Would Jesus Wear Relaxed Fit Jeans?

Without a doubt, the introduction of “Relaxed Fit Jeans” was nothing short of marketing brilliance. A simple concept, but one which might have saved the denim industry.

If there was such a thing as truth in advertising, these baggie trousers would have been more accurately branded as “Middle-Aged Person in Denial Jeans.”

At the time Relaxed Fit Jeans first came out, I was the perfect prospect for the ruse. In my mid-thirties back then, I fancied myself a rising young executive. Having launched a moderately successful business which was growing rapidly in revenues if not in profits, I saw the world as a pearl which was destined to be strung on my necklace.

Intent on playing the part, I adopted the lifestyle of what I perceived to be a “successful entrepreneur.” I worked on my golf game, smoked expensive cigars, window shopped for German-made automobiles, and capped most nights with a martini or two. It was a life which was over my head and outside of my budget.

Working my 70 to 80 hours a week to feed the monster of my delusion, I tried with limited success to maintain the appearance that I was also a first-rate husband, dedicated father, and a man of God. With my time being swallowed up by things which really didn’t matter, I somewhat reluctantly and most unwisely, decided to surrender a lifetime of commitment to maintaining my health and fitness.

Rapidly my body expanded, and so did my appreciation for Relaxed Fit Jeans.

These grace filled garments allowed a guy who was pushing a 38 waistline to still have a size 34 tag displayed on the back of his pants and I was willing to pay a premium for this feature. Genius. Pure marketing genius.

At this same time, my faith started wearing Relaxed Fit Jeans. I was unwilling to relinquish my external tag of Christian leader, while internally my relationship with Christ was in deteriorating shape. I was being pulled away by the world’s lure and was losing my spiritual discipline and passion.

Mine was a Relaxed Fit Christianity.

The danger is that when we start believing the lie, we begin laying down our beliefs.

We smile and shake hands on Sunday mornings, but we’re unavailable the rest of the week. We say we’re praying, be we ain’t praying. We preach God, spouse and family, but we serve only ourselves. We boast of our growing faith, as we die inside.

Fortunately, my Donald Trump wannabe phase was short lived and within a couple of years God called me away entirely from smoking, drinking and gambling and restored my old passion for healthy living.

Most importantly, He called me out on my weakness of faith and then called me back to Him.

Now, ten years later, my journey continues to have its challenges and setbacks. The more I passionately pursue a deep and authentic relationship with God, the more clearly I understand how far I fall short.

There is power in that knowledge because it keeps me clinging tightly to my hope in Him.

Grace is one of the most precious gifts from God. We all have times when we need to be cut some slack as frequently this road is long, difficult and discouraging.

But grace was never meant to be a substitute for truth. Its role is not to lower the standard, but to pick us up when we stumble. To dust us off when we make a mess.

It’s in these arms of grace where we can choose to stay right where we’re at and call it good.

Or instead, in an expression of gratitude and a true desire to grow our faith, we can choose to even more fervently pursue the life modeled by Christ.

It doesn’t mean we’ll always be comfortable. We may not look good and we certainly won’t be fashionable. But it’s a genuine and intimate faith we were created to wear.

Looking for more from Michael K Reynolds? You might also enjoy What God Hates Most of All.

Michael K. Reynolds is the author of the acclaimed Heirs of Ireland Series, historical novels set in the late 19^th century. He is the producer of Crystal Darkness, an Emmy-Award winning series of anti-meth documentaries and was named as one of the 25 most influential Christians on Twitter. You can learn more at MichaelKReynolds.com.