I agree with you in so much as we are talking about clericals as all that you have said applies to them.
However, vestments are more than simply the uniform or dress of the minister. Clothing worn only and specifially in the worship service, by that very distinction are for all practical purposes vestments and therefore elements of worship.
It is somewhat humorous to me that Baptists typically wan to say that both clericals and vestments are vestments. Presbyterians seems more apt to say that both clericals and vestments are clericals.
If we are going to properly engage the Scriptures in this subject and apply the RPS, it is critical we understand the difference between a clerical and a vestment.
A clerical is very much a circumstance of worship (not really a RPS issue)...I just happen to wear my collar in the pulpit because it is my uniform that I wear everywhere when I am angaged in the work of my office. As to its relevance to worship, it would be no different should I wear a tie into the pulpit.
My Genevan gown, that I purposely put on right before the worship service and take off when the service is over, becomes an element of worship. There is something specific about it that we are employing specifically in worship (if not, why even bother with it?). The implications of this as it relates to the RPW are unescapeable.
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Originally Posted by SRoper  I guess I don't see the RPW concerns. The minister must wear something, and since Scripture does not specify what, it seems to be a circumstance of worship. The WCF says "there are some circumstances concerning the worship of God, and government of the Church, common to human actions and societies, which are to be ordered by the light of nature, and Christian prudence, according to the general rules of the Word, which are always to be observed." Since clothing often indicates office in human society, I don't see an issue with special clothing for the minister. |