Clothed in righteousness

In my previous post, I put to the ‘Biblical relevance to today’ test the topic of food. Today, I want to take a look at how the Bible considers another topic close to my heart, and no less trivial - clothing. As anybody who knows me is aware, I like clothes a lot and I own quite a large wardrobe. For me they’re a means of self-expression, a way to be creative and a pastime.
 
Like food, clothing is essential to our physical well-being and serves a practical purpose.  Perhaps in the Garden of Eden it was warm enough even in the small hours to survive with just a fig leaf and no pj’s, but in our climate clothes provide a practical function as well as an aesthetic one. I made mention of the recent earthquakes in Turkey in the previous blog; I was struck by the first horrifying news reports, as the death toll mounted at an alarming rate, saying that they anticipated many more thousands dying overnight as they lacked proper outdoor clothing and shelter in the freezing temperatures.
 
However, I am well aware my enjoyment of clothing goes well beyond the practical, so I wondered where I stood in terms of what the Bible tells us about dressing.
 
Throughout human history, styles and colour of clothing have been used to denote status, wealth, gender and profession. Equally so in the Bible, where the Old Testament kings were depicted in lavish robes and prophets like Elijah and John the Baptist wore belts, I discover, as a sign of asceticism. Even state of mind was suggested by how people dressed, for instance, the wearing of sackcloth to convey grief or inner pain and sometimes, as in the case of the people of Nineveh, to show repentance. Sackcloth is itchy and uncomfortable and was often made of goat’s hair, yet a far cry from a cashmere jumper which is also made of goat.
 
Throughout the Bible and particularly in Revelation, white clothing is a symbol of purity - angels are often clothed in white robes - and Jesus’ clothing became white in the transfiguration. In the UK, brides tend to wear white with the same connotations, however irrelevant, and apparently a trend set by Queen Victoria, though in other cultures brides choose more colourful attire on their wedding day.
 
We know that outward appearances are judged only by other people and are irrelevant to God who sees our inner selves, suggesting that how we dress isn’t the point. But there are a few New Testament guidelines. It goes without saying that as with any religious diktat on dressing, modesty is an important consideration when you get up in the morning.
 
This is what Timothy would like to see reflected when you look in the mirror:
 
I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God (1Timothy 2:9-10)
 
I hesitate to dismiss Timothy’s advice out of hand but in the next verse he says he wants women to be quiet and submissive and suggests that only childbearing justifies our existence. Yes, well ….
 
Peter echoes a similar sentiment while also advocating submission to husbands:
 
Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewellery or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight (1 Peter 3:3-4)
 
In writing this, I have discovered that the internet is full of blogs aimed at Christian women, telling them how to dress based on these passages. There are even some selling baggy T shirts with slogans and other shapeless clothing that fits the message. Surely these only serve to make readers judgemental of others and make bad sartorial choices!
 
Yes, as Christians we want to reflect our faith in everything we do, yes we want to honour God and be worthy of his love, but we are taught that it’s not through good deeds or work that we go to Heaven - even if our faith naturally compels us to want to do good deeds for God’s glory.
 
Imperfect as this makes me, and best not to ask me to evangelise on street corners, I would prefer to take a leaf out of Joseph’s book and enjoy my coat of many colours. I’m not about to abandon my love of clothes or give away my wardrobe - sorry ladies - so I prefer to cling to the verses in Ephesians 2: 8-9:
 
For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast
 
and in 1 Samuel 16:7
 
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart”

Photo by Burgess Milner on Unsplash