While having a community lunch @ church, I was asked by one lady serving the food why it is that I wear a hat in church.  This question caught me off guard, I was expecting a good morning...nice to see you, but regardless I stumbled through an answer to at least point to (unprepared as I was) an explaination as to why I do wear a hat. Having had plenty of time to reflect on this question, I'd like to expand on my original explaination.

I'd like to state for the record that I don't always wear a hat...nor do I  set out my clothes in the morning and smirk to myself about how my wardrobe will upset those who are supposed to be focused on God...I don't do that.  Fact is, I have a hard enough time trying to match my wardrobe when I go out with my wife and such, you know, earthly kind of caring for the way one looks.  I don't think about such trivial things when I am coming prostrate before my God in an all-out, cuttin'-ties-with-my-earthly-self kinda way.  It doesn't cross my mind. 

I feel that if anyone is judged according to their appearances then there are many great men of God that will be left out at the dinner table of the Lord.  John the Baptist was a rather dirty & not-so-easy-on -the-eyes kinda guy from my understanding...after all, he lived in the wilderness.  My point is, wearing a hat is no different than wearing a shirt to me.  I've worn a hat on my head for most of my life (being from a beach, they're usually on backwards) and I do not do it to upset anyone nor bring pleasure to me...it's just a piece of my wardrobe...used everyday.  If everyday is to be utilized serving our Father then Sunday is just one day that we serve Him.  Why should I remove my hat on one day of service and not another?  This is the question that is stirring inside of me. The answer is easy...I don't have to.  I'm not disrespecting God, but rather, doing something different than what someone else feels is right, and that's fine.  We are all different and the Holy Spirit may lay heavy on our hearts just as traditions of men can...in many different ways.  If we were to go back into the tradition of the Old Testament then  women would have  to keep their heads covered all the time, they also couldn't speak unless spoken to...these were law in biblical times. 

 Colossians says this...2:20-23...Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations -"Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle." which all concern things which perish with the using-according to the commandments and doctrines of man?  These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.

 What I take from this, in relation to hats (so as to tie-in and not continue to write a book about this topic) is that to wear or not to wear if done merely to uphold a worldly tradition, or for the sole purpose of breaking a tradition, or for no reason at all... all reasons do nothing one way or another to further your relationship with God.  God doesn't care if you're dirty; he wants you in His house.  God doesn't care if you're wearing blue jeans and tee shirts...tuxedos or pin-striped suites...He wants you in His house.  The clothes (contrary to many Fashion Guru/MTV Self-Help groups) do not make the man...God made the man and everything else is tangent.

 I pray that I never focus on my hat more than on my God who calls out to hat-wearers & non alike to come & drink & thirst no more.

-Bay