Apostolic Friends Forum - The Plain Coat

For all you men who think you are separated from the world but dress just like them.

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The Plain Coat in Our Brotherhood

The separation the believer experiences in his appearance is rooted in the separation he has experienced in his nature, in his whole life, in his coming under the lordship of Jesus Christ. Our Holy God, in other words, has transformed us into His holy people and has called us to a holy way of life, which means, in effect, that He has called us to forsake our former slavery to Satan, sin, and the world. This sanctification---this setting apart unto God---is what underlies the differences in the appearance of believers and the appearance of unbelievers.

Satan has specific intentions in the clothing and unclothing of his people. He seeks to corrupt, to tempt, to draw away from God, to confuse the sexes, to demoralize, and to display the pride of man---all through the appearance of unbelievers.

God, too, has clear intentions for the way His people appear. But His intentions are as different from Satan’s as light is from darkness. In both Testaments God has made His intentions clear that man’s clothing cover nakedness, maintain clear sex distinction, and avoid worldly fashion and vain display.

Appearance and fashion have always been very important to man as an expression of himself and what others think of him. Those who control the fashion world are largely ones who do not follow Christ but seek to tantalize and glorify man via clothes. Ultimately, fashion is directed by the prince of this world. We, as those who have been translated from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son, have no desire to accommodate ourselves to the unwholesome fruits of darkness

One of the weaknesses in our arguments for the plain coat is that we wear it so seldom. Could we agree that we feel it should be worn when one would ordinarily dress in more formal attire, and also helpful to us as an alternate to just casual attire?

To what extent should our standards for dressing up be governed by society’s standards? We feel we owe some consideration and respect for what is considered acceptable and respectful in our society. Sometimes we dress up because society considers it a dress up occasion even if we would rather just wear “common” clothes. We feel it is appropriate to have “formal” attire for those occasions.

I. Why wear the plain coat?

A. We believe it is an appropriate expression of nonconformity in formal wear.

B. It can help avoid changeable suits of apparel.

C. It is an alternate to wearing the tie, which can be considered putting on of apparel – that is, unnecessary.

D. It can serve as a leveling influence in the brotherhood. A common pattern of clothing can help to avoid competition and distinction based on wealth, position, etc.

E. It serves as an identifying mark, associated by most people as having something to do with religion, and has often opened the door for speaking about spiritual things.

F. Many different kinds of groups are identified by their pattern of dress (nurses, policemen, branches of the military, boy scouts, etc., etc.). It would seem in order for the believers in a free society to also be thus identified. Furthermore, since the church is a brotherhood, a kingdom of priests, it is best if there is no distinction between ordained and unordained, so all wear a distinctive garb, not just the “clergy.”

G. It encourages the wearer to live in harmony with his “clothing profession,” of standing apart from the world. It may encourage him in wholesome speech as well as the places he may or may not go.

We feel that most of these reasons are not compelling reasons. They are simply reasonable reasons. These reasons are not necessarily in order of importance.

II. Principles To Consider In The Application of The Plain Suit

In the Old Testament God called His people to wear a distinctive fringe with a ribbon of blue on the edge of their garments (Numbers 15:37-41). This was not for the ungodly, but was to remind the Israelites who they were and how obliged (and privileged) they were to obey the commandments of God.

In the New Testament, we have no prescribed patterns of dress for the church. The church is scattered over the whole earth in a variety of cultures. But in every culture, every climate, and every age, God’s people are called to faithfully and practically apply His clear directives: 1) avoid fashion, 2) avoid ornamentation, and 3) maintain sex distinction.

a. Ro 12:1-2 1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

b. 1Ti 2:8-10 8 I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting. 9 ¶ In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; 10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

c. 1 Pet. 3:1-4; 1 ¶ Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; 2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

d. 1 Cor. 6:9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, [Note that effeminate has specific clothing connotations].

e. 1John 2:15-17 15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Conclusion:

The plain suit for brethren has served many conservative Mennonites and Brethren since around the close of the nineteenth century. As formal wear, it has a simple dignity, and it eliminates the wearing of the necktie. Having been in use for a century, it has the blessing of wide acceptance and thus the power of a corporate application, though it is by no means the only application of separation and simplicity in men’s appearance.

The plain suit has no righteousness in itself. And yet the principles from which it was born cry out against being worn by the proud, the covetous, and the immoral. To be consistent with itself, the plain suit should remain both plan and serviceable, not striking in color, style, or additions, not giving the appearance of finery.

From Our Statement of Faith, Pages 34&35

“Brethren shall avoid styles of clothing that display pride and sensuality. For brethren we recommend the plain coat be worn when formal attire is appropriate as an expression of nonconformity to the world. Neckties shall not be worn. No Christian should appear in public immodestly dressed. He will be consistent with the principles of discipleship in all matters pertaining to his appearance; he will shun the novel fads and fashions in the styling of the hair and/or the beard. While we recognize the prerogative of other conservative groups to permit the wearing of the full beard, we ask our members not to wear the mustache.”