Should Pastors Wear Clericals Considering Bishop Dag’s Teaching on the Wisdom of Serpents?

We Christians in this generation came to hear and see the gospel of Jesus Christ being preached and churches being planted in various parts of the world.

There was the Bible being used as the inevitable and ultimate guide for Christian ministry in all denominations around the world.

In the Scriptures, we read about how the early ministers of God served God and humanity in their generations according to the will of God.

In the New Testament, we do not see or read about the apostles: Peter, James, John, Paul and others dressed in special uniforms or garments with white collars and long chains to announce them as pastors.

In fact, none of the Old Testaments servants of God including the Lord Jesus Christ wore any special uniform for ministry except the Priests and kings. God Himself prescribed the garments for the OT priests for ministry (Exodus 28).

Now, we know that all disciples of Christ Jesus are priests and kings (Revelation 1:6, 1 Peter 2:9-12). However, God did not recommend any unique clothes for us to wear to enable the world to identify us. That is why no believer in Christ wore any special garment for ministry in the Bible.

God’s servant, Peter Collins Obeng, points out that, “In the New Testament, the identity of a minister was more about their character, calling, and works rather than their outward appearance.

However, today, pastors in most Christian denominations wear special garments of different colours with big and long chains for easy identification and recognition when performing ministerial duties.

Is it necessary for God’s servants to adopt strategies for self-announcement, self-identification and self-introduction in a morally rotten world where people seek to destroy churches and pastors?

In his book, “Church Planting”, Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, draws attention to attacks pastors suffer in the world when he writes, “People often look out for your faults at work or at school. They say things like, “I am surprised that a pastor would do that…”

He continued, “I remember when I worked at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, the biggest hospital in my country, as a doctor; I never told them I was a pastor. I knew that at the slightest opportunity they would use it against me.

While a student and a pastor, I never indicated that I was even religious. I didn’t want them to know anything about me. It is foolishness to go announcing to the whole world that you are a pastor or a religious leader.

Jesus said we should be as wise as serpents. What does it mean to be as wise as a serpent? What wisdom does the serpent have? It has the wisdom to exist quietly in the midst of people who hate it.

The serpent is universally hated and killed on sight, with no questions asked. And yet, snakes flourish all around us. There are millions of snakes all over the world. How has the snake managed to live and multiply in a world that hates it utterly? By discretion, carefulness, judgment, secrecy, prudence and caution!”

Now, considering the concerns raised, is it prudent for servants of Christ to wear clericals to announce and introduce themselves wherever they go?

By James Quansah