“What to Wear?”
A sermon by Sid Burgess for Edgewood PC, Birmingham, AL
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Texts: Matthew 22:1-14, Philippians 4:1-9
Of all the great philosophical questions in life--Who am I? Why am I here? What is the meaning of life? Of all the great philosophical questions of life perhaps none is more persistent than, ‘What am I going to wear?’ Think about it. The question comes up every single day! And if there is more than one event in the day, the question pops up again--maybe even three or four times in single 24 hour span. This is a serious issue. No one wants to be out of place. Show up in shirt sleeves when everyone else is in coat and tie. . . . . Come in jeans and a t-shirt when everyone is wearing a dress and heels . . . . How embarrassing!
In certain situations, improper attire can result in your being denied admission! “No shirt, no shoes, no service!” Today, even Jesus seems to be concerned about dressing for success. Listen to this summary of the tale Jesus tells in Matthew 22:
King’s son marries; king throws party. King invites guests; guests snub king. King enraged. (End of guests.) King starts over. King invites more guests: anyone and everyone. This time (big surprise), guests come. King inspects guests; one guest inappropriately dressed. King enraged. (End of guest.) 1
That shorthand version is offered by Anna Carter Florence, one of the preaching professors at Columbia Seminary. Professor Florence says her first reaction to this parable—perhaps yours, too-- “is utter amazement bordering on outrage:”
The kingdom of God hinges on dress codes??
Our salvation comes down to wearing the right dress?? 2
Thank goodness for the Reformed tradition’s principle which holds that we are to use scripture to interpret scripture. To interpret this story about an ill-clad guest getting the boot, we must hold it in tension with Matthew 6:
Therefore I tell you, do not worry . . . . about your body, what you will wear. Is not the body more than clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow (vv.25,28).
So, that’s one text for Mom and Dad, and one text for teenagers. One text for the parents warning that improper attire--those flip flops, those droopy drawers, will get you thrown into the outer darkness. One text for teen who says, ‘Relax, Mom, remember the lilies of the field.’
Now, before the argument heats up too much, consider Professor Florence’s second point:
My second reaction to this parable (she writes) reminds me of the story of Jesus cursing the fig tree. They are both expressions of extremes, of times when Jesus seems to go almost overboard in his reaction to something. (A fig tree that doesn’t produce fruit?! WHAM! Curse it! A wedding guest without a wedding garment?! WHAM! Off with his head!) 3
Florence continues:
What strikes me about both stories is that Jesus is making a point about integrity: Be who you are. Let your life express whose you are. So if you’re a fig tree. . ., then be a fig tree! Make figs! If you’re a wedding guest . . ., then look like you’re at a wedding instead of a funeral! Take off the long face, change the droopy attitude, put on your party clothes and celebrate—because this is a celebration! And anyone who isn’t happy to be here—and happy to see who else is here—is officially uninvited! 4
Anna Carter Florence goes on to compare the appearance of some of us who come to worship on Sunday morning . . . . She compares us sad-sacks to old Eeyore, that pessimistic, gloomy, old grey stuffed donkey who is a friend of Winnie-the-Pooh.
To look at (these sad Christians) you would never guess that salvation is a good thing. You would never know, to hear them tell it, that Christ has made a difference. They have no wedding garment—no outer sign that this really is a party, that we really are . . . "being-saved," that the gospel is really and truly good news! 5
To be sure, some folks are just not the celebrating types. Wouldn’t be caught dead in a tux. They want no fuss over anyone or anything, not even their own eternal salvation. And others find it hard to get all dolled up for an event that is going to include “those people,” as in tax collectors, prostitutes, street people--the “good and bad,” says Matthew. Seems to me we could use some help, some guidelines on what to wear to show our Christian faith.
There is a “reality show” on one of the cable TV networks that is called, “What Not to Wear.” The idea is for friends or family members to turn in someone whose wardrobe needs a complete overhaul. Once selected, these “fashion offenders” get to go on national TV to show the world just how inappropriately they can dress. Among recent participants:
A 28-year-old middle-school teacher, stuck in a seventh-grade
wardrobe.
A 36-year-old mother whose sloppy casual wear is stunting the growth
of the family business. A 30-year-old student who dresses in
T-shirts and wears socks with sandals. (What a scandal!) And, a
woman who runs a dog-sitting business hiding under a baggy wardrobe
of knits that are covered with dog hair. 6
Once the fashion offense has been established on “What Not to Wear” the TV show’s hosts use their good taste and $5,000 to provide the chosen one with a new and improved look.
And just what would that new look be for Christians? No less a ‘fashion authority’ than St. Paul has these suggestions in today’s excerpt from Philippians (4:1-9). He urges us, first and foremost, to dress for joy! Those of us who have been invited to the King’s banquet, that is, to relationship with God through Jesus Christ, should come into God’s presence wearing robes of rejoicing. Your retirement savings may have tanked, your home equity may have taken a major hit, and your employer’s prospects, not so rosy, but not to worry. We Christians are in the world--the economic downturn hurts us all-- but we are not, ultimately, of this world. We are invited to celebrate our ultimate destiny as children of God. Beginning here, beginning at this Table, we come rejoicing into the presence of the Risen Christ.
And there is more. While blame for the current economic disaster is being assessed . . . . . While harsh judgments are being issued against government, business, and over-extended families, St. Paul says we Christians are to wear the cloak of gentleness. Let those who must, pin the blame. Meanwhile, there are many, thousands here in our own community, who are going to need to see someone draped in kindness and understanding. We can do that, says St. Paul, because we Christians don’t have anything to worry about. “but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God”(vv. 6-7).
Finally, St. Paul urges that we wear truth--wear truth, biblical truth. Wear, in brilliant colors and in creative design, the sacred truth that “nothing in life or in death can separate us from the steadfast (never-stopping) love of God.”
The financial markets are in a tailspin, taking with them the hopes and dreams of millions of Americans. Our government has squandered billions at home and abroad, putting us deeply in debt to foreign nations. Our natural environment is under deadly assault here and all around the globe. What now, my friends? What are we to do now? How can we possibly come to the banquet table of our Lord? How can we possibly hope to wear the appropriate attire of joy, gentleness and truth? Again, St. Paul:
9 Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in (scripture, in Christ and through the apostles) and the God of peace will be with you.
1Florence, Anna Carter, “Matthew 22:1-14,” LECTIONARY
HOMILETICS,
http://www.goodpreacher.com/shareit/readreviews.php?cat=12
2Ibid.
3Ibid.
4Ibid.
5Ibid.
6“What Not to Wear,” AOL Television, see “All Episodes,”
http://television.aol.com/show/what-not-to-wear/77143/main