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Does God Care About What I Wear?

August 31, 2009 at 6:16 pm (Holiness & Separation)

Does God Care About What I Wear?

Holiness & Separation

2) Does God care about what we wear?

A)    YES: God is concerned about the outward appearance of man!

Genesis 3:7 (English Standard Version)
Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

Genesis 3:21 (English Standard Version)
And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them.

• God intervened in man’s attempt to clothe himself. God realized the inadequacy of man’s attempt, and from then until now, God desires modest apparel. Society disagrees about what is modest and what is not, but when God’s Word is used and obeyed, the outcome will always result in modesty.

• Our appearance is the manner in which we come before the world! It’s what we display to everyone about our and behavior. Appearance is the way we conduct ourselves and the way we wear our clothing. When our appearance enhances our Christian experience, there’s no conflict with God’s Word. But when the motive is to attract attention, then we manifest pride.

• Our greatest concern should be for the reputation of Christ and the Gospel, rather than the building up of our own ego. The Christian should display himself in such a way that attention is drawn to Christ. The world needs a model in moral and Spiritual living. They will only find this type of example in the lives of real Christians.

B)    Clothing in Scripture:

• God Himself is “clothed” to indicate modesty.

Revelation 1:12-13 (English Standard Version)
¹² Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me, and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands, ¹³ and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, clothed with a long robe and with a golden sash around his chest.

• Jesus uses a parable to express the necessity of proper clothing!

Matthew 22:11-13 (English Standard Version)
¹¹ “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. ¹² And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. ¹³ Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

• Revelation is full of examples where being properly clothed is indicative of a right relationship with God:

Revelation 3:5a (King James Version)

He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life…

Revelation 3:18a (King James Version)

I counsel thee to buy of me … white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear…

Revelation 4:4b (King James Version)

…I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment…

Revelation 7:9 (King James Version)

After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;

Revelation 15:6a (King James Version)

And the seven angels came out of the temple, having the seven plagues, clothed in pure and white linen…

Revelation 19:13-14 (King James Version)

And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. [14] And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

• To say or think that the God and His Word are NOT concerned about being clothed properly (modestly) is to not fully understand the Word of God.

• We should be clothed in such a way that does not expose our bodies, but rather hide’s our nakedness.  The “coats” in Genesis 3:21 are translated from the Hebrew word KUTTONETH meaning, “garment; robe; tunic.” It covered everything from the shoulder to below the knee. In other words God was covering the parts of the body that can produce lustful thoughts. To be clothed modestly is to be covered from the shoulder to at least below the knee.

• Do we allow fashions, fad and society to guide our thoughts on clothing, or do we seek God and His Word as our guide? If a garment is revealing, or is even remotely close to being immodest, the true Christian should “abstain from the very appearance of evil.”

C)   Abomination!?

Deuteronomy 22:5 (New King James Version)
A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God.

• Some have argued that Deuteronomy 22:5 is under the “Covenant of Law” that was fulfilled at Calvary; thus, since Christ fulfilled the law, this verse has been fulfilled.

• First, this thinking produces a spirit that wants to bring the Word of God into question, and challenge its validity. One cannot pick and choose what they like out of the Word and disregard what they dislike.

• Second, the “ceremonial” law was fulfilled; meaning that animal sacrifice is no longer a mandate.

• However, one must read the whole verse! The last phrase changes everything, regardless of where this verse is found! “for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God!” While Jesus did fulfill the ceremonial law, He did not “fulfill” abominations. An abomination in the Old Testament is still an abomination in the New Testament. As well, Revelation records something about abominations too:

Revelation 21:27 (New King James Version) (also 21:8)
But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

• Those that do or cause an abomination shall not enter into eternal glory with the Lord. This coincides with Jesus’ parable of the wedding garment (Matthew 22).

• God designed men and women to be different and to fulfill their respective roles. This distinction brings balance to the marriage and the home. One can also observe a common sign on any bathroom and be able to recognize which one is the men’s and which one is the ladies, even if they are not spelled out!

• The ladies bathroom always has a stick figure of a woman in a skirt!

• It’s obvious that slacks make a woman look more like a man, in the same way that a dress/skirt would cause a man to appear feminine. Even if the department stores, or the clothing manufacturer calls a skirt a “man’s garment,” or calls pant’s a “woman’s garment” does not negate the Word of God!

• It all comes down to this question – do you want to please God or man?  God does care about what we wear, and the New Testament also addresses modest apparel. In fact, the phrase “modest apparel” is the Greek counterpart to the Hebrew word KUTTONETH and means “a long flowing garment.”

1 Timothy 2:9-10 (New King James Version)
⁹ in like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, ¹⁰ but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.

3) Appearance in physical expressions:

A)    Make-up:

• Changing the facial features with cosmetics is a method some use to try to hide their real self, or to appear more beautiful, or for the purpose of pride, or lustful reasons. Obviously all these are negative things and if they are not sin, they lead to sin. Besides, you are beautiful the way God made you…

Psalms 139:14 (English Standard Version)
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…

Jeremiah 4:30 (ESV)
And you, O desolate one, what do you mean that you dress in scarlet, that you adorn yourself with ornaments of gold, that you enlarge your eyes with paint? In vain you beautify yourself. Your lovers despise you; they seek your life.

Jeremiah 4:30 (MSG)
And you, what do you think you’re up to? Dressing up in party clothes, Decking yourselves out in jewelry, putting on lipstick and rouge and mascara! Your primping goes for nothing. You’re not going to seduce anyone. They’re out to kill you!

B)    Jewelry:

• Jewelry draws attention to ones self, and/or to the affluence and the glory of the person wearing it. These are either sin or lead to sin.

• There is some jewelry that serves a purpose: 1) A watch, but do you really need a gaudy one? 2) Wedding bands, but how many carets do you need in your diamond to indicate you’re married?

• God said, “Man looks on the outward appearance.” (1 Samuel 16:7). God was revealing His own ability to see what was inside the man. But the converse of that is that man can ONLY judge by the outward appearance. There are three things we see when observing others: their clothing, their conduct, and their physical appearance (expression). Once we’ve looked on the outward, judgment is made based on what was seen.

• Thus, people express themselves and their character in these three ways: a person dresses to express their station in life. Clothes distinguish a person for that which they are publicly. They frequent places which manifest their lifestyles. Through their daily behavior, they express their values and philosophy of life. And finally, they show in their every gesture and manner of physical adornment what they really are inside.

• Are you dressing to “impress?”  Do you really need that make-up and jewelry to express yourself?  Or can you make the decision to be modest in your apparel and appearances and be obedient to the Word of God?

4) A clean temple – Does God Care About What I Do?:

1 Corinthians 3:16-17 (English Standard Version)
¹⁶ Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? ¹⁷ If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Romans 6:12-13 (English Standard Version)
¹² Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions. ¹³ Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Romans 6:16 (English Standard Version)
Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?

A)    Drinking:

Proverbs 20:1 (English Standard Version)
Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Proverbs 20:1 (God’s Word)
Wine {makes people} mock, liquor {makes them} noisy, and everyone under their influence is unwise.

B)    Smoking:

• While there is no Scripture relating to the harmful nature of smoking, it is most certainly sinful as it damages the “body” which is the temple of the Holy Ghost.

C)   Drugs:

• Because of the mind-altering nature of drugs, they fall into the category of sinful because of the harm they do to our bodies.

D)   Amusements/Recreation Parks, etc:

• Jesus realized the need for recreation (Mark 6:31) and the Bible records that one of the foundations of the Church is fellowship (Acts 2:42).

• However, when considering your next vacation, or even going to the theme park, or ball-game, consider this for a moment – what about the environment? An ungodly environment is not conducive to holy living.

• Maybe you would be dressed modestly if you went to the public pool, but what about all the other people there?  Your husband and son would most certainly be very tempted to lust with their eyes and in their hearts. Even ladies would have a hard time staying focused on Godliness when looking at young men not wearing shirts.

• There are also some restaurants that are not conducive to holy living because they promote sinfulness.

• All of these things must be considered in balance and moderation. You will see people walking down the street dressed immodestly and this does not mean that you need to quit driving. The grocery store sells beer and wine and maybe porn magazines, but we can avoid those aisles while purchasing our groceries.

• The point is to stop and ask yourself honestly, “What would Jesus do?”  “Would He go to this event, game, park, etc?”

1 Thessalonians 5:22 (King James Version)
Abstain from all appearance of evil.

E)    Overeating:

• This one is not that popular, but overeating destroys the body, which is the temple of the Holy Ghost.

Proverbs 23:2 (New Century Version)
Control yourself if you have a big appetite.

Proverbs 23:19-21 (New King James Version)
¹⁹ Hear, my son, and be wise; And guide your heart in the way. ²⁰ Do not mix with winebibbers, Or with gluttonous eaters of meat; ²¹ For the drunkard and the glutton will come to poverty, And drowsiness will clothe a man with rags.

• Proper diet and exercise will keep you feeling better and you will be maintaining your body – the temple of the Holy Ghost.

• For additional information on the subject of modest apparel and appearance, please request the following from 1^st Lady, Shannon Powell or refer to our lending library at SRWC:

• “Because I am His” by Raymond Woodward
• “Power Before the Throne” by Ruth Harvey
• “A Call to Holiness” by Joy Haney