Romans 10:13-15, tells us: For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” But how can they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how can they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone to preach? And how can people preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring (the) good news!”
So, what kind of shoes do you have on your feet? Are they fashionable, comfy, practical, silly, work related, athletic, or meant for special occasions? And what do shoes have to do with our Christian faith? They can symbolize how we approach our faith, and how we live as Christians.
Take new shoes, for example. They always pinch your feet, and you cannot wait to take them off. Some Christians, although they should be teachers, are still wearing the new shoes that keep pinching their toes. They hear the word of God, it convicts them, but they are unwilling to give up their worldly ways because they like the way the shoes look.
There are some Catholics who wear loafers, sitting in the pew, keeping the seat warm and just sliding by. They relax God’s word to fit their feet, for they don’t want to be uncomfortable. They have a tendency to be spiritually “laid back,” having little to no conviction. They don’t want to get their hands dirty, leaving all the work for the other members. When invited to grow in their faith or volunteer to further the work of the Church, they put up their hands and say, “Oh, I am too busy.”
What about sneakers? Sneakers like to go where they shouldn’t. Whispering seems to follow their footsteps. They sneak around, creating turmoil and division in the Church. They are called sneakers, because you cannot hear them coming or going, but you can see their tracks in the dirt.
Flip-flops are casual and flip-flop when they walk, hence the name. These brothers and sisters are excited when they hear the Word of God. They serve and volunteer for a short period of time. Unfortunately, these shoes are perfect during the summer but when the winter wind blows, they flip-flop back into their old ways. Flip-flop wearers also sit on the fence of indecision. They will flip-flop with the majority, not standing up for the truth when it is difficult.
Booties are worn by newborns. They are made of soft material to protect a baby’s foot, but there are adult Christians who still wear them. They grew up in the Church, yet their faith and knowledge of God’s word is still in the infancy stage. They should be eating the solid food of the Word, but they don’t have the wherewithal to move beyond applesauce.
Slides are convenient shoes and they will only do the bare minimum, hoping to slide into heaven. There are Christians who wear leather mules. Mules are slides, but slides are not mules. We have a few mules in the Church – immovable Christians who stubbornly toil in the trenches. Their downfall is that they do not budge their position even when they are wrong. They don’t want to try anything new in the Church because it was tried 30 years ago and it didn’t work, they object. Their narrow-minded views stifle Church growth. They work very hard but their opinions, misconceptions and feelings of superiority become a stumbling block for others around them.
Some shoes, such as slippers, are worn in specific places. Slippers are worn inside church, but once they leave the parking lot, they are replaced by another pair of shoes. God wants us to be the same people in the church and when we leave the church.
In most closets, there is at least one pair of dress shoes. We might put on these special occasion shoes on Sunday morning and wear them to church. These shoes are more costly than regular shoes. Our intention is to impress others with our expensive taste. These shoes are worn only occasionally – usually at Christmas and Easter.
Work boots or business shoes have a purpose and a job to do. These are the shoes that all Christians should wear in and out of the church. These shoes provide comfort and support to the wearer, enabling them to get the job done.
As St. Paul reminds us in Ephesians 6:10-17: “Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from His mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens.
Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, to hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all (the) flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.”
Bobby Speers is an author who lives in Hickory. Her writing can be found online at www.writecatholic.com.