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Copyright © 1997, All rights reserved.
The purpose of this series of articles is to explain our biblical philosophy of worship and how we have sought to implement it here at Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church. We have thought through our worship services. We have reasons why we do things the way we do–sound biblical, theological, and historical reasons. We are not simply following the dead, musty, liturgical traditions of our denomination. Neither are we clamoring to be “trendier than thou,” like so many twentieth-century American churches seem to be doing these days.
Drawing on the wisdom of the historic Church, especially the Reformation tradition, our worship is grounded in the Word of God. We want to be sure that the inquiring visitor as well as the committed member will understand the biblical explanations for our corporate, Sunday morning worship life, and so be able to worship intelligently with us, experiencing the fullness of reverent worship and praise
Why does the pastor wear a robe? Does this mean something? Is it biblical? Or is it something that has just always been done that way? Isn’t this too “Catholic”? Does the robe mean that the pastor is better than me? Closer to God than I am? Is he a priest? Why does the pastor lead the entire worship service? These are the kinds of questions that I will attempt to answer in this brief article.
Clothing and Calling
1. The robe, among other things, helps emphasize the office of the pastor and de-emphasize the personality of the man in the pulpit. Sometimes it’s hard to be led in worship by a elder or pastor who is a good friend or a peer or even (especially) one who is younger. To help us get over this feeling, the church in general, and the Reformed church in particular, has historically placed special robes on her ministers when they conduct worship. This helps the people to remember that it is not just good ol’ Jeff Meyers up there; rather, it is God’s appointed minister leading us into God’s presence and speaking God’s Word to us. Strictly speaking, the worship service is not conducted by Jeff Meyers anyway, but by the robe of office which Jeff Meyers happens to be filling at the current time. We submit to the office, not to the man, during worship. (The concept of submission to church office is eminently biblical: Acts 20:17, 28-35; 1 Cor. 12:28; 16:16; Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Thess 5:12, 13; 1 Tim. 3:1ff; 4:14; 5:17; Heb. 13:7, 17; & 1 Pet. 5:1-7.)
These truths are reinforced when the pastor wears something that reminds the people of his special calling on the Lord’s Day. In the Bible clothing and calling are often connected; a person’s calling or office together with whatever authority is connected with the office is often visually symbolized by the clothing the man wears (Gen. 9:20-27; 39:1-13; 37: 3-11, 23; 41:1-44; all of the references in Exodus and Leviticus to the clothing of the priests; 1 Sam. 2:19; 15:27; 18:4; 24:4, 5, 11, 14; Ezra 9:3-5; Esther 8:15; Isa. 22:21; Jonah 3:6; Matt. 22:11ff.; 27:31; Mark 16:5; Luke 15:22; Rev. 1:13; 4:4; 6:11; 19:13, 16). The purpose of the robe is to cover the man and accent his God-ordained office or calling.
2. The teaching elder who leads the worship plays a symbolic role during worship. When he leads the congregation in prayer before God, he symbolizes Christ leading the church in prayer before the Father. When he reads and preaches the Word, he symbolizes Christ, the husband, speaking to his holy bride (which is, by the way, one of the main reasons why women cannot be pastors: they cannot symbolize Christ the Husband to his bride, the church, 1 Cor. 11:2-10; 14:33-38; Eph. 5:22-33; 1 Tim. 2:11-15). The robe is not meant to set him above the congregation, but to set him apart from them because of his unique office as pastor during the Lord’s Day worship service. Here’s what the French Calvinist theologian Richard Paquier says about this:
It is natural that the man who officiates in the worship of the Church be clothed in a manner corresponding to the task assigned to him and expressing visibly what he does. Moreover, whoever leads in the act of worship does not perform as a private party but as a minister of the church; he is the representative of the community and the spokesman of the Lord. Hence, an especially prescribed robe, a sort of ecclesiastical “uniform,” is useful for reminding both the faithful and himself that in this act he is not Mr. So-and-so, but a minister of the church in the midst of a multitude of others. (Dynamics of Worship: Foundations and Uses of Liturgy [Fortress Press, 1967], p. 138).
3. The pastor is not a businessman. He is not the CEO of the ecclesiastical corporation. I always feel a little uncomfortable in a starched shirt, suit and tie. It tends to contribute toward a very real problem in our PCA churches we tend to attract upper-middle class people. Upper middle class people are comfortable around a pastor whose uniform is a suit and tie. People in other economic strata, however, sometimes find it hard to relate to a pastor who dresses like and acts like a business man. I often sense that what I wear erects unfortunate barriers in certain situations. Just because a congregation doesn’t have its pastor wear a robe doesn’t mean that they escape the idea of a uniform. In most American Protestant churches, for example, there is an expectation that the pastor dress conservatively, with a black or dark suit, a white starched shirt, a conservative necktie (no Mickey Mouse ties!), etc. In our culture this is the weekday uniform of a lawyer or middle to upper management business man. This has become de facto the American Evangelical clerical garb. I think this “uniform” often communicates precisely the wrong message in our churches and the communities in which we minister. Our pastors too often seek to conform to the patterns and symbols of authority prevalent in American culture. It is simply not possible to escape the symbolism of clothing. When the minister of the Word wears a robe, it helps to focus the congregation on the work of Christ and the Apostles, because the minister has no authority outside of them.
4. The robe adds dignity and reverence to our services. Why is it that pastors wear robes during wedding services and not during Lord’s Day worship services? At weddings the robe adds to the solemnity and glory of the event. The same ought to be true on the Lord Day. Are wedding services more important than Sunday services? No, just the opposite. The Lord’s Day worship service ought to be just as (or more) glorious and formal as a wedding.
Possible Objections
1. It too Roman Catholic. First of all, we are not talking about a collar, but a robe. But even here we have to be circumspect. The Roman Catholics are wrong in many areas, but we need to be careful not to throw out the baby with the bath water. Just because Roman Catholics do it, doesn’t automatically make it wrong or undesirable. Besides, if you would care to check it out, Reformed pastors in the past actually wore uniforms of some kind not just in worship, but during the week as well. That holds true for continental Reformed churches and even for many of the Puritans. Pictures and portraits that we have of these pastors show them in clerical or academic garb. Take for example the painting on the cover of James Bannerman’s The Church of Christ (Banner of Truth). James Bannerman is one of the most respected Scottish Presbyterian apologists for our form of church government and life. You might call him a super-Presbyterian. The painting on the cover of this volume is by John Lorimer, and it’s called “The Ordination of Elders.” The minister/pastor in the picture is wearing a black gown, and he also has a peculiar collar (you’ve probably seen pictures of these before) with two white tabs sticking out from it. No one else is dressed that way in the service. Scottish Presbyterian ministers, who traditionally have been fiercely anti-Catholic, have consistently worn clerical uniforms. There is nothing characteristically Roman Catholic about pastors wearing distinctive clothing during worship service.
2. The formality will turn people off. Recently a visitor to our church (from another denomination) commented on the beauty and solemnity of the service, but then asked why the pastor was wearing a suit and tie rather than a robe. She said that looking at the pastor in his own suit and tie was awkward and distracting. It seemed too casual. Why didn’t he wear something appropriate to his calling and duties on Sunday morning? she asked. Many mistakenly think that avoiding formality and ceremony is an evidence of simple faith and humility. C. S. Lewis has said, “The modern habit of doing ceremonial things unceremoniously is no proof of humility; rather it proves the worshiper’s inability to forget himself in the rite, and his readiness to spoil for everyone else the proper place of ritual.”
Since for Americans there is often an in-built negative reaction to any mention of formality in worship, let us turn briefly to Hebrews 12 and Revelation 4-5. Hebrews 12:22-24 describes a New Covenant (contrasted with the Old Covenant worship of vss. 18-21) corporate, Lord’s Day worship service. When the church gathers on the Lord Day she enters into heaven (by faith) to worship God with all of the angelic host and departed saints. It is as if the roof of the church building is torn off when the pastor calls the people to worship. Notice that the worshipers are all organized around the throne of God. The worship service does not merely provide an opportunity for private devotional experiences. The church is a “city” and a “joyous assembly” or “festal array” (v. 22). The word translated “festal assembly” denotes an assembly of people gathered for a celebration or festival. Later, when we are privileged with the Apostle John in the book of Revelation to peek into heaven, how is the worship conducted? What kind of worship is modeled for us in heaven? There are all kinds of liturgical lessons to be learned here. I only wish to highlight one aspect: the heavenly service is liturgical and formal. According to Revelation 4-5, heavenly worship is a formal, coordinated activity. There are cooperative, formal responses by groups of worshipers. Everybody responds together with the same words. There are no individual displays of spirituality. Angels, elders, and creatures respond antiphonally with responses that must have been learned! They have been trained. There is a pre-arranged form to the worship. They have rehearsed this event, and they are dressed accordingly (Rev. 4:4). In other words, heavenly, Spirit-guided worship is liturgical and formal (1 Cor. 14:26-33).
3. The robe will make the pastor unapproachable. Not so. It makes him more approachable in his capacity as pastor. It forces “Jeff Meyers” to recede and brings forward the office of pastor. The robe will highlight the pastor’s office and role. In fact, people may be more apt to address the pastor with spiritual questions and concerns. They will be reminded that Jeff is the pastor! After all, people want to be able to trust their pastors. They want their pastors to be different.
People long to be able to place some kind of secondary confidence in the office of the pastor and elder (our primary confidence, of course, is in God’s Word!). An outward sign of that office helps people. This is not hard to prove. Think about doctors, nurses, judges, and policemen. People want them to wear something distinctive that reminds them of their expertise or calling. We are helped when our doctor wears a white uniform. The uniform assists us in remembering that we can place some confidence in him. This is his calling. The uniform reminds us of his training and commitment. The same ought to be true with our pastors. Biblical teaching as a whole links clothing and calling. You are what you wear or you wear what you are. Just as judges, physicians, policeman, and auto mechanics wear clothing that befits their calling, so should the pastor, especially when he is performing the specific duties of his office during the Lord’s Day worship service.
Summary
In Christian worship, biblically and historically, the ministers wear distinctive garments to testify to their office as representatives of Christ. The robe serves to hide the personality of the man and highlight his special calling. The pastor represents Christ, the Husband, to the church, his bride. When the pastor leads worship, the robe helps remind us that it is not “my friend Jeff” up front. God in Christ calls us to worship, to confess, to hear his word, to give, etc., and he does so by means of his ordained servant. The pastor does not act for himself, but for Christ. A judge or a policeman wears a uniform because he does not act for himself. He is under orders. He represents the law and government of the county, city, or state in which he serves. In the same way, a minister represents the law and government of another kingdom. The clothing he wears testifies to this. He also is under orders. The pastor’s authority does not derive from his economic or social status (expensive suits and starched shirts). It does not derive from his natural charisma (impressive hair or flashing dark eyes). It most certainly does not derive from the fact that he looks and acts like other leaders in the world (business suits), even though this is what happens too often in America. Just as the location of the pulpit and table have symbolic significance, so also the minister’s clothing communicates that he is the ordained servant of the risen Christ, called to lead God people in covenant renewal worship.
Therefore, by placing a robe on our minister at Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church, we are 1) taking a stand against the current American Evangelical church’s tendency to transform the pastorate into something like an executive position (the CEO of the church!) by mimicking American corporate big business, and 2) seeking to bring our practice in line with what the Bible implies, back in line with what the historic Church has practiced, and in line with what other Reformed churches do worldwide.
Copyright © 1997, All rights reserved.
Jeff Meyers [contact him] is the pastor of Providence Reformed Presbyterian Church in Saint Louis, Missorri. He has been ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America since 1988. After college and serving as an officer in the U.S. Army, Jeff attended Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis. Jeff later earned his Master of Sacred Theology (S.T.M) and is currently completing his Ph.D. in Systematic Theology at Concordia Theological Seminary. He has a personal blog page called Corrigenda.
Jeff is also the author of The Lord’s Service: The Grace of Covenantal Worship, a practical pastoral guide to worship that introduces readers to the application of Old Testament sacrificial liturgics, biblical typology, and covenant theology.
July 23rd, 2007 at 2:01 pm
Good Day
I thank you so much for the information published in this article. I agree with the statement you made that states that when the Pastor wear the robe it helps us to ’submit to the office, not to the man, during worship..’
Which forms the basis to the point I would like to make. God’s calling is not limited or stipulates a particular sex. Hence we should be submitting to the office and not the woman. There was a time when judges were leaders of God’s people and Deborah was one named in the bible. Also, there was a time when the prophets were the leaders and the bible speaks of prophetesses.
I am not a Pastor but I have seen the call of God on very able women who are leading the people of God in a wonderful way.
Lastly,God is likened to our shepard and if you search the scriptures you will find that there were female shepards - Rachel.
God Bless You and I hope you will look into my response and there will be liberty for women in your church and there will be no hinderance of the move of God through God called female Pastors.
July 25th, 2007 at 1:42 pm
I have found the answer to the one question I have on, why pastors wear robes but I can not get the first few pages to copy. is there a reason for this?
please let me know as soon as possable, I need the study you have put togather with all the scriptures.
thank you
Charlene
July 25th, 2007 at 1:57 pm
Charlene, are you trying to select the text of the article and copy and paste it into another document? I have no idea why that wouldn’t work. Perhaps try viewing the page in a different browser.
August 6th, 2007 at 6:29 am
Great information. I wouldn’t mind using this on my own website if it were possible. I don’t know why so many people have objections to the robe. I love it and I think it separates the service of the church from the business of the world.
October 16th, 2007 at 9:09 am
In this ever changing world of fads and styles, the church has inadvertently become caught up in trying to fit in with what the world recognizes. The church has conformed to the world instead of being the example that the world conforms to. Thank you for such a detailed, and insightful explaination of why the Pastor must wear a robe. This should be required reading for all Pastors, and those aspiring the office. I wish you well.
November 8th, 2007 at 8:51 am
The office of worship is too important to be left to conformity and compromise. I agree with this article of light 100%. This explanation is truly God inspired and I pray that many will understand and accept the truth in it. I will pray for this church as it grows into the new millennium and last covenant of The Christ Spirit as all true church’s will. Peace be forward and God bless you all in Jesus name, Amen.
February 6th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
Thank you for your advice and help on this matter.
January 16th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Dear Pastor
May,all the blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ be yours.I am inspired by your article an i have decided to follow it.
Rev.Emric Joseph
First Presbyterian Church railway road
Near G.P.O Faisalabad
Pakistan.38000
February 9th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
I believe wholeheartedly in your perspective on worship and the wearing of a robe. I understand and agree with the need for “liturgical” worship. My only issue is how churches implement the liturgy. In a Christian world where God’s Word has been marginalized and man’s written word exalted as fresh revelation in so many areas, I take issue with a congregation reading liturgy that is printed in the back of a hymnal or in a church bulletin…most of which has been manipulated by men from various passages of Scripture rather than as God breathed it in His Word. I long to see, in PCA churches especially,the purest form of worship as God ordained it in Psalm 138:2. How can we say we are worshipping as God intended when we don’t require our congregation to hold God’s Word in their hands and read it with the eyes He gave them? I am the wife of a wonderful and godly PCA pastor in Schenectady NY.
February 20th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Interesting article and highly informative on the liturgy of the Christian worship experience.
This insight certainly reinforces the value and appreciation of the Pastor’s calling and responsibility.
March 11th, 2009 at 5:12 pm
I disagree with your views wholeheartedly. The New Testiment scriptures you listed dose not support your views at all. The “young man” in Mark 16:5 was an angelic being wearing a “long white robe” which was the customary dress of that day. And in Luke 15:22 the Father simply put on the a very nice robe for his son, which would be the same as a very nice suite or jacket in our day. God’s word gives no clear word on any “minister/pastor” wearing a special robe on the Lord’s day. It’s not biblical and it should not be worn. Just the fact that the “man” is behind the pulpit should remind him and all in attendance that he is in a special position on the Lord’s day.
Church of Christ
March 15th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Terrence,
I am not as much disturbed by your “exegesis” of the two passages as I am by your conclusion that a robe “is not biblical and should not be worn.” Nowhere do you account for this conclusion. Is your reasoning that there is no clear command for a pastor to wear a robe and therefore we must not? Well, what shall we wear since the Word of God says nothing about suit and tie? Your conclusion according to your reasoning should be that we don’t HAVE to wear a robe but nowhere do you account for a “should not.” Personal preference doesn’t count in theology :)
April 8th, 2009 at 5:18 am
Jesus and his disciples never wore regalia, this just puts you on a higher level than others, we are all a chosen priesthood, he is no respector of persons, the Pharasees were the ones who were show horses. I am blessed to be a blessing to my congregation, in humility.
April 9th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
I’m cool with the thought of doning a gown.Bible does’nt even say anything about a suit or a tie.
I like the idea that its helps a preacher to forget his own dignity and just to remember that He’s a man of God and a sevent.Wearing a robe does’nt make him different But make’s him feel more responsible.
June 17th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Dressed-up in Jesus?
In Christ, the saved soul has the garments of Salvation in the Lord Jesus!
I hail from a great non-denom. church with no Pastoral Robes! Works well for us.
With a catholic background, I tend to draw away from most traditions that are not clearly spelled
out in the Word.
The preminiance of Christ should be seen mostly in the life of the pastor, and how he brings Christ by the Holy Spirit with the preaching of the Word of God to the church. Being Orthodox to the Scriptures is the most important stand! Does the flesh like the robes? Does God’s spirit so lead each one or is the tradition of the denomination have the up vote?
I enjoy the pastor who identifies with the cross, in that He is a sinner, saved by grace and is growing in Grace! Paul said he magnified his office in his life, so he knew his idenity in Christ. Is Christ magnified is the question.
So the robe can be a symbolic sign to the church, I see that. The article gives the historical background for the robe and this helps me learn what the tradition is all about. Character is the key, not the garment in my view. Paul, if he were in a church that wore robes, would wear the robe! He became all things to all, that he might win some.
Blessing to the one who has a proper heart attitude and wears the ROBE! Peace to those who are in dressed in Jesus, yes, who have escaped the promise of a forever place in hell!
Tom Argante, Chaplain