Clothes and Missionary Life

Clothes or their absence tend to cause concerns.

But clothes don’t make the man! It is the heart that matters.

Missionaries must avoid legalism and imposing western traditions on others. Remember the old joke? "How can you tell who is the indigenous peoples first native born preacher? answer: "He is the one wearing the 3-piece polyester suit and neck tie in 110 degree weather!" Missionaries must understand the rationale for clothes as taught in Genesis.

The Bible warns of man’s tendency to teach human standards,

days, diets, & dress codes,

that promise righteousness but which have no value in making us more spiritual:


“If you have died with Christ to the elementary principles

of the world,

why, as if you were living in the world,

do you submit yourself to decrees,

such as, Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch!

(which all refer to things destined to perish with use) -- in accordance with the commandments and teachings of men?

These are matters which have, to be sure,

the appearance of wisdom

in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body,

but are of no value against fleshly indulgence." Col 2:20-23

But the Lord said to him,

"Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and of the platter;

but inside of you, you are full of robbery and wickedness." Lu 11:39