Parakaleo
Puritan Board Sophomore
I visited an historical site recently and a man there reminded me that ministers (and nearly all men) in the colonial times (in the New and Old Worlds) would wear wigs during public appearances. Including worship. These wigs were made to look quite striking, they conveyed wealth, were marks of status, and were often as expensive to buy and maintain as a vehicle might be for us today. In fact, the reason a minister or a judge would wear a silver wig (even if a young man) was that it would lend him an air of wisdom.
As I reflected upon all this, I thought to myself, "What mental gymnastics a man wearing a wig for these reasons in worship would need to perform, in order to squirm away from obeying the Scripture!" Yet, I know there were many men in those days far more godly and knowledgeable than I.
My main questions for the board are:
1. Could a man wearing a wig in worship (for no other reason than convention) with any believability claim that he was obediently uncovering his head (per 1 Corinthians 11:4)? In other words, do we believe the apostle was only arguing for the removal of a head-dress (or mitre, or turban, etc.) for men in this passage, and that a covering that looks passably close to natural hair is fine?
2. Given the clear association between wigs and wealth/status, why didn't more ministers and godly men reject the wearing of such finery? John Wesley is a notable example of a minister rejecting the "wig culture" of his time. Perhaps you know of any from this time period who wrote upon this question?
3. What things are perfectly normal for ministers and godly men in our society today, upon which our spiritual descendants might look and shake their heads in disbelief, and wonder how godly men of the early 21st century could have been so blind to their times and to the Scriptures? (Note: I'm not saying I think the men who wore wigs were necessarily blind to the Scriptures and to their times, just thinking about our own possible blind-spots.)
As I reflected upon all this, I thought to myself, "What mental gymnastics a man wearing a wig for these reasons in worship would need to perform, in order to squirm away from obeying the Scripture!" Yet, I know there were many men in those days far more godly and knowledgeable than I.
My main questions for the board are:
1. Could a man wearing a wig in worship (for no other reason than convention) with any believability claim that he was obediently uncovering his head (per 1 Corinthians 11:4)? In other words, do we believe the apostle was only arguing for the removal of a head-dress (or mitre, or turban, etc.) for men in this passage, and that a covering that looks passably close to natural hair is fine?
2. Given the clear association between wigs and wealth/status, why didn't more ministers and godly men reject the wearing of such finery? John Wesley is a notable example of a minister rejecting the "wig culture" of his time. Perhaps you know of any from this time period who wrote upon this question?
3. What things are perfectly normal for ministers and godly men in our society today, upon which our spiritual descendants might look and shake their heads in disbelief, and wonder how godly men of the early 21st century could have been so blind to their times and to the Scriptures? (Note: I'm not saying I think the men who wore wigs were necessarily blind to the Scriptures and to their times, just thinking about our own possible blind-spots.)
Last edited: