Studies on Modern Issues
Outward Appearance
Introduction
This booklet deals with the subject of outward appearance… what we look like… our clothing and beyond—the whole package. I promise not to include any fashion tips. I’m the last person on the planet from whom you would want to receive fashion advice. We’re not going to draw up a list of fashions that are acceptable and those that are unacceptable. What could be more useless than that? As soon as you draw up a list, it is outdated and obsolete. Hence, we will skip over opinions and advice, and just look at the Biblical principles that relate to this subject, and there are many… more than you might think.
Christian young people don’t always agree with their parents or teachers on how to assemble an acceptable dress code. From what I’ve seen and heard over the years, sometimes kids have some valid points that are not heard by their parents. And often kids don’t hear what their parents are saying along these lines either. It can become a real bone of contention… but it doesn’t have to. I’m suggesting that we listen to one another—and where there is a valid biblical principle, we ought to EMBRACE it, regardless of where it might lead us… even if it puts our standards and traditions at risk. Truth is more important.
It is TRUTH that we should be seeking… not our own opinion, traditions, or styles. We need to be willing to lay aside EVERYTHING and ANYTHING that stands in the way of truth.
There are generally two distinct outlooks on this subject, and the lines are not always drawn between young and old. There are many older folks on both sides of this divide as well. One group says, “God doesn’t care what we look like,” and that argument is routinely shot down by the other side. Often parents and teachers shoot down this assertion when it comes from the youth… even ridiculing them. The young people are handed a written dress code, which is designed to settle all their questions. It rarely does. That is then followed by either silent, covert, inward rebellion against the “code” or by an overt and heated argument. I’m not convinced that’s the best way to deal with the subject. One side says, “God doesn’t care what we look like, and you shouldn’t judge according to appearance.” The other side says, “God DOES care what we look like. He cares about every detail of our lives.” And thus, the battle rages.
We are going to look at this subject from two different perspectives; two sides of one coin, even though one side of this coin might take us out of our comfort zone for a while.
- First, we are going to examine the arguments of those who say: “God does not care about our outward appearance.” (To which folks on one side will be cheering…)
- Secondly, we are going to examine the arguments of those who say: “God does care what we look like. He cares about every detail of our lives.” (To which folks on the other side will start cheering…)
Both sides have valid arguments with elements of important truth found therein. Those truths are to be embraced by ALL of us, if for no other reason than that they are true. We ought to be lovers of the truth. As is often case in our little controversies, we tend to look at one line of truth exclusively and push it to the extreme, and end up with a distortion of truth. This is not unlike what folks do with the will of man and sovereignty of God. There is the tendency to take one line of truth, and emphasize it to the exclusion of other truths. You end up with an extreme view that is unbalanced and lopsided. When we embrace only one element of a truth, we fail to see the whole picture… like the proverbial blind men trying to describe an elephant by describing what he feels (a trunk; a leg; an ear; etc.). Each man gives an accurate description; accurate, but incomplete. Different perspectives are needed to complete the picture.
Our youth present to us many valid points, and we should not reject them, just because they seem to be contrary to our standards. I’m siding with the youth every time their arguments are in line with principles found in the Bible. And in doing so, I’m not really siding with the youth; I’m siding with the truth.
And as a side note, we want our youth to understand that while some of the Biblical principles they affirm are accurate, they may also be incomplete. We are here to help them see the whole picture more clearly. In order to accomplish that, BOTH sides of this story must be heard.
As a side note to parents: our youth are not always questioning our standards out of rebellion. When the questions are presented in a humble and teachable spirit, they are perfectly honest questions arising from a hungry heart that genuinely wants to know the truth. And when their comments are in harmony with the Bible, we should stand WITH them and not fight against them! They are much more likely to receive with meekness further instruction from the engrafted word when we are standing WITH them on those arguments that are true and valid. Then we can later “fill them in” on other aspects of truth that may never have occurred to them.
One Side of the Coin
This point is indeed valid and is found in numerous passages in the Scriptures. It is seen clearly in I Samuel 16:7: “But the LORD said untoSamuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”
- GOD LOOKS AT THE HEART, NOT OUR OUTWARD APPEARANCE. I Sam.16:7 certainly supports this important truth. The context of this passage is God’s choice of David. Samuel was to anoint one of the sons of Jesse. All the sons were gathered together and passed before Samuel. In verse 6, Samuel looked upon Jesse’s son Eliab and said, “surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” But, he was wrong, and the Lord rebuked him for his superficial thinking. Samuel was looking at how tall, dark, and handsome he was and ASSUMED that because his outward appearance, he must be the Lord’s anointed. Men look at the outward appearance.
Then the Lord stated that HE does not look upon human beings as we mortals do. Men look at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. God is not so interested in how tall, handsome, or how well-dressed a person is. God is interested in his heart first and foremost. This is by far the MOST important principle of all when it comes to the subject of outward appearance. The outward appearance is superficial and external. And we are not wise to dote over external things.
It is the inside that counts. The internal always outranks the external. The inner man (soul & spirit; mind & heart) are much more important than out outer man (body), and thus certainly more important than the clothing put on our outer man. Clothing and outward appearance are not nearly as important to God as the inner man, the heart. External things fade away into virtual insignificance when compared to the heart. And to the degree that we put more importance on clothing and outward appearance than the heart—we are violating this principle. So when folks from this side of the issue report that God isn’t so concerned about our clothing, that it’s our heart He’s interested in—there is an important element of truth in that. The heart is FAR more important. They are absolutely correct… the Bible tells us so.
But let’s not forget that this verse also provides us with some important information concerning outward appearance that puts it all in perspective. The same verse that tells us that God looks at the heart ALSO tells us that men DO LOOK at our outward appearance. In fact, that’s all they can see. Hence, this verse becomes important in demonstrating another truth: Men DO look at our outward appearance, therefore, outward appearance plays an important role in our TESTIMONY before the world. Don’t just read part of the verse and ignore the other part. Remember, we are to embrace the truth—ALL of it. The fact that the heart is MORE important to God, and the fact that God looks at the heart does NOT mean that our outward appearance has no significance at all. Rightly or wrongly, men DO look at us as believers. They observe what we wear, how we carry ourselves, how we take care of ourselves, or IF we take care of ourselves. And men judge us on that basis, because that’s all they can see. That makes outward appearance important too, IF we are concerned about out testimony before the world.
Which ever side you see yourself on right now, this is THE central truth that pertains to the subject at hand: the inner man is far more important than the outer man. Because of persecution and tribulation, our outer man may face famine, nakedness, peril, or the sword (Rom. 8:35). Our enemies could starve our bodies and cause them to become emaciated; they could make us live in dirty old clothes for months; they can even take away our clothes. But none of that can separate our inner man from the love Christ. Our outer man is perishing (it will deteriorate and look worse and worse), but our inner man should be in the process of transformation into greater levels of Christlikeness, looking more and more like Christ (II Cor. 4:16-18).
Our outward appearance could change through disease, age, or persecution. We could end up looking quite awful, but God is infinitely more concerned about our inner man. That should be our main concern too. Keep your HEART with all diligence. (Prov.4:23). It’s the heart that really matters before the Lord.
- WEARING THE “RIGHT” CLOTHING DOES NOT MEAN A PERSON IS SPIRITUAL. This is another argument made by folks on the first side of the coin. This point, like the last one, is powerful, valid, and one that is upheld by Scripture.
Sometimes folks “use” this argument as a cloak of maliciousness to cover up the true intent of their heart: a lawless, unrestrained, self-willed spirit that is bent on doing and wearing whatever it wants! The issue of motives and intent of the heart is a subject for another day. And even if their motives are impure, the point they make is a valid one that we should all embrace… for it comes right out God’s Word.
Consider Prov. 11:22: “As a jewel of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion.” A woman who has a beautiful outward appearance but an ugly heart is like a pig with a gold nose-ring. In this proverb, this woman’s beauty is likened unto a beautiful gold nose ring but her PERSON is likened to a pig. The visual picture is designed to be humorous. The picture is that of a dirty old pig wearing beautiful gold jewelry. The point made is that even with a piece of beautiful gold jewelry, a pig is still a pig. Pigs were considered exceptionally unclean to the Jews.
Trying to dress up the outside will never change the nature of the beast. If a woman is ugly on the inside (ugly as a pig), then good looks (gold jewelry) will never make up for it! It will never overshadow her true nature. In other words, what’s on the inside is FAR more important than outward appearance. A beautiful face or body, decked out in fancy, stylish clothes will never change what the person IS. A pig is still a pig. An ugly heart is still an ugly heart. Putting gold jewelry on a pig doesn’t really make it any more attractive… they still roll in the mud! Putting modest, well groomed, tasteful “church clothes” on a woman whose heart is ugly, doesn’t make her any more attractive to God. Wearing the “right” clothing does NOT make a person holy or spiritual.
God is never fooled by a well-dressed, well-groomed pig. And if we give our young people the impression that if they wear the “right clothes” then they are spiritual, they will see right through that as a sham, and rightly so. It IS a sham. They will be forced to conclude that Christianity is mere outward show and superficiality… a form of godliness and a legalistic standard that never affects the heart. That’s the last thing we want our young people to think!
- IT’S WHAT’S INSIDE THE CUP THAT COUNTS.
Once again the Scriptures uphold this important principle.
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. 26 Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. 27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchers, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. 28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” (Matthew 23:25-28)
In Matthew 23:25-28, the Lord Jesus rebukes the Scribes and Pharisees for their duplicity. These hypocrites “appeared righteous unto men.” They were experts at putting up a good front. They went out of their way to “look good” on the outside through their prayers, fasting, good deeds, and even their clothing (Matt. 6:1-18). Yet they ignored the inside—the heart.
They did everything “to be seen of men.” Therefore, Jesus said, they have their reward already, namely, the applause of men. They will NOT receive praise from God for that kind of behavior because is it self centered and designed to glorify self rather than the Lord. It is pure flesh and God hates the flesh. Jesus harshly rebuked the Pharisees for paying such close attention to cleaning the outside of the cup while ignoring the inside. He called this hypocrisy and said those who do so are spiritually blind (Matt.23:25-26).
But notice also that Jesus does NOT condemn them for cleaning the outside of the cup. That too is important. The hypocrisy lay not in cleaning the outside, but in IGNORING the inside! Jesus warned them to take care of the inside FIRST (vs.26) and then they could continue to clean the outside. Jesus continues His rebuke of the Pharisees by likening them to whited sepulchers which appear beautiful on the outside, but inside are dead man’s bones, a corrupt corpse, and the stench of rotting flesh (vs.27-28).
They majored on the exterior and ignored the interior. They were overly concerned about what MEN thought of them, and paid no attention to what GOD thought of them. This is pure hypocrisy.
When we maximize the importance of outward appearance, and minimize the importance of the inner man, we are behaving just like the Scribes and Pharisees Jesus rebuked. We too can be OVERLY concerned about what men think of us, and not so concerned about our inner life—the heart—where God’s eyes are constantly peering. We can be guilty of this same kind of hypocrisy by doting over outward appearance and demanding our own way—regardless of which side we take.
As parents and as leaders in the local church, we may (with the best of intentions) seek to uphold high standards for our homes and for the local church. However, it is possible to give MORE attention to less important outward appearance and LESS attention to the MUCH more important heart issue, and come across to our hearers like the Scribes and Pharisees without realizing it. Even with the best of intentions, it’s possible to strain at a gnat and swallow a camel. Parents or church leaders who do so are like blind guides, who do not see the whole picture clearly (Matt.23:24).
Jesus rebukes that kind of blind hypocrisy and we would do well (as parents and leaders) take heed to what He said. So when folks on one side of the argument say, “Wearing the “right” clothing does not mean a person is spiritual”, they are absolutely correct. We ALL ought to embrace that truth.
And in embracing that truth, perhaps we could fill in some other details that they may have overlooked: Jesus was NOT opposed to having the outside of the cup clean! His concern was for PRIORITIES. Clean the inside first. THEN the outside will take care of itself! Putting “modest” clothing on a woman doesn’t make HER modest. Cleaning the outside of the cup doesn’t affect the inside. But if the woman searches her heart and examines Scriptures, and allows the Holy Spirit to transform her from the inside out (the proper order), then SHE will become modest, and the outside of the cup will take care of itself.
A modest WOMAN will dress modestly because of her NEW NATURE. She doesn’t have to be forced or scolded or shamed into it. It the natural desire of a regenerated, Spirit filled heart. Putting modest clothing on a pig will never change her inner nature. A pig is still a pig no matter how well dressed!
Dealing with the heart first is much slower way of getting the outside of the cup clean, but it’s the RIGHT way… and the only LASTING way. Legalism is quick and easy, but is also superficial and phony. The reason we seem to like it so much is because it is quick and easy. It seems to produce instant results. But in our haste to SEE change, we bypass the real issue: dealing with the heart first. Legalism is fast; but true spiritual growth and maturity take time. It takes time to grow.
When a believer is first saved, often he has so many inner issues to deal with, he just doesn’t have time to deal with the externals. As God gets a hold of his inner heart, outward changes WILL slowly and gradually occur… as God shines a light on this thing or that that needs to change. That kind of change is the work of the Holy Spirit. The changes produces by legalism is the work of the flesh. Those convictions become personal, genuine, and lasting. Forcing a pig to wear gold jewelry, or putting modest clothing on an immodest woman is a FAST way to clean up their act… but it will never last because it is mere superficiality. The pig will soon return to rolling in the mud. And even if an immodest woman is forced to wear modest clothing, her impure heart will devise another way to be seductive.
Those whose hearts are genuinely cleansed on the inside will naturally be concerned for a cleansing and purity on the outside as well. The new creature in Christ will naturally want to “put off” the filthy garments of the old man and will want to “put on” the clean garments fitting for a new man in Christ. It is one’s inward position and nature that has a genuine and lasting effect on one’s outward condition and appearance (Eph. 4:21-24).
Consider “the adorning of a woman” in I Peter 3:3-4. In verse 3, Peter is speaking about “adorning.” The term “adorning” (Greek: kosmos) means an orderly arrangement. We get our English word cosmetics from this term. Peter mentions a woman’s natural desire to dress up and look good. That is a normal womanly thing to do. Peter’s point here is that it is not the outward adorning that really makes a godly woman attractive. It is the inward beauty that counts.
When he writes, “Let it not be the outward adorning,” he does NOT forbid a woman from fixing herself up. [If it forbids the wearing of gold or braiding the hair, then it also forbids women from “putting on of apparel” – and nobody would interpret the verse that way!] The Bible does not forbid women from “adorning themselves.” In fact, in I Timothy 2:9, Paul COMMANDS women to adorn themselves! Paul uses the expression, “modest apparel.” As an interesting side note, this is the ONLY time the English word modest appears in the [KJV] Bible. But it doesn’t have the same meaning as the word modest has today. It is the word kosmios, which means well-arranged; neat; orderly; fixed up! Women are here COMMANDED to fix themselves up. It is expected that godly women take care of their outward appearance. It is pleasing to their husbands.
I have seen examples of women who have MIS read this passage and have wrongly assumed that they were NOT to adorn themselves. They have been taught that to be godly they are to ignore the outward appearance and be concerned exclusively with their inner beauty. They pride themselves in being godly and modest by wearing long but dirty, wrinkled dresses. And to show how godly they are, they allow their hair to look like a bird’s nest, scented with pure and natural body odor! That is clearly CONTRARY to the command of the apostle Paul who commands women to “adorn (kosmeo) themselves in modest (kosmios) apparel.” We might paraphrase that as, “women are to fix themselves up, wearing clothing that is well arranged, neat, and orderly.”
Back in I Peter3:3-4, Peter ADDS to the comments made by his brother Paul. Peter is telling godly women that what makes them truly attractive is not primarily their outward beauty, but their inward beauty. It is the “hidden man of the heart”, the “meek and quiet spirit” that makes them beautiful in God’s sight, and in the sight of a godly man. This passage does not forbid women from taking care of themselves or from paying attention to their outward appearance. Ladies, you are COMMANDED to take care of your outward appearance. Just don’t MAJOR on the minor point (outward beauty) and MINOR on the major point (inward beauty). Both are important, but be sure to have your priorities right. The inner man is FAR more important. You should put more time, energy, and concern into making your inner life beautiful than you do for your outward appearance. This goes for men too. God deserves better than equal time devoted to the gym or to the mirror.
The argument is often put forth: wearing the right clothes doesn’t make you spiritual! And that is correct. But looking like a slob doesn’t make you spiritual either! When the heart is right with God, the believer will be more concerned about the inside of the cup, but he won’t ignore the outside. We will be more concerned with inner adorning, but will not ignore outward adorning. When our heart is right with God, our priorities will be right. Internal things always trump the external things. But external things are NOT to be ignored. It is an important part of our testimony to the world.
- JUDGE NOT ACCORDING TO APPEARANCE! (John 7:24).
Folks whose view is, “God doesn’t care what we look like” often quote this passage to support their view, and rightly so. This statement is 100% correct. God does NOT judge according to appearance… and neither should we. Judging according to appearance often gives us a WRONG reading. For example, the Lord spoke of beautifully garnished tombs, but inside were dead men’s bones. Beauty on the outside does not guarantee the same on the inside. A pig can be dressed in beautiful gold jewelry, but is still a pig. Judging a book by its cover is never a good idea.
In fact, the Lord severely REBUKES those who do (James 2:1-4). God does not judge according to appearance and neither should we. James presents a situation wherein two people enter into “your assembly,” a church worship service. One is well dressed and the other is dressed in “vile” (filthy, dirty, foul, shameful) clothing. To judge the PERSON on the basis of his clothing is to show respect of persons. James states that when we do that, we ourselves are partial and are judges of EVIL thoughts (vs.4). In other words, it is sinful to judge people on the basis of their clothing. Whether they are well dressed or dressed in vile clothing should have no affect on our treatment of them.
At Salem Bible Church, we have established standards (a dress code) for our teachers, workers, and leaders. We feel that a dress code is important. That’s an issue to be discussed later. So, as a church with a dress code, if a young person shows up here on Sunday morning with purple hair, arms covered in tattoos, and shrapnel protruding out of various parts of his body, my message to him is going to be, “Welcome! We’re so glad you came here today. Do we have some good news for you!”
Jesus DID say, “Judge not according to appearance.” It is SIN for us to do so. James commanded us NOT to be respecters of persons or to judge a man by whether he is well dressed or has vile clothing. To do so is SIN and to be judges of EVIL thoughts. We are committed to OBEYING what our Lord and His Word command. So when folks whose view is, “God doesn’t care what we look like” quote John 7:24 (judge not according to appearance), we should EMBRACE the truth they are presenting. God’s Word is God’s Word and is our final authority. It is to be honored and obeyed.
There are good reasons WHY we should not judge according to appearance. First of all, we are unable to see the heart. We are completely unequipped to make such judgments. Things are not always as they appear. For example in Matt. 23:27-28, the Pharisees “appeared” to be clean and pure, but they were not. They were not what they appeared to be. In James 2:1-4, the man in “vile clothing” was assumed to be less honorable because his clothes were old and dirty. James called their assumptions “evil thoughts” (vs.4). Joshua was fooled by men who “dressed up” as if they were from a far away land. They were not what they appeared to be. Even the false teachers use this technique. They too were not what they appeared to be. They are like wolves that appear in sheep’s clothing and clouds without water. They appear as angels of light, when in fact they are the powers of darkness. The warning given to us by Jesus, Paul, Jude and others is this: beware – men are not always what they appear to be. Folks recently returned from the missions trip to Salt Lake Citysaw this in ministering to the Mormons. Those who attempted to indoctrinate them into Mormonism at the Temple were outwardly as sweet, polite, and polished as can be… but they were false teachers. Judging by outward appearance is folly because the outside can easily be altered… and manipulated to give an appearance that belies reality. That’s the danger. James says that judging by outward appearance is a “respecter of persons” and that is sin. Judging by outward appearance is the foundation of racism. Judging by outward appearance would easily lead us into following the wolves. It is dangerous and foolish, and we are warned repeatedly NOT to judge according to appearance. So, when we approach our young people on the subject of clothing and they say, “Judge not according to appearance”, our response should be to thank them for that reminder of truth and embrace it because it IS true. God said so!
Our young people bring up some valid points that we should embrace when they are based on Scripture. Let’s review their arguments.
- Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart. (I Sam.16:7)
- Jesus rebuked the S & P for making the outside of the cup clean and ignoring the inside. (Matt. 23:25) That too is a valid point… taken right from God’s Word – and thus to be embraced.
- Judge not according to appearance (John 7:24). That too is an important Biblical principle we want to embrace – because it is found in God’s Word… our standard for truth.
Let’s also be honest with our usage of Scripture: We are not to judge according to appearance, BUT we are to judge! After embracing the truth of John 7:24a, we would do well to continue quoting the rest of the verse: “but judge righteous judgment.” It is not a fair use of Scripture to quote one part of the verse and ignore the other! The Bible does NOT forbid us from making any judgments at all. The same verse that tells us NOT to judge according to appearance also COMMANDS us to judge… only according to righteousness. “Judge not” is an imperative. But so is “judge”! The command here is to judge, but to do so properly, not according to appearance, but to a higher standard. Judgment is to be made not on the basis of outward appearance, but on the basis of God’s Word, the standard of righteousness.
We should not assume that the man who comes to church well dressed (the outside of his cup is clean) is clean on the inside. We cannot know the inside by viewing the outside. We are therefore not to judge according to appearance. Likewise, we should not assume that the man who comes to church in vile raiment (outside of his cup is dirty) is dirty on the inside either. He may well be in the early stages of inward transformation. We are not equipped to judge the heart. We are therefore NOT to judge on the basis of outward appearance alone. It very often gives us a faulty reading.
BUT the Bible does NOT forbid us from making any judgments at all.
It is not fair or honest to quote John 7:24a (Judge not according to appearance) and to ignore John 24b: “but judge righteous judgment.” This passage does not forbid us from making judgments. In fact it COMMANDS us to judge. It is not wrong to make judgments. There are many times when we HAVE to make judgments. Life is FULL of making judgment calls. We need wisdom, discernment, and guidance from the Lord in doing so. The spiritual man judges ALL THINGS! The man filled with the Holy Spirit will be equipped to make wise judgments. We are called upon to make judgments on every area of life, including what we wear. Making those judgments require wisdom and discernment.
The Bible COMMANDS us to judge, but to judge righteously.
Consider Matthew 23:25: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess.” Here we are often told that Jesus rebuked the Scribes and Pharisees for paying so much attention to the outside of the cup and ignoring the inside. They were certainly worthy of rebuke for that kind of behavior.
But read on! “Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also.” In the very next verse (26) Jesus said to clean the inside FIRST… and THEN you will be able to cleanse the outside! He never implied that they should ignore the outside of the cup. An honest reading of the passage reveals that Jesus was concerned about the WHOLE cup – inside and out.
Consider also Matthew 7:1 – “Judge not that ye be not judged.” Again, Jesus was not forbidding us to judge at all. Rather, He continues in the context to explain when we should NOT judge: when we are guilty of the same sin! (The moat and the beam – Matt. 7:2-5) Note in 5 that Jesus instructs us to FIRST clean out our own eyes, and THEN we will be able to point out and help out a brother with a similar problem! And note also the purpose of judging one’s brother concerning the beam in his eye: to help him out! It is not fair to quote Matthew 7:1 without including the context. Jesus does NOT forbid us from judging. He does forbid us from making hypocritical judgments.
Consider also I Samuel 16:7 – “For man looketh on the outward appearance but God looketh on the heart.” One portion of this passage is often quoted (God looketh on the heart), ignoring the other portion (man looketh on the outward appearance.) Because men look at our outward appearance, it is incumbent upon us to be careful about our appearance… our words, our works, and our physical appearance. That is all men can see and it is the basis upon which they judge us and our testimony for Christ. Let your light so shine before men! Remember, we want to embrace ALL of the truth. If we expect others to embrace that line of truth that is important to us, we should also be willing to embrace the line of truth that is important to them. It’s not fair to quote one part of a verse and omit the other!
Let’s face it. We all have to make judgments in life. But first and foremost we are to judge ourselves. We need to deal with the beam in our own eye; only than can we see clearly to help a brother with the similar problem. Dealing with the issues of our own heart ought to be paramount. First clean the inside of the cup, but don’t stop there; continue on to clean the outside too. We all have to make judgments in our appearance. We do that every time we go shopping. At the mall a lady might see 1000 dresses, and has to make a judgment as to which one to buy. We all make judgments in selecting what we are going to wear.
The next section includes other issues to consider that (hopefully) will help us all in making God-honoring decisions.
Side Two of the Coin
“God is concerned about what I look like. He is interested in every detail of my life.”
This next section includes truth that is also validated in Scripture. While God is vastly more concerned about the “inside of the cup”, and that ought to be our main concern, there are additional issues to consider. They are as follows:
Modesty
Modesty is the first additional issue we will consider, because today it is probably the most obvious and most needful. It is natural and normal for Christian girls and women to want to be stylish and fashionable. It is also possible to be both fashionable and modest.
But sometimes fashion clashes with modesty, and the woman must make a decision – a judgment call: which is more important to me, style or modesty? And ladies, the judgment call you make reveals your heart. Putting style OVER modesty indicates that you are a slave to fashion rather than a slave or servant of Jesus Christ. These little decisions in life often reveal what kind of a person we really are. If you WANT to be modest you can. Where there is a will, there is a way. You may have be creative with today’s styles. You may have to add something underneath or put something over and layer up… or let down the hem. Modesty and fashion CAN go hand in hand – IF you really desire to be modest.
Clothing has been a problem ever since the fall. In Genesis 3:7 we read, “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” When Adam and Eve sinned, they immediately knew that they were naked and sewed together fig leaves together and made aprons. The term apron is defined variously by Zodhiates as a sash, a belt, a girdle, or a loincloth. Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves together and made some sort of a loin cloth.
This loin cloth was their attempt to cloth themselves. They undoubtedly thought that they covered themselves sufficiently – especially since their only other recollection was being stark naked! It seemed good enough to them. However, in Genesis 3:21 we read that subsequently, God clothed them with coats of skins.
We usually read this passage thinking only of the spiritual application. The first couple sinned and tried to cover up their sin. Their attempt to cover up sin was not sufficient, so God covered them by killing an animal and shedding its blood. Certainly that is a proper application from the passage. But don’t forget the interpretation… the literal event from which we derive that spiritual application. Adam and Eve were stark naked and made their best effort to cover themselves physically. They made some type of an apron or loin cloth out of fig leaves. However, God did not see their cover as sufficient, either as a physical covering or a spiritual covering. God did not see them as fully clothed, so He clothed them with clothing of His own design, and THEN they were dressed modestly.
God clothed them not with a loin cloth, but with something much more substantial: coats! Consider the following definitions of the term coats:
- Zodhiates: A feminine noun indicating a coat, a garment, a tunic; the main common garment worn by men or women.
- Strong’s: tunic, under-garment. a long shirt-like garment usually of linen
- Dictionary of Biblical Langauages: garment, i.e., clothing as a covering more complete than a loincloth, a basic garment reaching the knees and so a common garment for common wear and work.
This term is used a few dozen times and is usually translated coat, garment, or robe. We don’t know exactly what the coat God made looked like. We don’t know exactly how long it was, or how high the neckline was. But there are a few of things we DO know: God did not accept their covering. They chose a covering that God deemed to be too skimpy. The clothing God made covered much more of their flesh than the clothing made by Adam and Eve. We could argue over exactly how much the coat covered, but one thing is plain: a coat covers more than a loin cloth.
In his fallen state, man has a different standard of what it means to be covered than God does. There is a word of warning here: it is possible to THINK we are sufficiently covered when in fact, before God, we are not. So be careful, and be covered.
Before the fall, no clothing was necessary. Man and woman were naked and they were not ashamed (Gen.2:25). At that point, God looked at everything He had made and behold, it was “very good”, including the naked condition of Adam and Eve (Gen. 1:31).
But after the fall, we have several examples of God Himself designing clothes. It was He who designed the coats for the first couple in the Garden. God also designed clothing for the priests in the Old Testament (Ex. 28). The clothing He designed provided complete covering for the priests. God also provides clothing of His own design in heaven (Rev. 6:11). He provides His saints with ROBES. Like the term “coat”, “robe” has a broad range of meaning, but one thing is clear here as well: robes and coats provide much more coverage than a loin cloth or fig leaves. The clothing designed by God was modest.
The problem with immodest clothing is not the clothing itself, but its effect on others. In the Garden of Eden before the fall, Adam and Eve were naked and were not ashamed. They did not have a sin nature, and thus, their nakedness did not stir up any sinful thoughts or sinful desires. Besides, they were husband and wife and were the only people on earth! But we don’t live in the Garden of Eden. Men and women today DO have sin natures, and those sin natures are easily stirred up by the sight of flesh.
The experts tell us that this is especially true of men. Men are more easily stimulated by sight than women are. If that is so, then this makes godly women even MORE responsible to be careful about the way they dress. Young girls need to know this. What you wear and how you carry yourself can stir up sinful thoughts and desires in men. These are facts of life that you need to know. And I know that the short skirts and tight blouses are “in” today and very fashionable. And the problem is not so much the style but the EFFECT of that style on men. They can be arousing and stimulating and cause men to stumble.
There would be nothing wrong with such styles if we lived in the Garden of Eden and men did not have sin natures. But reality tells us that that is not the case today. Christian men are commanded to think on things that are pure (Phil. 4:8), and ladies, when your clothing is too revealing, it makes it MUCH more difficult for men to obey that command. Yes you have liberty to choose stylish clothing. But you do NOT have the liberty to be a stumblingblock to others… and to cause others to sin! “But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak” (I Cor. 8:9). One author aptly likened the relationship between scantily clad women and men (who are easily aroused by the sight of female flesh) to “candles among gun powder!” This is a call for personal responsibility in the area of dress, to avoid setting off potentially explosive chemical reactions. By wearing that tight fitting outfit, you may have no intension whatsoever of teasing men, but the reality is, you do.
Love demands that we put the spiritual well being of others first… not self first. The Bible COMMANDS us to love one another… to put self aside – on the cross – and consider others. Thus, love demands that women dress modestly. This is NOT a matter of law or legalism, but of love. “Love worketh no ill to his neighbor” (Rom.13:10). Love is willing to sacrifice self (and the styles that please self) for the spiritual well being of a brother. And ladies, even Spirit filled men are easily distracted by seeing too much of your flesh. It is always a distraction, but especially so in a worship service! Remember also, when you sin against the brethren, you sin against Christ (I Cor. 8:12), for they are members of His Body.
These are very serious issues. And if you KNOW these things and continue to wear provocative clothing that you know is going to cause a man to sin, you need to ask yourself these questions: WHY? Why am I choosing to wear this? What is my motive? Am I manifesting agape love to my brother or am I behaving selfishly? Am I being a stumblingblock? Have I considered the effect it will have on others? Is fashion more important to me than purity? Is Christ my true Master or am I a slave to another master: fashion? It is impossible for a believer to have two masters. A choice must be made between the two. And this is not a problem for our teen girls only. Older women—even older Christian women do not always dress modestly. It is a real problem in our culture today and one that needs to be confronted directly.
Fortunately, it is still possible (as of 2006) for young Christian girls to find clothing that is BOTH fashionable and modest. It requires more searching and digging, but such clothes do exist. The virtuous woman of Proverbs 31:14 was like a “merchants’ ships.” She searches far and wide for the best merchandise to purchase for her household. Ladies, you may have to look a little harder and longer to find appropriate clothing, but God honors those virtuous women who take the time to do so. And we want to commend the Christian ladies who have been good examples in this area. A woman who fears the Lord shall be praised (Proverbs 31:30b)!
There is a need today for the aged women to teach the younger women discretion (Titus 2:1-5). Many issues that arise are not specifically addressed in the Bible. Virtually all of the issues that become controversial are the ones which are not specifically mentioned in the Bible. Clothing certainly fits into this category. We are never told exactly how low a neckline should be, or exactly what length a skirt should be. We are not told how tight is too tight. If all this was spelled out for us in Scripture, the controversy would be easily resolved. The “gray areas” are the ones which become so problematic. Thus, Paul encourages young women to seek older godly, spiritually minded, discerning women to teach them how to be discreet (sophron = sound mind; temperate; self–disciplined in one’s freedom, self–restrained in all passions and desires) and chaste (innocent, pure, modest, holy).
And isn’t God wise? He tells the younger women to get advice in these areas (discretion and chastity) from the older women. He doesn’t send these young girls to the elders of the church. It would be quite awkward for middle aged men and older to have such conversations with young girls in the church. So Paul directs these girls to the older ladies. Young women need discretion and discernment in this area, and the older, more mature Christian ladies have much to share. That makes the older more mature Christian ladies a most valuable asset to the local church. They can give their advice on particulars, (styles; lengths; fashions; child rearing; how to love your husbands; housekeeping; etc.). Older women have a reservoir of wisdom to share that they have observed and gleaned over the years. While their advice is not Scripture, it is valuable. It would be a shame to let all that wisdom go untapped!
Side Two of the Coin (cont’d.)
“God is concerned about what I look like. He is interested in every detail of my life.”
OUR TESTIMONY BEFORE THE WORLD
I Samuel 16:7 informs us that man DOES LOOK at our outward appearance. As they look, our outward appearance sends a message to them. Clothing makes a statement. And you don’t need to have words written on the front of your shirt… clothing speaks without a written message. This is a good reason why we SHOULD be concerned about the outside of the cup. We are commanded to “walk in wisdom toward them that are without” (Col. 4:6a).
Like it or not, our outward appearance, including the way we dress – projects an image, especially in our American culture. In 21st century America we are especially image driven. Of course this is extremely shallow, superficial, and often phony. Movie stars, politicians, and companies hire people to create or re-create their image… an image that often has nothing to do with reality. Sometimes after a moral fall or failure, they hire someone to restore their image. They hire a public relations firm to capture just the right “image” of them (kissing babies etc.) to send out to the media. And it’s not just America… it is becoming more and more commonplace worldwide.
Modern technology and the media have made “image” bigger than life to us today… and clothing and hair styles are part of that image. Like it or not, this is the atmosphere or climate in which we live. It is a reality of modern life we all have to deal with, and from which there is no escape apart from becoming a hermit. Selling the right image is a multibillion dollar industry. People are willing to spend exorbitant amounts of money to buy a pair of dungarees for just the “right look.” Others go into debt to buy a Mercedes Benz to project an image of success. Others dress to look like a business professional; some try to look “cool”; others like an Amish farmer.
Dressing for the purpose of projecting an image CAN be vain, hypocritical, self centered, or worldly. Those are clearly wrong motives. BUT dressing to project an image CAN also be done with good motives. The military makes their soldiers dress to project an image of discipline and care for every detail. Restaurants and hospitals want their employees to look scrubbed and clean; etc. There is a good PURPOSE behind those images.
Our outward appearance (the way we talk, the things we DO, right down to the clothing that we chose to wear) projects an image and sends a message whether we intend to do so or not; whether we are conscious of it, or oblivious to it. Consider Paul’s words in II Cor. 3:2-3: “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men: Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.” Men do observe our outward appearance. Our image is known and read of men. The believer’s life is like an open letter. Men in the world observe us… they READ us. Of course this includes primarily our behavior, our words, and our works. But they are also observing and reading our outward appearance. Like it or not, our image, our outward appearance sends a message to men which is read by them. Christians are called here epistles of Christ. What men can SEE from our lives is like an open letter. This letter is “manifestly declared” (publicly displayed). The content of this letter was ministered to the Corinthians by Paul and the apostles. (They brought the life transforming gospel to them). The content of this open letter was not written with ink (not a T-shirt with a Bible verse). The content was written by the Holy Spirit who wrote not on tablets of stone (law) but in their hearts. The gospel CHANGED these men and they were now saved. And though regeneration cannot be SEEN (the wind bloweth where it listeth but you cannot tell wither it goeth…), you CAN SEE the effects of the work of the Holy Spirit in a life. The work God does on the INSIDE of the cup will be visibly manifested on the outside of the cup. It will make changes that others can SEE… that men will observe and READ… for men do look on the outward appearance.
The outward appearance of a formerly vain, flashy person (who dressed to draw attention to self) will be gradually MUTED and subdued by the work of the Holy Spirit. The outward appearance of a formerly lewd and immodest person will also be changed by the inward work of regeneration… from immodest to modest. When the inside of the cup is transformed, it will always be SEEN and READ by men on the outside. That change will always include a change of behavior, motives, and attitudes of the heart. The change may or may not include a change of apparel. But where it’s needed, the change will occur if that believer is yielded to the Spirit of God…
The change occurs for TWO reasons: (1) The person himself changes, from the inside out. (2) The believer realizes that men are observing him and associating his life with Christ. Remember that Paul says that the Christian is an epistle OF CHRIST. We become ambassadors for Christ. We bear His name. (Christian – Christ one) We are sons of God; men associate us with God and with Christ. We carry the family name. Men may never read a Bible, but they ARE reading us… and forming opinions about Christ by what they see in our OUTWARD appearances… the changes they see.
Clothing DOES send a message.
“And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtle of heart” (Prov. 7:10). Solomon reveals here that there is such a thing as the attire of a harlot. We mentioned earlier of a recent radio program which described the new style of clothing of high school girls were wearing as the “hooker look.” Clothing with a message is mentioned in Genesis 38:14-15. Tamar was wearing widow’s garments which obviously identified her as a widow. She took off her widow’s garments and dressed in the attire of a harlot so that when Judah SAW her outward appearance, he assumed she was an harlot. Various specific types of clothing are mentioned in the Bible. Josh.7:21 speaks of a Babylonian garment. When worn it identified as a person as a Babylonian. II Kings 25:29 speaks of prison garments which would identify a person as a prisoner. Other passages speak of garments of mourning (Ps. 69:11) or a wedding garment (Matt. 22:12). Often we read of priestly garments. Clothing can IDENTIFY a person, almost like a label on a can. It says, “I’m one of them.”
As a Christian we should therefore be CONCERNED about the message our outward appearance (including clothing) sends. As an ambassador for Christ, we should be extra careful about the image we project and the message we send to others. That’s why missionaries need to be in tune with the particular culture where they are ministering in order to project the PROPER image and send the CORRECT message. Our concern should be more about the message sent than the actual article of clothing. For example, the same piece of clothing may send a very different message in a different culture or time period. The white dress speaks to us of a wedding, but in other cultures it might speak of a funeral.
Great CARE needs to be shown in the way people INTERPRET what they see. In I Cor. 9:20 Paul wrote, “Unto the Jew I became as a Jew that I might gain the Jews.” He followed that principle wherever he went. He knew that men were watching and were reading him wherever he went. Hence, Paul was careful about the way people in various places interpreted his words, his behavior, and his outward appearance. Since men do look at our outward appearance, it behooves us to be careful and sacrificial for the gospel’s sake. We want to GAIN men for Christ, not turn them away.
Consider some of the MESSAGES clothing can send.
If I projected a picture of a fireman he would instantly be identified as such – by his clothing. The same would be true of a nurse, a soldier, a surfer, a skier, an Eskimo, a Muslim, Catholic priest, a Hindu, a king, a gang member, a businessman, a prisoner, etc. The instant you saw the picture, you would make the connection. It’s automatic. We have assigned meaning to all of those different outfits. The clothing of a harlot instantly identifies a woman as a harlot. That is to be avoided at all cost. What an awful message to send!
While we have liberty to choose from an almost infinite variety of clothing – there are some pictures and images that we should AVOID if we belong to Christ. The message of our outward appearance should NOT say sexy, slob, radical, flashy, or rebel. It SHOULD say clean-cut, neat and orderly, wholesome, modest, respectable. It is up to us to choose clothing that sends out a message that is consistent with the gospel message we proclaim. Men are reading us like an open book. They are making mental notes and are associating us with Christ. Therefore, it is our responsibility to represent Him properly… and that includes the way we look.
I Pet. 1:16 says, “Be ye holy for I am holy.” We should dress in a manner that is consistent with our position in Christ: a saint, a holy one, separated from the world UNTO Christ, as His representative. Our lives should accurately reflect our Savior. We are not talking about cookie cutter Christian uniforms. There is no such thing as Christian clothing. We are to dress in accordance with the culture in which we live BUT we are not to be conformed to the world. That means that we are to choose those articles of clothing that send out the right message in our culture.
Body language and deportment speak louder than apparel. For example, in Afghanistan, men hold hands. Men also greet one another with a kiss on the cheek. The American soldiers had to be warned not to assume that it means the same thing in Afghanistan that it means in Provincetown or San Francisco. That which is acceptable in one culture may send a very wrong message in another culture. The Christian ought to be concerned about the message sent rather than the particular practice or article of clothing. For the same reason, a young Christian woman needs to be careful not only about the clothing she wears, but also how she carries herself, how she walks or wiggles. All that can send a message she may NOT want to send.
Isaiah spoke (Isa. 3:16-20) of the high society women of Jerusalem who walked in a proud and flirty manner. The way they walked and the things they wore indicated a “haughtiness” that God hated. The problem was NOT the jewelry (which would probably seem quite gaudy from our perspective), but the MESSAGE they were sending. We don’t even know what some of the articles listed were, but they had a MEANING then and there. It was an expression of inner pride and a flirtatious spirit. That’s what God hated.
We should be concerned about what men READ when they observe us. They are observing and taking mental notes… but what are they writing down in those mental notes? Slob? Sexy? Rebel? Or neat, clean cut, modest? Clothing with writing on it is popular nowadays. But our clothing doesn’t need anything written on it to send forth a message.
In Matthew 5:16 the Lord told His disciples to let their light so SHINE BEFORE MEN so that God would be glorified through what they SEE. It is primarily our WORKS that they are observing, but note that men ARE observing. And they are judging us on what they SEE… our works – and the whole package. God is either glorified or disgraced in their thinking by what they see. We should behave and even DRESS in such a way as to never detract from the glory of God in the minds of men. Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do ALL for the glory of God. Our TESTIMONY before men (before the world) is connected to what men SEE in our lives. Men LOOK at our outward appearance. Men are reading us like an open letter. We are ambassadors for Christ. We bear His name and represent Him before the world. Knowing all this, we should be concerned about the message our outward appearance sends forth.
If the Holy Spirit is transforming the inside of the cup, and the indwelling presence of Christ has gripped our hearts, then we should be willing to make any changes on the outside of the cup that HINDER us from shining forth for the glory of God. Those changes might include almost anything from a haircut, to letting down a hem, to throwing away some clothes and replacing them with some new ones.
In fact a change of apparel is the illustration God uses to describe the needed change in our new lives as believers. There are some articles of clothing that were fitting for the old man, that are not fitting for the new man (Col. 3:7-14). Of course Paul is using the literal, physical change of clothing to as a figure of speech to teach a more important truth – a change of behavior. But that outward change MAY require a literal change of apparel.
To be genuine, the change ought to come from within… from God working in us. It ought to arise from a desire to manifest Christ and His resurrection life in our mortal bodies. If our outward appearance sends forth a message that is inconsistent with our inward new life in Christ, then some outward changes need to be made. The Bible doesn’t tell us WHAT to wear, but it does tell us to be led of the Spirit. If something in your wardrobe is inappropriate, then the Holy Spirit is quite able to make that known to us… if we are willing, sensitive, and yielded. When the Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts, THEN we are responsible to respond in faith and obedience. That is transformation into the image of Christ. Are we WILLING to change in order to bring glory to God?
ASSOCIATION
Now let’s consider the problem of association with evil. Men read us like a book. Men look on our outward appearance and they make judgments about us on that basis. And since we are ambassadors for Christ, they are going to make a connection between our outward appearance and the Lord we represent. They associate a Christian with Christ. They will also connect us with whatever our outward appearance associates us with. For example, if they know John is a Christian and they see John in a policeman’s uniform, men will assume he is a Christian policeman. If they know that Mary is a Christian and a member of a Christian Church, and see Mary in the apparel of a harlot, they are receiving a very mixed message… a confusing message. In doing so, Mary is associating Christianity with immorality.
I Cor. 6:18-20 – “Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
Our bodies belong to Christ. We are responsible to glorify Him in our body and in our spirits. Paul makes it clear in this passage that Christians do NOT have the freedom to do with their bodies as they please. Our body is the Temple of God; it is a sacred temple, a holy Temple and Christ LIVES in us. The Holy Spirit has made our body His dwelling place too. Hence, while the heart is MOST important, our bodies are important too. We don’t have the liberty to do whatever we want to our bodies because they don’t belong to us and because Christ lives in our bodies.
Hence, our bodies are to be kept PURE and separate from ANYTHING that would dishonor God. Whatever we do in our body, we are automatically linking that activity to Christ, for we are a member of His Body. Wearing the clothes of an harlot or a gang member links that image to Christ in the minds of observers. Please do not discount this principle as unimportant. People DO make associations like that.
Let’s think it through. Would you wear a T-shirt with a picture of Osama Bib Laden? Charles Manson? How about a T-shirt that said KKK on the front? How about a black leather jacket that said Hell’s Angels? Why not? Because that would associate you, and thus the Christ you represent, with the image portrayed on your shirt. Our body is the Temple of God. Would you put a picture of Charles Manson on God’s Temple? Or would you hang a picture of Buddha in the church foyer? We wouldn’t want those images hanging as clothing on the temples of our bodies either. Of course there is nothing wrong with T-shirts or leather jackets or even the letter K. But there IS something wrong with what the images & messages they represent; and a believer has no right associating those things with the name of Christ.
Those images are obviously associated with evil and are easy to identify as something a believer ought to avoid. But there are other images that are more subtle, and might require a little more thought. Clothing today comes with all kinds of signs and symbols, most of which is just decorative and innocuous. But some of those signs and symbols have meanings that a Christian ought to avoid. We should avoid symbols of Eastern religions. Even some brand names leave labels visible to sight that a Christian might not want to have emblazoned on the front of his or her shirt, like the label: Coed Naked. There is clearly a message in those words. Some clothing styles are associated with a lifestyle, such as urban gangs or the gangster style. If your son’s clothing makes him look like he belongs to one of the criminal, rebel gangs, then maybe you should think about some adjustments to his wardrobe.
Are you familiar with the gay pride stripes? The homosexual community has adopted the colors of the rainbow to represent their lifestyle. Of course there is nothing wrong with the colors of the rainbow. God made the rainbow and the colors are beautiful. However, our culture has given a “meaning” to the rainbow stripes that you may not want to avoid on your clothing. Of course you can go overboard on this. But our point is that one should use caution.
A believer should be sensitive to the subtleties of one’s culture… and to the meanings that are associated with symbols and styles. Even something as innocuous as a particular color can associate a person with that which is not desirable. For example, the gangs in Los Angeles have gang colors, and so do their rival gangs. On occasion young people have been killed simply because they had the wrong color shirt on. Those kids weren’t necessarily part of either gang. They innocently wore a shirt whose color associated them with a gang – and the rival gangs beat them to death! The clothing they wore in that borough of LA had meaning to the gang members. I’m sure there are born again Christians who live in some of those sections of town. And yes they have perfect liberty in Christ to wear whatever color they chose. However, they would be wise to exercise discernment, self restraint, and caution in the clothing they wear… being cognizant of the message their clothing sends out, and how it is interpreted.
The point is that certain colors, styles, and ornaments associate you with a group with which you may not want to be associated. Those colors would be perfectly acceptable in Cleveland, but not in LA… because in LA they have a special meaning and they associate you with a gang – which might not be the case in Cleveland. We could very innocently be associated with something we DON’T want to be associated with (a rock band; a racist group; a radical political group; a gay lifestyle; etc.) by the things we wear.
People make these associations whether we like it or not. We might think, “I’m going to wear what I want and I don’t care what others think.” Well, we SHOULD care what others think. The Bible warns us that men DO judge us by outward appearance.
I Cor. 10:32 – “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.” The clothing we wear CAN project a meaning which is offensive to others. We need to be alert to the way our outward appearance is INTERPRETED by those around us. If God calls you to serve Him as a missionary in China, you are required by Scripture to dress like the Chinese and exert great care NOT to wear anything, say anything, or do anything that might offend them. Of course if a Christian lady wants to dress like the Chinese, she shouldn’t go to a brothel and imitate the way Chinese women dress there! You find out which styles convey a wholesome look to the Chinese mind and dress accordingly!
God expects us to live up to the light and knowledge that we have. If we KNOW that our outward appearance (the way we talk, our mannerisms, the expressions we use, or the clothing we wear) is offensive to others, or conveys a meaning or an image that is NOT consistent with purity, then we ought to be willing to change, even if it is a style we really like. We don’t want to associate Christ with anything evil, immoral, or offensive. We are His ambassadors. Ambassadors must be sensitive to the protocol, etiquette, customs, and sensibilities of their guest nation.
If you are born again, you are an Ambassador. You are a stranger and a pilgrim in a foreign land: earth! This world is not our home… our citizenship is in heaven. Therefore, we need to be alert to the cultural sensibilities of folks in 21st century North America and New Englandin particular. As Christians, the message of the cross is offensive to sinners, but the messenger shouldn’t be. As Christians we should AVOID any kind of association with that which might offend the cultural sensibilities of folks where we are living, lest we send a wrong message. We should also avoid anything that will link us (in their thinking) to anything that is inconsistent with our position as a saint. If it is unbecoming to a saint, we shouldn’t wear it. Why would a young Christian lady who represents Christ want to dress like a harlot? Why would a young Christian man want to dress like a gang member or street thug (what Luke calls “lewd fellows of the baser sort”)? Maybe you like rainbows, but why would you wear something if it associates you with the gay lifestyle? Why would we want to associate Christ with any of that?
In a sense, the clothing we wear is like art. Clothes come in all colors, fabrics, and styles… and the way we put it all together paints a picture. All we are saying is that as Christians we should be CAREFUL about WHAT picture we paint, for a picture is worth 1000 words. Men are reading those words, and making connections – like it or not! This is just a plea to be discerning, thoughtful, and selfless. Some pictures people paint by their outward appearance convey messages that are inappropriate for an Ambassador of Christ. The outward appearance of a Christian ought to say: pure… wholesome… neat… clean… orderly… upright. A wholesome picture can be painted with almost infinite variations through numberless styles. We are not talking about a cookie cutter image. We have perfect liberty to shop for clothes that we like and clothes that are stylish. Just be careful about the image you project and the message it sends. I know that wearing the “in” styles means a lot, especially to ladies. But this can become a test of our love and loyalty to Christ. What means more? Wearing a popular outfit, or presenting a clear, unambiguous testimony for Christ?
The Bible tells us that men look at our outward appearance. They read us like an open letter. We are like a Bible to them. They associateChrist with what they read in us. A mature believer will take heed to these things, will meditate upon them, and give serious consideration to even this seemingly insignificant part of the Christian life: the outside of the cup. No detail of life is unimportant to God. God pays attention to detail, and so should we if we want to please Him.
Vanity is always sinful. “For men shall be lovers of their own selves… proud… high-minded…” (II Tim.3:2,4). This was the original sin of Lucifer: “His heart was lifted up in pride because of his beauty.” (Ezek. 28:17a), There is no such thing as a healthy touch of vanity; it is Satanic. Vanity is a matter of the heart. It is something only God can see with accuracy. Men see the outward appearance, but they cannot see the heart. Vanity is an issue of the intention, motive, and purpose of heart. We might THINK we see it in others, but only God knows the heart for sure. Therefore, we ought to be looking for it in our OWN heart – not in others. If others are vain, it is a matter between them and God.
Examples of vanity.
The scribes and Pharisees. “And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces” (Mark 12:38). They loved to wear their long robes so that men would think they were holy and special. Everything they did was to be SEEN of men. They prayed to be SEEN of men (Matt. 6:5). They disfigured their face that they might APPEAR unto men to fast (Matt. 6:16). Jesus was not rebuking them for wearing long clothing, or for praying or fasting. But He was rebuking their VAIN motives: Whatever they did, they did it to be seen of men… so that others might think they were really spiritual. There was nothing wrong with what they wore, but there WAS something terribly wrong with their motives: to be seen of men. They dressed to attract attention to self. That is always wrong. They tried to STAND OUT in the crowd.
Women and men can dress in a show of vanity in order to stand out in the crowd and to attract attention to SELF. That’s wrong. While the articles of clothing they wear may be perfectly fine, their MOTIVES are wrong. If you dress in order to turn heads and attract attention to SELF, then your heart is not right. That’s proud vanity. This sin is not the exclusive property of women. Men can be vain about their outward appearance too. Spending of time in the gym to stay fit is good. There is profit to that. But spending an inordinate amount of time in the gym to impress people with your physique is vain and sinful.
This sin of vanity can be expressed in lots of different ways. Those who dress like a rock star are usually guilty of this kind of vanity. Why do you think they dress in such “shocking” styles? To attract attention to themselves and to stick out in the crowd. They love the attention. Why do you think young people dye their hair purple? It is not because they really believe that it looks good on them. It is to attract attention to themselves and turn heads. I don’t mean to burst their bubble… I know they think that they are wearing a new innovative style, but long before today’s teenagers ever thought of wearing purple hair, my grandmother had purple hair! I remember that it made quite an impression on me as a young boy. When she came home from the beauty parlor and the sun shone on her head, her hair was purple! I remember staring at it. She was a trendsetter. There was nothing wrong with purple hair then. And there is nothing wrong with purple hair today. But there IS something wrong with a Christian attracting attention to self. That is vanity and pride. “Look at me!”
That’s what wrong with wearing the latest, flashiest, cutting edge new style. They are designed to turn heads. As believers we don’t object to the style itself. But we do object to the heart attitude that says, “Hey, look at me! Aren’t I something?” That’s vain pride and God hates that attitude. The style itself is inconsequential. Styles that look flashy and “way out” today, often become the norm, and in ten years, everyone will be wearing it. But then it will no longer turn heads. Then it will no longer attract attention to self. Then it is perfectly acceptable.
There are Christians today who are pushing for their rights to wear the flashiest new designs… the cutting edge rock-star style clothing. They demand the right to wear the purple hair and other (by today’s standards) bizarre styles. Here’s the argument they often use to ridicule anyone who suggests that believers should use restraint when choosing clothing. They say, “100 years ago Christians used to fight about wearing high button boots! How silly!” We could ad many other illustrations, but this will suffice. They liken the fundamentalist who takes a stand on such issues to the Pharisees of old, who strained at gnats and swallowed a camel. They poke fun at how silly those arguments sound today. And they DO sound silly by today’s standards. But you can’t judge what was happening 100 years ago, or even 30 years ago by today’s standards. I was saved a little over 30 years ago. When I first showed up at a Christian church, I had a full, bushy beard. At that time the rest of America was clean shaven. Virtually the only men in the whole country who wore beards were Hell’s Angels and Hippies. Fundamentalists frowned on beards. They were taboo. Now of course there is nothing wrong with wearing a beard. Jesus wore a beard. But there IS something wrong with purposely sticking out like a sore thumb. The Lord convinced me that in that that day and in the atmosphere and environment that existed in that day, it was not wise for a Christian to wear a beard. It drew attention to self AND it associated a person with a movement he really would not want to be associated with. For me, then and there, wearing a beard became WRONG.
Thirty years later, America is no longer clean shaven. Beards are no longer considered a taboo. They are perfectly acceptable by our culture – and thus perfectly acceptable for a Christian. A man with a beard no longer turns heads or raises eyebrows. He no longer sticks out like a sore thumb. No one is going to assume he is a Hippie or a Hell’s Angel. Beards have become mainstream once again.
If you minister in China, a believer should dress like the Chinese and not stick out like a sore thumb. The same is true in North America too! The flashy clothing of the rock star turns heads today. A Christian ought to avoid them – not because the style is wrong, but because they are attention getters. If high button boots had the same effect (turning heads; attracting attention; raising eyebrows) then believers one hundred years ago would have been wise to avoid them, not foolish. In 50 years, many of today’s rock star styles (which seem flashy by today’s standards) will be the norm and may be worn by us all. But in that day, because they are the norm, they will no longer draw attention to self. That’s why styles change daily – because people want the newest, the latest, the flashiest style that will turn the most heads. They will pay top dollar for that style. That spirit of vanity should be avoided by the believer.
A good rule of thumb is: Don’t stick out like a sore thumb! And it’s not ONLY the rock star fashions that make you stick out. Dressing like the Amish has the very same effect… and ought to be avoided too. It is equally wrong. It is also vain when we wear old clothes, or old fashioned clothes in order to “look” humble and thus to draw attention to self, or to make people think that you are spiritual because you don’t waste money on clothing. That is a show of false humility which is but another form of vanity and pride. It is the pride of life, religious showmanship, and it is worldly to the core. Vanity takes on many forms… some are quite subtle. On the other hand, a Christian ought not to live on the very cutting edge of fashion either. Nor should a Christian insist on clinging to the fashions of yesteryear. Either extreme has the same effect. They both shout out, “Look at me! Aren’t I something!?” Dressing like a rock star is often an expression of worldly pride. Dressing like you lived in 1800’s is often an expression of self righteous pride. And God hates pride regardless of its outward form. Vanity is a matter of the heart, not style. And God looks at the heart. We should not be obsessed or preoccupied with style. Such an obsession is a vain idolatry.
Be sensible. Don’t become a slave to good looks… looking young.
Our culture virtually worships youth and good looks. It is quite worldly for a Christian to do the same. Today there are many MORE things a woman might do to make herself look good than in years past. What about cosmetic surgery? What about liposuction, tummy tucks, changing one’s eye color with contact lenses, face lifts, nose job, finger nails, tanning salons, etc.? While none of those things are wrong in themselves, it is possible to go OVERBOARD in the area of looks. Be aware that there is an invisible line that can be crossed that separates between a sensible, natural desire to care for one’s appearance, and a proud, slavish, worldly vanity. Nobody can tell you exactly where that line is… but it does exist.
Be led of the Spirit… and remember that heavenly things are MUCH more important than earthly things. It is the HEART and meek and quiet spirit that makes a godly woman truly beautiful (I Peter 3:3-4). Learn to be content with the body God gave you. Learn to accept and appreciate the various stages of life. It is not necessary, natural, or even possible to look twenty forever. There is wisdom in the old saying, “If the barn needs painting, paint it!” But don’t become obsessed with your looks. That is vanity. We will all be getting a new body one day.
Gender
Clothing ought to be appropriate to the gender of the person. Why? Because the Bible says so! Consider the words of Moses in Deuteronomy 22:5 – “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” Women are NOT to wear men’s clothing and men are not to wear women’s clothing. This verse presents truth that is clear and transcends dispensations. In the beginning God made them male and female. And there isn’t any other kind! The principle is true and one which we intend to uphold. It condemns the practice of transvestites. It forbids cross dressing, dressing like the opposite sex.
Interestingly, the Bible never tells us exactly what the clothing of a man or a woman IS, and for obvious reasons. That depends upon where you are and when you are. It changes from nation to nation, and from century to century. What men and women wear is determined by the cultural norms of that nation or region.
What about women in pants? Often the argument is made from Deut. 22:5 that women should not wear pants because the Bible forbids a woman from wearing man’s apparel. This question is a little tricky to answer, and requires a little thinking. The first point to make is that the Bible does not say that pants are the apparel of men. Pants as we know them today are not even mentioned in the Bible. Clothing was completely different in Bible times. One hundred years ago, it would have been safe to say, in Western society, that pants were the apparel of men. That was true in the days when only men wore pants. They were not the norm among women. But that is not the case today. Today women DO wear pants and it doesn’t cause heads to turn. It is common place. It is no longer considered odd or even masculine because the cultural norms have changed. One hundred years ago, a godly Christian woman would do well to avoid being on the cutting edge of that change, and leading the charge for women to wear pants. That would have drawn attention to self. It would have had a different MEANING then. But a century later, it can hardly be said that a woman wearing pants causes you to stick out like a sore thumb. It is quite the same issue as the change in society’s acceptance of men’s facial hair from 1970 to today, or the change that occurred when men stopped wearing tunics and began wearing pants.
It takes time for the thinking of people to adjust to cultural changes. We are at the tail end of that cultural change, and it is understandable why some folks believe women should NOT wear pants. Obey your conscience. If your conscience won’t let you as a woman wear pants, then wear a dress. But be careful about sticking out like a sore thumb. I wouldn’t advise it if you are going skiing or on a bike ride. It is not modest if you fall.
What about men in dresses or skirts? It would certainly be wrong for a Christian man in North America today to start wearing a dress or a skirt. Not that skirts are wrong or immoral on men, but because it would turn heads. And it would associate you with a lifestyle you might not want to be associated with. It would be considered the garments of a woman… according to the cultural norms of 21st century North America. As Christians we need to be sensitive to the cultural norms wherever we are. For men in 21st century North America to be in accordance with Deut. 22:5, we say, “Don’t wear a skirt.”
But what did Jesus and the apostles wear? They wore what would be considered a dress, women’s apparel by our standards! Men for centuries have worn kilts in the British isles. They still do on special occasions. It is not considered feminine. I recently received a missionary letter that reads as follows: “WHILE IN FIJI DO AS THE FIJIANS DO. For Formal occasions Fijian men wear tailored wrap-around skirts called sulus. (the missionary and his son) adopted this custom with gusto, appreciating the breeziness of a skirt.” In the Middle Eastern men wear long dress-like robes. As long as they are modest, clothes really have no meaning apart from meanings that any culture attaches to them. What one culture identifies as masculine (sulu) another culture might identify as feminine. Again – to the Jews I became as a Jew. To the Fijians, I became as a Fijian. It is extremely provincial (and a bit arrogant) for us as Americans to make up rules of dress (that might be sensible and reasonable for one location) and then to apply them across the board to every culture around the world. I’m afraid that’s what folks do when they say that pants are for men and skirts are for women. That is NOT a universal truth. It just isn’t true around the globe… and the Bible wasn’t written ONLY for North Americans living in our generation. The Bible principles are truein every generation and in every region of the world. Be careful with the application of those principles. Perhaps that’s why Deut. 22:5 is as generic as it is. Each culture develops what they deem to be acceptable dress for males and what is acceptable dress for females.
What is the real intent of Deut. 22:5? The passage does not forbid any particular article of clothing. Rather, it forbids cross dressing. It forbids the practice of transvestites, who dress like the opposite sex on purpose. In the days of Moses when this was written, men and women both wore robes that seem almost identical to the modern eye. However, there must have been some obvious differences. Perhaps embroidery or female clothing, or softer fabric, or the color, or a belt. There was obviously SOME identifying distinction which was given a meaning in that day, and which distinguished man’s clothing from woman’s clothing. The command of the passage is: don’t cross that line! The point is that one’s gender should be crystal CLEAR by our outward appearance. If your clothing and hairstyle causes people to do a double take to see if you are male or female, then you need to make some adjustments in your outward appearance to comply with this passage. That is confusion and a clear violation of this passage.
Should woman have their heads covered during worship time? The answer to the question is a resounding YES. A Christian woman SHOULD have her head covered, because the Bible says that if she does not, she is dishonoring her head (I Cor. 11:5). Paul was speaking here about a veil worn by women in that day, in that culture. Some have dismissed this as a purely cultural issue that is irrelevant today. This is more than just a cultural issue. It is recorded here as a command, addressed to the church. God expects Christian women to obey. However, Christians disagree on exactly HOW to obey this passage. I Corinthians 11 deserves a thorough study, but that is not the purpose of this paper. For now, a brief overview will suffice. The first three rules of interpretation are: context, context, context! The context here is God’s order of authority… the headship of a man, especially in worship (vs.3). In God’s order, the man was in a position of authority over the woman, in marriage and in the local church. The woman was NOT to try to BE like a man, LOOK like a man, or usurp authority OVER the man. She was to be in submission. Therefore, Paul set down some rules… ordinances for the churches (vs.2). The woman’s identity AS A WOMAN was to be crystal clear, even though the male and female garments of that day looked quite similar from a distance. The woman was to have a SIGN of femininity upon her head. In that culture the sign of the feminine gender was the veil worn by woman. Hence, Paul tells those women to WEAR their veils during times of worship, so that there would be no disruption in the ORDER of worship. The veil was an outward, visible sign of the fact that she was a woman, and thus under the authority of the man. Paul tells these ladies to wear their veils, for if she took OFF her veil, it was like taking off her sign of submission to male authority. It would indicate she was trying to disrupt God’s order of male leadership. So Paul orders the ladies to wear their veils as a sign of submission or she would dishonor her head. Paul was concerned about this important principle of male leadership. He was not so concerned about women’s fashion. Hence, he wrote in verse 15 – that a woman’s long, feminine looking HAIR could also serve as her covering, and thus as a sign of submission. In other words, if a woman’s hair was obviously FEMININE, that too could serve as a sign of her submission. Thus, she was not trying to look like a man or to usurp authority. It wasn’t the style or fashion of a particular culture, but the underlying principle of submission that is important. So ladies, you have the liberty to express your gender either by the veil Paul mentions (which is similar to what women wear in the Middle East today) OR by a feminine hairstyle that makes your gender CLEAR! Some ladies seek to make their gender clear by wearing a feminine looking hat during times of worship. Although a Western style hat is a cultural adaptation and does not have the same meaning as the veil did, if a woman’s purpose is to display clearly her gender, and thus her submission to authority, then she is fulfilling the underlying principle in this passage. Wearing a hat is perfectly acceptable (though we believe not required) before God. While believers may honestly disagree concerning the head covering, we should ALL agree on the main point of this passage. A woman should be in submission to male authority and demonstrate it by clearly LOOKING like a woman.
Should men wear jewelry? Earrings? Necklaces? Dyed hair? Cologne? What is the Biblical principle? We live in a confusing world. We are seeing more and more men wearing earrings and jewelry, which in previous generations was only worn by women. It is clearly CONTRARY to the principle in Deut. 22:5 to give the appearance that a man is dressing like a woman. Right now, however, our culture is going through many changes. The motivation behind these changes is usually problematic. The fashion moguls do NOT have godliness high on their list. Gradually, our society is accepting these changes in men’s appearance. Like it or not, our cultural norms are changing. Some of the changes are innocuous and some are poisonous. As Christians, we should at least acknowledge that the Bible does not condemnjewelry on men. In Exodus 3:22, God commanded the Jews to put jewelry on their sons and daughters as they left Egypt. Exodus 32:2 also makes it clear that men wore earrings. Exodus 33:4 states that men wore ornaments (ornamental pins or medallions of some sort). Daniel wore a gold chain about his neck (Daniel 5:29). Joseph wore rings and a necklace (Gen. 41:42).
Jewelry on men WAS acceptable in Bible times. It did NOT violate the principle of Deut. 22:5. It did not connote femininity, or God certainly would not have told men to wear an earring. But over the centuries, cultural norms changed, and the Western world went through a period wherein jewelry was generally accepted as feminine only. But now, our culture is changing AGAIN. Cultural norms never stay the same; they are always in flux. It is the fluctuation that often gives rise to friction and controversy.
Here is some pastoral advice. We acknowledge that the times are changing, and that (for example) earrings on men (and nose rings on women) are becoming more and more mainstream in America. No longer are they worn only by Hell’s Angels and Hippies, but even business men working at IBM wear them. In another ten years or so and they will probably be completely mainstream. BUT, the change is not yet complete. A man wearing an earring is still considered a bit near the edge. It doesn’t turn as many heads as it used to, but it still turns some. For that reason it is wise for Christian men to avoid it today, not because it is wrong or immoral, but because it might draws attention to self, raise eyebrows, and could even offensive to some older folks. Christians SHOULD be considerate of others.
Christians tend to go OVERBOARD on these issues – in BOTH directions. Some fundamentalists (with good intentions) take the easy route which borders on legalism. Often (without thinking it through) will say, “Earrings on men are wrong. It’s women’s apparel. It’s sin.” That is an oversimplification which tends to distort the truth. Upon hearing such a message, some thinking young people will show them verses where God commanded some men to wear earrings. The easy, legalistic route will quickly cause you to lose credibility in their eyes.
On the other hand, in Neo Evangelical circles there are folks who love to play the “liberty card” every chance they get, especially young people who love these new styles. (What’s wrong with this!? Prove it! Show me a verse!) Those folks give young people the impression that you can wear what you want and you don’t have to be concerned about ANY of the issues we are raising. That too is an oversimplification of truth, and detrimental in the end. There ARE other issues about which to be concerned, other issues to consider: modesty, testimony, gender to name a few.
So young men listen up: You claim the LIBERTY to wear earrings, and a necklace, and dye your hair, and wear the latest brightly colored new styles, etc. [Now they even sell skin cream for men… It won’t be long before they start peddling make up for men.] And I suppose that you could make a technical argument for any ONE of those items individually. BUT if the overall image that you project is the unisex look, then you have clearly violated the principle of Deut. 22:5. Today they have come up with a new term: metrosexual. It is defined as “an urban heterosexual male with a strong aesthetic sense who spends a great deal of time and money on his hair and clothing and his feminine side.” The definition is telling. It implies that men have a feminine side. The Bible says that God made them male and female: not a mixture of the two. It is quite clear that there is an agenda to merge the two sexes into a unisex.
The GENDER of a Christian should be crystal clear. And young Christian men today should be aware of the fact that the fashion designers are often gay and have an agenda that is contrary to godliness and to manliness. For us to ignore that fact would be folly. If you buy all the stuff they are promoting, and dye your hair, and have it curled and fluffed up, and go to the tanning booth, and wear earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, feminine looking clothes, and carry a handbag, — you’re going to look like a girl! And that’s wrong! Period. Therefore, though you have great freedom in Christ, you don’t have the liberty to look like a woman… or for women to look like a man.
The world system, (which for us in America includes Hollywood, the media, and Madison Avenue), is attempting to conform our young people to their agenda. In our culture, there seems to be a concerted effort to get our young girls to look either like hookers or like boys, and our young boys to look like girls. The Bible says, “And be not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Some cultural changes are neutral and innocent. This one is NOT. Blurring the line between male and female is evil and we need to stand AGAINST this trend. In the beginning God made them male and female. God didn’t make anything in between. That should be apparent in our outward appearance.
Appropriateness
There are lots of factors that determine whether clothing is appropriate or not. Certainly one factor is gender. Another factor is age; we should dress according to our age. It isn’t fair for a Christian mother in her mid 40’s to expect her teenage daughter to wear the same style she wears. Teenagers don’t want to dress like middle aged people! And on the other hand, it is equally inappropriate for an older woman to dress like a teenager. It is unbecoming, unflattering, and usually laughable. We’ve all heard the expression, “act our age.” Well, we should dress our age too!
Our dress should also be appropriate to the occasion. The occasion dictates what type of clothing is appropriate. Joseph got cleaned up and dressed up to see the King (Gen.41:14). His prison clothing would have been inappropriate to wear in the presence of the king. Different occasions often demands different apparel. It would be quite inappropriate (not to mention dangerous) to wear long pants swimming. It would be inappropriate (and can be immodest) to wear a dress while riding a bike. Swimming apparel would seem out of place if worn in the office. Clothing that is perfectly acceptable for a meal at McDonalds may not be appropriate for a meal at the Tavern of the Green. Clothing worn while weeding the garden is not appropriate for a wedding. Clothing worn for yard work is not appropriate for church. Dress appropriately for the occasion. That is not a radical idea. It’s just good, old fashioned, common sense.
Dress should be also appropriate to one’s means. The clothing worn by Queen Elizabeth might seem flashy and would turns heads where you and I live, but not among royalty. Wearing a $5000.00 necklace is commonplace in the circles in which she travels. One would not expect the queen of England to shop for her clothes at Walmart. Wealthy people who wear expensive clothing (gold, silver, silk, velvet, etc.) should NOT be condemned by people with less means. To do so is to judge unrighteously. The Bible does not condemn expensive jewelry (Cf. Gen. 24:46; Ezek. 16:7-13). The clothing of royalty might appear to be a waste of money to us commoners. But we American commoners should remember that the clothing we wear would appear to be extravagant to those who live in the Sudan! Dress according to your means and your station in life. Young married couples on limited budgets would do well to learn to dress according to their means. It is possible for a woman to spend BEYOND her means in trying to dress like the stars, or like Queen Elizabeth. That’s wrong! Dressing beyond one’s means is poor stewardship, and is usually a manifestation of pride and selfishness. Women who are “shopaholics” can easily drain the family budget and cause friction at home. Dress should be appropriate to our means.
Culture
A Christian should dress according to the cultural norms of the country in which he resides. This was the principle the apostle Paul practiced wherever he went (I Cor. 9:20-21). The huge variations in clothing that exist from one culture to another sometimes causes difficulties for believers around the world. Some styles which seems shocking and out of place in one culture may seem quite normal in another culture.
Some years ago a missionary couple from India visited our home, and they were going to share their ministry with the church. The lady did not speak any English, and she was experiencing a bit of a culture shock on her first visit to the USA. She wore a sari, the customary Indian dress – a long flowing dress from her neckline to her ankles. My wife wore a blouse and a skirt that came to her knees. No doubt this Christian lady from India was a bit scandalized by my wife’s dress. Her LEGS were showing! And although the legs of the Indian woman were completely covered, her stomach and back were completely exposed. That is the traditional female dress of India. In America, men are accustomed to seeing a woman’s legs and in India men are accustomed to seeing a woman’s midriff in everyday street dress. Her dress did not turn heads in India, and my wife’s skirt did not turn heads in America. There is no shock or scandal in seeing what we are accustomed to seeing.
To help me understand this concept I contacted missionaries on several continents and tropical islands, and asked them pointed questions about the clothing and culture in their little corner of the world. Some of the missionaries did not want to be identified by name, for fear that they would be misunderstood by their supporters in the USA. This was especially so of missionaries in Africa. In answer to my questions they replied that in the tribal regions, African women dress extremely modestly for church and when they go into town. They usually wear a “hat-like wrap” on their heads. Their brightly colored dresses are long, loose, and flowing and cover from their neck to their ankles. There is nothing shocking or scandalous about their dress UNTIL you see those same ladies working in the fields wearing nothing from the waist up, the way men often work in this country. This missionary spoke to the men in the village about this practice and he was told that a woman’s breasts were not considered alluring, (they viewed them as baby bottles) but their legs were. Hence, the ladies cover their legs and are less concerned about covering their torso.
Sometimes accepted norms of a culture clearly clash with the Biblical principle of modesty. Where cultural standards are out of line with the principles of the Bible, it sometimes years – even generations – for change to occur. This creates some sticky situations for our missionaries. Pray for your missionaries! They have some thorny issues to deal with.
What a person is accustomed to seeing has a huge influence on what is considered acceptable. It is the unexpected that is shocking and sometimes offensive, whether it be legs in India or midriff in America. When Hudson Taylor did the unexpected (he decided to follow the instructions in the Word and dress like the Chinese), it became somewhat of a scandal in his native England. Naturally, his Chinese attire was not scandalous in China. In fact it opened many doors for him to preach the gospel! But it was misunderstood by his supports in England. What Hudson Taylor saw as wisely following Biblical principles, they saw (wrongly) as compromise. They were scandalized that their missionary was wearing what they considered to be pagan clothing. It took a while for his supporters to realize that Hudson Taylor WAS in fact obeying the Biblical principle (I Cor. 9:20). There is no such thing as Christian or pagan clothing. As long as it is modest and gender appropriate, clothing and styles are neutral. Misunderstanding cultural differences is nothing new.
In conducting my poll of missionaries around the globe, I expected to hear that those who live on tropical islands would have the biggest problem with immodesty. Wrong! A missionary from Fiji noted that the chief problem they had with immodesty on the beaches came from the Western tourists! Another missionary from Eastern Europe reported that in her godless society, just going to the public lake one could expect to see topless women and even complete nudity. It’s no wonder that much of the world looks at us as the decadent West.
Things are very different in various places around the world. Sometimes those differences are merely cultural with no moral significance at all. Sometimes they are clearly matters of morality and modesty. And then there are occasions when it’s hard to tell whether a practice is just a cultural issue or a moral issue. Missionaries have to walk a tight rope. They are not sent to foreign lands to impose Western standards or enforce American taboos. They are there to preach the gospel and teach believers there the principles of godliness from the Word. Some things are obviously contrary to Biblical principles. On other issues, great discernment is needed to sort out the distinctions between TRUTH on the one hand, and opinions, traditions, and cultural matters on the other hand.
Until the Lord comes believers will continue to experience friction over these issues. Is it a matter of culture? Modesty? Tradition? Opinion? Subjectivity? Maturity? Truth? Taste? Preference? Style? Clothing has always been a battleground in the church. But it is a battle that has to be fought because our adversary is relentless in his pursuit to conform us to his corrupt world system.
There is no easy answer. There is no such thing as a Christian uniform. There are no Christian clothes. There is no universal, Biblical dress code. Instead we are given principles in the Word to be applied personally, as led by the Holy Spirit. Even then, Spirit filled believers aren’t always going to draw the line in exactly the same place. It is up to the Christian to pick and choose from among the wide variations within a culture that which is acceptable and that which is not acceptable to the Lord. There is a tendency today to use culture and liberty as cloaks of maliciousness. A missionary seeking to find the right clothing to wear in Mongolia should study the culture and seek out clothing that has a wholesome image in the minds of the average Mongolian. He will not seek to imitate the styles of the Mongolian street gangs, nor will his wife seek to imitate the clothing she sees on women of ill repute. Christians seeking to serve God in America should have the same kind of common sense. “Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord” (Eph. 5:10). Absolutely EVERYTHING (including our outward appearance) is to be surrendered to His Word and to His Spirit.
Culture is constantly changing. As Christians, we need to be willing to accept those changes as long as they are not contrary to the Scriptures. Change is inevitable, and it is not always bad. That which was unacceptable in one generation may soon become perfectly acceptable. For example America’s attitude towards beards has changed completely from the 60-70’s to today.
Cultural expressions change with time. Some assume that as a fundamentalist we should stick to our guns and not change when the styles change. That kind of silly. Like it or not, everyone one of us dresses according to what our culture dictates to us. None of us wear a tunic or a Pilgrim outfit, or those incredibly hideous wide neckties of the 70’s. As Christians we ought to acknowledge that styles DO change, and if we don’t, we will end up looking like the Amish – sticking out like a sore thumb and attracting attention to self. Times do change, and the challenge for us is to make appropriate application of Biblical principles TO the changing times. Our goal is NOT to preserve a particular style or a conservative tradition but rather, to uphold Biblical principles and apply them to everyday life as best we can for the glory of God.
The House of God
Bible believing Christians support missionaries in various locations around the world. Around the world, Christians dress very differently when they come together for worship. But God has called us to represent Him in a particular location. As we gather for worship, we need not be so concerned about the culture in India or Africa. But we DO need to be concerned about the culture of the region where God has placed us to be His ambassadors.
Our region has a culture that expresses itself in ways very different from the culture in Bangladesh or Baghdad. When men or women seek to express respect and honor in our culture, they dress up. Men wear suits and ladies wear dresses or skirts. For example, when our Senators and congressmen “serve” in their respective “Houses”, they wear suits or dresses. If a senator showed up in dungarees and a T-shirt, it would be considered an expression of disrespect for the institution, and would probably be on the six o’clock news! But senators and congressmen don’t do that. There is a protocol, an unwritten dress code. Out of respect for the House, they don’t violate that protocol. We live in the same North American culture they do. When we want to show respect for an institution, we get dressed up too. If our congressmen are willing to get dressed up as an expression of respect when they come to “serve” in their “House,” shouldn’t we much more be willing to get dressed up to “serve” in the “House of the Lord” (I Tim.3:15)? It is not a matter of law, but rather of respect.
Of course the inside of the cup is FAR more important in our worship. We are to worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). But if the inside of the cup is clean, shouldn’t we be willing to sacrifice personal preferences in order to demonstrate respect in our culture, even down to tiny details, like our dress? While ministering to the Jews, we should go out of our way to show respect in worship according to their culture. While ministering to the Chinese, we should go out of our way to show respect in worship according to their culture. We should do the same according to our own culture. To the North Americans I became as a North American.
Naturally, not every Spirit filled believer is going to see it this way. Some will insist on NOT getting dressed up for church. If you are one of them, and the reason for not getting dressed up for church is stubborn self will (nobody’s going to tell me what to wear!) then that attitude ought to change – even if your wardrobe does not. But if on the other hand, you choose casual clothing for the Lord’s House because you honestly believe that you ARE showing respect and honor to God, then we agree in principle, though not in practice.
It’s not a matter of law. We certainly don’t REQUIRE folks to get dressed up for church. It is not a command, but an exhortation based upon our position as saints and in light of the culture in which we live… a culture which still does get dressed up for special occasions as a sign of respect. We believe the worship of God is a special occasion. As an individual believer/priest, you have your liberty. One’s relationship to God is certainly not determined by our outward appearance. But as leaders of the church, we also have the liberty to set standards for those serving in visible positions in the church. We are responsible for the overall testimony of the Lord’s work here. There is a dress code for folks who sing in the choir, teach Sunday School class, work in the nursery, and serve in official church offices. God is worthy of our best in everything (Mal. 1:6-8), yes, even including our clothes (I Cor. 10:31-32). We encourage folks to wear your Sunday best to church. If your “best” is a beat up, old pair of pants and ripped shirt, then wear it. God will be pleased that you thought enough of Him to wear your best in His House. He is worthy of our best.
As our culture changes, the definition of “Sunday best” will also change. Our purpose is not to preserve the present dress code at all costs, but to express respect and honor for Christ and His Body, the local church, according to the changing norms of society. It really isn’t the clothing – it’s the heart. When the inside of the cup is clean, it will manifest itself on the outside too. That’s something that we should ALL agree on, and something that should NEVER change: an inward desire to give honor and glory to God with our WHOLE being: body, soul, and spirit (Rev. 4:11; I Cor. 6:19-20). He is worthy of our BEST.
“Christ in you” should have a transforming effect on every believer. What we wear on the outside of the cup should be consistent with the character of the One who lives inside the cup. Transformation is a process of growth.
God treats us as full grown sons in Christ (Gal. 4:1-7). God told the Old Testament priests what to wear and even what kind of cloth to use. He does NOT tell the New Testament priest WHAT to wear. Instead, He gives us principles that we might make intelligent, Christ honoring decisions as guided by the Holy Spirit, that are suitable to our location and culture.
Respect the convictions of others. Be gracious towards those who differ. Be cognizant of the fact that folks who get saved TODAY are not going to have high standards of dress. All of this talk might be a foreign language to them. They will need TIME to grow, to learn, to come to maturity, and to obtain discernment. Until then, we will need to exercise GRACE, especially with new believers. Don’t pounce on them for clothing right off the bat. Give God time to work. Remember, God is at work in their hearts first and foremost. When the inside of the cup is cleaned, the outside will eventually get cleaned. The danger is ever present of making such a BIG issue out of cleaning the outside of the cup, that the new believer assumes that Christianity is just a superficial change, rather than in internal transformation into the image of Christ.
We need to use caution and discernment in HOW we handle this issue. It is easy to come across quite legalistic or antinomian. Avoid both extremes. It is also necessary to learn to live with other believers who may define good taste differently, or who may define good grooming differently, or who may even define modesty differently. Give people time to grow and mature. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the churchof God” (I Cor. 10:31).
HOUSE RULES
Why do some churches have “standards” in dress & behavior for its leaders and workers? Is it really necessary? We believe the answer is “Yes”. Perhaps the more important question is why such standards are needed.
That which makes such standards necessary is the self-centered, proud, independent condition of fallen human nature. If every believer was mature in the faith, knowledgeable in the Scriptures, filled with the Spirit, practicing self-denial in love, and had spiritual wisdom and discernment, then standards would NOT be necessary. However, human nature being what it is, standards and guidelines are necessary for the sake of orderliness, peace, and the testimony of Christ.
In any “household” there is a need for house rules. No doubt you have rules in your household. There is a certain time for meals, children need to be home at a certain time each night, each member of the household has his/her own chores and responsibilities; there are restrictions on the use of the TV, videos, clothing, and other activities. All of this is done, not because the parents are out to make life miserable for their children. Rather, it is done out of love, and with their best interest in mind. Let’s face it, life is full of restrictions which are designed for our good. (Aren’t you glad others don’t have the freedom to drive on any side of the road they want!?! Aren’t you glad that 10 year olds do not have the liberty to get their license to drive a car?!)
In the home setting, God has given the parents the authority and responsibility to create house rules appropriate for their children. Children are to obey those whom God has placed in a position of authority over them (Eph.6:1). They are to obey even those rules created by the parents, which are not found in the Bible (what they may or may not watch on TV; what time to be home at night; etc.).
So too the church is a family (Eph.3:15) and a “household” (Eph.2:19). It too has a need for house rules in order that it functions smoothly, decently, and in order. In the local church God has also placed some men in positions of authority and those in the household are expected to “obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account”. (Heb.13:17a) The elders have the responsibility of setting certain rules and standards (times of services, responsibilities & expectations of members, proper attire for worship, deportment).
Of course, it is possible to go overboard with such standards. Some parents do. Some churches do. But the fact that some go overboard is no excuse for doing away with standards altogether. Parents, what would happen in your home if there were no house rules? Each child would eat, wear, and do as they pleased! What do you think would happen in the local church if there were no house rules? There was a time in Israel’s history when the house rules were ignored. “Every man did that which was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25b). The book of Judges ends on this sad note which describes the spiritual chaos in the nation at the time. Human nature has not changed. Today we have individuals in the churches who chafe at any mention of standards. Often times the reason is pride, self will, immaturity, and independence – a refusal to submit to authority. We should not be surprised. In the home some children rebel against their parents in the very same manner. Human nature is human nature! Yes, house rules are a necessary part of life, in our home, our country, and in our churches.
CRIES OF LEGALISM
One of the smokescreens used by those who chafe at the idea of the existence of standards in the church is a cry of legalism. The very mention of the term is supposed to cause all those who promote standards to shrink away in fear. The term legalist is designed to associate those who believe in upholding certain standards with the heretical Judaizers. The fact is that the term “legalist/legalism” never appears in the Bible. Not once! It is a man-made term that seems to mean different things to different men. The closest we come to such an idea is the heresy (and it was a heresy!) of the Judaizers who attempted to put believers under the Law of Moses either as a means of salvation (Acts 15:1-5) or as a rule of life (Gal.3:1-3; 5:1-13).
What seems to be lost in the whole argument is the fact that those who try to maintain appropriate standards in church are NOT doing so as a means of salvation OR as a rule of life. If a church requires that male Sunday School teachers wear ties, or that nursery workers wear a modest dress or skirt, it is understood by all involved that such rules have nothing to do with salvation or sanctification. Linking such standards to the heresy of the Judaizers is an attempt to make the down with standards point of view appear to be Biblical. It is a hollow and inaccurate argument, without any REAL Biblical support.
Expecting certain standards from church leaders and workers is NOT robbing anyone of their liberty in Christ. If a man has such as strong conviction about not wearing a tie (for example) no one is forcing him to do so. He does not have to be a Sunday School teacher. If he has a strong conviction against wearing a choir robe, he does not have to sing in the choir.
What seems odd in their attempts to do away with all standards under the umbrella of liberty is that they are continually demanding their rights. Even a glance at the passages dealing with Christian liberty make one point crystal clear: our “liberty” or “rights” were not meant to be “clung to”. Rather, we are to be of such a heart attitude that we are willing to give up the exercise of those rights for the good of others, for the unity of the Body, and for the testimony of Christ (ICor.9:12,15,19-22; Rom.14:13,19; Phil.2:3-7). This is the essence of Christian liberty and it is sadly lacking on the part of many who demand their “rights” in order to get their own way, and attempt to do away with standards which help maintain order, decency, and a testimony for our Lord.
A GREATER PURPOSE
There really is something more important than getting one’s own way. The Bible is clear as to what the purpose of the Christian life is. “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or WHATSOEVER ye do, do all to the glory of God” (I Cor. 10:31). Far more important than exercising my liberty to “do whatever I want” is the greater purpose of bringing glory to God. Why would anyone want to willingly restrict the exercise of their liberty and submit to a set of standards? The fact that God has called us to be a witness for Him ought to be reason enough. That means that men are watching us and evaluating us on the only basis they can evaluate – by what they see (our appearance, our words, and our actions). “Man LOOKETH on the outward appearance”. (I Sam.16:7b) For that reason we are commanded to “provide things honest in the SIGHT of all men”. (Rom.12:17) How would you feel if you visited a church for the first time and as you went to bring your newborn baby to the nursery, you discovered that you had to hand that precious little bundle over to a young girl with punk-rock lime-green hair, wearing a low cut tank top, displaying several crude tattoos, with cut off dungarees, and with a cigarette hanging out of her mouth, and shrapnel protruding from her face? Would you feel confident and comfortable leaving your baby with her? It is true that we are not able to see her heart. Perhaps she claims that she desires to glorify God. However, her appearance sends out a different message. Men cannot judge her heart, but men DO judge by appearance. With the speed at which standards are falling all around us in the world, this scenario is not far fetched. While the Bible is silent on issues such as cigarettes, lime green hair, and the exact length of dresses, our culture DOES dictate to us some norms or standards of decency which, if not observed, are offensive to many. Certain types of behavior and fashions make “statements” to our society. Therefore we want to make sure that our “statement” as a Christian is “Holiness unto the Lord”, and not: “I am a rebel” or “I am seductive” or “I am a slob”! The message that our outer man sends forth (appearance & behavior) ought to be consistent with the gospel message we proclaim. The inner heart attitude is reflected in our outward behavior & appearance. We should attempt always to “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things”, which certainly includes our appearance (Titus 2:10). We should NOT attract attention to self but to our Lord.
Yes we DO have certain expectations from those who are going to serve in the local church. We have a testimony to uphold. We ARE concerned about what men think of us (Rom.15:2-3). We want to do NOTHING that would offend the Jew, the gentile, or the church of God (I Cor.10:32). That is part of our Christian testimony as a “light”. Standards set by a church North America may not be appropriate for a church in India. But wherever believers are, there are always restrictions we must voluntarily place upon ourselves for the testimony of Christ and for the glory of God. Love, selflessness, and submission are essentials in the Christian life. But what is LOVE if it is not practiced? Love demands that we be willing to live a life of self sacrifice for the spiritual well being of others. That involves being willing to give up, not our liberty, but the exercise of our liberties or rights for others. Are you willing to sacrifice in order to serve the Lord? If so, then submitting to a set of standards will not be a burden but a reasonable service done for the glory of God!
Salem Bible Church
11 Ermer Road
Salem, NH 03079-1203
603-898-4258
