Wearing God
“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ.”
— Romans 13:14 NIV.
There are over one hundred biblical passages about clothing, and many, like this one, refer to putting God on as if we were wearing God. I recommend Lauren Winner’s book, Wearing God. She reminds us that God made clothing for them even as Adam and Eve left paradise. (Genesis 3:8-15). God clothes us, asks us to clothe others, and when we do, tells us we are clothing God. (Matthew 25).
What we wear communicates a great deal about who and what we are. We feel and often act differently depending on the clothes we wear. My experience is that when I put on my clothes, I frequently remember other times I wore them, and these past memories flood my mind. I have many clothes I should give away, but I cannot because I look at them and remember a lasting experience I had wearing them. They are like a scrapbook of times when I was with others or alone and knew I was loved and cared for by the God of love.
Many people in Mourner’s Path, our grief recovery group, talk of wearing a piece of clothing of their loved one who has died, often a shirt. The smell, the feel, brings them closer to that person.
I particularly remember wearing a black shawl one New Year’s Eve while walking a labyrinth at Christ Church. Suddenly, I felt the love of my deceased grandmothers wrapping around me, keeping me safe, loved, and warm like the shawl around my shoulders.
I also remember the first Sunday after my ordination. I stayed late at St. Margaret’s talking with friends and was late meeting my extended family, still celebrating at a Chinese restaurant for brunch. I was pushing my way through the crowded restaurant to meet my family and suddenly remembered, “I am now wearing a clerical collar. Perhaps I should not push my way through restaurants anymore!” I slowed down.
The treasured photograph is of me with a priest and another deacon as we were vesting for a special service for women at Saint Mark’s. It was a privilege to be with two women who constantly wear God and share that God of love with others. I hope to remember them and what they have shared with me each time I vest before a service, putting on another layer as we try to wear God.
Two more clothing verses.
“Put on the whole armor of God, so that you can stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Ephesians 6:11 NIV) I often keep this Ephesian passage with me when encountering a difficult situation.
Another passage from Colossians explains in more detail the meaning of wearing the armor of God and what we can take into those demanding situations. “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.” (Colossians 3:12). This is quite a different coat of armor Paul tells us to wear.
Here is a suggestion. For the next week, as we dress, buttoning our shirts, zipping up our dresses, pulling up our socks, hose, and pants, putting on our shoes, consciously imagine we are putting on God, wearing Christ, especially compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, as Paul suggests. Could that possibly make any difference in how we feel about ourselves/or how we treat others just for that day?
Joanna. https://www.joannaseibert.com/