Many of the Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students (AFES) university groups design shirts for their members which include a Bible verse and the club logo, as well as themed shirts for their annual mission outreach. I originally designed this bookmark image for Griffith Christian Students, at Griffith University, Brisbane. It was included with every shirt purchased, so the club members would understand the significance of representing Christ on campus and thus wear their shirt with intentionality.
This year, many Christian students around the country will be wearing T-shirts, hoodies, hats and other merchandise with the national Meet Jesus
campaign logo on it. And so I am sharing here my five steps in a handy infographic (high res version available for download here), for wearing your Christian Union T-shirt to the glory of God.
Wash
Christians are people who trust that “the blood of Jesus … purifies us from all sin” (1 Jn 1:7). So before you wear something identifying you as a Christian, make sure you’ve put your trust in Jesus as your Lord and Saviour.
Dress
Clothes cover our nakedness (Gen 3:21). Yet God also cares what you wear and why, for example:
Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God. (1 Timothy 2:8–10)
Christians don’t normally prioritise dressing up in order to be seen, but through many people wearing identical shirts our presence is felt on campus, which assists evangelism.
Shoe
Christians must walk in a manner consistent with their trust in Jesus:
As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:1–3)
That is, God wants your shoes to match your shirt. Wearing a Christian Union shirt makes you a ‘walking billboard’ for Jesus. People are watching so walk wisely:
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. (Colossians 4:5–6)
Accessorise
When you become a Christian you get new clothes—a new character as God’s child:
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. (Colossians 3:12–14).
Adorn the gospel (and your shirt) with a life of serving others. It’s your love for one another which shows you belong to Jesus, not your T-shirt: “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (Jn 13:35).
Model
Wear your Christian Union T-shirt often, especially on Bible Talk days. Your shirt will help identify you as a Christian so don’t be surprised when you’re asked about its meaning. Be prepared with an answer which points to Jesus:
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. (1 Peter 3:15–16)
