Devil With A Blue Dress On (John A. Smith)

While on jury duty recently, I had the opportunity to gain some interesting and challenging insight into the attitude of the world toward immodest apparel. (As far as I was able to determine none of my fellow jurors were New Testament Christians.) Several times during the two-day trial a female bailiff came into the court bringing papers to the judge. While on break one of the male jurors said that he was considering writing a note to the judge requesting that the bailiff change clothes. Her bright blue dress was such a distraction that he had trouble concentrating.

The dress was a bit on the short side, but that was not the problem in this man's mind. It was hard to tell whether she had used a shoehorn to put it on or if it had been spray painted on. Simply based on what she was wearing, he and other men on the jury referred to her as "Jezebel." When one man saw a small cross hanging on a necklace, he suggested that her name be changed from Jezebel to Mary Magdalene.

On the second day of the trial a female witness came into court wearing a short, tight shirt. Later during deliberations we were discussing her testimony. For some reason she was the only witness asked her occupation by the defense attorney. Discussing this two male jurors laughed and said based on how she was dressed they expected her to say stripper or exotic dancer.

You see, what you wear or don't wear reflects on your character and profession of faith. It is sad and embarrassing when professing Christians fail to admit what those of the world readily acknowledge about modesty and character. In the parable of the unrighteous steward, Jesus noted that the children of this world are more shrewd than the sons of light (Luke 16:8).

Warm weather is upon us again and with the coming of warmer weather, clothes begin to shrink and disappear. The world follows rules given by the whim of society's style and wishes. Little can be done at large for the world's values but the Christian has a responsibility before his God. This responsibility is to present himself or herself as an example of holiness. The pattern of holiness is not governed by the world but by the word of God.

Can the Christian dress in any fashion and be pleasing to God? Certainly not! The Christian has a responsibility concerning what is done with the body and this includes the type of garment worn. God has bought us with the price of His Son and when we disregard His law and wear any kind of clothing we see fit, we fail to glorify Him - thus we sin! No one who professes to be a Christian can dress like the world and find acceptance in the eyes of God.

It is not surprising that we find people in the world who dress immodestly and are unconcerned for their example and influence. If it is shameful for people of the world to wear immodest clothing, how much more shameful and inexcusable is it for Christians to do the same! People, not professing godliness, are unconcerned about how they influence others or reflect upon the cause of Christ. But those who profess to love the Lord and their fellow man must not make the same serious, soul-damning mistakes.

Fathers and husbands, God demands that you take the lead in your family and this includes exercising leadership regarding modesty. Any time I see a teenager dressed immodestly, my first thought is not one of condemnation for them (after all they are young, inexperienced, and lacking in wisdom). Rather, my first thought is one of shock that her father let her out of the house dressed that or allowed such clothing to be purchased.

Any time you see a young person or wife dressed immodestly, you know that somewhere there is likely to be a prodigal father or husband. Fathers and husbands, do you really want your daughter or wife to be the object of the lustful gazes of hormone-riddled men? Are you comfortable with the knowledge that you might stand in judgment watching your wife or daughter be condemned by our Lord because her immodesty knowing that you did nothing to stop it? In such a scenario, who will be next to hear those awful words, depart, I never knew you

If a randomly selected group of men on a jury can determine what is or is not modest and can understand the immoral impact of it, certainly those of us who are having our senses trained by the word of God to discern good and evil can do the same.

The Attire Of The Christian (Kent Heaton)

There is a lot of interest in schools to impose a certain dress code and in many cases have a uniform dress code for all students. Educators understand the importance of what young people wear and what many times they fail to wear as having an impact upon the environment of the schools. As from time beginning, the attire worn by an individual says a lot about who they are.

The attire of the Christian is a very important part of their character. Having obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ, we have given our lives in service to Jesus Christ. This means that we should no longer seek to dress as the world dresses but rather to glorify God with our bodies. This point is made clear in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."

The Lord wants His disciples to know that their body's are members of Christ and what we do with our body's matters to Him. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit whom we received from God when we were baptized into Christ. (Acts 2:38,39; 5:32) We are to glorify God with our bodies and we "are not our own."

Disciples of Christ made a covenant with God to put Him first in their lives in everything. That covenant is to regard our lives as complete before Him and in accordance with His will. The argument people use about having the right to dress as they desire is not acceptable to God. God said, "You are not your own." Why? Because Jesus Christ died to redeem us and we were "bought at a price." The price of the life of God's Son is why we have no right to dictate to God what we shall wear or what we shall put on. He - and He alone - has that right. Paul then states - "Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's."

Does it matter what I wear? What does my attire say about me? Consider what the Bible says about what statement is made in what I wear. Proverbs 7:10 describes the harlot in this fashion: "And there a woman met him, with the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart." The attire of a harlot is the statement made by a harlot by the way she dresses. Judah thought Tamar was a harlot by the manner of her apparel. (Genesis 38:13-15)

Isaiah described the children of God in their wantonness and wickedness: "Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, making a jingling with their feet." (3:16) The truth is very clear - even to the minds of people today - we show our lives by the way we dress.

The attire of the Christian is not based upon the world's fashions. The attire of the Christian is found in the love of God and obedience to Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 2:9-10 says, "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, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works." The attire that many Christians wear is not modest, it has no propriety, without moderation, gaudy and lacking godliness. To see women who profess to be children of the Most High God exposing themselves with the lack of clothing is a shame and disgrace to the blood of Jesus Christ. Women who wear clothes so tight they had to be poured into them is unbecoming godliness. The dresses are worn so short that sitting down becomes an Olympic event by itself. Christian women parade around town in shorts so tight and so short that the last thing anyone who think of those women is godliness.

Godly women need to be found in the church who are willing to dress like godly women. Elders need to take charge of the flock of God and instruct the women concerning their dress - and the men also. They are not exempt in this. Godly apparel is glorifying God - what many wear today does not glorify God - and bring shame to the body of Jesus Christ.

"You are bought at a price!" Post that on the mirrors when you get dressed. Fathers need to dress their daughters and wives in godly apparel. "You are not your own" says that I must dress as God would desire me to be. Let's stop kidding ourselves and find solace in the fashion of the day. Women - if you are not dressed in godly apparel - go home and get dressed. Men - do not bring shame upon Christ by the way you dress. Christians - dress godly!