WHAT
CLOTHES SHALL I WEAR?
INTRODUCTION
1. "What shall I wear?" is a question many people ask.
a. As they dress for work, to relax, etc.
b. Usually weighing such issues as fashion versus form,
style versus substance
2. When Believers ask this question, other issues should come into
consideration...
a. Is it modest?
b. Is it proper for those professing godliness? -In like manner also, that
women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and
sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly
array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good
works.1 Timothy 2:9-10
3. The challenge is that which constitutes modesty is constantly
changing...
a. At one time, it was immodest for a woman to expose
her ankles
b. Today, even the most modest of dress would have been
consider scandalous
4. So the question remains, "What Shall I Wear?"...
a. Should men, in public, be concerned about modest apparel?
Swimwear or no shirt?
b. Should a woman, in public, wear shorts, bathing
suit, bikini, leggings, yoga wear, excercise wear, mini-skirts, low-cut
blouses, tight skirts, jeans?
c. What effect might this have on sport or swimming
activities?
[This is not to propose some easy answer, or simple guideline (such
as "a dress, higher than an inch above the knee"). Rather to
encourage prayerful consideration of what the Scripture has to say,
which provides basic principles that can help one discern between
good and evil.]
I. IS IT SHAMEFUL TO EXPOSE ONE'S NAKEDNESS?
A. CONSIDER THE EXAMPLE OF ADAM AND EVE...
1. After they sinned, they made "coverings"
for themselves - Genesis 3:7-10
a. Hebrew,
"chagorah", meaning a garment which covers the mid-section
b. Despite such
coverings, they still felt naked!
2. The Creator made "tunics"
for them -
Genesis 3:21
a. Hebrew,
"kethoneth", a garment commonly reaching to knee
b. Evidently Alohim
was not pleased with the brevity of the coverings they had made
B. IS IT SHAMEFUL TO EXPOSE OR DRAW ATTENTION TO
PRIVATE PARTS OF THE BODY?
1. Exposure of such parts was often a
form of judgment intended to shame the wicked
Isaiah 3:16-17; 47:1-3
2. Paul alludes to the fact that some
parts are "unpresentable" and should be covered - And those
members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we
bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant
comeliness. For our comely parts have no need: but Alohim hath tempered
the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part
which lacked:1 Corinthians 12:23-24
[At some point, then, there needs to be a line where it is a shame
to cross, there are parts of the body that should remain
private. Perhaps we can begin to determine what these may be
as we consider another principle...]
II. WE MUST NOT PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR FLESHLY LUSTS
A. THIS IS CLEARLY CONDEMNED IN THE SCRIPTURES...
1. Look at
Romans 13:13-14 : Let
us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not
in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye
on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to
fulfill the lusts thereof.
2. Can the way we dress excite
fleshly lusts? Consider the following:
a. "An
astonishingly great number of men are of the opinion that women
are more attractive partly dressed - than nude. They prefer to see
women partially disrobed to the sight of complete nakedness." -
Theodor Reik (Of Love And Lust)
b. "Mini-clothes
are symbolic of those girls who want to seduce a man..." - Mary
Quant, London fashion designer; creator of the miniskirt
c. When asked
where it (miniskirts, etc.) was all leading to, Mary Quant replied
with one word: "Sex."
d. During the
hijacking of the Santa Maria in 1967, the women on board were
concerned the rebels might have designs on them, so they left off
wearing "enticing clothing"; i.e., they stopped appearing in
shorts and halter-tops, and quit swimming in the ship's pool.
-- If the "women of the world" know what is capable of stimulating
the lust of the flesh, why not the "daughters of the Creator"?
B. MESSIAH WARNED ABOUT "COMMITTING ADULTERY IN
THE HEART"...
1. Is there not a two-fold
responsibility here? -
Matthew 5:27-30
a. The man is
responsible to guard his mind from impurity - Philippians
4:8
b. Is not the
woman to help prevent the lustful stare?
2. Though lust is inexcusable on
the man's part, if the woman by her apparel or conduct has
encouraged it, she shares in the guilt! - e.g., Proverbs 7:6-27
If the clothing we wear encourages the arousal of fleshly lusts in
others, then we have clearly crossed the line. Of course, this
requires honesty and objectivity on our part; we must be willing
to be true to
ourselves and to our Father in Heaven.
To help us toward
that end, consider another basic principle from our Father's
Word...
III. CLOTHING MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH GODLINESS
A. CONSIDER CAREFULLY 1 TIMOTHY 2:9-10...
1. "modest" (kosmio)
a. "Orderly, well
arranged, decent, modest" (akin to kosmos, in its primary sense as
"harmonious arrangement adornment"; cf. kosmikos, of the world,
which is related to kosmos in its secondary sense as the world) -
Vine's
b. "The
well-ordering is not of dress and demeanor only, but of the inner
life, uttering in deed and expressing itself in the outward
conversation" - Trench
-- In the
context, this word applies not so much to brevity of clothing, but
to gaudiness of clothing
2. "propriety" (aidos)
a. Translated
"shamefacedness" in the KJV
b. "a sense of
shame, modesty, is used regarding the demeanor of women in the
assembly," - Vine's Expository Dictionary
-- This word
applies more to the issue of brevity of clothing:
Can it be said that those who display their bodies so as to excite
lust in others have the quality of "shamefacedness"?
3. "moderation" (sophrosune)
a. Translated
"sobriety" in the KJV
b. "denotes
soundness of mind" - Vine's
c. "it is that
habitual inner self-government, with its constant rein on all the
passions and desires, which would hinder the temptation to these
from arising..." - Trench
-- Will not a
sound mind take into consideration the affect one's apparel has on
another?
4. "not with braided hair or
gold or pearls or costly clothing"
a. Excess, rather
than actual adornment, is what is being condemned here - cf.
Isaiah 3:16-26 with Ezekiel 16:10-14
b. This is an
example of the comparative use of "not" found frequently in the
Bible:
1) "Not" is sometimes used absolutely - Exodus 20:14
2) "Not" is sometimes used conditionally (not...if) -
Galatians 5:21
3) "Not" is sometimes used comparatively (not...but) -
John 6:27; 1 Colosians 1:17; 1 John 4:10
-- Outward
adornment is not wrong absolutely, but in comparison to the
adorning of the inner person by good works, it is to be of lower
priority and lesser importance
5. "proper for women professing
godliness"
a. That which is
fitting, seemly, suitable, becoming - Ephesians 5:3; Titus 2:1
b. For women
claiming to be reverent, pious - Titus 2:3-5
-- Would a woman
who professes to be righteous knowingly adorn herself in a way
that excites lust in another person?
B. CONSIDER ALSO 1 PETER 3:1-6...
1. Note first the potential value
of chaste conduct - 1 Peter 3:1-2
a. Good behavior
can influence one for good
b. Likewise,
improper behavior (e.g., immodest clothing) can
have an adverse effect!
2. In verses 3-4, we have another
example of the comparative use
of "not"
a. The emphasis
should not be one's adornment (arranging the hair, wearing gold,
putting on apparel)
b. Rather, it
should be adorning one's inner person
3. The adornment that greatly
pleases Alohim - 1 Peter 3:4-6
The
incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit
-- When a person disregards the
effect their apparel may have on another, can it be said they are
adorned with a gentle and quiet spirit?
CONCLUSION
1. As noted in the beginning, it has not been the goal to
establish specific rules for what is modest apparel...
a. To do so would be to do what Scripture itself does
not do
b. Rather, to offer the general principles that can
help Believers who desire to please the Father rather than self or
man.
2. When faced with the question "What shall I wear?":
a. Prayerfully consider whether your adornment in any
circumstance reflects your profession of godliness, and the
principles found in Scripture.
b. Seek counsel from those who are mature in the
faith, whose senses have been exercised to discern good and evil.
Hebrews 5:14
Do this, and one is more likely to fulfill that goal set for us
when the apostle Paul stated, that we be...
"...blameless and harmless, children of
Alohim
without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation,
among whom you shine as lights in the world"
Phillipians 2:15