Does the Suit Make the Man?

I was recently asked the question: "Brother Joe, why do you wear a suit all the time?" The answer I gave, is reflected here in the opinion given by Dr. Criswell in his guidebook for Pastors.

"It is important how the pastor looks and works in the pulpit and among his people. I like for the preacher to look like a preacher, not like a bum. I would expect the head of a state or an ambassador from a mighty nation to look the part. The preacher is ambassador plenipotentiary from the greatest court in the universe, even from the throne of heaven itself. He ought to reflect the garments of glory in his own manner of dress. He ought to dress immaculately, neat, and clean, whether in the office, in the pulpit, or in making visits... ... The Pastor ought to be dressed appropriately all the time for every occasion. There is a way to dress for a church camp, there is a way to dress at a wedding, there is a way to dress for a party. Good common sense will dictate what ought to be worn. Just remember that appropriateness of dress can speak more loudly than your words."

What does a "Traditional Person" look like?

I took a picture this morning of this church sign in my hometown. The name of the church and pastor have been blacked out to protect the guilty. :) As you can tell it is a Baptist Church, and a Southern Baptist Church at that. My first reaction was, “Thanks for the warning! It sure would be great if all churches came with warning labels like this one". I can just see it now… “A Boring Church… with Boring Services... for Boring People…” or maybe “A Carnal Church... with Carnal Services… for Carnal People…”

However, some time has passed and I have begun to ask myself some questions. What is a traditional person? Who exactly are these traditional people that this church seeks to minister to? Do the people know that they are traditional? What happens if a non-traditional person shows up? Would a lost or backslid person ever visit this church?

Personally, I have been labeled a traditionalist many times. Some have meant it as a complement, while others spoke those words in a negative connotation. In my case; traditional means that I wear a suit, preach from a King James Bible, from behind a pulpit, raise my voice occasionally, and sweat a little while preaching. These things constitute a "traditional" pastor in the south. However, I do not consider myself as a traditional person. In fact, I greatly dislike the title. My great desire is to be biblical, not traditional or contemporary. I would love to be able to put on our church sign... "A Biblical Church... with Biblical Services... for ALL the people".

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Pics from Indy

"Messengers to the SBC" from the Westboro Baptist Church?

Me with Dr. Page Patterson, former President of the SBC and current President of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Me with Junior Hill, evangelist and recent inductee to the "Hall of Faith" by the Conference of Southern Baptist Evangelists.

Me with Dr. James Merritt; former President of the SBC and founder and Senior Pastor of Cross Pointe Church in Duluth, Georgia

Me with Dr. Johnny Hunt, Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Woodstock, GA and the newly elected President of the SBC.