Sandal Scandal

Have you ever noticed how exclusive the Bible is in reference to footwear. There are plenty of mentions of sandals such as the ones John the Baptist felt not worthy to carry or ones you knock the dust off when leaving a town that would not hear the Gospel. There are just no mentions of moccasins, boots, slippers, tennis shoes, high-heeled, or dress shoes. This constant harping about sandals is disturbing to those whose footwear attractions lead to other types. We need inclusive footwear language so that nobody is left out.

Should evangelizing be selective and only for those with sandals? Can’t we knock the dust off our boots or running gear? This is an issue of fairness in relation to footwear and the tolerance of other styles. There is neither Jew nor Greek, neither sandal or dress shoe wearers, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Just because 2000 years ago the Jewish culture had taboos about other forms of footwear can we not break through this cultural footwear stereotype?

But to be even more inclusive then we should also include those who eschew shoes and want to walk around with naked feet. After all our first parents Adam and Eve walked around with naked feet. Even after the fall they wore palm leaves and then the furs that God made them, yet their is no mention of them wearing either palm sandals or any other leather footwear. Now some people have hang-ups about seeing people with naked feet and the case made be put forth that out of charity we should cover them. We can not control who might have some kind of foot fetish, or is that feetish? This is just too small of a minority to restrict our freedom in Christ. Those who have a good foot image should be allowed to walk along as they desire.

We should not have to toe the line and be forced to listen to readings that reflect cultural footwear bias and we need to make Biblical footwear conform to present times. We need to change passages such as from John the Baptist to something more like “the thong or other device of whose sandal, boot, or any other type shoes I am not worthy to untie or remove in the case of lace-less shoes.”