I'm glad it's not that way with “spiritual clothes.” None of those included in the Bible's catalog of spiritual attire go out of date. In fact, unlike human trendy fashions (like recent those peekaboo shoulders in women's blouses, or way-too-low saggy, torn shorts), scripture's fashion sense is timeless.
I'm not talking unisex tunics of roughly woven fabric with sashes and wraps, aka ancient times. Instead, those described in letters sent to early churches. Today, a lot of folks (okay, women, and maybe men who care about their image) depend on a mirror to check their “public image.” But it's also important to check for tatters, stains, and other signs of wear in our spiritual mirrors.
First stop, Colossians Avenue (3:12-13), where garments include the softness of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forbearance, forgiveness (because God has forgiven us!), and the one-size-all “love.”
Next, a similar unisex rack at First Peter's Place (3:8-11), which has similar fare, with no clashing patterns (instead, harmony, sympathy, brotherly love) and the softness of compassion and humility. Ripped clothes (repaying evil with evil, or insult with insult) have been tossed in the trash. Peter's spiritual clothes racks also include gracious speech (“keep...tongue from evil and lips from deceitful speech”).
Do our outward clothes matter? Yes, and no. We live in a land of excessive adornment. No wonder the thrift stores have so many secondhand clothes. And that's a good thing, too, if we're trying to stretch a budget.
But those “spiritual clothes” can't be bought at a local store. They already were paid for, at a cross just outside Jerusalem.
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