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October 31st is right around the corner. You may call that day Halloween or Reformation Day. Yet, no matter what we call it, people the world over will be dressing up in their favorite costumes to celebrate. Now some of these costumes are innocent and fun. Think ladybugs and pumpkins, superheroes and princesses.
But some of the costumes are downright harsh. Serial killers, demons, devils, witches, monsters, skeletons, and even scantily-clad immodest temptresses. As bad as those costumes are, and they are bad from a Christian worldview. There are a few costumes people who claim to know Christ wear that are downright offensive. Worst yet is the fact that these costumes can be worn year-round, not only at Halloween. Those who wear these costumes either are unaware of the spiritual adornment. Or they are wearing them in open rebellion against God's expressed will.
Many different costumes could go into this category, but today we are going to look at only seven. What are these costumes? Why are they so offensive? What can we do about them? Read on to find out!
The way we are going to present these costumes is to describe the character that they represent. We will start with the harsh and work our way up to the most gruesome. So let’s get started.
The Seven Offensive Costumes Christians Can Wear
Table of Contents
1. The Fibber
Human beings are notorious for lying and deceiving. My grandmother has always said telling a lie was saying a fib, (not to be confused with the heart condition). We don’t use that word much today, but it is an apt description of the character costume we are looking at first.
The Fibber is someone who speaks falsehoods, often in an attempt to deceive others. They literally want to “Trick or Treat” someone with falsehoods. The Fibber wants to deceive others so they can gain an edge on them or so they can hide something they don’t want to be discovered.
As Christians, we shouldn’t wear the costume of the Fibber and speak falsehoods to one another. The Bible not only condemns lying as that which goes against the very one who cannot lie (Numbers 23:19; Titus 1:2; Psalm 12:6). It also teaches that this evil isn’t about the use of deceptive falsities alone.
When we put on the Fibber's costume, we reveal our lack of personal faithfulness and obedience to God. We are implying that we prefer man’s ways to God’s ways. When we lie, even little white lies, (we strongly dislike that phrase) we are imitating Satan rather than our Holy God.
44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
John 8:44 ESV
Let us learn to put off this offensive costume and replace it with something better. The apostle Paul wrote,
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
Ephesians 4:25 ESV
We aren’t our own, so we shouldn’t be wearing the Fibber's costume. We are members one of another. We have a mutual sense of accountability. We should long to see the community of faith prosper and grow more zealous together. Wearing the Fibber costume can prevent that from happening in many different ways, so let’s get rid of the Fibber altogether!
2. The Slothful Kleptomaniac
Next on our list of offensive costumes is the Slothful Kleptomaniac. It is one thing to put on a mask and go “Trick or Treating!” Yet, it is something entirely different to put on a mask and go take something of your neighbor’s without their consent. Yes, we are talking about stealing. Sadly, the truth is, some Christians steal. They may or may not steal possessions, but they may take advantage of other believers and their generosity.
The word thief in the New Testament often comes from the Greek word, κλέπτης, which we get our word kleptomaniac from. A kleptomaniac is someone who compulsively feels the urge to steal. We call our character costume a Slothful Kleptomaniac because the one who steals is lazy and uncaring. Ultimately, they are very selfish and greedy. Again, Paul wrote,
28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.
Ephesians 4:28 ESV
In the Christian community, we should all strive to take care of one another. For us to do this, we must all labor, work, and toil honestly with our own hands. We work to have something to share with those in our family of faith as needs arise.
The one who slothfully depends on the fruit of other believers’ labors. Those who are too lazy to work to earn provision are wearing an offensive costume on par with that of a real thief. Let us put off those vile costumes and live like Christ who gives of Himself every day for the good of others.
3. The Foul-mouthed Demolition Expert
Next on our list of despicably offensive costumes Christians can wear, is the Foul-mouthed Demolition Expert. We all know that a demolition expert is skilled at tearing down that which has been built. They demolish, tear down, and destroy, but they never build up, repair, or restore.
The Foul-mouthed Demolition Expert is a person with the uncanny ability to tear down those around them with corrupt speech. Their speech is unwholesome and worthless. It is full of coarse or foul language, gossip, and slander.
Take a moment to do a mental inventory of your past hurts. How many of your past hurts revolve around the hurtful words someone has spoken to you? Everyone, but especially Christ-followers, must be careful about what we say and how we say it. Paul taught us to,
29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Ephesians 4:29 ESV
We are to be known as people who are gracious and kind, full of love, and ready and able to edify and encourage one another. To edify is the exact opposite of demolishing. Demolition involves tearing down, while edifying is all about building others up.
If we put off the foul-mouth demolition experts of our old selves. And if we put on the tongue of the grace-filled encourager, then God can work through our words to draw others to His Son! Do your words build up or demolish?
Perhaps, you have been wearing this offensive costume and hurting others. If that is true. Stop right now and ask for God’s forgiveness and take off the costume today! Then go and ask that person for their forgiveness. Make reconciliation a top priority.
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4. The Bitter Sourpuss
Everyone has been hurt at some point in their lives. Those hurts sometimes cause some of us to defensively put on the offensive costume of the Bitter Sourpuss.
A Sourpuss is a person who is discontent. They are grumpy grouches who carry gloom around with them everywhere they go. This costume has a hint of bitterness within it. Bitterness is a spirit of resentment and unforgiveness towards another person. It is a spirit that refuses reconciliation. Bitterness is a sin that we allow to take root in our lives that, if left unchecked, can destroy us. The only way to overcome it is to forgive and seek reconciliation.
We are sure you have all seen this costume before. It is terribly hurtful and offensive. One of the problems that this costume is so hurtful is the way it can infect others with the same root of bitterness. Maybe you have heard the cliche, “hurt people, hurt people.” That is very true when it comes to the Bitter Sourpuss. Let us heed the advice of God in Hebrews 12, so we can avoid hurting ourselves and others.
14 Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
Hebrews 12:14-15 ESV
5. The Angry Brawler
The next costume is an unfortunate mutation of the last. Vile and disgusting in every way, the angry brawler disrupts everything. This costume is characterized by bitterness that remains bottled up under the surface until it explodes in a rage-filled outburst of anger. This quick-tempered costume is continually and uncontrollably selfish. The person wearing this costume is angry and often looks for fights. They like to make their discontentment known by acting out in public.
22 A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression.
Proverbs 29:22 ESV
Having a temper that results in anger towards evil is a virtue, but anger that results in sin must be avoided at all costs.
26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.
Ephesians 4:26 ESV
When we allow our anger and wrath to bring us into sin, we give Satan an incredible opportunity to make us look the fool. We also help him sow discord and division among God’s people. This costume is worn by those who have truly become bullies within the church. They will vigorously attack anyone with whom they disagree. Worse still, this kind of attitude can breed another ugly mutation. A new costume that becomes even more insidiously dangerous than the last as we will see.
6. The Malicious Influencer.
Unlike a baby that cries out or clamors when they don’t get their way, the Malicious Influencer has grown more shrewd. They still cry out and clamor. Their bitterness is deeply rooted. Their anger and wrath are seething. Yet, what makes this costume so offensive is that they hold on to the previous traits while learning to put a smile on their face.
The person wearing this costume has learned not to directly attack their foes. They come for them in indirect ways. These malicious influencers fake a form of godliness that portrays a sense of goodness. They seek out positions of influence that will grant them an audience they can negatively manipulate.
In gathered meetings, they position themselves as the devil’s advocate ( and maybe they are). Often steering the gathering toward their position rather than whatever was proposed. Those wearing these devilish costumes seek to make themselves out to be the experts. They boast of their great experience and good deeds.
They often propose to speak on behalf of a mysterious “people.” These unknown people are always saying something contrary to the majority opinion. By doing so, they shrewdly make the issues appear larger and more widespread than they actually are. They use this influence to hurt others. These are very effective influencers.
They are the types who like to stay in the know. They love to be fed information. Then, they spread that information by playing very loosely with the veracity of the facts. These people love to travel around the community spreading their slanderous influence. Their intent is pure malice.
The word "malicious" means to deliberately do evil toward someone who has offered the good hand of friendship. The Malicious Influencer is a backstabber. They assure you they are on your side, and that they love you. Pretending to support you, they are awaiting the time when they will suddenly turn around and stab you in the back.
Of all the costumes we have discussed so far, this is the most dangerous. Since it combines traits from each of the other costumes into a form of malice disguised by innocence. The Apostle Paul said,
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV
Again kindness, love, and forgiveness are the keys to overcoming the traits of this offensive costume. All malice must be removed completely or it will continue to fester until it destroys the whole.
As insidious as this costume is. There remains one more costume that is the most offensive of all for a person who names Christ as Lord to wear.
We call it...
7. The Harbinger of Grief
The Apostle Paul describes those who are far from God and living according to the ways of the world in Ephesians 4:17-24.
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:17-24 ESV
Christian, listen very carefully. God saved us to be holy as He is holy. He sent His Holy Spirit to dwell in each of us. He dwells within us to enable us to live a new life. A new life in opposition to sin.
We are instructed in this passage of Scripture to put off our old selves. To discard our worldly costumes and put on the new reality of who we are in Christ. We are told to live in a way that represents the true righteousness and holiness of Christ.
When we put on the costume of the Harbinger of Grief, we put back on all the old costumes of our former selves.
The Seven Offensive Costumes Christians Can Wear!
- The Fibber
- The Slothful Kleptomaniac
- The Foul-Mouthed Demolition Expert
- The Bitter Sourpuss
- The Angry Brawler
- The Malicious Influencer
- and many others in addition to these.
When we adorn our old costumes rather than our new life in Christ, we become Harbingers of Grief. We tell Jesus that His salvation, His redeeming blood, just wasn't good enough. We believe that the worst, the most offensive costume we can wear, is one that grieves the heart of God. Such a costume cheapens His grace and mercy. It conveys that His zealous love for us isn't enough.
Paul warned us against doing such a thing. He said,
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
Ephesians 4:30 ESV
Yes, the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity, can be saddened and grieved by the way in which we live our lives. If we adorn these offensive costumes we have discussed, we do not just hurt ourselves or each other! The worldly Christian grieves the very Spirit of our Holy God!
What a powerful reason to adorn the godliness and righteousness of Christ. What an awesome honor! What a great responsibility we've been given!
Conclusion: Avoid These Seven Costumes Christians Can Wear.
So this October 31st, examine your spiritual clothing.
- What are you wearing?
- Are you wearing one of these costumes or the real thing, the righteousness and holiness of Jesus Christ?
- How does your life impact the Holy Spirit?
- Do you bring Him glory and honor and joy?
- Or are you bringing Him grief and sadness?
Choose to live zealously for Christ! Concentrate on setting up guard posts in your life to keep your spiritual clothing in check.
Until next time....
#BeZealous, #StayZealous, and #LiveZealouslyForChrist