Wearing a Habit - A confession of Christ or a cry for attention?

[dignitized]

Scripture tells us that we individually and as the Body of Christ - THE CHURCH - are to be a light unto the world. Scripture also tells us not to Hide our light under a bushel. Because of this clerical dress has been developed over the years to make people visibly Identifiable as Clergy or just as Christians. Hence the Crucifix and the Cross have become Jewelry, visible confessions of an inward faith. Religious orders have also taken to wearing specific clothing called Habits. Some like to suppose that those who wear such clothing are seeking recognition of self and "position" over others in the body of Christ. These people say that we are all equal in Christ and thus none should seek to be identified differently. They equate a Habit with the robes of the Pharisees condemned by Christ. (How they equate rich robes with ITCHY WOOL - most habits are made of wool - is beyond me.)

Speaking on behalf of us who do wear a Habit - we do "do it" to be different - DIFFERENT from the world. Face it, every time the world sees a nun in her habit ) or in my case a Brother in his) they cannot but recognize that this person chose to be different, chose to me a living testimony to Jesus Christ. It’s recognized that we have given up the normal comforts of life in favor of a life devoted in service to the Gospel. A Habit declares on the OUTSIDE for all to see what we profess to believe on the INSIDE.

When a person dresses themself in "street clothes" what they wear is a reflection of that persons identity. When a person wears a Habit they deny their own Identity in favor of Christ's. If you think that wearing a Habit is an attempt to seek position and self glory - put one on and walk around on the street there is no self glory in the Habit. You get strange looks - people are convicted by the sight of you . . . people lash out at you - say rude and nasty things about you - they watch your every action listen to your every word WAITING for you to slip up and say something "wrong" . . . . but most of all you are singled out in the crowd. There is no HIDING your light under a bushel when you wear a habit.

Pax et bonum

 

[Rick Otto]

No hiding, no kidding.
That was my point.
Not that a "cry for attention"(YOUR characterization, not mine) is necessarily a bad thing, as "lighting a candle" or wearing a habit, tho equating the two IS problematic.
The scriptures don't make any dress recommendations other than modesty, so the "developement of clerical dress over the years" was spawned ewlsewhere.
The Levitical system of sacrifice is done away with, so how about you wear a look on your face and carry yourself like a temple of The Holy Spirit, and let it go at that? Christianity, & "not hiding your light under a bushel" is about motivation, not dress.
The point was that you say you don't to it to get attention & then you explain what kind of attention you are trying to get by doing it. You say you do it to be "visibly identifiable" (that equals attention, to me) and you say, "...it declares on the OUTSIDE for all to see..."(again that is attention getting-& again, not that THAT is bad!).

My whole point, Sister Max, is to point to obvious self-contradicting catholic pathology. Please don't interpret that as implying Protestantism is any better. Tho I do hold to the doctrines of grace & election as reformationists describe them, I don't care too much for their ecclesiology either, especially in the area of church discipline.
"When a person wears a Habit they deny their own Identity in favor of Christ's"
Aside from the point that advertising is indeed a motive inherent in purposefully "different" dress, professions of motivation, and even sincere belief in those professions, does not necessarily constitute the complete or true sum of motivations.
I might insist I'm not a one-eyed rabid-reformationist looking for catholics to offend, but how many catholics will believe that?
This ain't a Catholic -Protestant issue, as they both are guilty of nicolaitanism, and if you don't think the odd get-ups don't scream position or self-glory, you probably don't see any idolatry or other paganism as long as someone you trust & respect tells you it's been Christianized. Ergo Jesus gets his Chaldean birthday celebration on Apollo's day, & everybody's happy, wearing robes, lighting candles, sniffin' inscence & mumbling repititiously in a room full statues.
Even a group of Amish agreed with me when I remarked, 30yrs ago, the plainess of their dress wouldn't have stood out, but today it stands out like a sore thumb. They laughed, shook their heads about what a shame it is, but agreed I was right.
Doesn't work for me, but I'm not proposing laws or force to put a stop to it.
Maybe some fabric softener would reduce that itch.
Have ya tried that?
Enjoy.

 

[dignitized]

Otto: it doesn't have to work for you. IT works for God and for the Gospel and THAT is what matters.

On and the Sister Max comment - bad forum and unnecessary.

 

[Fiat]

I don't think a Habit is for personal recognization/pride, but it represents the belief of the person in the Habit. A Jewish Rabbi wears a specific robe, yes? A baseball player wears a uniform, a businessman wears a suit. It is a representation. There is nothing prideful about it or is used for personal recognization. It is a bold statement for belief.

Rick, the Sister Max remark was childish and unnecessary.

God bless.

 

[MizDoulos]

A reminder to everyone: Before this thread heads south, let's remember to respond kindly and with a Christ-like attitude. If anyone cannot respect the differences of others, please move on to another thread or forum. This is an unofficial warning to all who participate in this thread. If the rules are violated, warnings will be issued and/or the thread will be closed.

Thank you for your cooperation.


[noflame]

[notroll]

 

[pax]

It always dissappoints me when I see a priest without a collar (or habit if he's religious) or a nun without a habit. I think it's extremely important to them living out their vocation.

 

[dignitized]

Pax: agreed.

 

[Rick Otto]

For me, it's simply decoration.
What's inside is what matters.
I don't judge books soley by their covers.
Most the time it's a bait & switch deal.
The important stuff gets drowned in
all the attention given to external details.

 

[Rick Otto]

Does everyone/anyone here realize yet, that I was simply confused about Max's gender and wasn't being "childish"?
Sorry, I thought I had explained that.
When he said he wore a "habit" I thought that that only reffered to a nun's headgear.
Maybe it does. For all I know Max may be a cross-dressing priest(lol), wouldn't shock me nowadays!
And besides, his gender isn't "visible" so maybe I shuld be given some slack on this.
Why is it considered childish, anyway?
I don't see anything else in the post that could be construed as derogatory. Are y'all a little paranoid?
Chill out. THAT is what's unnecessary.
Maybe you should censor yourselves a little?

Ok, now. GROUP HUG.
I think you might be a little childish yourselves.
I know I am, but that isn't what I was displaying here.

 

[dignitized]

For me, it's simply decoration.
What's inside is what matters.
I don't judge books soley by their covers.
Most the time it's a bait & switch deal.
The important stuff gets drowned in
all the attention given to external details.

The point in phrase "judge a book by its cover" is to make the point that just because a book has a nice picture on the front, or because it's bound in expensive leather does not imply as to what the contents of the book are. HOWEVER, there is something that appears on the cover of the book which DOES reflect on the contents of the book - the TITLE. A Habit is a Book Title.

ANYHOW, wearing a habit is an outward confession of an inward relationship. If I walk around dressed like a raver, I can hide the contents of my book, but if I wear a habit, you can't help but see that there is something different about me. (I'm using the first person in a general not a specific sense.)

You have a very low regard for the honesty of other Christians if you say MOST OF THE TIME it's a bait and switch deal.

 

[Peter]

When I see my priest in his vestments, I am reminded that I am to be about my own life of holiness. It becomes a physical reminder to me. In addition, how can anyone look upon a crucifix (as most EO priests wear) and not be reminded of the work done there?

Peace.

Peter

 

[dignitized]

Peter: I also wear a crucifix as part of my habit.

 

[Rick Otto]

Peter, to answer your query, it's become relatively easy for one to associate the dress & symbols of any organization with the crimes committed by that organization.
When the crimes are both global & personal in impact, it becomes nearly impossible NOT to make the association.
I make it MY habit not to become festooned with symbols. Let my actions speak for themselves.
Symbols can be appropriated & misused by ANYone, and generally ARE by everyone.