The worst uniform I ever had to wear was a yellow checked nylon overall with poppers down the front when I worked in the kitchen of a tea room as a teenager trying to earn a bit of pocket money. Uniforms, beloved of schools and the service industries, are supposed to convey a sense of corporate identity – and a sense of shared values.
The Old Testament, especially the books of Moses, is full of regulations for dress for the Jews, indeed even today, orthodox Jews are unmistakable by their headwear, their hairstyles and their clothing style. When I was a student in China, everyone dressed the same in regulation green or navy trousers, jackets and caps, with all the women wearing their hair in two plaits. In this way they declared their loyalty to the motherland.
Christians are not distinguishable by their dress; instead they should be distinguished by their behaviour. Paul urges us to put on values that identify us as Christians:
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”
Colossians 3:12-14 [NIV]
Mairi Mowbray
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