The Impact Crew: “The Contradictory Life of Contemporary Christians."

With respect to the gospel, Jesus Christ never established church during his ministry. However, after his earthly life, His followers imitated him so well that outsiders tagged them to be Christ-Like resulting into Christianity. Sadly enough, contemporary Christians, especially our ladies live on truncated motivation embodied in 1Samuel 16:7, “... For

the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."( NKJV ) and compete the spread of Christianity with worldly fashion trends putting their sensitive parts on display. Nowadays, distinguishing between a Christian lady and a non Christian is becoming difficult per their outward expression and portrayals. Meanwhile, there is no single verse in the Holy Book that advocate for this growing trend. Whatever is not in conformity with the sacred word is simply a contradiction and abominable in the sight of God.

Addressing the issue from organised church programs starting from weddings to normal church days, worldly fashion becomes competition relegating the requirements of the Bible that talks about proper dressing to the background. Christians women today, especially the pulpit which encompasses the leader of the women's fellowship and the pastor's wife who are suppose to be role models for the congregation have nothing good to offer in terms of how they carry themselves about. “Dress to kill" has become the other of the day. Different fashion styles including bare-back, breast showcase and tight fitting dresses are worn by our Christian ladies which provokes the sensuality of men. Make-up is even the worse to talk about. Our women go in for long artificial hair and fingernails as if they're representatives of Jezebel. However, when you advise them to refrain from such acts, you'll receive flimsy excuses like; "I live in grace." But the Holy Book admonish that in Romans 6:1 that; "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? "

This canker is at its peak in our contemporary gospel musicians in Ghana. The description about Jezebel's outlook in the Bible is explicitly depicted in their music videos. Bleaching, long artificial hairs, artificial nails and eye lashes are what they're addicted to. I do not want to mention their names because they consistently portray them in their so called gospel music videos. You can start watching them to attest to this fact. I don't know how they interpret the Bible and apply it to their personal life. Yet, they'll in turn come to profess the word of God to the masses. I want to ask, "Who are they deceiving?" It will interest you to know that most of our tertiary Christian ladies do the worse of all, because they think they know their rights. The ladies who attend the protestant churches dress to kill. They showcase new seductive dresses every passing Sunday. It's very disgusting and abominable in the sight of God, for it draws unbelievers far away from God. There is nothing godly in what they portray. They are like a whitewashed tombs painted to deceive the innocent soul. What's more? Our worship services have become increasingly relaxed and informal affairs. They show little reverence to the pulpit with no seriousness to godliness. You can see it in what we wear. Church for today's worshipers is has become a dress-up event. Whatever is “sexy" and comfortable in their eyes seems sufficient. Christian students in particular have been taught by their seniors — or has it been the reverse?— that when it comes to church, attire doesn't much matter. They understand there is nothing particularly spiritual about a dress or a coat. God is scarcely impressed by such things. "People look at the outward appearance," we are reminded, "but the LORD looks at the heart" (1 Sam. 16:7).

What Christians today must know is that, Christianity is not an inward affair only. There should not be a contradiction between your inward and external lifestyle. Your behavior, character and your whole being must motivate the unbelievers to accept Jesus Christ. The Bible says, “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us" according to Titus 2:7-8( ESV ). Come to think of organised shows like Ghana Music Awards especially the red carpet session, who're the patronages of this show? Are they all unbelievers? According to Psalm 1, Christians are not to walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers. Christians to think, act, walk and live according to the precepts of the Bible. By living godly lives, Christians will not only lead unbelievers to Jesus Christ but they will save themselves too for this is the heartbeat of Christianity.

Adu Sarpeah
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UCC