A Meaningful Message from a Batik Shirt

A quick reminder to be wonderfully conspicuous in the world

S.E. Fairbanks

So, last year, in a sermon I presented, I wore a batik shirt as an illustration of how we ought to become wonderfully conspicuous witnesses for Jesus Christ in our world, rather than the less-than-wonderful or less-than-visible witnesses we sometimes tend to be.

Wonderfully Conspicuous

The phrase “wonderfully conspicuous” came to me as I was paraphrasing a very old translation of a very old letter — “The Epistle of Mathetes to Diognetus”, written sometime around 130-200 A.D. In this letter, Mathetes (which means disciple) writes to Diognetus (which means God-born) about the way of life of the early Christians.

He writes (again, my paraphrase):

Christians are differentiated from other people NOT by their nationality, nor language, nor their customs.

In other words, they look, sound, act, and smell like everyone else.

They DO NOT retreat to their own cities or use peculiar speech, nor lead a life distinguished by any sort of oddness…

They don’t seem to be odd, different, or suspicious. They fit in. They belong in their neighborhood.

They inhabit either Greek or barbarian cities – where they follow the customs of that place with regard to clothing, food, and their daily conduct…

They were incarnated into their local cultures and neighborhoods. They live with, and among, people knowing that in doing so they are a small light. Just as Jesus came into this world as God with us…we, too, are the body of Christ with the people in our world.

They didn’t separate themselves from the world, creating their own little Christian suburbs, Christian subdivisions, or Christian enclaves. Like Paul, they “become like” the people around them, except…

…they display to all a wonderfully conspicuous way of life…

Yes, they are like other people in nearly every way…and yet…they are different.

They marry and have children, but do not destroy or abuse their children.

They are like other people…but different.

They share their table with all, but not their marriage beds…

Yes, they are the same as us…but also different…and everyone knows it!

They obey all laws, and at the same time go above and beyond the letter of the law in their lives.

They do everything expected in the best way they can…and then they go above and beyond! Can you see the pattern?

The Christian life is this mysterious balance between being like the people around us…and yet, living as wonderfully conspicuous Christlike witnesses in our neighborhood.

Back to my sermon

That sermon I preached last year (here’s the link, starting at 27:08) was part of a series, so in subsequent messages, I wore other batik shirts as a subtle reminder of that wonderfully conspicuous message that had been presented earlier. In doing so, I unintentionally created for myself a "batik expectation" whenever I was scheduled to speak.

The week before I speak, now, there are usually a small handful of people who mention to me that they're looking forward to seeing what shirt I wear, and especially if I'm going to be wearing something new.

It's kinda fun.

This past week, I wore a brand new batik shirt, a much nicer one than some of the other ones I had worn. I got a few compliments on the shirt, which was nice, but more importantly, I hoped that every time people see a unique, wild, or unusual shirt, they remember that thing about being a wonderfully conspicuous witness.

The funny thing is that my personality is not at all the kind that likes to be noticed, likes to stand out in the crowd, or that likes to be conspicuous. I'd much rather blend in, be in the back of the room observing, or be working behind the scenes.

In fact, I used to think my personality was a hindrance in my ministry. But, as I've grown older (and I hope, along the way, a little bit wiser, too) I have come to see that my personality is actually quite helpful in the quest to be a wonderfully conspicuous witness. In our world today, everything and everyone tells us to be loud, bold, over the top, and all about me. Sometimes, it seems, the most conspicuous things are the quietest, most patient, and least shiny.

So, whether or not you have a batik shirt to wear, be a wonderfully conspicuous witness--an apprentice of Jesus Christ, living your life in this world with uncommon Grace, unexpected love, undeserved mercy, and unyielding hope.

S.E. Fairbanks