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“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

As I was throwing on my sweats and a t-shirt for the 623rd day in a row working from home this morning, my mind flashed back to a thing many of you may never have heard of: Casual Friday. It was instituted probably in the early 90s (maybe the late 80s?), and it was a concession on the part of employers to relax the wardrobe rules of the business for the last day of the workweek. For some companies, it meant women could wear slacks (versus a dress/skirt) and men could wear khakis and a polo shirt or button down. Other businesses—the forward-thinking ones—actually allowed jeans. It was quite shocking at the time. I remember going up the elevator at my downtown Richmond office building where there were several financial firms. The big joke with them was that on Casual Friday they got to wear the tie of their choice. (There’s something to be said for that workplace standard, but that’s another conversation for another time.)

Anyway, this mental trip through the past got me thinking about the spiritual parallel to Casual Friday.

See, upon becoming believers, we are made new creations—the old passes away (2 Corinthians 5:17). We’re no longer slaves to sin, but we become servants of the Lord (Romans 6:6; Colossians 3:23-24). Once saved, we are called to be holy, as He is holy (1 Peter 1:15-16), representing the Kingdom to which we are now citizens (Philippians 3:20). We are to hold up every thought, word, and action to the Truth of the Bible. We have a new standard by which to live.

If you’re a Christian, there may be quite a contrast between your standards before and after surrendering to Jesus. (There sure is for me.) And, although the above-noted attributes are to be our benchmark, we are all still living in a fallen body and walking through a fallen world. So, we’re not going to always be holy…but we need to always be walking in the direction of holiness and obedience.

So, where does the whole “Casual Friday” thing come in? Well, just as employers loosened their standards for workwear once a week, we must ask ourselves a similar question: Are there days or circumstances where we choose to talk or act below the standard that has been set for us in God’s Word? Maybe it’s around the conference table (real or virtual), when the blue jokes start flying—and you laugh right along. Perhaps, when Friday night rolls around, you go out for a few too many drinks with the girls (or guys). It could be the Netflix or HBO show you binge watch over the weekend—you know, the one with all that gratuitous casual sex. You get the point.

Friend, God has not allowed for Casual Friday—or any other casual day of the week. He does not wink at sin, no matter how “small” we think it is. (He doesn’t say, “Hey, that’s cool to sleep with your boyfriend—I know you’re in love.” Sorry, nope.) God’s standard is non-adjustable and non-negotiable, regardless of how “cultural irrelevant you think it is.

Again, I’m not saying we won’t sin. We will. But the longer we walk with the Lord, the quicker we’ll recognize that sin, repent, and keep going in the right direction. And don’t misunderstand—we don’t maintain God’s standards to keep on His good side or check off the right boxes. We keep God’s standards because we love Him. And bringing Him joy is our joy.

“Thank you, Lord, for Your standards, clearly spoken in Your Word, and the true freedom it brings.”

For His Glory

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life