United Church of God

Update from the President: February 2, 2017

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Update from the President

February 2, 2017

This past Sabbath, Beverly and I visited the North Canton, Ohio, congregation. We were hosted by elder John Miller and his wife, Susan, at their Euro-Chalet. Many from Ambassador Bible College were also visiting the North Canton congregation on the Sabbath.

The day before the Sabbath, John gave us a tour of Amish Country. He introduced us to members of his family including his father, uncle, brother and others. The high point was a comprehensive tour of Superb Industries which he owns and operates, as well as other manufacturing plants in and outside his family. We thank John and Susan again for caring for the North Canton and Youngstown congregations at a critical time when he served as a volunteer pastor for about four years.

We were also able to spend time with Randy, Linda and Amanda Stiver. Randy now pastors not only North Canton and Youngstown, but the Pittsburgh and Wheeling congregations, as well. We have known each other going back to 1970, when I was a ministerial trainee in Rapid City, South Dakota, and visited his family regularly. I had gotten to know his brother and sisters at that time. We value and appreciate Randy and Linda's excellent care for so many brethren in this part of the country.

Operation Manager of Finance, Rick Shabi, has been at the home office all this week working with everyone to put the "final touches" on next fiscal year's budget (for the year beginning July 1, 2017). The process has gone smoothly, and we will be sending a balanced budget to the Strategic Planning and Finance Committee for their review and input by mid-February. The budget will be presented to the Council of Elders at their next scheduled meeting at the end of February. From there, it will go to the General Conference of Elders for their review and approval at the next annual meeting.

What Our Appearance Says About Us

Pastor Vasyl and I walked about two miles to church services on a cool autumn morning in Khust, Ukraine. A painted-up woman in a short, tight skirt and sweater strutted out of a shop right in front of us. The pastor explained to me: "She has been watching American television. She has picked up the look and attitude from the new programming that has come to our country."

Why is our appearance so important? Simply because what's on the outside says a great deal about what we are on the inside.

Following independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, the first TV shows to appear on Ukrainian television from the West were old Dallas reruns as well as the newer Santa Barbara series. Hotels and other public places now had MTV. An entirely new set of attitudes saturated the public psyche. Our Christian friends called it "worldliness."

What was most striking was--in a one-year period--how quickly the society of a town in Ukraine could change. It made me ask how much we in the West are influenced by the media and the world around us in how we look and our attitude.

This leads to my questions for today: For both men and women, does it matter how we dress? What do the clothes we wear say about us? What message does it send to our children? Do our clothes reveal an attitude of "worldliness" or a sense of responsibility, modesty and respect?

Does modesty count in our modern world today? Of course it does--or at least it should! God has called us out of the world. Paul wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:22: "Abstain from all appearance of evil" (King James Version). That includes the way we dress.

The word "modest" indicates humility, soberness and soundness of mind, being down to earth, sensible and considerate. The word "modesty" denotes a genuine personal concern about the response in another person's heart and mind to your dress and behavior.

Why is our appearance so important? Simply because what's on the outside says a great deal about what we are on the inside.

What we wear can reveal our attitudes toward ourselves (self-esteem), toward others (relationships), toward our work (its importance) and toward God (reverence or lack of reverence toward Him). Improper or immodest clothing can give the impression of a person who does not care what God thinks, and our relationship with God should be of the highest importance.

As 1 Peter 3:3-4 explains: "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and wearing gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." Peter is not banning physical adornment in and of itself. He is emphasizing that true beauty comes from within and that adornment should be a reflection of our inner modesty and gentleness of spirit. "For we are bought with a price; therefore, glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Corinthians 6:20).

We need to be mindful of God's outlook on our appearance. We should be more interested in His perspective than in our own. Both men and women should be mindful of the example they set for others. We are Christ's ambassadors (2 Corinthians 5:20). Does our dress reflect that? Does a skimpy bikini, worn in public? A Speedo? I don't think so. The standard for Christians is in Philippians 1:10-11: "That you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." And Jesus said, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).

How we dress affects every aspect of our lives. It affects our friends, our family, our career, our success in life and most of all our relationship with God. It affects the next younger generation. Let us all strive to set a positive example inside and outside of church. Be dressed to be blessed.

Again, what's inside of us and who we are is most important. But what's on the outside reflects who we are inside. Let your adornment reflect the Spirit of God and not the spirit of the world.

Comments

 
  • Copperridgemama

    Thank you so much for your updates. I love seeing the smiling faces from other congregations and to hear about what the churches are doing around the nation and the world! Thank you to you and Beverly for your service to God's people!!
    Thank you, too, for the reminder about our appearance. It is a timely message. We must be ready to change for the sake of Jesus Christ. It is a confused and volatile world we live in and we are to be salt and light. Thank you so much for all you do! You are appreciated and prayed for in our home.