FROM THE PULPIT: LET GOD DRESS YOU AND PROTECT YOU

There's an old fairy tale about a foolish king who paraded in front of his subjects naked. Not that he intended to do so, but he was tricked into believing he was wearing special clothing, so special that only the sophisticated folk could see it. Only a child was brave enough to see (literally and figuratively) through his foolishness.

That fairy tale story, "The Emperor's New Clothes," was repeated in a book belonging to my children called, "Pooh's New Clothes." In this version, Winnie the Pooh isn't really fooled, he's just a bear of very little brain. He ignorantly assumed he was clothed and protected.

If we read Ephesians 6:10-20, and take it seriously in a spiritual sense, we must confess that most of us are naked Christians. We're perpetuating that faddish craze from the 1970's called "streaking," the practice where someone takes off all their clothes except their hat and they run around at public events generating mild response of embarrassment and disgust.

As Christians claiming Jesus Christ as Savior, we joyfully wear the helmet of salvation. Our sins are forgiven and our eternal life is secure. But sadly, we wear little else to protect us from making foolish choices and falling into sin while living our earthly lives.

In this section of his letter to the Christians at Ephesus, Paul is directing his reader to be strong in the Lord, to stand firm against the forces that weaken the faith. Paul encourages them to put on the whole armor of God. The helmet of salvation is not enough.

Every day we read about people who succumb to temptation and sin. Most of these people confess they knew what they did was wrong, but they just didn't have the spiritual fortitude or the emotional resources to keep them from doing the wrong thing.

The sad reality is that most of these people are faithful, church-attending Christians. Yet these are the people who run around spiritually naked, wearing only the helmet of salvation. Paul tells we need to put on the whole armor of God. This would include:

-- the belt of truth that girds the loins. To "gird one's loins" meant to pull up the flowing hem of your garment, tuck it under your belt in order to have freedom of movement. It means you're ready for what may come upon you.

-- the breastplate of righteousness. This was a critical piece of armor that protected the vital organs, particularly the heart. Paul's readers considered the heart to be the center of one's attitude and personal desire.

-- shoes for the feet. The Roman sandal was a studded sandal to permit surefootedness. We stand with the firmness of the good news of peace with God.

-- the shield of faith. The shield worked best in conjunction with other shields. The front rank of soldiers, standing side by side, shielding the warriors behind them. What a great model for the Christian community!

-- the helmet of salvation. The head symbolized the will and the intellect. Our wills must be protected from the influence of evil.

-- the sword of the Spirit. This is God's word, the Bible, not fickle, human reasoning.

Paul's closing advice is to be prayerful and watchful. But actions are only as effective as the armor we bear. Each of us should look into the mirror of God and see how we're spiritually dressed. I'll bet many of us would find ourselves embarrassed for what we haven't been wearing. By the way, what are you wearing to church today?