Several days ago, I wrote a post on how we certainly can know from scripture how to dress today. You can read that here. But in this post, I want to mention a little more as to how that has affected me and my clothing choices personally. No, it is not to focus or talk about me only but to illustrate how women professing to have been born again must act as they search the scriptures daily. It is to show how I went from being "modestly" dressed to biblically dressed to obey the Lord's commands. Perhaps there are some more women out there seeking the truth of how God wants His daughters to clothe their bodies.
As I mentioned in my previous post, I had grown up (along with the other ladies in my family) wearing long skirts and dresses after a switch from pants etc. While this might be considered modest or conservative Christian dress by many today, was it biblical when tested to scripture? Today I say no, not all of the time. Some of what I wore would have been adorned as scripture teaches for no outward adornment in our dress. When I saw that in scripture I had to get rid of all of my clothing that did not fit with God's Word on this.
Also I was not always careful enough to make sure all of my clothing was loose and not too tight fitting. While I never really thought about my clothes much and never intentionally dressed unbiblical, when I learned better and that any transgressions of God's design is sin, I repented. While makeup and jewellery were never a temptation to me and so I didn't use them, those are sins too in the same category as the clothing I was wearing that was adorned with florals or other patterns. What is the point of all of those things? Surely to try to look attractive or "pretty" or something, which is not becoming for a holy woman of God and is sinful vanity trying to make one look "beautiful" on the outside. God wants a holy and pure heart and He's said how we are to dress. Read and study 1 Timothy 2 and 1 Peter 3 where it speaks of these things. And remember why God first gave humans clothing. It was to cover us after we sinned. It wasn't to adorn us. It was animal skins that was our first clothing!
As I described above was how I dressed growing up, and I had never worn a headcovering and so I repented of that sin of not doing so also.
I recall the verse (1 Samuel
15:23) that says that rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and
stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. To rebel and to be disobedient to what we know to be God's commands
in this area of clothing and headcovering is indeed
serious. I pray you will all study God's Word for what it says and not
what someone might want it to say or what the Christian religion of
today is saying.
I want to also briefly touch on the word "modest" that most everyone in Christianity today is talking about. That term is so varied that it could mean almost anything these days so we need to study deeper than any translation. The term "modest apparel" has obviously been translated from something the original writer who was inspired by the Holy Spirit wrote which are commands of God how we are to dress.
Another thing I hear over and over is that you have to just go by your convictions and how the Lord is speaking to you. Others say ask your husband or dad and see what they say is right for you or what they want from you. To me this seems much like what the serpent said to Eve, "Has God really said that?", trying to get around the Lord's commands. Have you heard and been deceived by those things people are saying?
"But ye have not so learned Christ;
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."
So I will continue to test and evaluate everything I wear or consider buying to see whether it would fit with God's command for our dress to be simple, plain, long, loose, and with a head covering of the same plain manner which covers all of our long hair and head.
Because I have repented and forsaken my past ignorance/disobedience/rebellion, I know this following verse holds true. We can trust in God to keep His promises. We have to do our bit. Have you?
Repent today while you still have time. If you are reading this and are not right with God or are disobedient in this area of dress, the mercy and forgiveness of the Lord is available for all who repent. But the time is coming when it will be too late. We do not know when that is for each of us.
"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."
"Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. 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, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels." (Revelation 3:4-5)
"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;
And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.
And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God,
Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.
And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?
And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.
For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." (Revelation 7:9-17)
So live to glorify Him day by day...then we shall be with Him one day.
