Do You Wear Your Christianity?

One time while I was hanging out in a park, a group of believers showed up for a picnic wearing T-shirts stating, “These are my church clothes.” I’ve noticed other Christian apparel with clever sayings such as “My boss is a Jewish carpenter.” Over the years, people have given me shirts with various Christian sayings. One of them had a drawing of an open Bible with the words, “When all else fails...read the instructions.” Another one I used to own showed a red cross and the words “This shirt is illegal in 52 countries.” It’s a reminder that many nations forbid open declaration of Christianity.

Last year, a friend gave me a hoodie with lyrics from the worship song “Way Maker.” I liked the artwork, but eventually passed that hoodie on to another friend. I was in the midst of downsizing and already owned a hoodie. The one I kept has two side pockets instead of one in the middle.


There are reasons why I usually shy away from wearing Christian clothing. It’s not because I’m ashamed of the gospel. While doing one-on-one evangelism, I’ve noticed some individuals immediately put up walls if they know in advance I’m a Christian. They won’t give me an opportunity to interact with them. (For similar reasons, I don’t hold a Bible in my hand when approaching people on the street.) In addition, most T-shirts don’t have pockets. I prefer wearing collared shirts with a pocket to put tracts in.


Then again, some believers wear Christian clothing as a way to evangelize. I know a missionary and his wife who wear T-shirts and display signs that say, “Jesus Saves.” James told me the messages often spark conversations with people. Yesterday, I joined him plus two friends of his for an outreach at Old Fisherman’s Wharf in Monterey, California. While the three men stood around holding signs and passing out tracts, I opted to walk around the area. One young man I approached wore a T-shirt that had Jesus’ name on there. I still felt led to give him a tract. You cannot assume everyone who wears Christian clothing are clothed in Christ.


A few weeks ago at Union Station in Washington, DC, I got into a conversation with a woman who wrote a shirt that said “Faith can move mountains - Matthew 17:20.” I asked if she knew Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior. The woman mentioned liking her shirt’s artwork and then asked what denomination I was. She revealed being born Jewish, and later attended a Methodist church, but said it wasn’t for her. She now considered herself a gnostic and had supposedly gained more knowledge about spiritual things. I referred to 2 Corinthians 10:5 which talks about “casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God.” I got to share my testimony before we were interrupted by her cell phone ringing. At that point, I walked away since my train was coming. 


Clothing won’t save people, but it can plant a seed and initiate conversations. If you wear your Christianity, hopefully it’s to express your love for the Savior and create opportunities to share His love with others. However, it’s important not to neglect putting on the spiritual clothes needed to live a victorious life in Him. 


“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” - Isaiah 61:10

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Looking Back @ the Toronto Blessing

Image
With friends I met in 1996 Twenty-five years ago today, a supernatural move of God began at a church near the Toronto airport. When guest speaker Randy Clark prayed over congregation members that night, they started shaking, hollering, and doing other things religious folk would consider disruptive. However, there were changed lives as a result of what became known as “The Toronto Blessing” (or “The Father’s Blessing” as Pastor John Arnott prefers calling it). Soon people from all over the world flocked to Toronto Airport Vineyard to experience a fresh touch from God. By 1995, both pastors and lay people from my home church in Minnesota were making pilgrimages to Toronto. One woman who visited there invited a group of us to watch videos of services from Toronto Airport Vineyard. Initially, I wasn’t impressed because the preaching didn’t sound “charismatic” enough. The worship music gradually appealed to me because of its unique passionate sound not often heard in churches b...
Read more

The Gospel Soul Winning Script

Image
During my early days with evangelism, I developed an approach called the Survey Technique . By asking short direct questions, you can maintain control of the conversation and find out quickly what a person’s spiritual beliefs are. Although the Survey Technique has helped me lead thousands to the Lord, I’m still open to utilizing new methods in reaching people with the gospel. Rodney Howard-Browne 's ministry uses a tool called the Gospel Soul-Winning Script , which originated during their Good News New York campaign in 1999. I became familiar with it a few years later during evangelism outreaches with Rodney’s church in Tampa, Florida. At first, I resisted using the script. I found it restrictive and thought sinners wouldn’t be receptive to me reading a scrap of paper to them. Then while taking part in a 2009 outreach with Rodney’s ministry in Washington, D.C., my team leader asked me to “stick with the script.” Wanting to maintain unity, I complied with his request. Initially it f...
Read more

Toking the Ghost Revisited

Image
Back in February 2007, a fellow missionary I was traveling with started talking about “smoking the weed from heaven.”   He would pretend to have a joint of marijuana between his fingers and have “smoke breaks with Jesus.”   He also encouraged other believers to take “hits.”   I was a bit uncomfortable with this idea but didn't contest it. Then in October of that year, I heard John Crowder preach on “toking the Ghost” at a church in my hometown of Fargo, North Dakota.   I was inspired to make a video with John to share with my missionary friend.   During the filming, I experienced much laughter. I decided to make the video public figuring other people might enjoy it also. Two weeks later at a church in Minnesota, I heard Benjamin Dunn share testimonies of people getting healed from “toking the Ghost.”   This was just before he and John Crowder started ministering together.   I believed this was God confirming His word in the mouth of ...
Read more