The Well Dressed Christian

Soldiers dress differently when they are going into battle then when they are performing noncombat duties. They are always in uniform but they are not always in their battle fatigues.

Paul describes our battle fatigues (the armor of God) in Ephesians 6:10-17. Paul also describes our noncombat uniform.

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you. Beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity” (Colossians 3:12-14).

Unit cohesion is critical to the success of military. It is “the bonding together of soldiers in such a way as to sustain their will and commitment to each other, the unit, and mission accomplishment, despite combat or mission stress.”

Paul’s epistles often addressed the persecution the churches were facing and the stress it caused. He knew the importance of unity among church members to fulfilling their mission to reach the lost and make disciples (Matthew 28:19).

We are to put on “a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” These attributes motivate us to reach out to the lost. They also are the elements of unity among the members of the body of Christ.

Paul knowing there are going to be conflicts among believers especially underscores the importance of patience and forgiveness, “bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.”

Peter adds another element to our uniform – humility. “Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). The humble are more willing to clothe themselves in compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience and forgiveness.

Paul summarizes our uniform as a single garment – “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Galatians 3:27). Everything that God asks us to do He has already done as an example for us to follow.

Philippians 2:5-8 describes how Jesus set aside His exulted mantle in heaven in order to come to earth, clothe Himself in humanity and die on the cross for our salvation. “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Jesus prayed for our unit cohesion. He prayed to the Father, “that they may be one, just as We are one” (John 17:22).

May we clothe ourselves with Jesus so we may live in unity, reach the lost and make disciples.