Below is my response to a post on Out of Ur critcizing the image of “Gen-X” pastors.
I do not doubt that you know some people who need this but I think you are being very unfair to so many “X’ers”. Many of us already know that image isn’t everything. But some think that image is nothing (which is just as terrible) – like those with the comb-overs, in old suits, preaching KJV with the terrible halitosis.
You have heard a thousand times and the question remains is what does a Christian look like? I can hear someone now explaining that they don’t have tattoos, they wear pleated khaki’s, drown themselves in Old Spice cologne, drink sweet tea, and only clap on 1 and 3 (because the beat is obviously more consistent with the doctrine of the Trinity). The crazy thing is even in spite of all that, many of these guys are being used by to reach their fellow peers. The same courtesy should be extended to the Next Gen’ers (X’ers, Emergents, whatever you want to call us).
Also, I hope no one is deluding themselves assuming that they are not concerned with appearances when too many in the Boomer Generation are obsessed with not wearing jeans to church, where the carpets are always vacuumed, and the offering plates are always shiny. (And there’s nothing wrong with that, I’m merely pointing out that image-consciousness) Do I need to remind you which generation brought us televangelism? And to the posters that question the authenticity of the X’er, I hope you do not think that this is unique to this generation. Furthermore in my experience, it’s the X’ers who are trying their hardest to show their transparency.
Listen, to the loving admonition of insuring that all of us (you old geezers included) don’t take our image too seriously, yeah, I agree but these two articles seemed to be much more than that – criticizing sharp-looking websites to church names. Furthermore, where does this paragraph come from:
“Though you are seeking excellence, make sure no one knows how much work you have put in. This takes away from the impact. Make it look effortless and that it was just thrown together….”
Are you kidding? A generation raised on choreographed music videos and concert tours knows that very little with any quality is ever thrown together. Even further, a generation that buys their jeans already faded (distressed) and frayed knows that very well!
“Maybe some of what I have described thus far bothers you. Aren’t we as Christians supposed to be less focused on appearances and more concerned with the heart?”
Yes! A hundred times yes! So why are you questioning others by their appearances?
We know that the Bible encourages us to strive for excellence and to give our very best to God.
But as you have so rightly stated, God is more concerned with our hearts than with our sacrifices.
It seems obvious to me, that if we judge a man’s heart by his outward appearance, we are going to be blinded by our own prejudices.
We need to be the people God created us to be, to be obedient to who He wants us to be and to follow the example of Christ, no matter what the world (or the church) might be saying. In the end, I have to give account to God for how I have lived on this earth.