I recently went shopping for a new dress to wear to a wedding. I usually order my clothes online, but hoping to add something new and different to my wardrobe, I went to the mall. I re-discovered something I already knew. I really don’t like to shop, especially for myself. I don’t think anything fits right, looks good, or feels comfortable enough to wear. I ended up buying a dress that looks pretty much like every other dress I own.
The Bible has a few things to say about clothing. During Advent we read about John the Baptist out in the desert dressed in camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist. Seems like an odd choice for standing in a river. His clothing is symbolic though. It is meant to remind us of the prophet Elijah. In the Jewish tradition, Elijah is the prophet who will return to announce the coming of the messiah. Dressing John the Baptist in clothes reminiscent of Elijah tells us that John is the one sent to announce the coming of the messiah, Jesus.
When the Apostle Paul travels to Philippi, he finds a group of women outside the city gates praying. One of the women gathered there was Lydia. We aren’t told how she is dressed but we are told that she is a dealer in purple cloth. This small detail lets us know that she is a wealthy businesswoman because purple cloth was expensive and worn only by the aristocracy.
In Corinthians, Paul discusses the issue of women praying and prophesying with their heads uncovered. He isn’t concerned with them speaking in worship gatherings or with anything they are saying, but is concerned that they are dressing in a way that is not socially acceptable.
In I Timothy, written by a disciple of Paul, there is also a concern with the way women dress.
the women should dress themselves modestly and decently in suitable clothing, not with their hair braided, or with gold, pearls, or expensive clothes.
I Timothy 2:9
I think part of the tension in finding something to wear is that we recognize that our clothing makes statements about our social status and social acceptability. Our clothing is often judged by others. We are aware of this and so as we dress, we struggle with tensions around how we might be judged for what we wear.
Clothing also reveals our personalities. My daughter Molly is extroverted and comfortable with a lot of attention and she dresses in a way that expresses this with bright colors, glitter, sparkles, and fun accessories. I am not comfortable with attention and my clothing reflects that.
Jesus has something to say about what we should wear. He says,
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat, or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing. Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith!
Luke 12: 22-23, 27-28
Jesus was talking to people who were probably not concerned with fashion but with whether they would have anything to wear at all. Jesus asks them to turn their gaze from the external and look toward something internal, trust in God.
Paul also tells us to look inward when getting dressed. He writes,
As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. Bear with one another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
Colossians 3:12-14
Next time I think I need a new dress; I hope I will reach for one of the many dresses I already own and recognize that the dress is only an outward layer. What really matters is what lies beneath the surface, my trust in God, and my desire to love people through compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
