11/16/2008 - By Chuck Monan, Preaching Minister

Defying the dictates of good taste and common sense, the PV Singles Halloween Party was a smashing success.  Creativity in costuming was the order of the night as the boys and girls spared no expense to dazzle and delight.  And while others surpassed him in detail and investment, my favorite was Shane Samples.  He donned a Bob Seger “Stranger In Town” concert T-shirt and shaved his head and went as Hans Oliver.

I enjoyed this far more than a cheeky PV Single a few years ago who dressed in black, stuffed a pillow down his shirt, and came as Chuck Monan.

Philistine.

Given that imitation is either the sincerest form of flattery or the most brazen form of mockery, it has been difficult for people to know what to do with Alex Woinski.

Woinski, a 13-year-old student at West Brook Middle School in Paramus, N.J., joined 500 other students at his school’s Halloween festivities.  Unlike the others, he was asked to go home because of his costume of sandals, robe, fake beard, thorns, along with his arm - long hair.

He dressed up as Jesus.

Principal Joan Broe disagreed with charges she overreacted, claiming that the costume was a disruption to the education process.  She said, “Children were [asking] ‘Where is the boy who is Christ Jesus?’”

Hmmm.

The apostle Paul writes, “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ” (Gal. 3:27).  The meaning of these words has nothing to do with dressing up in a robe and sandals;     it has everything to do with being covered with the holiness, righteousness and salvation of Jesus.

But the issue of Alex Woinski’s costume alternately disturbing/intriguing people inspires a question:  What if people looked at us and saw Jesus?  Not in the sense of us wearing long hair and flowing robes, but that our words, actions, values, mannerisms and priorities were just like those of the Savior?  The attraction of the crowds to Jesus was often irresistible:

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught.  Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”  So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.  But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them.  When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd.  So he began teaching them many things.
~ Mark 6:30-34

So often we see the world not very interested in being around Christians.  Perhaps if those of us who wear the Savior’s name start to look more and more like him, this will change.