YOU BETTA CHECK YO SELF!!!!!!

Ok, I aplogize for resulting to a eubonic phrase to get your attention for this blog but it is quite appropriate. Many Christians live their life in a way they think is pleasing to God, but in all actuality, they need to do some serious searching of their heart. It does not matter what Godly things you do or say and it does not matter how good your actions may look to other people if you are not doing it with the right heart. Now there is not enough time for a blog to show you all that that Bible has to say about the heart. I have written a blog in the past called "the forgotten heart" on this topic so if you would like me to send it to you, just let me know but here are a few verses to consider.

1 Samuel 16:7
But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."

1 Corinthians 10:31
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:17 and 23
And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men,

It does not matter how well you preach, teach, sing, serve, dress, talk, act, give and on and on and on if you are not doing it from your heart motivated by the love you have for God. Example: A great preacher or singer, comes in to church wearing the nicest suit and tie and preaches a sermon or sings in a way that totally wow's all who listen and all who see, however God is not impressed not one bit! Lets see what Paul had to say to the church at Colossi about this topic in Colossians 2.

6-10
As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

We are righteous and satisfy a Holy God when we are in Jesus, not when we do things that look good to men. Paul warns that traditional (churchy) rules and ideas are deceitful and empty. Ideas we have gained through years of church about how we should dress, and what we should do, mean absolutely nothing if we are not doing it because in our hearts we want to with a desire to give our best to God. If we do anything that looks good just to please humans, God is not impressed and in fact dissapointed.

13-14
And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses,
having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.

Our sins separated us from God and we had a daunting task or trying to earn salvation by good works (requirements that were against us). Trying to earn Salvation is against us because it is impossible to earn Heaven. Jesus removed all that and nailed it to the cross (our sins and our responsibilty to pay for them). I did not say all this to say that you should do whatever we want in life, but make sure your heart is right and your relationship is right with God and that you are not seeking to impress people with how righteous you think you look or sound.

16-23
So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ. Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom all the body, nourished and knit together by joints and ligaments, grows with the increase that is from God. Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

No one should judge your heart by what you wear to church. Now of course you should desire to give God your best but only you and God know if you are really doing that. Some people think they are humble when their humble acts are just to please people and not God. When we do these things we get prideful and forget that Jesus is the Head of our bodies and our lives as Christians. We are saved by Grace, so why live like we are under the Old Testamant law?
Now for those Christians you are all excited thinking that they should not care at all what other think... God never said that. We do have a responsibilty to please God yet God also tells us to make sure he things we wear, do and say, do not offend others.

1 Corinthians 8:9
But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak.

Galatians 5:13
For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

1 Peter 2:16
as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.

Ultimately, we need to be honest with God and ourselves and ask what our motivation is for the things we do. The things we wear, and the things we say.