There is precedent for the use of ceremonial clothing in the clothing of prophets, priests, and high priests in the Old Testament and in the peculiar garments worn by Jesus in the New Testament. However, like so many other gospel topics, the idea of special clothing has grown in some religious traditions to carry meaning independent to and greater than its original purpose.
While there is nothing necessarily wrong about inventing practices regarding clothing, it is wrong to promote these practices to the same importance as God’s actual commandments.2 There is value to wearing clothing as commanded by God in the conditions he has commanded it. It is not correct to impute the same value to clothing and conditions he hasn’t commanded, simply because other people at another time were instructed to wear it.3 In fact, impersonation can quickly degrade from flattery to blasphemy. Recall that impersonation of priests carried the death penalty in Old Testament times.
Whether commanded or not, there is no magic power in the clothing we wear. It does not impart special powers. It is, at best, an external example of an internal commitment, and even then is only worth the value of whatever improvements we make to how we think, feel, and act.
Footnotes
- 1. Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have. (Luke 8:18) ↩
- 2. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. (Mark 7:8) ↩
- 3. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:9) ↩