I Love Jesus and Jeans
By Rev. Kabrielle M. Baker, Contributing Writer
In a day when non-denominational churches are growing and protestant churches are rapidly declining, a question we must ask ourselves is “Are we still relevant?” When thinking of one being relevant, I think of one being in the culture but not of the culture of the world.
We spend much time looking for ways to stay separate from the world’s culture; but, could it be we have isolated ourselves so much that we have put ourselves in an involuntary timeout? As we have put ourselves in a timeout, we have come up with unspoken rules and regulations of what one looks like to be in “good and regular standing.”
Culture is rapidly changing and teaching our children various dances, songs, slogans, and fashion. The church is telling them to leave all those things at the door and grab their “church clothes” before they set foot in our churches. We have told many to leave everything they learn outside, come into the church, and let us teach you all you need to know.
I would suggest that we have been teaching many to become “culturally bipolar.” We would like people to be a certain way outside of the church (even if it isn’t bad), and when they come into the church, to change their identity. Then, we question why there is a lack of authenticity that fills our sanctuaries.
Being a millennial pastor who is versatile in dress, I have been intentional with stressing “come as you are” (if it is respectful) as our new normal. I am not against dressing up and some Sundays you will find me in what is traditionally accepted as “church attire.” However, you will also find me preaching about Jesus in my favorite pair of sneakers and blue jeans. Recently, we had visitors and they sat and chatted with me before service about how they had been hurt by churches before and they didn’t have any dress-up clothes due to limited income. After affirming the family that they would always be welcomed to be a part of our community, they were shocked that I was the pastor as I sat next to them in my jeans and talked about my Jesus.
I am not suggesting that dressing down is the only way of reaching the lost and the unsaved but I am suggesting that if we don’t open our eyes to more than what we have been accustomed to seeing or accepting, the lost and unsaved will stay far away. We must be open to the fact that all who worship God won’t walk, talk, or dress the way that we do. We must begin to set the precedence and allow individuals to be authentic to who they are as we affirm them that it’s more than alright to love Jesus and jeans. I know I do!
The Rev. Kabrielle M. Baker is the senior pastor of Community AME Church in Ecorse, Michigan, where she is affectionally called “Pastor Kabs.” A daughter of the parsonage and a Detroit native, she is the founder of Triple Threat, a ministry that was founded on the idea of being radical, real, and relevant. The Rev. Baker is the author of I Am a Triple Threat: 21 Day Devotional,which was written to affirm and aide the emotional, mental, and spiritual freedom of its readers. The Rev. Baker holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Urban Studies from Wayne State University. She is currently pursuing her Master of Divinity degree at Payne Theological Seminary while concentrating her studies around Christian Community Development. She is the mother of one son, Joshua Nathanael.
