Proper Clothes

For several months prior to my daughter’s wedding, a prime topic of conversation focused on clothing—not only for the bridal party, but also for the immediate family, extended family, and guests. People wanted to know details about the attire of those participating and the colors of the wedding celebration.

Why? So, they could dress appropriately. And, while each person put on unique attire, they all sought to be respectful of the happy couple’s wishes. How one dresses for a wedding conveys an attitude of support and comradery, of entering into the lives of the bridal couple. Dressing appropriately is a symbol of community and shared lives.

Despite the RSVPs and interactions with invited guests, the bridal couple may have an unspoken worry: “What if no one shows up?” Oh, how awful it would be for two people who have planned long and hard for their special day, who have sent invitations well in advance and received encouraging responses, to be left standing alone when the moment comes!

Like the parable in Matthew 22:1-14, God has prepared a wedding feast in honor of His Son, and He has sent out the invitations so that everyone knows they are invited (Romans 1:20). The invitations went out first to the Jews, the ones chosen to share God’s love with the world, but they rejected Him. The invitations have now been extended to everyone to participate, not only in that grand wedding feast, but also in the opportunity to share the message of God’s love with the world.

On Good Friday, as we commemorate the Crucifixion of our Savior, let us once again consider God’s invitation. Do you fall into the category of knowing you are invited yet failing to accept? Perhaps you have grown up in a Christian home and have not yet made the faith of your parents your own. Perhaps you have fallen away from following Him. Perhaps you feel as if you are not good enough to have a seat at the banquet table.

Whatever the case, let us take this day to remember that God has graciously given us His invitation sent well in advance of the wedding date. May we all accept His invitation and share His gospel message with the world until the wedding date arrives. Let us dive deeper into His love for us so that He can transform our hearts, shape us into Christlikeness, and clothe us with attire that is fitting for the wedding feast to end all wedding feasts.

As we each take our seat, let us always remember that God has gifted us in unique ways and has clothed us with the righteousness of Christ. We do not have to earn or fight for our seat at His table; instead, we can bless one another as we grow together. None of us are good enough; it is the blood of the Lamb of God, whom we celebrate, that covers us and allows us to be present at His table.

Jacqueline Coleman

Jacqueline Coleman, CWM, has been married to her high school sweetheart for 27 years, with whom she raised and homeschooled five children. She is serving as the missions pastor at Palm Coast Bible Church in Palm Coast, FL. She has a BS in youth ministry from Toccoa Falls College and an MA in biblical studies from Alliance Theological Seminary, where she is pursuing an MDiv in missions and theology.

Five Responses to “Proper Clothes”

  1. Thank you for sharing this. What beautiful reminder and analogy of this “invitation” to participate in this wedding feast, but also invite others to the feast by sharing Christ’s love and the knowledge of His saving grace. Blessings, Angela

  2. I was drawn to read this article on “Proper Clothes” for two reasons: our daughter is planning to be wed on 9/2 and our granddaughter is planning to be wed on 11/6. If it is important to dress appropriately for a wedding, is it not as important to dress appropriately when serving our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus?

    As a former Alliance Pastor’s Wife, now retired, I am appalled at times as to what believers consider “proper clothes” for those who represent Christ on the “stage”. I am NOT against slacks being worn in a worship service, but I feel it is disrespectful to our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, to see ripped jeans, shorts and inappropriate tops worn by worship teams throughout churches. I think we have tried to become so much like the world to attract people to our churches that we have let down our standards so that we look just like unbelievers. Modesty is no longer taught, and we no longer stop to think about how our clothes may cause another to sin in their thought lives.

    We must remember, if it is important to dress appropriately for a wedding or to have an audience with the Queen of England, why then is it acceptable to not dress appropriately when we serve Christ Jesus on Sunday Mornings? We should welcome all unbelievers to our services BUT in so doing, we should set the standard and not accept the standard of the world.

    • Thank you, Lorna, for your comments. We trust that you will have opportunity to address your concerns in a loving manner with the individuals who may have unintentionally caused offense in regards to their choice of attire. We all have opportunity to become better representatives of Christ when we listen to each other with a teachable spirit.

  3. Great analogy–something most of us can relate to. Now you have given us something to think about and act on. Well written!

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