For some time, an argument for liturgical garb, derived from 2 Corinthians 5:20, has been rattling around in my head. Back in the day, before John F. Kennedy ruined everything with his hatlessness and business suit, ambassadors used to dress quite spiffily, with sashes and cummerbunds and all variety of what-not to signify the nation which they represented. And that's to say nothing of the ancient world, when ceremonial national dress was simply the work uniform. Thankfully, there are some indications we are, as a culture, beginning to recover from the long national nightmare which began in the 1960s, and so one has hope for a renewal of sartorial sensibility as well.
Some confessional presbyterians have argued for the clerical robe during the worship service as a badge and sign of the office of Word and sacrament. I don't disagree with that, but, by itself, said argument only gets you to the notion of clerical garb, not what that garb should be. However, if the pastor is in fact an ambassador for Christ, he is a citizen and representative of Christ's heavenly kingdom. In terms of diplomatic protocol, then, he should on formal occasions (and what occasion is more formal than the called services of the Church?) wear the ceremonial garb of his native land, the country which has foundations (Hebrews 11:10, 13-16). In that country, the King and his people wear robes of fine linen, white and pure (Revelation 19:7-8, 13-14).
I credit ministers who wear a black robe with trying; that's better than the liturgical indifference which too many of my colleagues bear as a strange badge of pride. But those who wear an academic gown in the pulpit seem to me to have missed the point entirely: we represent the heavenly Kingdom, not the academy. (And the academy gets far too many shout-outs from the seminary-educated as it is without having their clothing add to the clamor, if one were to ask me.)
No, let us wear a white robe in the pulpit, of Genevan or some other appropriate cut. We ought wear white robes because we are ambassadors for Christ, pleading with all men to be reconciled to God.
Some confessional presbyterians have argued for the clerical robe during the worship service as a badge and sign of the office of Word and sacrament. I don't disagree with that, but, by itself, said argument only gets you to the notion of clerical garb, not what that garb should be. However, if the pastor is in fact an ambassador for Christ, he is a citizen and representative of Christ's heavenly kingdom. In terms of diplomatic protocol, then, he should on formal occasions (and what occasion is more formal than the called services of the Church?) wear the ceremonial garb of his native land, the country which has foundations (Hebrews 11:10, 13-16). In that country, the King and his people wear robes of fine linen, white and pure (Revelation 19:7-8, 13-14).
I credit ministers who wear a black robe with trying; that's better than the liturgical indifference which too many of my colleagues bear as a strange badge of pride. But those who wear an academic gown in the pulpit seem to me to have missed the point entirely: we represent the heavenly Kingdom, not the academy. (And the academy gets far too many shout-outs from the seminary-educated as it is without having their clothing add to the clamor, if one were to ask me.)
No, let us wear a white robe in the pulpit, of Genevan or some other appropriate cut. We ought wear white robes because we are ambassadors for Christ, pleading with all men to be reconciled to God.
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