Some friends of mine were getting married and the groom asked his bride if it would be ok if he surprised her with their honeymoon destination. This sounded like a lovely romantic gesture and so the fiancée was over the moon. But as their wedding day drew closer and closer she realised she may have made a serious error of judgment. She was still devoted as ever to her choice of life partner, but was having second thoughts about a surprise honeymoon. Her problem? What to pack. Should she pack thermals for a skiing adventure, hiking boots for a camping trip, or a bikini for a sunbathing break?
Paul, writing from prison to a church he founded, uses a wardrobe dilemma as a metaphor for Christian discipleship:
"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4.22-23)
Paul draws our attention to our change of outfits, our choice of outfits, and our challenge of outfits as a way to make us think and act differently as followers of Jesus in our world.
A change of outfit: what we wear links us to our past or our future
In our family, when we enter our home we take our shoes off and change into clean and comfortable slippers. When we become Christians a similar exchange takes place: our old corrupt way of living is to be left behind, and a new clean way of living adopted.
Eight or more pairs of shoes at the doorway is, for some reason, a magnet to a toddler. It is not unusual to find one of our foster children walking around in a pair of oversized men's brogues. But what makes me look smart, makes him look like a clown. Except beyond the entertainment value, there is a glimpse into the future. One day he will swap his crocs for dress shoes just as he will swap the park for the office, and toys for the tools he needs to do his job. When Paul encourages us to change our outfit, he is asking us to taste the future. We are not yet recreated in the image of Jesus. The shoes don't fit us correctly yet. But just like my little boy in my big shoes – we look forward to the future when we will be perfectly dressed in the likeness of Jesus.
A choice of outfit: what we wear denotes our allegiance
Growing up I loved that every Remembrance day my mother would tell me stories about my grandfather who died in World War Two providing covering fire for his platoon. He was awarded the military cross for bravery and on the first Sunday of the month of November each year, I was allowed to wear his medal to church. As a boy this was a proud moment, and I remember walking a little taller and behaving a little better than usual, in an attempt to bring him honour. When Paul calls the Ephesians to put off the old self and be clothed in Christ, he wants us to wear our new identity with pride. The brands we choose – whether from the supermarket budget line or a limited edition Dolce and Gabbana getup – make an impression. Being clothed in Christ means to allow our commitment to Jesus to shape our presence in the world. Because our clothes make a difference in how others see us and treat us, being clothed in Christ means that we allow our allegiance to Christ to mark us out in the world, leaving an impression for Christ wherever we go and whatever we wear.
A challenge of outfits: what we wear equips us for our job
If I remember to put my running clothes out on top of the dresser before I go to sleep, then I am far more likely to start the next day by hitting the road. The outfit acts not only as a reminder of my resolve, but as a challenge to my lethargy, my excuses and my tendency to procrastination. Putting my running kit on prepares my mind as well as my body for the task ahead. If I put on my painting clothes instead, I am much less likely to run, and much more likely to freshen up the walls of my home. Paul tells us to clothe ourselves in Christ because this is our primary new vocation in life. We are to go out into the world to represent him to others, allowing his character to shape our hopes, ambitions, relationships, plans and behaviours.
Perhaps when you next change your clothes you might consider what it means for you to live as a disciple in our world. Perhaps when you put on your work or school uniform you might consider how you are not just publically associated with your company or your educational establishment but as a member of Christ's family and Kingdom. Whenever we put something on that doesn't quite fit, we can be reminded of our calling to live out the future reality of our transformation into the likeness of Christ now.
Rev Dr Krish Kandiah is a contributing editor to Christian Today, the founding director of Home for Good and an author and speaker. Follow him on Twitter @krishk.
For more in his series on Ephesians, click here.
