Wow. When I read this, I think more than anything else I’d want you to sit down, get a back rub, take a hot shower, drink some hot chocolate, and thank God that he is gracious. Then read Psalm 51 and draw arrows on which way the action goes. From us to God, or from God to us? I would have a nervous breakdown in about 5 minutes if I tried to hold myself to the standards to which you hold yourself.
I’ve got nothing against propriety. But remember the gift of the Sabbath: it starts with knowing that all our everyday busy-ness doesn’t really accomplish much that can’t wait, realizing that the world doesn’t actually fall apart if we enjoy its goodness for a day, and absorbing the fact that God has got everything covered.
Forgive me if this is offense, but I worry about a post like that.
Take care & God bless
(Taking a deep breath…)
Advice like this seems like wisdom, but then the alarm bells ring in my heart to wake me up. It happens every time I hear statements like “you need to relax” or “you need to be pampered for a day.” First let me clarify something. If statements like this come from someone who genuinely believes I am working too hard in my service to my family (which I’m not), that is advice I can accept. If, however, the advice comes from the perspective of relaxing in the face of a holy God, then I have to reject it. And that is the context of this comment.
The fact of the matter is, I take a break every afternoon. We all rest. I receive a backrub from Hubby almost every evening. If I want some hot chocolate, Starbucks, or any other kind of treat, I get it. I am not deprived of most of the things I want. While some days are harder than others, I do enjoy most of them. I tear up from the joy I have watching my children be happy. If I take the necessary time to rightly ponder God’s grace on my life, I WEEP! I understand that all of life is of His grace and goodness and mercy.
Furthermore, I rest completely in the finished work of Christ on the cross. I will adamantly apologize to anyone who read that propriety post and heard me saying “follow the law, follow the law.” What I was trying to get across was that I am ashamed of my sin. I am broken to know that Jesus died for my sin and foolishness. I want to live a life worthy of the Gospel, yet I am so far from it! The previous post was my way of dealing with sin revealed and my response. I guess I didn’t get that across very well.
Read Hebrews 12
12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. 4 In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. 5 And have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons?
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord,
nor be weary when reproved by him.
6 For the Lord disciplines the one he loves,
and chastises every son whom he receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? 8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. 9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live? 10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. 11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, 13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. 14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled; 16 that no one is sexually immoral or unholy like Esau, who sold his birthright for a single meal. 17 For you know that afterward, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, though he sought it with tears.
18 For you have not come to what may be touched, a blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest 19 and the sound of a trumpet and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that no further messages be spoken to them. 20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.” 21 Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I tremble with fear.” 22 But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.
25 See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven. 26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.” 27 This phrase, “Yet once more,” indicates the removal of things that are shaken—that is, things that have been made—in order that the things that cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.
When Hubby and I have to discipline our children we don’t expect a lazy response. We are looking for confession and the asking of forgiveness. The response we expect is for them to get about the business of doing right. God does not expect less from me. If He shows me through His word that I am falling short in propriety, then my appropriate response is to agree and repent and mourn while I have the opportunity. Not soak in a hot shower and drink some coffee! The churches in America are full of those who believe today is their time to relax and soak it up. I disagree! Jesus did not die to buy me a life of ease! In light of the glory of Christ, woe to me if I take Him lightly! This is my time to pursue diligently, press forward, fight, fast, pray without ceasing, feed the Spirit within, starve my flesh, and die to self. Many professing faith in Christ would have me stop short of the goal so that I don’t exert myself too much. To that I have to say, with Jesus, “Get behind me, Satan.” I cannot take sin in my life lightly. If my choice of clothing for worship caused a distraction and brought undue attention to myself, then I sinned. I cannot look at Christ, suffering on the cross for me, and say to him that appropriate attire during worship is no big deal.
I’m not working for my salvation nor trying to be legalistic. I am a child of God who is trying to respond to her Father’s correction. Sipping chocolate in response would be great impropriety.
*If there is one post I regret, it may be this one. It was not fair of me to single out one commenter and then respond with a post like this one.
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Leslie Wiggins 
10 responses to “Great Impropriety”
Amen!!jenn
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Maybe I should clarify – I mean ‘Amen’ to your post Leslie, not the comment!jenn
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What a great post. I think too many of us (myself included)talk to others more than they talk to the Lord about things going on in their lives, don’t pray enough, and don’t know enough about the Bible as we should. I think all of this can carry over into areas, like impropriety.P.S.Thanks for the Star Wars ideas. I would love to see a picture of the cake you did, if you have one?
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You’re absolutely right. As Christians we don’t take God seriously enough. Well said.
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wendy–I had not thought of that, but you’re right. When we ask others what they think about a thing more often than searching the scriptures to learn what God thinks about a thing, our consciences are massaged rather than pricked.Yes, I have some pictures. Keep in mind that our boys have food allergies, and so their “cakes” are not really cakes.
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Leslie, I think this post is right on! I’m sorry you’ve had to deal with a not-so-nice comment. Your post about propriety didn’t come across as legalistic to me in any way. You certainly didn’t say that people who don’t dress such-and-such a way aren’t saved!
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Hi thereI’m surprised that my invitation to get a back rub and drink hot chocolate was seen as such a nasty thing. I can assure you it was meant well. The idea of being so morally concerned over flip-flops and jeans … the reminder of Sabbath seemed in order. God does want us to include rest in our lives, and he gives us that rest and peace. So again, grace and peace to you, and hope your Sabbath includes lots of back rubs and hot chocolate. Take care & God bless
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The thing about the flip-flops and jeans was all about whether or not it was appropriate. It was very clear to me that it was inappropriate to wear them at this church. No women wear pants at this church, not even on Sunday nights. I know some of them may have been offended, maybe even distracted, by my wearing jeans and flip-flops. At any other time, I’m wearing jeans or whatever I feel like wearing. I don’t feel (right now) that I have to wear a dress all the time. However, my wardrobe definitely needs an upgrade. I’m constantly mistaken for a teenager, and I think this has more to do with my clothing than my youthful looks. This tells me that my choice of clothing is altogether inappropriate for a grown woman with four children.I’m not morally concerned with flip-flops and jeans in general. I am concerned about what is appropriate attire for worship. Some churches have a “come as you are” attitude about worship, believing that all that matters is the heart. Some churches are considered very traditional for having a “wear your best” attitude about worship. Which is right? Can they both be right? Either way, I was in violation of what one church considers appropriate. The big question I want to answer is, what does God say is appropriate attire for worship?
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I loved this post, even though it would seem I missed the previous one that warranted this one.I am beginning ot feel more and more convicted about how I present my body during worship especially but also at any time. My husband prefers skirts, so I feel I ought to be a good help[ meet to him and give him what he desires, especially since my body is not my own and it isnt a big deal anyway.I also have felt convicted about a head covering especially during prayer and prophesying, but would wear one all the time since I never know when I will be in prayer. But at my church that would make me stick out like a sore thumb, so i just don’t know what to do about it.I hate to take sin lightly, but I know I do far too often. I also hate it when people say things to me like “you’re a better woman than I am for …” fill in the blank wiht whatever God has recently convicted me of. It is really a slap in the face to hear them say such a thing, because they are saying that what I am doing isnt worth it, and that really they think i am crazy for wanting to please God in such a way.I’m with you, Thanks for the PostMrs Meg Logan
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Wow, Mrs. Meg Logan. I was taught that Paul’s teaching on head coverings had only cultural/traditional application; that it’s not for 21st century women living in the west. Head coverings is one tradition we have not passed on, for better or for worse. Of course, I haven’t studied it myself nor have I read any good commentaries about it. Do you know of any?I read on another blog’s comments (I can’t remember which) that many women are buying prayer shawls to use in their times of prayer in their homes. They have said that it makes them feel a bit more serious about coming to God in prayer. Of course, that is only a subjective thing. Then, you have to ask yourself, since the head covering is a sign of submission, when is it appropriate to take it off?! Why wear it only during church? For example, we visited a church this year that required women to wear head coverings. The only time they had them on was during the worship service. They threw them on when the music started and they took them right off as soon as it was over. Nevermind the fact that one or two of them were showing their cleavage and had short skirts. LOL! It was a formality. It did not seem heartfelt. And in this case, since I was not wearing a little tuft of lace on my head, I stuck out like a sore thumb! At least I have long hair!Do you think Paul saying in 1 Corinthians that a woman’s long hair is her symbolic head covering? If so, maybe you could just grow your hair long. That won’t offend anyone, nor will it draw undue attention to yourself. Unless you have absolutely gorgeous hair!And, then, there’s always the strong possiblity that I don’t know what I’m talking about! I’m just a blogger!
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