Monday, January 6, 2025

*** This is a rough transcript of today’s show ***

It is the 6th of January 2025. Welcome to the Christian History Almanac, brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org; I’m Dan van Voorhis.

A very happy Monday- I am writing this out of time, I am getting back from a speaking opportunity at a youth camp, you can also invite me out to your gatherings through the request-a-speaker site at 1517.org

Also, a shoutout to Scott in Wantage, NJ, who not only has sent in another good question but also tells me he tells everyone he knows about the show. Honestly, that’s what we rely on—as a nonprofit, we don’t spend exorbitant amounts on advertising. So thank you, Scott, and for the great question. Wantage, NJ, is named for Wantage, England, the birthplace of King Alfred the Great of the Anglo-Saxons.  

Scott asked about the history of clothing in church- which can be, well, something I know gets quite the buzz online when someone tweets about yoga pants or some such. This is NOT what Scott asked- but he wondered about the modern trend of coming “as you are” to church instead of back in the day when you might hear someone reference their “Sunday Best.”

The New Testament is replete with verses about clothing. While “modesty in dress” is called for for men and women, Jesus explicitly tells us not to worry about our clothing. The church fathers were far more concerned with what the Epistle of James concerns—clothing that people wear to show off their status. In fact, the church has historically been more concerned about luxuriousness, not other kinds of provocativeness.

This can reflect our culture, which has become more permissive in clothing—although I am reminded of the time Luther is said to have left Wittenberg complaining about the fashion of women’s low-cut dresses!

There is a surprising amount of agreement that whatever one wears to church, they should not make their appearance an issue… now, I am in Southern California, where a friend told me they left a church because it seemed more interested in looking good on Instagram. And I also remember someone doing the Lord’s work pointing out the cost of the shoes and watches on megachurch pastors.

Of course, we can go overboard, and the church has made some hard rules that might seem dated. Cyprian of Carthage wrote:

“[leave] your neck unadorned, your figure simple; let not wounds be made in your ears, not let the precious chain of bracelets and necklaces circle your arms or your neck; let your feet be free from golden bands, your hair stained with no dye, your eyes worthy of beholding God.”

Now- do we in the modern West see dyed hair as some disqualification for being a Christian?!

One of the keys to reading the New Testament is to read it in the context of Second Temple Judaism (what Christianity came out of) and the Hellenistic (or Greco-Roman-like) society in which it was placed. You need to know that we do not live in that society, but the essence of the rules still matters. In one church, it would be a bad idea to come wearing a three-piece suit; in another, it would be just as bad an idea to come wearing shorts and flip-flops. Even in some of the extreme stuff we read in the church fathers, the point is not to try and make yourself- your “self-expression” the point. There will always be clashes between the generations and regions, but the takeaway is not to make yourself the story and show grace to others. I think that follows both the Scriptures and the disparate styles and clothing in the church throughout the centuries.

Thanks for the question and for sharing and recommending the show, Scott!

The last word for today from the daily lectionary and Ephesians 3:8-12.

8 Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence

This has been the Christian History Almanac for the 6th of January 2025 brought to you by 1517 at 1517.org.

The show is produced by a man whose low cut tops make me blush…he is Christopher Gillespie.

The show is written and read by a man who recently put a tie on for the first time in 7 years- I’m Dan van Voorhis.

You can catch us here every day- and remember that the rumors of grace, forgiveness, and the redemption of all things are true…. Everything is going to be ok.