DRESSED FOR THE WEDDING
MATTHEW 22:1-14
LYN CRYDERMAN DECIDED HE WAS TIRED OF THE DARK, DEPRESSING
CLOTHES THAT HE HAD BECOME ACCUSTOMED TO WEARING CLOTHES
THAT
MOST MEN IN BUSINESS WEAR EVERY DAY. SO ONE DAY HE WORKED UP
ENOUGH COURAGE TO TELL HIS WIFE, ESTHER, HE NEEDED A NEW LOOK.
MAYBE SOMETHING THAT WASN'T SO CONSERVATIVE. SO ESTHER, WITH
UNBOUNDED STYLE-THREATENING ENTHUSIASM, WENT ON A SARTORIAL
MISSION FOR HER BELOVED HUSBAND.
IT WASN'T LONG BEFORE LYN NOTICED A STACK OF UNFAMILIAR
CLOTHES ON HIS SIDE OF THE CLOSET. AS HE PULLED A SWEATER OUT OF
THE PILE, HE REALIZED THE "NEW LYN" HAD ARRIVED. SO WHAT IF HE
HAD TO MAKE A MAJOR PRESENTATION LATER THAT DAY? THEY'D JUST
HAVE
TO GET USED TO A WILDER AND CRAZIER VERSION OF THE CONSERVATIVE
GUY THEY HAD BECOME SO FAMILIAR WITH. HE RETURNED HOME THAT
NIGHT
WEARING HIS NEW SWEATER AND PROUDLY REPORTING ON THE SUCCESS
OF
HIS BIG PRESENTATION. BUT ESTHER LOOKED STRICKEN. "YOU DIDN'T
WEAR THAT, DID YOU?" SHE ASKED, MEANING THE SWEATER. "SURE, WHY
DO YOU ASK?" LYN ASKED. SHE, OF COURSE, TOLD HIM.
LYN SAYS HE STILL BREAKS OUT IN A COLD SWEAT WHEN HE THINKS
ABOUT IT. HE WENT TO WORK THAT DAY WEARING A WOMAN'S SWEATER
THE
KIND THAT HAS A NICE ROLLED COLLAR AND CUFFS FOR THAT PLEASINGLY
FEMININE LOOK! NEEDLESS TO SAY, HIS DAUGHTERS GOT A BIG KICK OUT
OF THEIR CROSS-DRESSING DAD. AS FOR LYN, LET'S JUST SAY HE NOW
DONS THE CORPORATE UNIFORM CONSERVATIVE TIE AND SUIT WITH
MUCH
GREATER APPRECIATION. (1)
IT'S EMBARRASSING, ISN'T IT, TO BE DRESSED ENTIRELY WRONG
FOR A BIG EVENT? A YOUNG MAN NAMED ANDY WORKED IN A MAJOR FIFTH
AVENUE DEPARTMENT STORE IN NEW YORK. HE WAS AN ASSISTANT TO
EDNA,
A BUYER FOR EUROPEAN FASHION. IT AMAZED ANDY THAT EDNA MANAGED
TO
HOLD ONTO HER JOB. SHE WAS ABSENT-MINDED, OVERWEIGHT AND KNEW
LITTLE ABOUT FASHION. EVERY WEEK THERE WERE MISSED
APPOINTMENTS,
SHIPMENTS THAT ARRIVED WHICH NO ONE WAS EXPECTING, AND LOUD
SCREAMS FROM ACCOUNTING ABOUT LOST BILLS AND CONTRACTS.
SOMEBODY UPSTAIRS IN THE COMPANY EVENTUALLY DECIDED TO PAY
CLOSER ATTENTION AND TOLD EDNA THEY WANTED TO LOOK OVER THE
INCOMING FALL LINES. BUT EDNA DIDN'T TELL ANDY, AND ONE FATEFUL
DAY HE ARRIVED TO FIND HER IN A PANIC. "GET ME SOME MODELS!" SHE
SCREAMED. "WE'VE GOT TO SHOW THESE GOWNS AT ELEVEN!" HOW? ANDY
WONDERED. HE MANAGED TO GET FOUR ATTRACTIVE ASSISTANTS FROM
OTHER
DEPARTMENTS TO VOLUNTEER, BUT THERE WAS NO WAY THEY COULD
MODEL
ALL THOSE CLOTHES. "ANDY, YOU'VE GOT TO HELP ME!" EDNA WAILED.
WHAT ELSE COULD HE DO? EDNA CALLED COSMETICS; SHE CALLED THE
PERSONAL BUYERS. IT WAS TEN-THIRTY, THE WHOLE STORE KNEW WHAT
WAS
HAPPENING, AND THEY WERE CLEARLY SUNK. AT TEN TO ELEVEN, ANDY
FOUND EDNA WEDGED INTO A VALENTINO WITH A FRILLY SKIRT THAT
STOPPED ABOUT HALFWAY TO HER KNEES. HE SAID SHE LOOKED LIKE
HULK
HOGAN IN A MAID'S UNIFORM. "WE'RE ALL GOING TO HAVE TO PULL
TOGETHER ON THIS ONE," SHE ANNOUNCED. THEN SHE PULLED A
FULL-LENGTH SEQUINED NUMBER OFF THE RACK, HELD IT UP TO ANDY'S
CHEST AND SAID, "HERE. YOU WEAR THIS ONE." ANDY REPORTS THAT HE
AND EDNA BOTH WERE FIRED AT 11:03. (2)
IT'S EMBARRASSING, ISN'T IT, TO BE UNPREPARED TO BE DRESSED
ENTIRELY WRONG FOR A BIG EVENT? NONE OF US LIKES TO LOOK OUT OF
PLACE. LET'S FACE IT: APPEARANCES MATTER.
SO WE SHOULD APPRECIATE A STORY THAT JESUS TOLD ABOUT A MAN
WHO CAME TO THE REHEARSAL DINNER FOR A WEDDING, AND HE WAS NOT
DRESSED FOR THE OCCASION. I GUESS NOBODY TOLD HIM THAT THE EVENT
WAS BLACK TIE, AND THERE HE WAS IN A CASUAL SPORTS COAT. IT
WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SO BAD EXCEPT THAT THE FATHER OF THE GROOM,
WHO WAS FOOTING THE BILL FOR THE PARTY, WAS A STICKLER FOR
PROPRIETY. EVEN WORSE, THE FATHER OF THE GROOM WAS THE KING AND
HE WAS ACCUSTOMED TO HAVING OTHERS CATER TO HIM. "FRIEND," HE
BELLOWED, "HOW DID YOU COME IN HERE WITHOUT THE PROPER
WEDDING
CLOTHES?" THE POOR MAN WAS SPEECHLESS. I DON'T BLAME HIM, DO YOU?
I WOULD HAVE BEEN SPEECHLESS TOO. THEN THE FATHER OF THE GROOM,
THE ENRAGED KING, SAID TO THE SERVANTS, "BIND THIS MAN HAND AND
FOOT, AND CAST HIM INTO THE OUTER DARKNESS; IN THAT PLACE THERE
SHALL BE WEEPING AND GNASHING OF TEETH." OUCH! ROUGH TREATMENT
FOR SIMPLY BEING IMPROPERLY DRESSED!
FIRST OF ALL, NOTICE THAT JESUS' STORY IS A PARABLE, NOT AN
ALLEGORY. "WHO CARES?" YOU MAY BE THINKING TO YOURSELF. "WHAT
DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?" WELL, HERE IT MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.
PARABLES MAKE ONLY ONE POINT WHILE AN ALLEGORY MAY MAKE A
GREAT
MANY POINTS. IF THIS WERE AN ALLEGORY, WE WOULD TAKE THE
VARIOUS
PARTS OF THE STORY AND FIND ALL KINDS OF INFERENCES OR MEANINGS.
FOR EXAMPLE, WE WOULD SAY, THE KING REPRESENTS GOD. SO THAT
MUST
BE WHAT GOD IS LIKE A STICKLER FOR DETAIL, A FIERCE AND
VINDICTIVE BEING WHO WILL TOSS PEOPLE INTO THE FIRE OF HELL FOR
THE LEAST TRANSGRESSION IN SHORT, A GOD WHO IS A PETTY TYRANT.
THERE ARE ALREADY TOO MANY PEOPLE WHO WORSHIP THAT KIND OF
GOD. I
HOPE YOU ARE NOT ONE OF THEM.
FREDERICK WILLIAM I RULED PRUSSIA IN THE EARLY EIGHTEENTH
CENTURY. FREDERICK WALKED THE STREETS OF BERLIN UNATTENDED,
AND
WHEN ANYONE DISPLEASED HIM, HE DID NOT HESITATE TO USE HIS
WALKING STICK TO THRASH THEM. BERLINERS TRIED TO KEEP THEIR
DISTANCE.
ONE TIME, AS FREDERICK WILLIAM WAS POUNDING DOWN THE STREET,
A CITIZEN SPIED HIM BUT TOO LATE, AND HIS ATTEMPT TO SLIDE
QUIETLY INTO A DOORWAY PROVED A FAILURE. "YOU," CALLED OUT
FREDERICK WILLIAM, "WHERE ARE YOU GOING?" "INTO THE HOUSE, YOUR
MAJESTY," SAID THE CITIZEN, TREMBLING VIOLENTLY. "INTO THE
HOUSE?" ASKED THE EMPEROR. "YOUR HOUSE?" "NO," REPLIED THE POOR
MAN. "WHY ARE YOU ENTERING IT, THEN," ASKED FREDERICK.
AND THE POOR CITIZEN, FEARING HE MIGHT BE ACCUSED OF
BURGLARY, FINALLY DECIDED ON THE TRUTH AND SAID, "IN ORDER TO
AVOID YOU, YOUR MAJESTY." FREDERICK WILLIAM FROWNED, "TO AVOID
ME? WHY?" "BECAUSE I FEAR YOU, YOUR MAJESTY." FREDERICK WILLIAM
PROMPTLY TURNED PURPLE AND, LIFTING HIS CUDGEL, POUNCED THE
OTHER'S SHOULDER, CRYING, "YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO FEAR ME.
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LOVE ME. LOVE ME, SCUM, LOVE ME!"
IS THAT YOUR PICTURE OF GOD? IS THAT YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF
THE DIVINE? LET ME GIVE YOU A SIMPLE POP QUIZ. WHEN SOMETHING
BAD HAPPENS IN YOUR LIFE, SOMETHING PAINFUL, DO YOU SUSPECT THAT
GOD IS SECRETLY PUNISHING YOU? WHEN YOU THANK GOD FOR YOUR
BLESSINGS, DO YOU SECRETLY CROSS YOUR FINGERS BECAUSE YOU KNOW
THOSE BLESSINGS CAN'T LAST? ONE OF THESE DAYS, YOU SUSPECT, GOD
IS GOING TO GET YOU. WHEN YOU PRAY, DO YOU TRY TO BARGAIN WITH
GOD FOR MORE BLESSINGS BECAUSE YOU FIGURE THAT GOD IS REALLY
HOLDING SOMETHING BACK?
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHOSE GOD IS THE ILL-TEMPERED GOD OF
THE GROOM IN JESUS' PARABLE. HOW SAD. NO, THIS STORY OF JESUS IS
A PARABLE, NOT AN ALLEGORY. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO GIVE US A
PICTURE OF GOD. IT IS INTENDED TO GIVE US A PICTURE OF OURSELVES.
AND WHAT IT SAYS ABOUT US IS THIS: MANY OF US ARE NOT WEARING THE
RIGHT CLOTHES. WE BEAR THE NAME OF CHRISTIAN, WE BELONG TO THE
CHRISTIAN FAMILY, WE EVEN SUPPORT TO A MODEST DEGREE CHRISTIAN
ORGANIZATIONS, BUT STILL, WE DO NOT WEAR THE RIGHT CLOTHES. AND
THE AMAZING THING IS, WE ARE SURPRISED WHEN SOMEBODY MENTIONS
IT.
NOTICE THAT THE POOR MAN IN THIS STORY IS SPEECHLESS WHEN
THE FATHER OF THE GROOM CONFRONTS HIM. THIS MAN THOUGHT THE
RULES
DIDN'T APPLY TO HIM. IN FACT, HE ASSUMED THERE WEREN'T ANY RULES.
HE THOUGHT IT WAS PERFECTLY ALL RIGHT FOR HIM TO DO HIS OWN
THING. HE HAD NO IDEA THAT WHAT HE DID EVEN MATTERED TO THE
FATHER OF THE GROOM. SO WHEN HE WAS CONFRONTED, HE WAS TOTALLY
SPEECHLESS.
THIS WAS A THEME OF SOME OF JESUS' OTHER PARABLES, YOU'LL
REMEMBER. THERE WILL BE THOSE WHO WILL COME TO THE LAST
JUDGEMENT
AND SAY, "LORD, LORD," AND JESUS WILL SAY, "I NEVER KNEW YOU."
CAN YOU IMAGINE THEIR SURPRISE? SUCH PEOPLE REMIND ME OF A
PRAYER ONE LITTLE BOY OFFERED DURING FAMILY DEVOTIONS ONE
NIGHT:
"DEAR JESUS, SORRY FOR THE MESS WE MADE IN THE YARD TODAY." THEN
HE ADDED, "THANK YOU FOR THE FUN WE HAD DOING IT."
YOU MAY THINK IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING, BUT MAYBE IT NEEDS TO
BE SAID. CHRISTIANITY IS NOT ONLY A BELIEF, IT IS ALSO A
LIFESTYLE. A LIFESTYLE OF PERSONAL DISCIPLINE AND DIGNITY, A
LIFESTYLE OF TIME-HONORED VALUES, A LIFESTYLE THAT ENCOMPASSES
RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR NEIGHBORS, WITH THE WORLD IN WHICH WE
LIVE
AND WITH OUR GOD. PEOPLE WHO DO NOT FOLLOW THE PROGRAM
SHOULD NOT
BE SURPRISED IF THEY HEAR THE MASTER SAY, "FRIEND, WHY DO YOU NOT
HAVE ON THE PROPER CLOTHING?"
NOTICE ALSO THAT THIS STORY DOES NOT HAVE A HAPPY ENDING.
SOME OF JESUS' PARABLES ARE LIKE THAT. WE WANT GRACE AND WE ARE
CONFRONTED BY JUDGEMENT. WE WANT MORE TIME AND TIME RUNS OUT.
SOME OF US ARE UNDER THE MISTAKEN IDEA THAT GOD'S GRACE CANCELS
OUT GOD'S JUDGEMENT. NOT ACCORDING TO THE TEACHINGS OF JESUS.
MANY OF THEM ARE QUITE DEMANDING AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF
DISOBEDIENCE ARE QUITE SEVERE.
IT'S LIKE A TOUGH, OLD COWHAND WHO SAUNTERED INTO A SALOON
AND BEGAN DRINKING WHISKEY BY THE BOTTLE. THE MORE HE DRANK,
THE
MORE UNRULY HE BECAME, SHOOTING HOLES IN THE CEILING AND FLOOR.
EVERYBODY WAS AFRAID TO TAKE ON THE OLD COWHAND. FINALLY, THE
TOWN'S LITTLE, MILD-MANNERED STOREKEEPER WALKED UP TO THE
UNRULY
COWHAND AND SAID, "I'LL GIVE YOU FIVE MINUTES TO GET OUT OF
TOWN." THE OLD COWHAND HOLSTERED HIS GUN, PUSHED THE WHISKEY
BOTTLE AWAY, BRISKLY WALKED OUT, GOT ON HIS HORSE, AND RODE OUT
OF TOWN. WHEN HE LEFT, SOMEONE ASKED THE STOREKEEPER WHAT HE
WOULD HAVE DONE IF THE UNRULY COWHAND HAD REFUSED TO GO. "I'D
HAVE EXTENDED THE DEADLINE," HE SAID.
MANY CHRISTIANS HAVE THAT CONCEPT OF GOD IF WE MISS A
DEADLINE, GOD WILL SIMPLY EXTEND IT. THEY DO NOT TAKE THE
JUDGEMENT OF GOD SERIOUSLY. "I SIN, GOD FORGIVES," IS THEIR
ATTITUDE. THEY WALLOW IN WHAT DIETRICH BONHOEFFER CALLS "CHEAP
GRACE." GRACE IS NOT CHEAP. GRACE CAN BE UNDERSTOOD ONLY AS IT
STANDS IN RELIEF OF GOD'S JUDGEMENT. GOD EXAMINES US AND FINDS US
UNFIT, UNPREPARED FOR THE WEDDING FEAST. BUT BY FAITH IN JESUS
CHRIST CHRIST WHO GAVE HIMSELF FOR THE EXPIATION OF OUR SINS WE
ARE MADE RECIPIENTS OF GRACE GOD'S UNCONDITIONAL ACCEPTANCE OF
US
AS WORTHY, FULLY DRESSED. BUT THAT GRACE HAS BEEN DEARLY
PURCHASED. OUR SINS ARE SERIOUS BUSINESS. IT IS ONLY BECAUSE OF
GOD'S GREAT LOVE FOR US THAT GOD FORGIVES US OF OUR SINS AND
DRESSES US IN NEW, MORE APPROPRIATE CLOTHES.
A SMALL BOY WAS CONSISTENTLY LATE COMING HOME FROM SCHOOL.
HIS PARENTS WARNED HIM ONE DAY THAT HE MUST BE HOME ON TIME
THAT
AFTERNOON, BUT NEVERTHELESS, HE ARRIVED LATER THAN EVER. HIS
MOTHER MET HIM AT THE DOOR AND SAID NOTHING. HIS FATHER MET HIM
IN THE LIVING ROOM AND SAID NOTHING.
AT DINNER THAT NIGHT, THE BOY LOOKED AT HIS PLATE. THERE WAS
A SLICE OF BREAD AND A GLASS OF WATER. HE LOOKED AT HIS FATHER'S
FULL PLATE AND THEN AT HIS FATHER, BUT HIS FATHER REMAINED
SILENT. THE BOY WAS CRUSHED. THE FATHER WAITED FOR THE FULL
IMPACT TO SINK IN, THEN QUIETLY TOOK THE BOY'S PLATE AND PLACED
IT IN FRONT OF HIMSELF. HE TOOK HIS OWN PLATE OF MEAT AND
POTATOES, PUT IT IN FRONT OF THE BOY, AND SMILED AT HIS SON. WHEN
THAT BOY GREW UP, HE SAID, "ALL MY LIFE I'VE KNOWN WHAT GOD IS
LIKE BY WHAT MY FATHER DID THAT NIGHT." OUR SIN IS SERIOUS
BUSINESS. GOD'S GRACE IS A COSTLY GIFT.
AND SO THIS PARABLE ASKS US TO EXAMINE OUR LIVES TO SEE IF
WE ARE PROPERLY DRESSED FOR THE WEDDING PARTY. DO YOU HAVE ON
THE
RIGHT GARMENTS GARMENTS SUCH AS A PURE HEART, GARMENTS SUCH AS
A
GENEROUS SPIRIT, GARMENTS SUCH AS A LIFE OF OBEDIENCE? ARE YOU
READY FOR THE WEDDING FEAST?
AN AMUSING STORY APPEARED RECENTLY IN THE MAGAZINE TODAY'S
CHRISTIAN WOMAN. A WOMAN TOOK HER FOUR-YEAR-OLD
GRANDDAUGHTER,
AMANDA, TO THE DOCTOR'S OFFICE WITH A FEVER. THE DOCTOR LOOKED
IN
HER EARS AND SAID, "WHO'S IN THERE? DONALD DUCK?" SHE SAID, "NO."
HE LOOKED IN HER NOSE AND SAID, "WHO'S IN THERE? MICKEY MOUSE?"
AGAIN SHE SAID, "NO." HE PUT HIS STETHOSCOPE ON HER HEART AND
SAID, "WHO'S IN THERE? BARNEY?" AMANDA REPLIED, "NO, JESUS IS IN
MY HEART. BARNEY IS ON MY UNDERWEAR." (3)
I DON'T GUESS IT MATTERS WHO'S ON YOUR UNDERWEAR IF JESUS IS
IN YOUR HEART. AND IF JESUS IS IN YOUR HEART, YOUR LIFE WILL BE
CLOTHED IN PROPER APPAREL FAITH, HOPE, LOVE, FORGIVENESS,
TOLERANCE AND ALL THE VIRTUES OF THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. AND YOU WILL
NOT BE SPEECHLESS AT THE WEDDING FEAST, FOR YOU WILL BE PROPERLY
DRESSED.