Woman's Apparel
by Candace Malcomson
WOMEN’S APPAREL
Without doubt the most important clothes to be wearing are the ROBES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS! This means, you are washed in the blood of Jesus and that you wear ‘royal robes you don’t deserve’ because of what Christ did at Calvary. But the issue of what women physically wear has roused much questioning and needs to be looked at with sobriety. Let us go to the touchstone, the Word of God, to see what scripture says.
God Asks Women to Avoid Masculine Clothes
Deut 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. (KJV)
If we look back in time and at different nationalities, we will find skirt-like garments on men of all nations and eras, but the wearing of such robes or garments for a men is always distinct from the wearing of those of the women’s. This should be a very easy yardstick for us women; if it looks masculine or could be confused with men’s garments then leave it alone.
God Asks Women to be Modest and Not Adorn Ourselves
1Ti 2:9 - 10
In the same way also, I desire that women adorn themselves in decent clothing, with modesty and sensibleness, not adorned with braiding, or gold, or pearls, or costly clothing, but with good works, which becomes women professing godliness (MKJV)
1Pe 3:1 – 4
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. (KJV)
Reading the above, we are left with no doubt that we are called to wear MODEST clothes. We are left with no doubt that the modesty must go deeper than the clothes as women are called to have ‘chaste conversation’ which directly translated means innocent and modest behavior.
We are also encouraged to not adorn ourselves which, in modern terms, means that we do not put on a dress that would decorate or draw attention to our person (body).
God has appointed us to Royal and Priestly Offices
Just how smart or dressed up ought we to be? The question is old: if you were going to see the city Mayor or going to receive an award, what would you wear? Hopefully you would wear your best clothes; clothes specially selected for the occasion. How much more should we not consider what we wear when we come before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?
When we go to church we are going into the house of the King of Kings.
We are very quick to claim that we are Princes and Princesses – children of a King and yet we are comfortable to go to the house of the King (church) dressed as paupers.
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
We are very quick to claim that we are Priests but we take little care for the sign of that office – holy garments: Exo 28:1-3 And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron.. And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office Exo 35:19 The cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office.
Being Mindful of Being a Stumbling Block
Rom 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another anymore: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
Women of all ages should be ever mindful that God has made men as a strongly visual being and that there will always be men in our gatherings who are young in Christ and may be weak or easily tempted in this area. We should therefore dress ever mindful of them in true Christ-like manner putting their weakness before our desire to look atttractive.
Putting Our Own Convictions Upon Others
Sister in Christ, we must be ever mindful of the nature of the work of Sanctification – the changing work of God’s Spirit in our lives. There are those who are young in Him for whom this is all new and then there are those who may have grown up from their earliest years with clear convictions on this subject. Wherever you are on the road, we are only granted the privilege of praying for one another and entreating one another based on scripture. We cannot and should not impose our convictions upon another sister thereby bringing bondage to them.
Picture a young sister in Christ, let’s call her Pat, who comes to Christ with a past of very masculine clothing. Now add to the scene a well-meaning sister, who is enthused and determined to make Pat change her clothing. The older sister bears down upon Pat with books and tracts on the subject. Whilst Pat wanted very much to start wearing skirts and growing her hair, she felt she wouldn’t on account of the over-zealous pressure. Pat does come to that place of desiring to wear feminine clothes and sees it as a step of obedience to God. She begins to wear feminine clothes not because anyone told her to but because God by His Spirit has done a work in her. However, Pat may have taken these steps earlier on in her walk if it had not been for the burden laid upon her.
Let us walk humbly before our God and consider that each one is growing and each one will come to knowing – knowing what GOD ASKS of us; not man!
Without doubt the most important clothes to be wearing are the ROBES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS! This means, you are washed in the blood of Jesus and that you wear ‘royal robes you don’t deserve’ because of what Christ did at Calvary. But the issue of what women physically wear has roused much questioning and needs to be looked at with sobriety. Let us go to the touchstone, the Word of God, to see what scripture says.
God Asks Women to Avoid Masculine Clothes
Deut 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. (KJV)
If we look back in time and at different nationalities, we will find skirt-like garments on men of all nations and eras, but the wearing of such robes or garments for a men is always distinct from the wearing of those of the women’s. This should be a very easy yardstick for us women; if it looks masculine or could be confused with men’s garments then leave it alone.
God Asks Women to be Modest and Not Adorn Ourselves
1Ti 2:9 - 10
In the same way also, I desire that women adorn themselves in decent clothing, with modesty and sensibleness, not adorned with braiding, or gold, or pearls, or costly clothing, but with good works, which becomes women professing godliness (MKJV)
1Pe 3:1 – 4
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. (KJV)
Reading the above, we are left with no doubt that we are called to wear MODEST clothes. We are left with no doubt that the modesty must go deeper than the clothes as women are called to have ‘chaste conversation’ which directly translated means innocent and modest behavior.
We are also encouraged to not adorn ourselves which, in modern terms, means that we do not put on a dress that would decorate or draw attention to our person (body).
God has appointed us to Royal and Priestly Offices
Just how smart or dressed up ought we to be? The question is old: if you were going to see the city Mayor or going to receive an award, what would you wear? Hopefully you would wear your best clothes; clothes specially selected for the occasion. How much more should we not consider what we wear when we come before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords?
When we go to church we are going into the house of the King of Kings.
We are very quick to claim that we are Princes and Princesses – children of a King and yet we are comfortable to go to the house of the King (church) dressed as paupers.
1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
We are very quick to claim that we are Priests but we take little care for the sign of that office – holy garments: Exo 28:1-3 And take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron.. And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office Exo 35:19 The cloths of service, to do service in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office.
Being Mindful of Being a Stumbling Block
Rom 14:13 Let us not therefore judge one another anymore: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother's way.
Women of all ages should be ever mindful that God has made men as a strongly visual being and that there will always be men in our gatherings who are young in Christ and may be weak or easily tempted in this area. We should therefore dress ever mindful of them in true Christ-like manner putting their weakness before our desire to look atttractive.
Putting Our Own Convictions Upon Others
Sister in Christ, we must be ever mindful of the nature of the work of Sanctification – the changing work of God’s Spirit in our lives. There are those who are young in Him for whom this is all new and then there are those who may have grown up from their earliest years with clear convictions on this subject. Wherever you are on the road, we are only granted the privilege of praying for one another and entreating one another based on scripture. We cannot and should not impose our convictions upon another sister thereby bringing bondage to them.
Picture a young sister in Christ, let’s call her Pat, who comes to Christ with a past of very masculine clothing. Now add to the scene a well-meaning sister, who is enthused and determined to make Pat change her clothing. The older sister bears down upon Pat with books and tracts on the subject. Whilst Pat wanted very much to start wearing skirts and growing her hair, she felt she wouldn’t on account of the over-zealous pressure. Pat does come to that place of desiring to wear feminine clothes and sees it as a step of obedience to God. She begins to wear feminine clothes not because anyone told her to but because God by His Spirit has done a work in her. However, Pat may have taken these steps earlier on in her walk if it had not been for the burden laid upon her.
Let us walk humbly before our God and consider that each one is growing and each one will come to knowing – knowing what GOD ASKS of us; not man!