How should Christians clothe themselves?
Frances Shaw completed a PhD in New Testament at Durham, and has recently published a fascinating book Wearing Well: Exploring the Biblical Imagery of Clothing . I asked her about the book—why she became interested, and what we tin acquire from the imagery of wear in the Bible.
IP: Vesture is clearly an important attribute of civilisation—only it is curious that others have not explored its use in Scripture before in this systematic way. What drew yous to explore this subject area?
FS: I tend to read the Bible, in what may turn out to be shorter or longer sections, until something strikes me – a discussion, a phrase, a concept—and so I stop to reflect. Romans xiii.14 says: 'Merely put on the Lord Jesus Christ'. I wondered what exactly that might mean, and how can you put on a person? Is information technology more than putting on certain qualities or virtues? This idea then spun off in lots of directions to practice with clothing, and being clothed. I found that a lot of article of clothing is to practise with status—status in its broadest sense—cultural, social, religious, literal and symbolic. Then I moved on to thinking about whether what y'all wear affects the way you comport and why we like to wear the same as anybody else. Then, is at that place such a thing as Christian vesture, and tin you tell a bunch of Christians past what they are wearing? (Probably not!)
So I found that there are many references to clothes in the Bible, not specifically 'the kinds of dress they wore in Bible times' only clothing linguistic communication used symbolically—from being naked in the Garden of Eden, to decorated priestly garments and Joseph's coat of many colours, through to John the Baptist's camel'southward hair, Jesus' cloak and clothes of resurrection, and Paul'southward description of the armour of God.
I couldn't find a book that covered all these different aspects, and so I started looking at more specific Bible references and gathering fabric to write one myself—I institute a lot.
IP: You lot include a wide range of examples of the symbolic significance of clothing in Scripture. Why practice you think the linguistic communication of wear is helpful in theology?
FS: I think clothing is a 'language', which symbolically expresses manner and condition, values and aspirations. Exploring the relationship betwixt concrete clothing and spiritual clothing struck me as an interesting topic. What you lot cull to wear can send all sorts of messages, intentional or unintentional, subtle or not and then subtle—there is much more to wearable than meets the middle. We are of grade, clothing our bodies. How we empathize ourselves and our bodies is theologically important—nosotros don't have a torso, we are a trunk, and and then what we do to our bodies and put on them is likewise significant. Thinking nearly our bodies and habiliment in this way, positively affects how we think about and use something nosotros meet and put on every day—something that is literally all over us.
IP: The language of 'putting on' Christ, or being clothed with virtues, occurs a number of times in the NT—simply I think can frequently be misunderstood as pretending to exist something that we are non! Is there a good way to read these comments well?
FS: In Paul's time the language of 'putting on' had certain parallels in drama, where an actor may be said to 'put on' the role of the person they are acting. And of form it is possible to 'put on an act', which can make us appear to be, or have the characteristics of something we are not.
When we put on clothes, we practice in a sense become some other person, and take on the attitudes that those dress represent. Clothes definitely affect our behaviour, but as Tom Wright says, 'Apparel don't just fall out of the wardrobe and put themselves on you lot; y'all have to think about what y'all're going to wear' (Virtue Reborn,p.127). Article of clothing ourselves with Christian virtues gradually changes u.s.a. into dissimilar, more Christ-like people.
A certain corporeality of 'performance' is required in many roles, and you can change by just stepping out of your front door. For example, preaching involves sure elements of performance, only it is not play acting, and should reflect the genuine you, as well every bit conveying something that reflects your spiritual relationship with God, and leads people to him.
IP: You reflect on the thought of 'nakedness' and its significant—but some of the biblical material here is very hard to read, for case in Ezekiel 16. Can these images be redeemed? In what way might they become helpful for u.s.?
FS: After the stories in Genesis 1–3, the OT reflects a deep and instinctive dislike of nakedness—a matter of considerable shame and distress. If you were naked, and then you lot were poor, or being humiliated past your enemy. Conversely, clothing others was a sign of love and concern. So it is this wear/love and nakedness/judgement imagery which is being explored in Ezekiel. God's tender care for Jerusalem is expressed in provision of clothing of 'fine line, rich textile, and embroidered cloth' (16.13). In spite of all this, she 'played the whore', and every bit a symbol of sentence God exposes her nakedness, which is where some of the more graphic language comes in.
Interestingly in Genesis 1–3, nakedness is something positive: 'the human being and his wife were both naked, and were not ashamed' (2.25), and and so God provides a means of healing what is broken, by providing clothes (3.21).
Are there clothes in heaven? Well, if we accept an agreement of some sort of recreation of the Garden of Eden and our 'natural state', so no. But there is another prototype in Revelation showing not a garden, only a heavenly city, where the saints are not naked, but clothed in robes of fine white linen, washed in the blood of the lamb (Rev three.eighteen; vii.thirteen; 19.8).
Nakedness is seen in negative terms as exposure and judgement. In positive terms, we are not naked before God in repentance so that he can humiliate and shame us, but so that he tin clothe us.
IP: Most people are aware that there are some large ethical issues effectually the clothing industry and the apply of clothing in civilization. Is there a case for a 'Christian' approach to what we clothing? If then, what might that involve?
FS: This is not something new, and 2nd century Tertullian addressed this effect too. In the book I summarise a Christian approach nether the headings of manner, money and modesty. We all have a deep need to belong—to belong to a social grouping. One way of belonging is to be seen to be wearing the same kinds of dress. We do besides need to be dressed appropriately for the occasion.
There is of course a sure tension between recognising that God has made united states to exist creative beings and to express that creativity; simply this has to exist balanced against practices that can be exploitative and a throw-away way civilization. Tearfund's Lift the Labelcampaign addresses some of these issues. Simon Ward asks the question, What if God ran the fashion industry? And we now accept titles such equally How to break up with Fast Fashion, or the idea of fasting from fashion during Lent (after a suitable sackcloth and ashes service on Ash Wednesday).
Apparently the boilerplate clothing for a garment is seven times. I find that very worrying. I think as Christians, we don't take to become round looking scruffy or frumpy, just we tin can have a more responsible attitude by having fewer dress and wearing them for longer. As Christians we are called to exist generous with our resource, so we can choose to spend less on clothes and more on other worthwhile projects.
Christians come in all shapes and sizes and are not primarily divers past body shape or what is on the exterior. That is not the same every bit maxim, 'I don't care what I wear', simply rather knowing that it is not of ultimate significance.
IP: You highlight the significance of mentions of wear in the Passion narratives. Were yous surprised to detect this? Why is information technology important?
FS: I came across Stephen Cottrell'due south book, The Things He Carried, both physically and spiritually through the Passion. I am often amazed by how dissimilar themes tin come out of Scripture, and when I looked at the Passion narratives I was surprised by how many references at that place were to article of clothing. I have heard the story read many times, but not actually fabricated that connection before, so that did surprise me – starting with Bartimaeus and his cloak, followed by the entry into Jerusalem, Caiaphas tearing his robes, Jesus existence dressed upwardly and so existence naked, the seamless tunic, gambling, folded grave clothes, and then on. Each reference to habiliment has a spiritual and deeper meaning, which is not e'er obvious when the business relationship is read. And then for instance, Jesus 'rose from supper, laid bated his garments' is deeply symbolic in the context that he knows 'his hour has come' (John 13.1).
IP: You include some entertaining observations along the way—and I loved your chapter titles! What did yous enjoy most about writing this book? What did you learn?
FS: I like having a writing projection on the go, and I enjoyed picking up references to clothing from many dissimilar sources. I besides learnt that you demand some sort of organization to keep rail of them, and also that it'south like shooting fish in a barrel to become side-tracked. When you get aware of a topic, you lot seem to discover examples of it all over the place. Simply notice how many references there are to article of clothing in our hymns and songs.
My vicar son did a whole series from January to Easter on this theme, which he called SuperHoly (reflecting a certain well-known article of clothing brand), including a Fasting from Fashion Lent challenge. This led to some keen conversations about religion. We also worked together on some of the discussion questions. I learnt that it'due south hard to come up with good questions, that aren't either besides trite or also difficult, that recognise where people are at, but besides give the opportunity to become deeper. Quite a challenge, but I'1000 happy with the result.
What did I larn? Wear well, and 'To a higher place all, clothe yourselves with love' (Col. three.14)
IP: Thanks very much, Frances, for your time—and for this fascinating exploration in the book!
Frances Shaw taught diploma and degree level gospels modules for her local ministry course for many years, while completing a PhD at Durham, Discernment of Revelation in the Gospel of Matthew (Peter Lang). She has worked as a religious books editor, and is enthusiastic about literacy and theological didactics, being a Trustee for Feed the Minds and Grove Books. She tries to exist organised and keep fit; is an occasional preacher and churchwarden; married, with three children and (so far) v grandchildren.
If yous enjoyed this, do share it on social media, perhaps using the buttons on the left. Follow me on Twitter @psephizo.Like my folio on Facebook.
Much of my piece of work is done on a freelance basis. If you have valued this post, would you considerdonating £1.20 a calendar month to support the production of this blog?
If y'all enjoyed this, do share it on social media (Facebook or Twitter) using the buttons on the left. Follow me on Twitter @psephizo. Like my page on Facebook.
Much of my work is done on a freelance ground. If you have valued this post, you can make a single or repeat donation through PayPal:
Comments policy: Expert comments that appoint with the content of the postal service, and share in respectful debate, tin add real value. Seek first to understand, so to be understood. Make the most charitable construal of the views of others and seek to learn from their perspectives. Don't view fence as a conflict to win; address the argument rather than tackling the person.
Source: https://www.psephizo.com/reviews/how-should-christians-clothe-themselves/
0 Response to "How should Christians clothe themselves?"
Post a Comment