Ancient Adornment

“In that day the Lord will take away the finery: The jingling anklets, the scarves, and the crescents; the pendants, the bracelets, and the veils; the headdresses, the leg ornaments, and the headbands; the perfume boxes, the charms, and the rings; the nose jewels, the festal apparel, and the mantles; the outer garments, the purses, and the mirrors; the fine linen, the turbans, and the robes” Isaiah 3:18-23.

 When France announced their ban on Islamic full veils several months ago it renewed my interest in Islamic and other cultural attire. Several reasons where sighted for the ban including bondage because of customs and ease of terrorist concealment. While both are fairly valid reasons in my opinion, I also struggle with the interference of government in religion.

 Throughout history is seems the exact opposite occurred: religion controlled government. It may be somewhat of a stretch to make this statement so overtly but religion of a people played a vital role in authority and control. Whatever gods or things a particular sect of people worshipped they usually separated themselves from other bands of worship. Of course, several people groups began over history to break this system down, most noteworthy the Roman Empire. But even Rome, ancient Israel, Great Britain and others who have come close to controlling the world had limits on worship and personal dedication to things other than prescribed. I supposed one could argue religion and government share a rather mutually beneficial, exclusive and at the same time destructive relationship throughout history.

But I particularly wonder, and maybe I’ll just look it up, how Christianity lost its fervor for traditional dress. Islam, a much younger religion than Judaism and Christianity, continues to pass along its traditional garb as a custom and necessity to true pilgrims. Christianity, however, focuses more on inner faith and less on rules and regulations. Freedom. We hear that word a lot in Christianity. But it makes me wonder if we’ve used that freedom to truly be better for it.

 Have we utterly lost the customs of the past like in Ancient Israel? Are any still valid and need revitalizing in our world? In Isaiah 3 they clearly abused their power and because of their greed and need for more they turned aside longing after the wrong things. They let their worldly customs dig too deep into their souls. I think we modern Christians can totally relate to this. But it also makes me wonder how we’ve let ancient, pure customs slip through our fingers in the name of freedom and independence. We no longer adorn ourselves with bangles, veils, ankle bracelets or traditional garments. We dress for work better than we dress to enter the sanctuary of the Lord.

Clearly there are customs we should have and did abandon. But are there customs we should embrace once again? Are there customs that actually reside within the freedom of Christ and strip away our concept of freedom? Freedom is certainly not free and it’s not freedom to this world. Freedom is freedom in Christ and what of the sacred is He calling out and imploring us to embrace?