Let those who actually know me judge me on the basis of my conduct, in as far as that is all that man has to judge, the intentions of the heart being seen only by God.
Let those at this site judge me by my statements, not what i call myself
I admit that the first time that the first time I saw our friendly newbie's screen name, it caused a double-take on my part... I figured, "well, either he's making fun of Calvinists, or he is making fun of stereotypes about Calvinists". I'm happy it is the latter, but there's no accounting for taste (busting CDL's chops).
On the other hand, when I was changing my screen name a coupla years back, I very nearly went with "Presbyterians_wear_Black", so I'm hardly one to judge (grin).
White or gold are used for Sundays (each Sunday represents the Resurrection), feast days, and holy days. Green, signifying hope, is used for Pentecost. Blue is used for feasts of the Mother of God. Red is used on the feast day of a martyr and also on feasts commemorating the cross. Purple is used during the week days of the Great Lent and fasting periods. Black or purple for a funeral service or Liturgy for the dead.
The black-robed clergy of Presbyterianism, on the other hand, is pretty monochromatic in our tastes. (Hence the Royalist slur against the Presbyterian Clergy in American-Revolutionary days as "the Black Regiment of rebellion").
I'm okay with that. It is our "religious tradition"...
...and at least it makes shopping for us an easy task.
I wear the Black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he's a victim of the times.
I wear the Black for those who never read,
Or listened to the words that Jesus said,
About the road to happiness through love and charity,
Why, you'd think He's talking straight to you and me.
Well, we're doin' mighty fine, I do suppose,
In our streak of lightnin' cars and fancy clothes,
But just so we're reminded of the ones who are held back,
Up front there ought 'ta be a Man In Black.
I wear it for the sick and lonely old,
For the reckless ones whose bad trip left them cold,
I wear the Black in mournin' for the lives that could have been,
Each week we lose a hundred fine young men.
And, I wear it for the thousands who have died,
Believin' that the Lord was on their side,
I wear it for another hundred thousand who have died,
Believin' that we all were on their side.
Well, there's things that never will be right I know,
And things need changin' everywhere you go,
But 'til we start to make a move, to make a few things right,
You'll never see me wear a suit of white.
Oh, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything's OK,
But I'll try to carry off, a little of the darkness on my back,
So 'till things get brighter, I am the Man In Black.