Genesis 41:14 KJV
Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they
brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his
raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.
Even though
Joseph was to go up “hastily” to Pharaoh he still took time to shave and change
his cloths before entering into the presence of one so highly positioned.
Culture has changed even in my lifetime. What was once a given, that a person
presented himself well before authorities such as judges or people in higher
offices, has loosened over the years. I remember when an iron worker I knew
well was going to trial for getting into a bar fight and badly hurting some
men, even this
- Bearded
- Rough and tumble
- Hard hitting
- Union construction worker
shaved[1] and wore a suit and tie
before the judge and jury. It was common courtesy but it was also an attempt to
appease the court. Everyone knew the court would look more favorably upon his
case if he were clean cut and well dressed. It implied you had some social
skill and respect for society.
Today such
respect is seldom demonstrated. People think of authorities as no better than
themselves and so do not believe they ought to have to “put on airs” for the
high positioned. They truly have no social graces.
Enter the
Christian. It is obvious that Christianity has been influenced by this low view
of social grace and respect. Christians dress as casually and sometimes as
immodestly as does anyone in the world. T shirts are frequently the attire of
the modern pastor as if to say even God doesn't deserve more.
Some would
argue that dressing well in the presence of others is just a cultural thing. To
that I argue:
- If it is cultural it
is cross cultural and multi generational since it even existed in
- If it is cultural it
is a piece of culture I will fight to maintain
Christians
should be salt and light, influencing the culture and not chameleons changing to
blend with the culture.
[1]
I do not mean to imply that wearing a beard is in any way disrespectful. But a
beard, in order to look respectful, must be well kept.
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