Brethren, we should stop dishonoring the Lord and the counsel of His Holy Word. We cannot seek the world’s approval of us; if we do so, then our message to the world has failed and we have failed as well. The worldly Christian is only concerned about the affairs of this world and what they can get out of the world, but they have no desire to win souls and care for the things of God (Philippians 3:18-21).
Christ or the World
This topic is very serious in the eyes of God and that is why He commanded us to add onto this subject. In a short vision to Charis recently, the Lord showed her a woman, who is a mother and who professes to be a Christian, wearing very tight shorts with a tight top almost exposing her breast. On this the Lord said, “That woman is very worldly, and she loves the attention of others”.
After Adam and Eve sinned against God at the garden, there was a necessity to cover nakedness, and clothes were meant to cover the body (Genesis 3:6-7, 21). However, the enemy has been using the spirit of fashion, resulting in clothes being used to show off the body in a bid to boost some people's bruised egos or mask identity/insecurity issues. Remember, in our dressing it is not about how we feel as some have made us believe; what we should ask ourselves is this: is our outward appearance drawing attention to us or does it glorify God? The Lord says that the reason why many Christians are conforming to the standards of the world is because of their fear of man more than God (John 12:43).
Yes, many Christians fear offensive comments from the world, but don’t fear God; they rather value the flattering opinions of man more than the fear of God. The Bible clearly warns us "not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that can do no more... Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell" (Luke 12:4-5). Christians need to realize that in the Christian walk, we are destined to suffer ridicule and mockery from the world (Psalm 123:4; 2 Timothy 3:12). We must make up our minds if we are going to follow the leading of the world because the way we conduct ourselves sets the standards accepted by the world. Therefore, if we meet the world’s standards, then we are not in sync with God’s standards and His Judgement will apply to us. Remember, friendliness with the world is enmity with God (James 4:4; Romans 8:7).
“Also, the women are to dress themselves in modest clothing, with decency and good sense, not with elaborate hairstyles, gold, pearls, or expensive apparel, but with good works, as is proper for women who affirm that they worship God” (1 Timothy 2:9-10 HCSB). See also 1 Peter 3:3-4.
What is Modest Dressing?
I have borrowed words below from an online Christian resource, which accurately sum up modest dressing for Christians from a Biblical perspective:
“To understand what constitutes modest dressing is to look at the attitudes and intents of a person’s heart. Those whose hearts are inclined toward God will make every effort to dress modestly, decently, and appropriately. Those whose hearts are inclined toward self will dress in a manner designed to draw attention to themselves with little or no regard for the consequences to themselves or others.
A godly woman endeavors to do everything with a “God-ward” perspective. She knows that God wants His people to be concerned for His glory and the spiritual state of their brothers and sisters in Christ. If a woman professes to be a Christian yet she dresses in a way that will unduly draw attention to her body, she is a poor witness of the One who bought her soul by dying for her on the cross. She is forgetting that her body has been redeemed by Christ and is now the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19–20). She is telling the world that she determines her own worth on a purely physical basis and that her attractiveness depends on how much of her body she reveals to them. Further, by dressing in an immodest fashion, displaying her body for men to lust after, she causes her brothers in Christ to sin, something condemned by God (Matthew 5:27–29). Proverbs 7:10 mentions a woman “dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent”—here, the woman’s heart condition is displayed by her manner of dress.
The Scripture says that we are to dress modestly, but what exactly does that mean in modern society? Does a woman have to be covered from head to toe? There are cults and religions in the world that demand this of women. But is that the biblical meaning of modesty? Again, we have to go back to the matter of the attitudes of the heart. If a woman’s heart is inclined toward godliness, she will wear clothing that is neither provocative nor revealing in public, clothing that does not reflect negatively upon her personal testimony as a child of God. Everyone else in her circle may be dressing immodestly, but she resists the temptation to go along with the crowd. She avoids clothing designed to draw attention to her body and cause men to lust, for she is wise enough to know that type of attention only cheapens her. The idea of causing men to sin against God because of her dress is abhorrent to her because she seeks to love and honor God and wants others to do the same.
Modesty in dress reveals a modesty and godliness of the heart, attitudes that should be the desire of all women (and men) who live to please and honor God”. ("What happens after death?" Got Questions Ministries, n.d. Web. 06 Jul. 2014).In Conclusion, this message and Scriptures are also very much relevant to men who are also causing women to sin by their worldly dressing (Luke 17:1-2). There are men in the church who wear “muscle” shirts, unbuttoned shirts, and other attire to draw attention to themselves while causing women to sin. There are also pastors’ wives who dress worldly, including wearing very high-heeled shoes and exposing “cleavage”, and often when you go to these churches, the women are emulating and copying the pastor’s wife. Dear Children of God, let us honor the Lord with our dressing! He is worthy and will help us be the godly models the world needs to see.
Finally for parents, the enemy is working hard to dress our children in worldly things including very short or tight shorts, miniskirts, and demonic figures or messages on dresses for young girls and on shirts, shoes, and other attire for boys. Other types of worldly dressing or fashion styles that appeal to the flesh, are sexually provocative, or promote lust, such as sagging by young men (wearing pants which sag so that the top is significantly below the waist) or women's wearing of low-rise jeans, are displeasing to the Lord because the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit and we should be glorifying God in our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Even though there may not be many choices of decent, modest clothes, please teach the children to honor the Lord in their dressing while they are young, so that when they grow up they are well grounded to resist the world's ways (Proverbs 22:6). Although there is peer pressure to conform to worldly trends, let us choose to fear The Lord and not to conform to the patterns of the world (Romans 12:2) because ultimately, "God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil" (Ecclesiastes 12:14).
May we overcome in Jesus name and be among those to whom the Lord says, “You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary” (Revelation 2:3) and "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!" (Matthew 25:21).
If you have not made a decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, or if you desire to renew your relationship with Him, simply pray this
Blessed love in Christ’ service,
Brother Glenn.
