Clothed in Christ

Pastor Beth Firme
Apples United Church of Christ

(9/2023) Did you ever stop to think about what physical appearances really mean? Crimes worth millions have been committed by those wearing the "right" clothes, while some of the richest persons in the world choose to dress well under the standard of societal acceptance. Some people would say that the clothing makes the man, and others would be of the exact opposite opinion. The well-heeled person has a better chance of making a good impression, my instructors always said. But what if none of that matters and the clothing that is of the most importance is clothing we can't really see, but must instead don daily as part of who we are?

What kind of clothes do have in your closet? If we're anything alike, your clothing, like mine, covers a myriad of uses - shorts, t-shirts, work-out clothes, dress pants and shirts, skirts and ties, jackets and belts and blouses. Don't forget socks and underclothes, and certainly don't forget the shoes (Imelda Marcos, eat your heart out!!). And don't forget the outer wear - Jackets, scarves, hats, mittens - you name it, we've got it. We have clothes to cover every contingency, from hot to cold, dress up to dress down, sneakers, 3" stilettos, boots, cycling shoes and everything else in between. But have you ever seen clothing like that which Paul describes in Colossians 3, 12-17?

"As God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another and if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."

What color compassion? What texture kindness? What shade patience? What pattern love? What weave for meekness and humility?

These are clothes that our poor, human eyes cannot see, but can only be perceived by the Spirit. The must be fabricated within the heart and worn in the soul, and practiced by those who are the hands and feet of Christ. These clothes are shown in our physical actions - reach out to others in compassion, love, and kindness, show patience and be meek and humble by not putting yourself above others in destructive pride.

Paul says, that in order to wear the "new clothing of Christ" we must get rid of all such things - meaning that we must remove from our thoughts the blackness of hatred, the violent reds of anger, the sickly-green poison of slander, and the purple of bruises left by abusive language that comes from our mouths. We must listen to Paul's admonishment and set our minds on the things that are above, not things that are of this earth; we must build each other up, not tear each other down. We must also put to death within ourselves those earthly impurities that would keep us from God - passion, evil, impurity - the things that are not of God's heaven.

We are no strangers to things we shouldn't do. All we have to do is look around - repeated politicians in "compromising" positions and numerous robberies, shootings, and attacks that leave us wondering why? Even the little things - the doubts we express about a boss, the criticism leveled at a colleague, a lie told to keep up appearances, a truth omitted out of fear, a snarky comment made about someone who is different - perhaps gay, lesbian, eccentric. The gossip, slander, and judgmental comments we make every day without thinking.

We all know these things exist - they touch our lives every day, in some format or another. And at times, we despair. We forget that there is more to life than this - that we are but temporary fixtures here and that we are really citizens of heaven.

And these aren't even only about us as individuals, but also as a church community. The part of the lesson that reads -

"Bear with one another and if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body."

- is really about how the church should behave, about how the body of the church should be clothed in love, and harmony, and forgiveness.

And yet, there is hope!!! The birth of the baby in the manger led to the teaching of the man who died on the Cross out of love for us and to remove the stain of sin from us that we might know His love. The birth of Jesus leads not only to His death, but also to His resurrection, and in the resurrected Son of God lies our ultimate hope.

In addition to the message of birth, death, and resurrection of Christ comes the message of redemption and purification of the people of God. For now, with Jesus birth and ultimate resurrection, we can approach God once again, through Christ, and become the People of God.

This season is about repentance, rebirth, renewal, change, hope and love. Paul reminds us in Colossians 3: 9-11 that we should not lie to one another seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self which is being renewed in knowledge according to the images of its creator. In that renewal, there is no Greek, Jew, circumcised, uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is in all and in all. We are all equal and fully participant in God's kingdom. We are renewed, and reborn, just as Jesus is born. Hope and Love have changed us into the people of God. We have stripped away the old, and have become clothed in love of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus the Son of God has claimed us for His own and clothed us in the fabric of His love.

The fruits of the spirit adorn those who love Jesus the Savior. As Christians we are called to wear the clothes of our redemption and to practice those elements of Jesus's teaching that would mark us as those who are zealous for good deeds. Hope, love, mercy, kindness, forgiveness, compassion, patience, peace. These all adorn those who would call themselves by His name - Christians.

Does your daily ensemble include a scarf of peace? Shoes of humility? A jacket of compassion? A belt of love, to tie it all together?

Are you wearing the dazzling raiment of hope, love, and renewal that Jesus gives?

Or are you clothed in the finery of the world, the things valued by people that have no bearing in heaven?

These clothes, which are invisible to human eyes, will become more fully visible in the eyes of God, because once you allow Jesus Christ, the change agent, into your life, your outerwear will never be the same.