What
Kind of Clothes should we Wear?
Christopher
C. Warren
Some people ask the
following questions:
"If you are so
determined to follow the biblical pattern in everything, why don't you wear
tunics and sandals instead of suits and shoes?"
"Men never wore
trousers in biblical times, so why do you?"
"Since it is
obvious Christians can't wear biblical dress in cold climates, what then should
be the standards?"
"How far should
Christian imitate the customs of 2 to 4 thousand years ago?"
These are interesting
and valid questions. There is an apt expression which says: "Dress maketh
the man." Although we know a great deal about the dress of the peoples of
the Middle East over the millennia from Egyptian, Babylonian and Hittite
monuments, there are few commandments in the scripture telling us how to dress.
In fact, there are only two:
1.
Men
may not dress in women's clothes, nor women in men's clothes (Deuteronomy
22:5);
2.
Priests
must dress in a prescribed way.
Otherwise, the dress
patterns seemed to resemble those of the surrounding nations.
Patriarchal Times
In the tomb of
Khnumhotep at Beni-hasan in Egypt we find a procession of Asiatics who arrive
in Egypt with eye paint. They are all dressed in vividly colored garments, and
this gives a clue as to how Abraham and other nomads were clad in about the
XIIth Egyptian dynasty. Other murals, such as the fresco from the tomb of
Sebekhetep (Thebes, 15th century BC), show Syrian emissaries wearing white
garments edged in blue and red which are wound below the waist.
According to Genesis
3:7,12 the origin of dress is associated with the sense of shame. It is a shame
to be naked (Genesis 9:22-23) and we find this the especial fate of prisoners
and fugitives (Isaiah 20:4; Amos 2:16; Mark 14:52). Children, however, used to
run around naked up to puberty.
The most important
garments in the Biblical period were a kind of loin- or waist-cloth, a long or
short skirt or robe, an upper garment, and a cloak, not to speak of the belt,
headdress, veil and sandals.
Men's Dress
The loin- or
waste-cloth ('ézôr) reaching from the waste to the knee was a common dress
during the Bronze II and III ages, but it disappears during Bronze III,
although it survived as a military dress (Ezekiel 23:15; Isaiah 5:27). The
other kind of dress was the animal skin and hairy cloak or mantle (Zechariah
13:4; 2 Kings 1:8; Matthew 3:4) which was only worn by prophets and poor people
(Ecclesiastes 40:4) or for penitence. Covering of the hips and thighs was
required only of priests (Exodus 28:42; 39:28).
The ordinary shirt,
which becomes predominant in Bronze III, and is the normal dress of the Iron
Age, is called kuttónet in the scripture (chitón in Greek), which seems to have
been made of linen or wool. It was worn next to the skin and reached down to
the knees or the ankles. It was made with or without sleeves, short or long.
For work or for running, this shirt was pulled up (Exodus 12:11; 2 Kings 9:29),
from which we get the expression to "gird up ones
loins." The scripture also mentions a kuttónet passím,
which was a special kind of garment (Genesis 37:3,23,32), and was worn also by
princes (2 Samuel 13:18-19). It was possibly a highly colored garment, a kind
of plaid twisted round the body. The shirt, presumably worn underneath it, is
possibly the sádin (Judges 14:12; Proverbs 31:24; Isaiah 3:23), but might
include in this class of garments the me'îl, regularly torn as a sign of
mourning (Ezra 9:3; Job 1:20; 2:12), and worn by men of importance, e.g.
Jonathan (1 Samuel 18:4), Samuel (1 Samuel 2:19; 15:27; 28:14), Saul (1 Samuel
24:4,11), Job and his friends (Job 1:20; 2:12), and Ezra (Ezra 9:3).
The ordinary mantle is
generally called simlâ and can be identified with the 'abâye of the modern
fellahin. This is a more or less square piece of cloth, with is sometimes
thrown over one shoulder or, as now, over both shoulders. There are openings
for the arms at the sides. This cloak, which everybody possessed, could not be
given in loan, as it was used at night as a covering (Exodus 22:25-26;
Deuteronomy 24:13). It was generally taken off for work (Matthew 24:18; Mark
10:50) and was also used to carry all kinds of objects (see Exodus 12:34;
Judges 8:25; 2 Kings 4:39; Haggai 2:12).
Another cloak was
called 'adderet, which it is not easy to describe. It was sometimes made of a
costly material (Joshua 7:21,24) and was worn by the king (Jonah 3:6) and by
prophets (1 Kings 19:13,19; 2 Kings 13-14), where it was possibly made from
animal's skin. It was not in general use, and the word does not appear in late
Hebrew. Notable men and women wore in later times the sáníp (Isaiah 3:23;
62:3), which was a piece of cloth twisted around the head.
The poor people generally went
around barefoot, but the sandal was known (Deuteronomy 25:10; Am.2:6; 8:6). The
soles were of leather or wood and tied with thongs
(Genesis 14:23; Isaiah 5:27;
Mark 1:7; Luke 3:16). These were
taken off inside the house.
Women's Dress
The dress of women was
very much the same as that for men. But the difference must have been
sufficiently noticeable, because it was forbidden for men to wear women's
clothes, and vice versa (Deuteronomy 22:5). The difference has to be sought in
finer material, more colors, and the use of a veil and a kind of head cloth
called the mitpahat (Isaiah 3:22), which could be used to carry loads. The most
common dresses for the Israelite women were the kuttónet and the simlâ. The
fine underwear sadín was also worn by women (Proverbs 31:24; Isaiah 3:23). For
feasts, women wore a more costly attire (1 Timothy 2:9). Hip and thigh clothing
was not worn. A long train or veil was used by ladies of rank (Isaiah 47:2;
Nahum 3:5).
Dress for Special Occasions
Festive attire was
distinctive from ordinary dress in that the material was more costly (Genesis
27:15; Matthew 22:11-12; Luke 15:22). The color was preferably white
(Ecclesiastes 9:8; Mark 9:3; Revelation 3:4). Tissues of byssus, scarlet, and
purple were much appreciated (Proverbs 31:22; Ecclesiastes 6:30; Jeremiah
4:30). Women liked to adorn their clothes with gold and silver (2 Samuel 1:24;
Psalms 45:9,14-15; Ezekiel 16:10,13; 27:7).
Dress for mourning and
penitence (saq) was probably some kind of haircloth similar to the mantle of
the prophets. This was worn with a belt and sometimes on the naked body
(Genesis 37:34; 2 Samuel 3:31; 1 Kings 21:27; 2 Kings 6:30).
Dress of Priests
The oldest sacred dress
seems to have been the ephod bad, probably a simple loin-cloth (2 Samuel
6:14,20). The priests of Nob were known as men who wore the "linen
ephod" (1 Samuel 22:18). Samuel (1 Samuel 2:18) and
David (2 Samuel 6:14) wore a simple linen ephod. This ordinary ephod has to be
distinguished from the ephod of the high priest made of costly material (byssus
= sés), worked with gold, purple, scarlet, or the like. This part of the dress
reached from breast down to the hips. It was held in place by two
shoulder-bands and was tied around the waist (Exodus 39:1-26). There is also
mention of an ephod which was used for the oracles. This was hung in the Temple
(1 Samuel 21:9). The ordinary priests wore during the liturgical service a
cloth which covered the hips and thighs (Exodus 28:42-43; Leviticus 16:4) and a
long embroidered linen tunic with sleeves (Exodus 28:40; 39:27), also an
elaborately worked belt of twined linen, blue, purple and scarlet stuff (Exodus
28:40; 39:29). They also had a kind of turban called misnepet (Exodus
28:4,37,39; 29:6; 39:28). As in Egypt and Babylon, it was forbidden to wear woolen
clothes (Ezekiel 44:17). They were not allowed to wear sandals in the Temple
(Exodus 3:5; 29:20).
This constitutes the
sum of what we know of Biblical dress patterns from the scripture as well as
from other sources.
Dress Standards in the Christ's assembly
What, if any, of the
biblical modes of wear should be maintained today?
1. Paul speaks of the woman's headdress or veil in connection her subjection to headship or peribolaion (1 Corinthians 11:15). Rebecca put on a head cloth when meeting Isaac, her espoused husband, to denote her subjection (Genesis 24:65). Women should wear them when praying and prophesying, and are encouraged to wear them whenever possible at home and elsewhere to show proper subjection to their husbands, as is still the custom in much of Eastern Europe. Allowances are, of course, made for weather conditions.
2. The Israelites were commanded by God to make fringed edges on the skirts of their garments, with a blue string above the fringe, as a visual reminder that they were set aside as a people holy to the Lord, reminding them that they should obey all of God's Commandments (Numbers 15:38-41). Many Christians today wear pins or other symbols on their clothing to advertise to the world that they are Christians -- crosses, doves, and fish -- although unbelievers also do this a great deal now for fashion's sake. But we should not wear symbols today, but show the world who we are through the words we speak and by our godly works.
3. The Lord has told His people not to be unduly anxious about having sufficient clothing (Matthew 6:25-32). The Christian woman is warned not to let expensive, showy dress or style be the thing she seeks, but rather let her clothing be modest, yet well arranged, showing soundness of mind. She should therefore give attention to her dress but should put the primary stress on the apparel of a quiet and mild spirit (1 Timothy 2:9; 1 Peter 3:3-5). The writer of Proverbs describes a good wife as seeing that her family is well clothed, industriously making garments with her own hands (Proverbs 31:13,21,24).
4. No Christian man should marry a Christian woman who continues to dress as the pagans do (Deuteronomy 21:10-13), and vice verse, i.e. in a way that is antithetical to scriptural standards. When Israel fell into idolatrous and immoral practices, God condemned the women of the nation who haughtily garbed and decorated themselves in order to attract men (Isaiah 3:16-23, Proverbs 7:10). Most women today dress up to be noticed or to be seductive, trusting in their prettiness to get by in life. This is not how it should be for Christian women who should emphasize modesty and spirituality. They should never dress up to be sexually attractive (except in private with her husband) nor go the opposite extreme of being untidy or dirty and thus dishonor the Name of Christ.
5. Today's unbelievers wear many kinds of pagan symbols -- the so-called Peace Logo (actually an upturned, broken cross, used by witches to deny Christ), snakes (symbol of Satan and unlicensed sex), the Yin-Yang sign (a New Age symbol meaning that perfection is a balance of good and evil), upturned crosses (a Satanic symbol mocking Christianity), good-luck amulets (St.Christopher), etc.. These should not be worn by Christians. Not even the "Christian Cross," because it has its origins in paganism also and existed thousands of years before Christ was crucified. I sometimes wonder, if Christ was stoned to death, would rocks be the symbol of Christianity? Or, if Christ was born in today's age, and he was electrocuted, would we wear golden electric chairs around our necks? Or if he was shot by a firing squad, would we wear silver guns around our necks? So why wear a symbol of the means of death invented by those who crucified people to the pagan god of Tammuz (Ezekiel 8:14), which is where is "T" from the cross came from?
6. Our clothing should reflect our spiritual identity. God figuratively clothes His people in garments of righteousness and salvation (Psalms 132:9; Isaiah 61:10) whereas His enemies will be clothed with shame and humiliation (Psalms 35:26). For example, does a tough-looking, dirty, metal-studded leather motorcycle jacket worn with torn jeans and sunglasses reflect the Kingdom of God or the world? Paul commands Christians to strip off the old personality and to clothe themselves with the new personality, some of the features of which are the tender affections of compassion, kindness, lowliness of mind, long-suffering, and, especially, love (Colossians 3:9-14). This should be reflected in the clothes they wear too.
Conclusion
One last point. Remember that
clothes do alter your self-awareness. So when you are putting on clothes, ask
yourself: Am I unconsciously trying to convey a message when I dress? If I do,
is that message consistent with the Gospel? Would I dress this way if I knew the
Lord Jesus would come and visit me? Am I deliberately trying to upset others the
way I dress, to demonstrate "independence" or "originality"? Are my motives
pure?
A few months ago I let
my young son try on an old East German uniform I acquired in Berlin before
unification. He was instantly transformed into a "soldier", strutting
around as soldiers do. An international traveler remarked how when he wore the
traditional Japanese yukata (the man's equivalent of a kimono) he found himself
behaving as the Japanese do. When he was back in his suit, he found himself
behaving as Europeans do. Put someone in the clothes of 19th century courtiers
and they behave like 19th century courtiers.
Clothes do modify our
behavior and we should never forget that. Not only are clothes expressions of
our soul, but they affect our souls too. People who wear expensive clothes act
"rich", and those who wear rags act "poor". When decent
people put on soldiers' uniforms, they find themselves doing things they would
never do in civilian attire. So stringently avoid the clothes of the
"anticulture" as promoted by rock groups and listless youth, because
your spirit will be changed by them. Don't wear suits because business men wear
them -- the Christ's assembly is not a business organization (though many
Churches are).
Let our outward dress match our inward holiness; and if your inward holiness isn't up to standard, then let your outer dress reflect the lofty goal you aspire to be in Christ Jesus.