By Frankie Darcell
My daughter and I started attending what I consider to be a phenomenal church. What makes this place so unique and one of the fastest growing spiritual institutions in the country is its pastor and his “now” leadership. He’s well-versed on the Bible and articulates each verse in a way that relates to the issues today.
His passion, compassion and the love of God pour from the pulpit. It is a come-as-you-are worship service. There are your traditional folks dressed to the nines, those who are much more casual and business-like, young sisters who look like they just left the club, and those in blue jeans and teens in a very dressed down manner. However, the service every Sunday is filled to capacity, with an overflow of people.
I enjoy the fact that my teenage daughter hears the pastor’s message and looks forward to service every weekend. Now, being the old-school individual that I am I would never wear slacks or jeans to church. It’s just not how I was raised.
One morning, my daughter prepared for church dressed casual in slacks and a cute blouse. When she came downstairs as we were ready to leave, I instructed her to go back to her room and change into a skirt.
Visibly upset she stomped up the stairs and I waited for her to tell me she had changed her mind about going. Then it hit me.
Who am I to block her blessing because I didn’t like her choice of clothes?
What she was wearing was respectful and cute.
I realized that she on her own wanted to hear the word of God, and here I am tripping about what she was wearing. Because of my own hang-ups, I could’ve changed the course of her spiritual experience. If she wants to wear slacks but go to church every Sunday, I should let her. Many of us go to church on Sunday all dressed up in panty hose and all singing to the heavens only to let all hell loose on our jobs Monday.
I say all that to say this: We get so caught up in formality that we miss the purpose. If she is willing to go to church and hear God’s word and celebrate His life, I should let her without getting in the way.
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