Suited and Booted By Ken Mckenzie
In the winter when you were little did your mother attach your mittens to each other by a long piece of elastic that went up one sleeve of your duffel coat, across your shoulders and down the other sleeve? When did you learn to tie your own shoe laces?
When I was teaching it was expected that men wore a tie. When I've played in an orchestra it's been dictated that we had to wear a tux, or it was black shirt and black trousers. You wouldn't wear full concert gear for digging the garden!;
What is the uniform for Christians? It's not visible but should be discernable. It’s also non negotiable. The armour of God is necessary; not some of it, all of it. It’s not for special occasions or Sundays only, it’s for all occasions as our daily dress.
Terms and Conditions
Romans 10:10-13 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile —the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
I often listen to the radio in the car. I like UCB2 and one of the good things about it is that there are no adverts. We also listen to Scala Radio quite a bit, and other commercial stations; but there are adverts, lots of them! What is really irritating however are the terms and conditions gabbled at such high speed that you can’t make out or understand any of it, and some of them seem to last as long as the advert.
Are there terms and conditions for following Jesus? Yes.
1 You’re not welcome in this church until you’ve sorted yourself out? NO THIS IS NOT ONE OF THEM.
2 You need to wear posh clothing to come to church? NONSENSE!
3 I’m not good enough to be worth it ABSOLUTE RUBBISH.
4 This is the only true church DON’T GO THERE!
None of those things are acceptable terms or condition for following Jesus! NO, NOT ONE.
Here is all you need:
1 Repent and believe - say sorry and mean it
2 Call on the name of the Lord and be saved
3 Be willing to let Jesus deal with the rest of it