“Pastors have to defend the flock. Bishops have to defend the faith.”

— Bishop Jonathan Alvarado

A Transformative Encounter

After Patrick Winfield’s message, I had the privilege of encountering Bishop Jonathan Alvarado. I use the word encounter because his sermon wasn’t just words—it was an experience. A tangible meeting with God’s presence. A revelation of how He uses His people to draw others closer to Him.

Before this conference, I didn’t know the difference between a pastor and a bishop. So, outside of the conference, I did my own research. If you’re unfamiliar, a bishop is first a pastor—like crawling before walking. Not all pastors become bishops, but bishops oversee multiple churches.

Bishop Alvarado has been preaching for over 40 years and shepherds more than 32 congregations. His accomplishments are impressive, but that’s not what impacted me most.

It was his impartation.

Rejecting Individualism: Salvation in the Ark

On the second day of the conference, Patrick Winfield introduced us to BE in BECOMING. Bishop Alvarado, however, expanded my understanding of the image of God. His first statement caught me off guard:

“Individualism is not Christianity.”

I had always prided myself on my independence. But Bishop Alvarado challenged that mindset, explaining that Christianity and individualism contradict each other. Then he said something that shook me:

“When we have cells in our body doing their own thing, we have cancer.”

If we live in isolation and prioritize our own way over God’s design, we risk becoming a cancer to everything we are meant to build.

Then came another statement that left me wrestling:

“There is no salvation outside the church.”

At first, I struggled with this. I had always heard, “Your relationship with God is personal.” And that’s true. But Bishop Alvarado broke it down: in biblical salvation narratives, individuals weren’t saved—families were. He pointed to Noah’s Ark. Salvation wasn’t in Noah, the individual. It was in the Ark.

God didn’t save Noah alone—He saved his family because they entered the Ark with him. This means that isolation is not the key to salvation. While our faith starts with a personal decision, it is sustained through the body of Christ. If we separate ourselves from the church, we risk spiritual decay.

This convicted me. I had believed I was in church for everything connected to me—but now I understood: I cannot carry my family’s salvation. I can share knowledge, but they must seek God for themselves. If you attend church alone, this is not to discourage you but to challenge you: Are you merely attending, or are you seeking covenant?

The Image of God: A Visible Reflection

As I wrestled with this call away from individualism, another revelation emerged: our identity in God is not just spiritual—it’s meant to be seen.

I invite you to ask yourself:

“What does the image of God mean to me?”

We say we desire to walk in His image. But one way that image is represented—at least in the church—is through vestments.

Vestments: More Than Church Attire

Before this message, I had never heard the term vestments. I thought of it as “church attire.” But Bishop Alvarado emphasized that vestments aren’t just clothing—they are a divine mandate.

“The uniform of God is apparent.”

Bishop Alvarado shared that people recognize him as a bishop because of what he wears. That struck me. We don’t change God to fit ourselves—we change ourselves to fit God.

He compared vestments to military uniforms. A sergeant doesn’t modify his uniform with personal pendants—doing so would result in a court-martial. Likewise, we are called to represent God without altering His design.

We obey the laws of our country without question. But when it comes to God’s commandments—the very laws He set for us—why do we hesitate?

The Meaning Behind the Colors

But beyond just the clothing itself, every detail in vestments carries meaning. These garments don’t just cover the body—they tell a story of faith, sacrifice, and obedience.

• Black → Death to self. I had thought black and white were just “professional church colors,” but black represents dying to the flesh and being reborn in Christ.

• White Collar → Servitude to God. Ministers wear it as a reminder that they are slaves to Christ.

• Red (Bishops’ Attire) → Originally white, but dyed red to symbolize: “I’m already dead; you can’t do anything to this body.” It represents the blood and sacrifice of being torn apart for Jesus.

• Women’s Vestments → Designed with modesty in mind, emphasizing that a woman’s form shouldn’t overshadow the image of God she represents.

• Shoes → Designed to not show our toes, as a sign of modesty, reverence, and separation from the world. Just as Moses was commanded to remove his sandals before the burning bush (Exodus 3:5) because he was standing on holy ground, covering our feet in worship settings symbolizes humility and respect for God’s presence. 

At first, I thought, “But I’ve always heard, ‘Come as you are…’”

Then conviction set in:

“Should we not strive to present our best before Christ?”

If our attire can influence how people perceive Christ in us, shouldn’t we take that seriously?

Obedience and the Cost of the Calling

Bishop Alvarado then said something that resonated deeply:

“If it’s easy to get into the vestment, then it’ll be easy to get out of it.”

I saw a parallel between vestments and our divine calling. Vestments aren’t just about fabric—they’re about position. Following God’s commandments isn’t easy. It takes discipline, sacrifice, and surrender. If we could easily discard our faith, did we ever truly carry the weight of it? Similarly, vestments shouldn’t be something we take lightly. They remind us of the cost of our calling.

“A person cannot hear what you’re saying if they see something different in what you’re doing.” If even our attire can bring people closer to God, shouldn’t we take that seriously? “To serve the Lord is to constrict our appetite.” Vestments, in a way, constrict us—holding us upright, keeping us righteous in God. Bishop Alvarado said: “In the Old Testament, the garment was anointed, not the person.” Therefore, we must protect the garment—not just the individual. Vestments do more than clothe the body.

They tell a story.

A Reflection on Identity and Representation

Even beyond clothing, this extends to social media and daily interactions. Are we posting for the approval of strangers, or are we striving to reflect God’s likeness? After this conference, I found myself considering my ways (Haggai 1:6) in the image of God. I went through my social media and blog and deleted posts that didn’t align with His image. My testimony is still my testimony—it cannot be watered down.

But I can control the temperature of the water.

Final Takeaways: The Cost of Representation

• Christianity isn’t about individualism—it’s about family and the house of God.

• The image of God isn’t just spiritual—it’s visible.

• Obedience has a cost—if it’s easy to step in, it’ll be easy to walk away.

So, I ask you again:

What does the image of God mean to you?

And if you truly desire to reflect His image—what in your life needs to change?