Clothing Our Identity: Virtues of Compassion and Justice

today um historically the way that people would dress and how that's connected to their identity and who they understood them to be in the story that they understood themselves to be living was all quite deeply connected I know um some of you when you're listening to become new do it while you're getting ready in the morning including while you're getting dressed and it's often kind of a metaphor for what posture will I assume for the day um I I am often quite careless in the way that I dress [00:12:08]

in the world of the early Church in the New Testament World actually clothes and identity and story were very very tightly connected uh Joseph Helman is a new testament scholar he wrote a book called reconstructing honor in Roman Philippi and he talked about how uh in that day rank um status was very important it was an Honor Society cisero said rank must be preserved so it would be reinforced in lots of ways where you sat when you you went to a public event the laws that did or did not apply to you and the clothes that you wore [00:60:44]

therefore as God's dearly beloved people Chosen and dearly loved clothe yourselves with compassion kindness humility gentleness and patience bear with each other forgiving each other whatever grievance you might have against each other forgive just as Jesus has forgiven you and over all these virtues put on love which binds them together in perfect Unity how do you want to dress for your story [00:188:23]

John wolman was a Quaker activist abolitionist in the 1700s and it turns out that his wife actually is a direct descendant of John Wilman and uh had remarkable stories to tell and remarkable family relics from the Journey of John wolman so I thought as we're looking at stories today I would say a little bit about and read a little bit from the writings of this man John wman he was a merchant initially and wrote up legal documents and and then over time uh felt a calling to teach about God and to write about God [00:288:96]

I have often felt the motion of love to leave some hints in writing of my experience of the goodness of God now that'd be a good thing to clothe myself in today the goodness of God and then he goes on My Mind through the power of Truth was in a good degree weaned from the desire of outward greatness that's a remarkable thought by the way do you have any idea um what is the longest published book in North American history of course the book that has been continuously published the longest is the Bible number two after that the Journal of John wolman [00:333:68]

how remarkable it is in our stories that often it's people who are able to allow God to wean them from the desire for outward greatness who have an impact far beyond anything they could imagine his journals were not published until actually two years after he died so he never knew I was learning to be content with real conveniences that were not costly so that a way of life free from much entanglements appeared best for me though the income was small I saw that a humble man with the blessing of the Lord might live on little [00:392:08]

there was a Care on my mind to so pass my time as to things outward that nothing might hinder me from the most steady attention to the voice of the true Shepherd that'd be a good thing to wear today steady attention to the voice of the true Shepherd and John wima did that and his impact on the world around him became quite extraordinary he writes about how when he was a young boy he saw a robin on her nest and he took a rock and threw it as young kids sometimes do and killed the Robin [00:440:59]

he was so uh at by looking at what he had done that one of the marks of his life going forward this is back in the 1700s as he became an early Ardent lover of all life of All Creatures much like St Francis of aisi and would promote their well-being on a regular basis uh two more sections from what he says oh interestingly enough he also became an abolitionist as I mentioned and very concerned about working conditions for all people people he also decided at a certain point that he would never again wear any Fabrics that were dyed [00:476:08]

I was renewed confirmed to my mind that the Lord whose Tender Mercies are over all his works and whose ear is open to the cries and groans of the oppressed is graciously moving in the hearts of people to draw them off from the desire of wealth and to bring them into such a humble lowly way of living that they may see their way clearly to repair to the standard of true righteousness and may not only break the Yoke of Oppression but may know him to be their strength and support in times of outward Affliction [00:532:04]

he talks about uh a vision he had during a time of serious illness I then heard a soft melodious voice more pure and harmonious than I had ever heard with my ears before I believe believed it was the voice of an Angel who spoke to the other Angels the words were John wolman is dead greatly wondered what that Heavenly voice could mean I was then carried in spirit to the minds where poor oppressed people were digging Rich Treasures for those called Christians and I heard that blasphemed the name of Christ at which I was grieved for his name was precious to me [00:616:16]

I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live yet not I but Christ liveth in me and the life I now live in the flesh is by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me then the mystery was opened and I perceived there was joy in heaven over a sinner who had repented and that the language John wolman is dead meant no more than the death of my own selfish will so maybe preaching in a shirt covered with skulls and crossbones is not such a bad idea if I can die to everything inside me that needs dying to and put on Christ [00:689:68]

you have a story that matters give a thought now about how you're going to dress for it hey if you enjoyed that video be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel so you don't miss any future teachings from John orberg here at become new my name is Tim and I'm a part of the team here this series is all about stories everybody has a story and everybody's story matters and we want to know about your story whether it's a story of coming to Faith or a story of spiritual growth whatever it is we're here for you [00:732:16]