Be fully clothed and wear your shoes
As we are nearing the end of the church age that will lead to the tribulation, there are many false teachers who weave sermons that sound beautiful but are based on the incorrect application of the Word, and mislead people. One such was a sermon I found online about taking off your shoes and being barefoot to supposedly experience life’s less than perfect situations – stones, thorns, and the odd heap of dung.
While this may sound adventurous, even humorous, it is a country mile and more off the way that God intends for us. In fact, being barefoot is even used in the Bible as a metaphor for spiritual depravity, and is definitely not spiritually mature or advantageous in any way. Here are a few examples, straight from the Bible, that show why and how our feet should be clothed, and a few examples of when we do need to be barefoot.
Twice in the Old Testament we have examples of where people had to take off their shoes. We read in Exodus 3:5 that Moses had to take off his shoes as God said he was standing on was holy ground. The same happened to Joshua in Joshua 5:15. In both cases it had to do with absolute respect for God, never to “experience life’s tough situations”. In both cases, taking of your shoes was a sign of reverence, submission, and separation.
In the New Testament, we have an example of someone who was without shoes, the prodigal son, and upon seeing him after a long absence, his father immediately noticed his son was barefoot and arranged for the best cloak, a ring for his hand, and shoes for his feet. See Luke 15:22. Even if this son would take off his shoes later, at the time of the meal, getting back into the father’s house and being clothed was a sign that the original dignity, that which was lost as a result of the son’s bad experience, had been restored.
What does the Word of God say about putting on your shoes? Let us use two examples, one from the Old Testament and the other from the New Testament. In preparation for the exodus out of Egypt, God knew what was coming for Israel and duly prepared them for the journey. He tells them to:
11And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD's passover. – Exodus 12:11
They were to be fully prepared for the journey ahead that was about to start. What we do not often notice is the miracle of the shoes. In 40 years of sojourning through the desert, their shoes never wore out. We only read about this in much later in Deuteronomy 29:5. God does not lead us into a spiritual wilderness without also preparing us for the journey and how to get through it. However, we have to be clothed all the time, and shoes are a big part of the clothing regimen.
Many years later the apostle Paul, having grown up in a society where Rome ruled with military force, commanded us to be fully clothed, not just in our day clothes, but clothed for war. He writes to the church in Ephesus and explains the full armour of God, from head to toe:
10Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; 19And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. – Ephesians 6:10-20
Look how high up on the list Paul mentions shoes. This emphasises the importance of spreading the gospel. In all, we must be fully clothed. The Romans knew a thing or two about wearing the right shoes for war. Their shoes, or as the term is more commonly used, sandals, were made from tough leather to protect the feet but still breathe, open areas to expel water, and they often had spikes on the soles to facilitate grip in difficult terrain. Using a real-life example and translating it to another level, Paul understood that shoes were always necessary in the spiritual sense because we need to be prepared to share the gospel of peace wherever we go, whatever the terrain.
Were we ever commanded to take off our shoes other than in reverence and worship? Never. In fact, we are told to be fully clothed and where there were situations, such as with the prodigal son, where we are not properly clothed, God provides that we get what we need to face the journey. Israel had more of a physical journey, while Paul’s audience clearly understood it to be a spiritual one. Whichever you choose, you need shoes, not just for yourself, but to help those around you.
Conclusion
While the pastor who told his congregation that going barefoot is a good idea “to share with your fellow brothers and sisters the hardness of life” this is never taught in the Word of God as a good practice to follow; quite the opposite. Thus, be very careful what you listen to. Watching the video, there was never a Bible even remotely close to the preaching pastor. What he was telling them was a story that is like candy floss – it looks voluminous, but it is light and fluffy, and you can take it and compress it into a little ball of sugar. It has no substance or nutritional value. Its appearance looks like it will feed you, but what you get in the end is literally nothing. Only the Word of God feeds us with what we need.
What you wear inside your home is your business, but wearing shoes in the spiritual sense is not negotiable. Wear the full armour, nothing less.