Jesus & Tuxedoes
He approaches the stage with a dazzling white tuxedo, his right wrist adorned with a thick gold bangle and his left wrist a thousand-dollar watch from the ostentatious store in town that many do not care to step into. His hair is set by the famed hair-salon that many can only so much as dream of patronising. His shoes are made of shiny brown leather that’s brought in from a foreign European country. He stands at the pulpit with the humungous bible before him that has its corners lined in gold. And he begins preaching. He talks about Jesus to the crowd of thousands.
His white unwashed robe is the only thing he carries around with him. He has no money, no credit card and no official documents. He owns no home save for the one which he has left behind. He lodges around. He speaks to small and large crowds, but has no public address system to support his voice projection. He stands on rocks and boats to speak, for he has no pulpits from which to speak. He stands in his sandals, feet covered with sand and dirt. His face is buried in the flying dust of the desert. He speaks to the poor and the outcasts. He’s the Jesus the other guy talks about.
Comments (5)
haha.. I like this entry. Part of your thesis? ;)
Posted by janelle | August 28, 2006 9:47 PM
Coming from the ranks of those who have material things, it was so odd to listen to a pastor (in KL) speak about the need to 'dress up' for church because it reflects our status as children of God!
He talked about how he hated people who wore old t-shirts and told them to "come and see me," implying that he would change their wardrobe for them.
Compared to what I'm used to, this same pastor was wearing what I might, if I wanted to, label as a very cheap suit, and a pretty gawdy tie.
I wonder how he would have felt if I went up to him and told him that his wardrobe was not up to par for God's pulpit. I would guess that his salary would not enable him to wear the things people I know wear.
My Father has abundantly more than tuxedos and other fancy things. He has life, love, and grace to reach the lost, no matter how well or poorly dressed they may be. And I pray that I too, may remain deeply broken so that I can look beyond the clothing to see the heart within, and to have the compassion to reach out in love.
Posted by winsome.one | August 29, 2006 1:02 AM
p.s. Thanks for yet another enlightening read!
Posted by winsome.one | August 29, 2006 1:05 AM
Thanks for hanging around, Winsome One! It's a breath of fresh air to hear such thoughts from someone who speaks from an even higher rung of the ladder than those who commonly speak of tuxedoes and bangles.
And Janelle, yeah, this is something quite related to my thesis. :P
Posted by sk | August 29, 2006 12:50 PM
Not sure if I stand on a higher rung. There are things in my heart that would bring me many rungs below the rest.
Posted by Winsome One | September 4, 2006 11:49 AM