"Your Pastor Dresses Like Judge Judy," and Other Misconceptions About Black Robes
My pastor happens to wear a plain black robe. Coming from Hawaiian Shirt Evangelicalism, I admit the gown was "different" to me at first. Over time, however, I've come to deeply appreciate what it doesn't say: anything about the pastor's personal style, wealth, or popular trends. Some may argue the bible says nothing about ministers wearing distinct clothing, or that doing so is "Catholic". While I can see where they are coming fromâI was there, tooâI encourage everyone to consider the matter a bit more.Â
As for whether the Apostles wore distinct clothing, the fact is they likely did, provided they weren't stripped and fleeing for their lives. Early Christian art may be taken as a testimony here, as well as the witness of first and second century fathers such as Cyril, who noted that Christians followed the ordinary customs of dress which typically included teachers and magistrates signifying their office through suitable garb. These leaders were only a generation removed from the Apostles and received their example. Furthermore, the mentioning of Christ's seamless robe is believed by some to indicate a form of dress particular to rabbis. So while the bible is not explicit in the affirmative regarding certain vestments, neither does it candidly deny their place from antiquity.Â
There is no doubt pastors have freedom to wear a variety of styles of clothing in the pulpit. However, we ought to go further to examine what is most healthy for the church. "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth." [1 Cor. 10:23-24] Freedom from Levitical codes of costume does not free Christians from using wisdom when choosing their clothes. How pastors dress influences how the body perceives their own role and posture before God's ordained means.Â
For instance, a $1000 Armani suit may in fact be "what the pastor owns," perhaps it was even a gift, but in most cultures haute-couture is likely to send an unnecessary message that cuts across what the minister is trying to communicate. Likewise, a pastor wearing flip flops and a tee shirt on Sundayâwhen everyone knows he just wore a business suit to a congregant's weddingâsuggests he thinks worship is informal, a "non-event," even nonchalant. Hardly a visible nod to "reverence and awe." Then there are those who meticulously follow new trends. Perhaps adopting popular patterns and styles with each season may be a well-intentioned attempt to "contextualize," but the reality is most people see it as vain posturing, a marketing ploy to sell the message of the gospel on something other than its own merit.
To my judgmentâand might I add, many scripturally and historically saturated forebears as Luther, Calvin, Owen, Whitefield, Edwards, and Lloyd-Jonesâthe black robe succeeds admirably in being cross-cultural, inexpensive, simple, and does not replicate fads. It bespeaks authority without pomp, the spiritual ministry without priestcraft, and is ultimately less concerned with self-identity as it is with the weighty role a minister bears in the pulpit: to bring the word of God to us. For these reasons, while I can happily acknowledge a broad variety of pastoral dress, I prefer the Geneva gown to most others.
In point of historical fact, black gowns are distinctly non-Roman Catholic. In contrast to ornate priestly vestments of Rome, pastors of the Protestant Reformation chose to adopt plain dress signifying the important but humble office into which they had been placed. Just as modern robes of judges hark back to this practice of revering offices vested with authority, the black robe communicates that ministers are more than "life coaches": they are solemnly charged to preach the whole counsel of God, and will give an account for it in eternity.
One more thing to those who still balk at the idea of ministerial gowns. I would like to add that I believe any man who dresses with the aim of drawing no attention to his own vanity is probably well dressed in the eyes of God. If I was asked on the spot to preach and all I had were yard work clothes, I would have a clean conscience about it. But if I spent twenty minutes picking out which suit most communicated wit, poise, and success in the eyes of the world, well, perhaps I ought to write a sermon to myself first.
Another helpful article with more historical information is here, Why is the Pastor Dressed Like Harry Potter.Â