I would think that clothes (and everything else in your life) is affected by your salvation; thus, yes, "Holiness" would have some kind of standard or code. I do not believe that clothes can save you nor send you to Hell. But, if you are saved, yes, there will be an affect on the way you dress.
Yes, many saints have gone to an extreme - and condemned people to Hell for their attire; but that does not nullify the principles of the Word of God. Salvation means to be delivered from sin and its consequences. Holiness means to be separate from sin.
Before sin tainted humanity; humans were naked (Genesis 2:25). After sin came in; God is the one Who created the first "official" clothes-after humanity's futile attempt with fig leaves (Genesis 3:7). The clothes God created "covered" the man and woman. Thus, (1) creating a principle that clothes are to COVER our nakedness; NOT highlight and expose it. If clothing was never an issue with God, He never would have taken the time to personally create Adam and Eve's clothes:
Genesis 3:21, "The LORD God made clothes from animal skins for the man and
his wife and dressed them."
Later, in the Word, God designed the clothing of the High Priest. This signified that (2) the clothing of a worshipper should have dignity, modest elegance and bring glory to God; so much so that the priests clothing was called "HOLY CLOTHES!"
Exodus 31:10, "the special clothes-the holy clothes for the priest Aaron and the clothes for his sons when they serve as priests."
For those that would argue that these are Old Testament passages; my only question is, “WHAT BIBLE DO YOU THINK JESUS AND PAUL USED?” The first books of the New Testament were not composed until at least 40 years after the Resurrection!
So Jesus and Paul never used the “New Testament.” They used Genesis to Malachi. Thus, we CANNOT dismiss the Word and say, “that's Old Testament.”
Nevertheless the New Testament does address the subject of clothing. (4) Clothing is to be modest. Modest is defined as, “Dressing or behaving so as to avoid impropriety or indecency, especially to avoid attracting sexual attention.” Here's what the Word says (take note that the texts correlate Holiness with adornment):
1 Timothy 2:9, “I want women to show their beauty by dressing in appropriate clothes that are modest and respectable. Their beauty will be shown by what they do, not by their hair styles or the gold jewelry, pearls, or expensive clothes they wear.”
1 Peter 3:3-5 3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. 5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands,
Finally, at the close of the age; the saints are to be dressed with Jesus in white. But, the white is only to be worn by those who have overcome the corruption of the world. Thus, (5) our clothing should proclaim that we have come out from the seductiveness, debauchery and lewdness of the world:
Revelation 3:4, “But you have a few people in Sardis who have kept their clothes clean. They will walk with me in white clothes because they deserve it.”
Saints, “KEEP YOUR CLOTHES CLEAN!
Amen!
ReplyDeleteIf the dressing is a contradiction to God's Word it can send you to hell. Too many are afraid to be specific in their teaching for fear of losing members, offending people or/and because so many in church positions are incorrect in their dress. We are to be peculiar, not strange, but yet not doing our all to keep in step with the world. Men wearing earrings, loud bright colors, high heeled shoes and etc. do not convey a holy standard of dress. Women wearing dresses tight as the skin on a grape, wearing dresses so short they must have a lap scarf when they sit down, women wearing such gaudy jewelry and glamour hollywierd nail/toe polish and etc. Women and men are dyeing their hair in colors to emulate the NBC peacock. Either uphold the standard or there will be no standard. Look at our church (the young and old)! We look like the world! There was a time when the sinner would come in and be convicted. Now they are comfortable because we look just like them. There was a time when we at least "looked" like we were holy when we went to town. Now the Jehovah Witnesses and Apostolics are the example of "outward" holiness. Finally, there is an inward holiness which will bring about an outward holiness. Amen?
ReplyDeleteYour points are well taken. However, I feel it's more the pastors responsibility to break down specifics to the members (as the priests of old taught the difference between clean and unclean. Thus avoid confusion. For example, (I've seen this)you may have one church that teaches women can wear earrings of any size, another that says you can wear modest earrings and yet another that says no earrings or jewelry at all. You may have one church that says women "can use a little powder to take the shine off," another that says you can wear a modest amount of makeup, another that has no issue at all with makeup and yet another that says no makeup whatsoever of any kind is allowed. Etc etc etc. I just feel it's the pastors job to deal with all those specifics.
Deletegreat article! not only the outer wear we also consider the inner wear collections to get better dress code. i think inner wear online shopping is the best option to get all of our desired stuffs at reasonable price.
ReplyDeleteWow. Very powerful!
ReplyDeleteOh wow! I have finally read a well written article on dress code. Well written, does not impart correctness. If God was concerned with clothes, Adam and Eve would have them from Cration. As with any Father, a father wants to be close physically and emotionally to His children. So when Adam and Eve said they were naked and therefore ashamed. God looked at what they had done and created better looking and more durable clothes. Simply because that is all that existed at that moment. It is quibles like this which are driving people away from the Church. Shame on you
ReplyDelete