This 'n' That

In our Sunday Best

Photo: Wikimedia

Is it possible that the tradition of attending church on Sunday morning is becoming more antiquated than we realize? Two Sundays ago, I returned home from church and a few errands and posed the question on Twitter: "Does anyone else get strange looks when running errands in church clothes?" The tweet elicited a couple of interesting responses. One person feigned shock at my failure to be "missional," while another follower asked if I wore a monk's robe to church.

By posing this question, I did not mean to imply that I wear extra-special or fancy clothes to show off. No, my church attire is the same as it once was Monday through Friday when I spent my days in a corporate office. Were I to don the same outfit at the grocery store at 5:30 pm on a Thursday, it would not elicit the same odd stares that it did on Sunday at noon. Why? Because I fear that the idea of spending one's Sunday morning in church is rapidly becoming extinct.

To be sure, the effect likely is not spread equally across all areas of this country, but let's face it, the degeneration of the visible church into just another social club has infiltrated the expectations of secular society. Unbelievers aren't blind. They know that our churches have become little more than weekend rock concerts with third-rate cover bands. They know that we've ramped up attendance on Saturday night so that we, too, can sleep in on Sunday morning and then go out to Sunday brunch in our flip flops and sweats. They know that we treat the worship of our Heavenly Father with as much respect as we treat a movie night with friends, if that.

I am not saying that if you don't wear your "Sunday best" then you aren't really saved. I'm not even saying that you shouldn't attend that Saturday night service. I am saying that the world is watching, and it is watching carefully. Lost, unsaved souls have no thoughts of attending church, but should they be shocked when they come to realize that Christians still do? We are imperfect ambassadors, but we are ambassadors of Christ nonetheless. If nothing else, this incident reminded me of that fact. Dear Christian, the world may look at you sideways, but remember that it is looking.

Okay, as I prepare for the backlash of comments from those who will completely miss the point and call me a Pharisee for not wearing jeans and flip flops to church, please enjoy your week in review (kind of):

• Carl Trueman also received some funny looks a couple of weeks ago.

• Speaking of Trueman, he writes about the Christian and the "hyperconnectivity" of today's world.

• I've said before that it would be best if Kirk Cameron would stop talking. At least until he rearranges his priorities.

• Does it seem like the mainstream media has adopted Islam as America's religion? Ben Stein thinks so, too, and says that something is wrong about that.

• This testimony from a former abortionist is graphic, but perhaps necessary to hear.

• The worst call in NFL history happened Monday night in the final moments of the Packers-Seahawks game. I'm still not over it.

• No more 'mother' or 'father' in France.

• Controlling the Internet.

• Why should the postmoderns be the only ones who get to tell stories? Read a good story: "He Gave Them New Clothes."

• I never thought I'd say this, but I wish some evangelical churches would take a cue from this Catholic church and ban any 'spiritual yoga' classes in their church.

• Apparently today is National Coffee Day.

• I Love Lucy still is earning big money for CBS. I don't care how many quirky gay characters you put on a show, you just can't beat clean, classic comedy.

• Are you learning not to be tossed to and fro?

• Do you wear a cross around your neck? What does your atheist coworker wear?

• It's always nice to know there are other complementarian women out there.

• I appreciated this post on ambivalence about alcohol.

• Andy Williams passed away earlier this week. I remember him best for his rendition of It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year. And yes, I've been tempted to turn on my Christmas music early in honor and memory of Mr. Williams (you may be happy to know that thus far I've resisted that temptation). Yes, I am that person who actually likes [good] Christmas music. Watch your comments; don't make me go all Matthew 7:1 on you.

• And all this time I thought God was determining gender. Oh well, good to know why it is parents should buy their little boys a princess costume. This story reminded me of that awful children's book, My Princess Boy.

• Pastor Eric Douma of Twin City Fellowship takes Jonathan Cahn's The Harbinger to task.

• Have you seen Google's new underwater maps?

• "We don’t need to contextualize Scripture to make it relevant today—we need to understand its original context and how it shaped God’s Word."

• Here's a great reminder of the King enthroned.

• Thanks to Justin Taylor for sharing that there is an mp3 dramatized version of the ESV New Testament available for free download today.

• So just when Israel gets rid of CNN, they get stuck with more TBN. Now that's unfortunate.

• Johnathan: The Man Who Would Not Be King: