Casting the Stone: Stigmas in the Church Challenged

I recently heard a statement from an United Pentecostal friend of mine. He said, “Why do people who smoke or have tattoos even go to church.” I was really appalled by this for several reasons. First, he is a friend of mine and I suppose like most I never expect to hear such a thing from my friend’s mouths. Second, because I do have the awful habit of smoking and I do have a tattoo. And finally because God did not  come for the saved he came for those who were unsaved. What is the use of Jesus preaching to those who were already believers, he came to save those who weren’t. He himself while here, hung around with prostitutes, murders, and tax collectors-not the members of the established churches.

Several denominations feel that wearing make up, jewelery, women wearing pants, and having tattoos are sins. And they have their verses to back it up. However, I have mine as well. To start, when the adulterous woman approached Jesus and after he blessed her he said, “Go now and sin no more”(John 8:11). Now correct me if I am wrong but he did not say go and do not dress that way again or do not wear makeup-he only said, “Go now and sin no more.” Further more, people say that women should not wear pants because it is following a trend. Well if that’s the case, why do men wear pants? Look at any picture of Jesus or any Biblical character for that matter and what are they  wearing? It is something very similar to a dress. And to add to that discussion, I have heard that men should shave. Well once again, did Jesus shave? I doubt that on his ventures he stopped to shave, and is not portrayed in any depiction of him either.

I often see people give that stare to homeless people. You know the one, the stare of disgust. Well, Jesus himself was homeless. He was dirty, he wore sandals and walked through the sand. Would you give that same stare of disgust to Jesus? Matthew 25:43 states,”whatever you did not do for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did not do for me.”

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I would also like us to keep in mind the fact that the Lord has transformed many. He took a murderer and led nations with him, he took another murderer and made him an apostle, he took a man who persecuted a church and used him, he took a prostitute and as a result she is a saint.

Many give that look, the same one, to those who enter the church in pants,those who are dirty, who smell, who did not do their hair, or those who dye their hair.Some say they do these things because they do not know the word. Well I hate to tell you this, but if you judge them from the moment they enter the door, it is most likely that they will not return to learn the word.And those who claim that these newcomers “do not know the word” obviously do not know it themselves. Matthew 7:1 says do not judge or else you will be judged. John 8:7, Let him who has not sinned cast the first stone, this  was said not by any man but by Jesus himself. God does not care what you are wearing, he cares about your heart and your soul. I am not saying that it is necessarily acceptable to dress slutty to church or to smoke or any of that I am merely saying that everyone, and I mean everyone, is loved by God regardless of their sins or transgressions or clothes. The Lord does not discriminate those who are homeless or those who are in prison. Joseph, the one with the coat of many colors was imprisoned, and the Lord loved him and favored him enough to put his story in the Bible.Who is to say that one cannot love God above all others or love their neighbors,which are the two commandments the Lord set forth, if they do not dress like you do?

You may also be interested in:

The Great Divorce:Separation of the Church

http://relijournal.com/christianity/the-great-divorce-separation-of-the-church/

2012 & Bible Prophecy

http://relijournal.com/religion/2012-bible-prophecy/