Well, most of it at least. I’m hoping to lose it all, eventually.
Dignity! What’s it’s purpose? As I’ve been reflecting on the word I’ve come to realize that it’s impact on my life has been more negative than it has been positive, more restricting than it has been stretching, and more worldly than it is actually scripturally sound.
In new places, with new people, I always find myself retreating to dignity as a way of maintaining image. I want to be respected therefore I have to appear respectable; so, I remain dignified. I’m technically an adult so I have to act like one, which rules out a lot of childlike faith; so, I remain dignified. Even sometimes the pressure of representing Christ causes me to take on this self-righteous, holier-than-thou attitude when talking to people who don’t believe; so, I remain dignified.
But what fruit comes from dignity? The more I think about it, the more I come to realize that my dignity is actually responsible for many times I’ve missed out, and that it’s more of a self-preservation technique than anything that could be beneficial to the kingdom. Each time I feel the pull to do something spontaneous for the kingdom, I feel the pull of my dignity and pride equally as harsh. The opportunity to tell someone about Jesus comes up, but the realization that I may screw it up or face persecution holds me back. I feel the urge to pray something over someone, but the fear that it may not be relevant and that I’ll wind up embarrassed holds me back. The opportunity to play a game of soccer or learn to dance with the village kids comes up, but the fear that I’m not good enough and that I’ll look a fool holds me back.
But, I’m starting to realize there’s no shame in looking like a fool!
In fact, I think Jesus would argue that there’s glory in looking like a fool when it’s for Him.
“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of GLORY beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen” 2 Corinthians 4:17
“This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your GLORY” Ephesians 3:13
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have it’s full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” James 1:2
Almost everything about Jesus’s life was undignified. He was born seemingly out of wedlock, to a carpenter’s family, from a town called Nazareth that “nothing good comes from” (John 1:46), and was crucified and beaten as a criminal. He faced a lot of persecution because of it but in the end, it led to him being unafraid to challenge social norms.
Before helping someone, He never took a second to pause and wonder how it would effect His reputation. Without fear of what people would think, there was nothing left holding Him back. So, He hung out with lepers and prostitutes and tax collectors and all the other social outcasts- and even ended up choosing some of them to be His disciples and dearest friends. These people experienced an undignified love that silenced all the voices that called them unworthy and an undignified grace that went as far to tell them otherwise.
God has always been and always will be undignified in the way he loves and blesses us. It’s one of my favorite things about him.
If Jesus got undignified for us, stooped to our level and faced persecution, there should be nothing holding me back from being undignified for a PROMISED heavenly glory.
Undignified worship looks like dancing like no one is watching and singing at the top of your lungs. Undignified grace means forgiveness even if the world perceives it as weakness. Undignified love means loving anyone where they are at and going the extra mile regardless of who is watching. Undignified joy means experiencing it in its fullness even if you wind up looking like a lunatic to the people around you.
Instead of retreating to dignity, I want to run to fully-fledged, undignified joy, peace, patience, love, goodness, kindness, gentleness, and self control.
