banner

Last Updated on : Saturday, October 11, 2014

 

spacer
spacer

selah

 

spacer
spacer

Chapter 3:
Modest Apparel


spacer
spacer

 

THE subject of dress is a theme constantly touched upon in Scripture. Apparently the form of adornment of sisters has frequently been a matter of concern. Through Zephaniah, Yahweh declared: "I will punish all such as are clothed with strange apparel." Rotherharn renders this: foreign apparel, that is, Gentile dress!

The immodest extremes current among Gentiles today are surely foreign apparel as far as Christadelphians are concerned. Therefore, we must heed the warning exhortation of the prophet that Yahweh declares that He will punish all such as are clothed therewith. The people of God are called upon to be restrained in their ways and habits. As Yahweh's peculiar people, consecrated to His service, Israelites were required to be most careful in dress. They were commanded to attach to their garments a fringe of blue, to remind them of their heavenly calling. This border encircled their feet so that they walked within its bounds; teaching them that their spiritual "walk" should be governed by the restrictions of the law. The instructions are recorded in Numbers 15:37-41:

"Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue; and it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of Yahweh, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye used to go a whoring: that ye may be holy unto your God. I, Yahweh, brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God".

In very dress, the Israelites were called upon to exemplify the holiness of Yahweh, and show that they obeyed His commands. Do we display that in the clothes we wear? Moses declared that Yahweh brought the children of Israel out of Egypt to be their God, and, He required them to be holy or separate because He is holy.

The instruction of the Law is supplemented in the Epistles. Paul and Peter write to some extent upon this theme. Peter points out that the true adorning of a sister, and one which will commend her to both God and man, is "the hidden man of the heart .... the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit" (1 Pet. 3:1-6). He calls upon sisters, and particularly upon wives (and Peter was married - 1 Cor. 9:5) to seek to appeal by the beauty of their character, and not by a lavish, gaudy display of jewelry, nor by conspicuous, immodest dress, nor elaborate latest hair styles. Not that sisters need or should be dowdy; in fact they grace their position by looking neat and pleasant; but in the choice of dress, ornaments, hair styles and so on, they should be guided by the principle that the chief and basic adornment must be the Lord Jesus, and that external dress etc. should be in keeping with the sweetness, simplicity, purity, meekness and quietness of spirit of the follower of the Lord. The dress of such a person will be attractive without detracting from Christ, whose excellence of example she will manifest.

Paul likewise commanded: "in like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety which becometh women professing godliness, with good works" (1 Tim. 2:9). Each of these expressions is worthy of consideration in the light of current fashions. "Modest apparel" is becoming apparel according to the Diaglott. It is dress that is becoming to one understanding and professing the doctrine of God manifestation, or Godliness. God manifestation is the revelation in action of Divine characteristics.

"Shamefacedness" is better rendered in modesty or with reserve. It is the very reverse of that attitude which hankers to follow the latest fashion, no matter what it requires.

"With sobriety" is from a Greek word signifying soundness of mind, and judgment. It denotes dress that is selected by one whose mind is exercised upon the Word, and desires to please her Lord in all things.

Certainly the provocative dress of today does not answer to that description, and because it does not, it should be avoided by all who desire to please Christ. Again we stress, that we are confident that any who may have followed the fashion in modern dress, have done so out of thoughtlessness, and doubtless this reminder will be sufficient to cause them to aim for standards set by the Word.

Unfortunately, in Israel, the women ignored the appeal of the Law and the Prophets, and pleased themselves. Consequently they felt the full force of Divine judgment that destroyed the State and ruined many families. Isaiah indicted them for their rebellious ways:

"Moreover Yahweh saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk holding their heads high, ogling with their eyes, walking with mincing steps, their anklets jingling, therefore on that day the Lord will deprive them of their finery, of anklets, tiaras, necklaces, ear-rings, bracelets and veils, headbands, armlets, sashes, scent-bottles, charms, signet-rings and nose-rings, robes of state, mantles, shawls and purses, gauze, linen turbans, and wrappers. For scent they shall have stench, for ropes they shall have girdles, instead of curls they shall have baldness, instead of silk they shall be in sackcloth, instead of beauty they shall receive the brand of slavery. . . ." (Isa. 3:16-24 - AN. and Moffatt).

 

For a time, these women in Israel continued on their way completely indifferent to the requirements of the law or the appeal of the prophets. They preferred to please themselves. They stood before their mirrors and admired the beauty that they saw reflected therefrom, they did not see the hidden ugliness of the heart: the spirit of rebellion that made Yahweh sad and angry. The day came however, when they learned to regret the folly of their actions. It was the day of judgment, and they were held accountable for the manner in which they had defied the requirements of Yahweh, and had influenced others to do likewise.

A day is approaching when all matters shall be brought into judgment. Paul, commenting on this wrote: "Knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men" (2 Cor. 5:11). How much better it will be for us in that day, if we heed the exhortations of the Word now. The words of Moses, Isaiah, Zephaniah, Paul and Peter, remind us that Yahweh is not indifferent to the way in which we conduct ourselves in relation to current fashions, and we appeal to all to give an example of consistency in that regard.

 

 

 


Selah Contents

Also available in chapter format (one chapter --- on one web page) small flower

 

spacer
spacer spacer