it.
Many church leaders think God called them to use his church as a business center for their profit. Instead of taking care of the flock which the Lord has placed in their care, they are rather using the same flock to make money. Such people have forgotten the advice God gave to church leaders through the Apostle Paul.
“And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.”(Acts 20:25-29)
From the above scripture, we see clearly how the Apostle charged men of God to protect the flock from evil men who pretend to be shepherds from God. Unfortunately, this is not the case in our time. Most Pastors are after money and not souls for Christ. Instead of protecting the flock, they have become devourers of same. That is why they allow worldly dressing in the house of God. Such men of God will not tell people the truth because they care more about what they will get from them than their salvation.
Once upon a time, a young man came to church wearing tight-fitting trousers with socks and slippers. I wondered what type of dressing that was. Some people described his trousers as leggings. I thought it was only women who wear leggings. Even at that, I know a God fearing woman won’t wear that thing in the house, not to talk of taking it to church. Yet, such manner of dressing has become a common thing with men, including some many men of God. They wear it everywhere, including to church service.
In those days, we did not have instrumentalists in the church. Someone brought the brother to help us. We appreciated his presence in our midst, but like many people who don’t care about what they wear to the house of God, he thought he could dress in a worldly way into the church. I know it is acceptable in many churches. But it is not so in our church. We dress to please our God, not our flesh.
That day, church service was already on when the brother walked in. He went and sat down behind the keyboard. But I did not allow him to operate. His dressing was not acceptable. We are in the house of God, not a nightclub. I did not rebuke him openly. Instead, I sent an usher tell him to dress properly. After the usher spoke to him. He walked out of the auditorium. From his demeanour, I knew he was angry. But I did not care. I will not tolerate indiscipline, not in my house, not in God’s sanctuary.
Church service ended that day, and the brother did not come back. Interestingly, he lives within the church premises. If he wanted to obey my instruction, it probably may have taken him about ten minutes to change his dress and return to church service. But he did not do that. He was angry because I refused to allow him to stay in church dressed in leggings. So he abandoned church service that day. He did not care that he was the only keyboardist in our midst. You can imagine how our praise and worship session went.
Now, let us consider few things.
1. Will that brother dress that way to where he works? No. He knows the rule. They say there is no rule in God’s house.
2. Will he attend a job interview dressed in that manner? No. He will not pass the interview based on improper dressing.
3. If the President of his country invited him to a meeting, will he dress like that to his office? No. He knows that. So, he won’t dare.
4. If his boss at the work place asked him to dress properly, will he be angry? Maybe, but he won’t show it. He will do what the boss said to avoid losing his job.
Believers in Christ respect everyone but will dishonors our Creator. We fear men but we don’t fear God. Many Pastors won’t correct us when we go wrong because they want our money and services. We please men and displease God. When we told that we are wrong and should repent, claim we are under grace. To us, God’s grace has become a license to do evil. Very sad!
Sometimes, people use the position they occupy in church to blackmail pastors. Probably, our brother thought he could dress anyhow and stay in church because he was the only keyboardist. That could work somewhere, not where I am. I have learnt to worship God by merely clapping hands and singing without a microphone. Despite that, the Holy Spirit will still move mightily in our midst. God demands obedience, not sacrifice.
The problem with many of us who claim that we are Christians is that we do not see any benefit in serving God. We are more interested in material things than our salvation. We do not worship God because we love him. We worship him for material benefits. We go to God because we want money, wife, husband, children, job, healing, deliverance, favour, business deals, contracts and so forth. That’s why we run after false prophets and rebellious men of God who will not show us the way of salvation.
How many Christians worship God for whom He is? We have no respect for God. Men are more important to us than our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who died to save us from condemnation. We respect men because of material gain, but disrespects God. We do not see any benefit in serving Him.
Christians, we are pitiful! We need help! We have become too blind to see what is ahead of us. Satan has blinded us. We must wake up.
Because of the inability of many pastors to guide their followers properly and teach them the way of the Lord, the enemy is gradually taking over the church of Christ. We have come to a place where it has become extremely difficult to differentiate a believer in Christ and a non-believer. We can clearly see this in the way many Christians dress and speak.
Though we claim to be Christians, our manner of dressing and speech is not different from that of people in the world. Many church leaders and their wives are also guilty of this. If a man of God and his wife dress in the manner of worldly people, what will the followers do?
Church leaders, do not mislead the people of God. Teach them the truth and save yourself from God’s wrath because each one of us will account for the souls under his care on the last day.
If you are a believer in Christ, don’t sit under a Pastor who will encourage you to disobey God. You will do so to your own peril. Search the scriptures for the truth and follow it. Each of us will account for himself or herself on the last day. You won’t blame your Pastor if you failed to make heaven.
Truth be told, Christians, we need to change our mindset. God is not happy with our behaviour. We cannot be followers of Christ and dress like worldly people. The Bible says clearly that men should not put on what belongs to women and vice versa. But we have ignored all that. We come to God’s house with women in trousers and men in tight fitting shirts and pants. The very thing God says is an abomination to Him is what we find pleasures in doing.
Remember, God cares about how we dress. If you will not appear before your boss, President, King or any Authority dressed anyhow, never come in God’s presence dressed shabbily. Let us fear God and honour him. God bless you.
Source: “Truth be told (TBT) series”
Author: Apostle Frank B. Ogbu
Head Pastor/Overseer
Champion Grace Eternal Ministries
Ayikai Doblo, Amasaman
Accra, Ghana
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