Exodus 28:1-14 NKJV
28 “Now take Aaron your brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister to Me as priest, Aaron and Aaron’s sons: Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 2 And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. 3 So you shall speak to all who are gifted artisans, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron’s garments, to consecrate him, that he may minister to Me as priest. 4 And these are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, an ephod, a robe, a skillfully woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. So they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother and his sons, that he may minister to Me as priest.
5 “They shall take the gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and the fine linen, 6 and they shall make the ephod of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen, artistically worked. 7 It shall have two shoulder straps joined at its two edges, and so it shall be joined together. 8 And the intricately woven band of the ephod, which is on it, shall be of the same workmanship, made of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet thread, and fine woven linen.
9 “Then you shall take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel: 10 six of their names on one stone and six names on the other stone, in order of their birth. 11 With the work of an engraver in stone, like the engravings of a signet, you shall engrave the two stones with the names of the sons of Israel. You shall set them in settings of gold. 12 And you shall put the two stones on the shoulders of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. So Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord on his two shoulders as a memorial. 13 You shall also make settings of gold, 14 and you shall make two chains of pure gold like braided cords, and fasten the braided chains to the settings.
Within confessional Lutheran congregations, men that hold the Office of the Holy Ministry — which Christ instituted — can be seen wearing what are called liturgical vestments (i.e. Cassock, Surplus, Alb, Chasuble, & Stole). It is always said that these vestments fall under the area of adiaphora (that’s a Greek work that means “indifference”). In other words, God’s Word neither commands, nor forbids, the wearing of such vestments for New Testament pastors rightly Called into Christ’s ministry.
When it comes to carrying out the liturgy of ‘God’s Divine Service,’ it’s ever-important to remember why confessional Lutherans give it ‘that name’ — because it’s confessed as being just that, God’s Divine Service! Even though the structure of the liturgy was put together by man, it is meant to reflect and convey not only the truth of God’s Word but His very presence as He works through His Word and Word-empowered Sacraments.
On that basis alone one should, at the very least, understand why God’s Divine Service would have a sense of reverence to it. With God being represented, why wouldn’t His Service convey the finest of materials? All persons should remember this, lest through reckless behavior, they cause reverence to be forgotten during His Divine Service!
Yet, look at what’s happened? Those who claim a freedom of practice have, indeed, lost the reverence and have become reckless. They have thrown away the customary, permanent fixtures that, rightly understood, represent the orderliness and unchangingness of God (i.e. the lectern, the pulpit, and the centerpiece being the Altar). They’ve replaced them with band equipment, so that an entertaining ‘performance’ takes place.
Sadly, such practices only fix people on themselves and their emotions or enthusiasm. But who is it that confessional Lutheran parishioners are focused on when their pastors wear reverent vestments? Ans: Christ and the image of His holiness!
Let us pray: O Lord, keep us ever fixed upon You. Amen.