So leggings happened, and United Airlines said no. You may have heard about this already. Two teenage girls tried to board a United Airlines flight using the “buddy pass” (a free flight voucher) and were denied access because they were wearing leggings. According to United, there is a dress code policy for anyone flying with the vouchers because that person represents the company. This is not a debate about wearing leggings, yoga pants or spandex in public. However, wearing anything in public that essentially just changes the color of your skin is not a good idea, #justsayno. This is more about representing something bigger than yourself.
As much as people like to espouse individualism and no ties to anything, everyone represents some group. If you have a job, you represent that company or employer while on the job and in some cases, even off the job. If you are a family member, you represent that family group. If you are a part of any group, then you are a representative of that group. No person can say that they are exempt from being a representative.
We must think about this in relationship to our lives as Christians. When we became Christians, we were given a voucher of sorts, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). God said it this way by the pen of Paul, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord” (Eph. 5:1-10).
It is easy to see from the passage above the concept of what being an “ambassador for Christ” really means (2 Cor. 5:20). We were “bought with a price” (1 Cor. 6:20). Everything we do should be to “glorify your Father” (Matt. 5:16). Being freed from the slavery of sin and death, we have been made slaves of righteousness (Rom. 6:17-18). You represent the fullness of God’s love, mercy, grace and redemptive promise.