DRESS – A Covering or A Weapon?
Clothes: – things worn on body – garments that cover the body. Coverings and garments intended to be worn on the human body. The words cloth and clothing are related, the first meaning fabric or textile, and the second meaning fabrics used to cover the body. The earliest garments were made of leaves, animal skins, wool, cotton, linen, silk, and other non-fabrics, rather than of cloth, but these non-fabrics garments are included in the category of clothing.
The origin of clothing can be traced back to the time of Adam and Eve, the first human beings who realized they were naked after they ate the forbidden fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Ashamed of their nakedness, they make clothing for themselves out of fig leaves. By this we understand that people wore clothing primarily for reasons of modesty – to avoid drawing attention to themselves. We read that when Adam and Eve realized they had sinned they sewed fig leaves together and covered their nakedness – this was just their genitals. God, in his great mercy, provided for them a suitable covering – with animal skins. This is so because it is not good enough to cover just their sexual area, they needed to cover their nakedness. He slew an animal and clothed them in skins, so their nakedness would be covered. But with the rise of nonreligious worldview, people began to offer other theories. Some argued that the origin of clothing was functional – to protect the body from the environment. Others argued that some clothing was designed for sexual attraction – to display the body’s beauty.
Styles of clothing varied among the different classes of the people in Israel, and were often a means of showing a person’s status. Ceremonial clothing worn by people in high positions (king, Queen, Prince, princess, priest, wealthy people, etc) was often richly embroidered, sometimes with gold thread woven into the clothes. There were also special garments for special occasions such as weddings and feasts. Clothing provides a mark of identity and a means of nonverbal communication. In traditional society, clothing functions almost as a language that can indicate a person’s age, gender, marital status, place of origin, religion, social status, or occupation. In modern industrialized societies, clothing is not so rigidly regulated and people have more freedom to choose which messages they wish to convey. Clothing provides considerable information about the wearer, including individual personality, economic standing, even the nature of events attended by the wearer.
THE STANDARD DRESSING APPROVE BY GOD
Many people have always say, “God looks on the heart and not on the outward appearance of a person. God doesn’t care what you look like on the outside. God just looks on the heart”. I hope to be able to show you from the Bible what God expects from His children as regard to ways of dressing.
The Jews were forbidden from the use of certain materials, some affecting the people in general while others were restricted from either of the genders. The use of mixed animal, seed and other materials, as horse and the she-ass, or the he-ass and the cow, (as they do in the East,) to couple together; to sow different kinds of seeds in the same field or garden, to combine wool and linen materials, to have a woman wear a man’s clothes and a man to wear a woman’s clothes, etc, were all forbidden (Lev. 19:19; Deut. 22:5,9-11).
With respect to heterogeneous mixtures among cattle, it was probably forbidden, to prevent excitements to the abominations practiced by the heathen which were condemned by God. As to seeds, in many cases it would be very improper to sow different kinds in the same plot of ground. It would be improvident to sow oats and wheat together: the latter would be injured, the former ruined. The turnip and carrot would not succeed conjointly, where either of them separately would prosper and yield a good crop; so we may say of many other kinds of seeds. Also, when closely observed, the law did not prohibit the Israelites from wearing many different kinds of cloths together, but only the two specified (wool and linen); and the observations and researches of modern science have proved that “wool, when combined with linen, increases its power of passing off the electricity from the body. In hot climates, it brings on malignant fevers and exhausts the strength; and when passing off from the body, it meets with the heated air, inflames and excoriates like a blister”
On the other hand, it could be that all these precepts were designed to root out some superstition – superstitious customs of the heathen or to intimate how careful God’s people should be and not mingle themselves with the heathen nor to weave any of the usages of the Gentiles into God’s ordinances. Also, these precepts were instituted to lead Israel to the simplicity and sincerity of religion, and to all the parts and doctrines of the law and gospel in their distinct kinds. As faith is necessary, good works are necessary, but to mingle these together in the cause of our justification before God is forbidden. As to different kinds of garments, the prohibition might be intended against pride and vanity in clothing. Since the essence of this precept is not in wearing a woolen and a linen robe, but in the two stuffs being woven together, according to a favorite superstition of ancient idolaters (Zep 1:8); God’s people were forbidden from imitating the heathen in this manner. The restrictions of clothes belonging to opposite sex is also refers to the idolatrous custom of the Gentiles: in the worship of Venus (to which that of Astarte or Ashtaroth among the Canaanites), women appeared in armour, and men in women’s clothes; this, as other such superstitious usages, is here said to be an abomination to the Lord. It forbids the confounding of the dispositions and affairs of the sexes: men must not be effeminate nor must women be viragos or usurp authority, 1Ti 2:11,12. Probably this confounding of garments had been used to gain opportunity of committing uncleanness, and is therefore forbidden; for those that would be kept from sin must keep themselves from all occasions of it and approaches to it. The close-shaved gentleman may at any time appear like a woman in the female dress, and the woman appear as a man in the male’s attire. Were this is to be tolerated in society; it would produce the greatest confusion.
God’s providence which extends itself to the smallest affairs of His people, that even in things that appears to be insignificant we may be in the fear of the Lord, as we are under his eye and care. Yet the tendency of these laws, which seem little, is such, that being found among the things of God’s law, they are to be accounted great things. If we would prove ourselves to be God’s people, we must have respect to his will and to his glory, and not to the vain fashions of the world. Even in putting on our garments, as in eating or in drinking, all must be done with a serious regard to preserve our own and others’ purity in heart and actions. Our eye should be single, our heart simple, and our behavior all of a piece. The distinction of sexes by the apparel is to be kept up, for the preservation of our own and our neighbor’s chastity. Nature itself teaches that a difference be made between them in their hair (1Co 11:14), and by the same rule in their clothes, which therefore ought not to be confounded, either in ordinary wear or occasionally.
The outer appearance of a person is usually a pretty good indicator of what is in the person’s heart. Although it is possible to look right on the outside and be wrong on the inside, it is well nigh impossible to look right on the outside and be wrong on the inside. What is on the outside comes from the inside. That is why Jesus said, “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34). A man could say the right things, and have a wrong heart, but a man who had a right heart would never say the wrong things. So the outer appearance is the only indicator of what is on the inside. So God does care how we look. Not only does God care how we look, there are rules in the Bible for both men and women that should govern our appearance. Now, whenever you start talking about these rules, the women are always the first ones to complain, because there are more rules for the women than there are for the men when it comes to dressing properly.
God made man and woman differently. Men are stimulated by sight. This is why Jesus told the men of His day, “Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (Matthew 5:28). Men are stimulated by sight. Men are always attracted to a lady, physically, before they are connected to her emotionally. In fact, they don’t even want to pursue the possibility of an emotional relationship, if the physical attraction isn’t there.
Women on the other hand are stimulated by touch. It could be a physical touch or an emotional touch. So all a man has to do is look at a woman, and she is stimulated. A woman has to be talked to, and she has to be touched. And as I said, that touch can be emotional. A man could talk to a woman in such a way that she is touched emotionally. Or it could be a physical touch. He could begin to pet her or stroke her in some way and that would begin to stimulate her. That is why pornography is sold mainly to men. There is some pornography that is sold to women, but statisticians tell us that the majority of the pornographic magazines that are published for women are actually purchased by men, because women aren’t really stimulated by sight. That is why you sometimes find some of the ugliest guys with some of the most attractive women, because they know how to touch. They know how to touch emotionally and how to touch physically, so the woman is satisfied, whereas the man has to see something. He is stimulated by sight. Therefore, God has given certain commands to women regarding their appearance, so they will not stimulate men. And God has given different commands to men, such as in First Corinthians 7:1, which says, “It is good for a man not to touch a woman. And then verse two, Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.” So while a woman is commanded to dress a certain way so the man is not stimulated, the man is commanded to act a certain way, to behave a certain way, so the woman is not stimulated. The commands are different for both men and women. Most of the rules for appearance are for the lady’s own protection. They are designed to protect her from the lusts of man.
Let’s consider some of the rules for men. There are basically three rules in the Bible for man’s appearance, at least that I have found in my studies of the Scriptures. There may be more, but I’ve only found three. In Deuteronomy 22:5, it says, “… neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” The first command of God, concerning the way a man should appear is that a man should not wear a woman’s clothing. I don’t know too many men who violate this rule. There may be a few, but I have never seen it in a church. And the Bible does not say that a man who puts on a woman’s garment has just sinned, but that he has committed an abomination. Lying is a sin. Stealing is a sin. Adultery is a sin. Bestiality is an abomination. Homosexuality is an abomination. So if a man puts on a woman’s garment, he has not just committed a sin. He has committed an abomination. He has done something that in the mind of God is equal to having sex with an animal. The second rule for men regarding appearance is found in First Corinthians 11:14, where the Bible says, “Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man has long hair, it is a shame unto him”. This implies that a man must not grow long hair. The third rule for men is found in 1 Cor. 11:4, it says “every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head”. A man most not cover his head while praying or prophesying.
Now rules for women. Again in Deuteronomy 22:5, “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man….” Again, if a woman dresses like a man as a lot of women do, God says they have committed an abomination. It amazes me, but I do not know any Christian women who would think of committing an act of bestiality or homosexuality, but yet they would commit the abomination of cross dressing. The Bible says this is an abomination. The second rule for women is found in 1 Cor. 11:4, where we see that women are commanded to cover their head while praying or prophesying. This rule is also violated every now and then, even in some churches. The third rule given to women is in First Timothy 2:9, which states, “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel.” The fourth and fifth rules are also in First Timothy 2:9. It says they should not only adorn themselves in modest apparel, but, “with shamefacedness and” then the fourth command, “sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.” Sobriety is a word that basically means with moderation – make or become less extreme.
Concerning the apparel and attire of women, this precept shows that it is most appropriate for women at all times, but especially in public worship, to use such apparel as becoming modest and chaste, expressing by their garb the inward gravity and modesty of their minds; not like proud and alluring persons who by embroidered hair, gold, and pearl, attract the eyes and hearts of the simple. Let them not spend their thoughts in adorning their bodies, but in simple attire which does not attract attention. If modest apparel is appropriate in the sanctuary (church), it is appropriate everywhere. If what is here prohibited in dress is wrong there, it would be difficult to show that it is right elsewhere.
Note, that the attire which all persons wear, ought to be such as may answer the end for which apparel was appointed, which was to hide and shroud our nakedness, for differencing and distinction of sexes, as also for distinguishing between the qualities and ranks of persons. Garments also are for defence and protection, and for decency and ornament.
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; {broided: or, plaited}, But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works. 1 Tim. 2:9
“That women adorn themselves in modest apparel” the Greek word for modest in this sense is katastole (a long flowing garment). The apostle seems to refer here to different parts of the Grecian and Roman dress. It was a long piece of cloth, doubled in the middle, and sewed up on both sides, leaving room only for the arms; at the top, a piece was cut out, or a slit made, through which the head passed. It hung down to the feet, both before and behind, and was girded with the “zona” round the body, just under the breasts. It was sometimes made with, sometimes without sleeves. It was gathered on each shoulder with a band or buckle. Some of the Greek women wore them open on each side, from the bottom up above the knee, so as to discover a part of the thigh; these were termed “fainomhridev” – shower (discoverers) of the thigh; but it was in general, only young girls or immodest women (Harlots) who wore them.
The katastole seems to have been the same as the pallium or mantle, which, being made nearly in the form of the “stola”, hung down to the waist, both in back and front, was gathered on the shoulder with a band or buckle, had a hole or slit at top for the head to pass through, and hung loosely over the “stola”, without being confined by the “zona” or girdle. A more modest and becoming dress than the Grecian was never invented; it was, in a great measure, revived in England about the year 1805, and in it, simplicity, decency, and elegance were united. But it was soon replace by other obnoxious mode; in which frippery (article worn for show) and nonsense once prevail the more.
“With shamefacedness and sobriety”. With modesty of appearance and manner – an eminent female virtue, whether in the sanctuary (church) or at home. It simply means they are not to draw attention to themselves. And trousers, shorts, tight or mini-skirts and other transparent clothes draw attention to the woman’s form and figure. So if you wear a pair of these clothes which shows your and form figure, it is not shamefacedness, or modest, because it doesn’t flow. It shows the figure and it stimulates men. And of course, you wouldn’t want to dress in such a way that it stimulates the lusts of a man. Remember in First Corinthians chapter thirteen that it says, “Charity doth not behave itself unseemly…” You shouldn’t seek to do things that would cause someone else to fall. Jesus said that if a man looks on a woman with lust in his heart, he has already committed adultery with her. Do you realize that if you dress in such a way that it shows your form and figure, and some man lusts after you, you have just let him commit adultery with you?
Sleeveless shirts, shorts, tight or mini-skirts and other transparent clothes are the types of clothes women wear these days. Why does a preacher preach against Sleeveless shirts, shorts, tight or mini-skirts and other transparent clothes? Well, once again that word modest or katastole – which means long flowing garment contradicts Sleeveless shirts, shorts, tight or mini-skirts and other transparent clothes because they are not long they do not flow, which means they are not modest dress. They do not meet the length requirement. A katastole is a long and flowing garment. The second reason why shorts and mini-skirts would be inappropriate for a woman is because the Bible specifically says that when a woman’s thighs show, she is naked. Isaiah 47:2-3 says, “Take the millstones, and grind meal: uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers. Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man.” Here was a women who wanted to cross a river. God wanted to disgrace the woman, (If you read the text in Isaiah chapter forty-seven, you will see why.) so He commanded her to walk across the river, then, to lift up her skirt so her thigh would show. And God said that when her thigh was exposed, she would be naked and her shame would be revealed. We read that she was told to uncover the locks, to make bare the leg, uncover the thigh and “thy nakedness shall be uncovered.”
The thigh goes from your hips to somewhere in the knee. So if a woman dresses in such a way where that part of her body is exposed, the Bible says she is naked. Mini-skirts expose that part of the body. Thus, if a woman wears a mini-skirt, she is naked. And shorts, they expose that part of the body, and the Bible says in Isaiah chapter forty-seven, if she shows that part of the body, she would be naked. Well then, if you wear a pair of shorts, you would be naked, according to God. Therefore shorts and the mini-skirt would be immodest, because they are not long, and they expose nakedness. And as I said, the thigh goes down into the knee. So the only way to guarantee that the thigh is not exposed is to wear a skirt or dress that goes below the knee. That is why a preacher demands that a woman wear skirts and dresses below the knee. CLOTHES which show off the form and the figure are not shamefacedness. It doesn’t flow. It is not long. It is not modest.
Apostle Paul Said “When you sin against your brothers in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause him to fall.” I Cor. 8:12-13 NIV. In like manner, if wearing those clothes of yours will cause anyone created by God to sin, desist from it.
“not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array” The Grecian and Roman women hairs were often crisped and curled in the most variegated and complex manner. They pay much more attention to their hair than is required. It is plaited with great care, and arranged in various forms, according to the prevailing fashion, and often ornamented with spangles, or with silver wire, or tissue interwoven. The sense here is that Christian women are not to imitate those of the world in their careful attention to the ornaments of the head. It cannot be supposed that the mere braiding of the hair is forbidden, but only that careful attention to the manner of doing it, and to the ornaments usually worn in it, which characterized worldly fashion. Moderation will lead Christian women to avoid all unnecessary expense and they must not imitate the extravagance of those who, through impurity or littleness of mind, decked themselves merely to attract the eye of admiration, or set in lying action the tongue of flattery.
My motivation to men and women on the issue of modesty is, we should desire to dress the way God wants us to dress, we should desire to look the way God tells us to look, both men and women, because God tells us to. We should need no further motivation than this. Just the fact that the Bible says we should do it, that is all the motivation we should need. To protect our testimony as God’s Ambassadors – Christians. We find God commanded Israel to be a “peculiar people” (Exodus 19:5, Deuteronomy 14:2 & 26:18, Psalm 135:4, Ecclesiastes 2:8). And you read later in the New Testament that God wants those who belong to the New Testament church to be a peculiar people (Titus 2:14, I Peter 2:9). He wants us to be different from the world. That is why God told the Israelites to dress a certain way, because when an Israelite walked down the street, God want the people to say, “There is a Jew. There is one of God’s people.” When the Israelites come marching through a town, God wants all the pagan societies around to know. “Hey, the Israelites are marching into our town. Those are the people for whom God parted the Red Sea and drowned the entire Egyptian host. We better get out of the way and just let them have our land. We will move on down the road.” That was what God wanted. God wanted the world to be able to spot an Israelite a mile away. They were a peculiar people. And God wants the Christians in the local New Testament churches to be a peculiar people. The Bible tells us to. We are to be living epistles, a peculiar people, a royal priesthood, a chosen generation. People ought to be able to look at you and to know you are a Christian. They shouldn’t have to ask. And by the way, if they have to ask, the chances are you are not going to have much of a testimony with them anyway, and you are not going to be very successful in leading them to Christ. They are going to say, “If you are a Christian, and you are just like me, why do I need to become a Christian? It is not going to do anything for them. It hasn’t changed you, and you are just like them. If we are going to win the world, we have to be different from the world, and God wants us to have a testimony. God wants us to be different. He wants us to look different. He wants us to be a peculiar people, chosen to Him. That is another motivation for dressing and looking properly.
PETER M. I. PETERS
