Why the Cassock?

God invented clothes. When Adam and Eve fell from grace, God probably sacrificed a couple of animals in order to make them vestments from the skins (Gen. 2: 21). In the book of Revelation, the bride of Christ is dressed in a white linen wedding garment, which represents the righteous acts of the believers (Rev. 19: 8). The Apostle Paul also says that those who were baptized into Christ are clothed with Christ, who is our very righteousness (Gal. 3: 27). When Christ returns to judge the living and the dead, he will be wearing a white robe that will get stained with the blood of his enemies and have inscribed on it the title of “KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS” (Rev. 19: 13-16).

            For God, clothes have meaning. When we fell from grace through Adam, in him we ran and hid from God bearing the shame of our guilt (Gen. 3: 8-10). Not only were we naked like the rest of the animal kingdom, we actually knew we were naked, becoming conscious of our vulnerability and ashamed of our fallen state. The shame we feel when naked, is an instinct deeply imprinted in the human psyche that points to the reality of our sinfulness before God and creation, and our inability to cover it.

            When Jesus Christ became sin on our behalf (2Cor. 5:21), he was crucified naked, bearing not only our sin, but also the shame of our sinful state before God, the principalities and powers of the air and all of creation. The banner and emblem of our shame became the sign of our redemption. Jesus Christ on the Cross- while suffering the ultimate shame gained the ultimate glory for undeserving Adam and his offspring. This is why the Church for almost 2 millennia has entered the sanctuary, bearing high the Processional Cross as it enters into the Nave (ship) of our Salvation- boasting high, proclaiming to both angels and demons that we, the barren children of Eve, have triumphed before all through the shame of Christ on the Cross (Heb. 12:2).

            When God instituted the Old Testament priesthood, he designed and ordered particular vestments for all the priests (Exodus 28). These vestments signified the special duty and purpose of the priests of Israel, whose vocation included atoning for the sins of Israel by means of the daily sacrifices and the offering of incense with intercessions. The priests, not only served as representatives of the people before God, but also as representatives of God before the people. Priestly vestments were to be a sign of honor before the people and foster respect toward the ordained ministry (Ex. 28: 2, 40), a respect that many in the Protestant/Evangelical churches lack today.

            From its earliest times, the Church (which is a kingdom of priests similar to old Israel- 1 Pet. 2:9) adopted the practice of vesting the catechumens in white garments (Albs) after their baptisms, representing their new vocation in Christ as priests (Ex. 28: 42). Almost from its inception, the Church adopted certain vestments for its clergy in order to distinguish them from the people as those appointed by God (ordained) to be special ambassadors of Christ to the world (2 Cor. 5:20) and shepherds of God’s flock (Acts 20:28).

            Because the Bible clearly teaches the Church to honor its pastors (1 Tim. 5:17; Heb. 13: 17), the early Church adopted “signs of honor” that were common in the Roman Empire. For instance, what eventually became known as the pastor’s stole, was originally a “scarf of honor” that was given to the dignitaries of the Roman government. In the Church, it came to signify the “yoke of Christ” over the neck of its pastors who serve as ministers (servants, slaves) of Christ. The clerical collar is a symbol of that iron collar that slaves wore and from where they were chained. The collar is white because that is the symbol of holiness and moral purity. The black reminds us that without Christ, humankind is in the darkness of its sins and trespasses (Jn. 1: 4-5; 3:19) and that Christ comes to saves us from that ultimate, utter darkness, that the Bible calls Hell (2 Pet. 2:17).

            There are two types of attire that pastors wear: Vestments and Clericals. Vestments are what pastors wear during church services (Albs, Chasubles, Stoles, etc.) and clericals are what pastors wear OUTSIDE of the church building. Yes, clericals are what pastors are supposed to wear on the street- not suits and ties. Clericals are the “uniform” of the clergy. A suit and tie says to the world, “I’m a business man. I’m a professional,” or “I’m a Jehovah’s Witness.” Clericals say to the world, “I am an ambassador of Christ.”

            The clergy shirt is actually a smaller, casual version of the clerical cassock. A pastor’s casual attire is not a yellow polo shirt…it is the clergy shirt.  The cassock is an older clerical that has fallen into disuse in America (as opposed to the rest of the world), simply because in America we have fostered the image of the “cool and worldly” pastor who worships “buddy Jesus” and who lives a non-religious, cool life. In the 1960’s the notion of becoming “relevant” harmed the evangelistic efforts of the Church catholic. The Church has become so much like the world, that the world virtually has no interest in the Church.

            In a time where Western society has become so aggressively secular and the Church has been riddled with so many moral scandals, it takes great courage to wear clericals on the streets. Everyone looks at the pastor who wears his clericals…and even more when he wears his cassock. All eyes lock on the guy wearing clerical attire! One of the reasons why so many pastors refuse to wear their clericals publically is because they are afraid of the infamy of the Gospel. They are afraid of being singled out and insulted or judged harshly. Another reason why many clergy wear the polo shirt, as opposed to the clergy shirt, is simply because they don’t want to be bothered. These are what I humorously call “Reverend Detectives.” Ambassadors of Christ working in undercover!

            I wear the cassock because I am a Christian revolutionary. I want the world, the principalities and powers and all of creation, to know that I am a radical disciple of Christ who bears words of consolation and reconciliation. That I am uncompromisingly committed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and that I am willing, not only to suffer the ignominy of the Cross, but also die for the One who died for me, if needs be. The world does not need any more scholarly, cool, cigar smoking, beer drinking, video game playing, “Reverend Detectives.” The world needs holy, religious and fully committed, courageous Pastors (internally and externally) who stand against the current of the world rather than swim with it. The Church needs public luminaries of hope in a darkened and dead world: men who live for compassion and mercy rather than for their passions!

            I have one life that is hidden in Christ (Col. 3:3) and with it I intend to preach Christ publically in season and out of season. I preach Christ, not only with my words and deeds, but also with my clothes. In Christ, the shame of my sin was covered with his blood. I stand unashamed before a world that revels in its shame- representing Christ and preaching him crucified to the world- with words and without; being an example to the Church and its children- an example of courage in an age of relative, Christian cowards. I also seek to actively offend people and make them uncomfortable with the foolishness of the Cross (Gal. 5:11; 1 Cor. 1:18). Think about it…if you feel uncomfortable next to me when I wear my cassock, what will you feel when you’re before the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS, wearing his blood-stained robe?