Part 5: Christian Living
Today's clothing styles for men and women, boys and girls often seem to leave much to be desired so far as beauty and modesty are concerned. But how does one decide what is really beautiful and what is really modest? While clothing selection is largely determined by current styles, Christians should have little delusion regarding clothing. The apostle Paul wrote in First Timothy chapter 2, verse 9:
I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.
It would seem unlikely that women should dress modestly and decently and men be excluded from this same restraint. When Paul wrote these verses, the style for pagan women was to braid their hair. Christian hairstyles were to be unlike those of pagans.
However James writes in, Chapter Two, Verses two thru four:
Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, 'Here's a good seat for you,' but say to the poor man, 'you stand there' or 'sit on the floor by my feet,' have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?
Most congregations of the Lord's church today have both the rich and the poor in their membership. There should be no effort to direct the rich to better seats than the poor. The rich should not wear clothing so expensive that it is outstanding. The poor often feel inferior, not because their clothing is less attractive, but because the better dressed people rarely fellowship with them. If this is how our people treat the less fortunate, do we not approach the error of directing the poor to the worse seats? All should remember that God places more value on one's state of the heart than upon the worth of their clothing. But, our style of clothing can reflect the state of our heart and the image we wish to project.
Now, back to the subject of modest clothing. Webster's New World Dictionary tells us that modesty is, "...behaving, dressing, speaking, etc. in a way that is considered proper or decent...Not extreme...quiet and humble in appearance, style, etc." Can we really believe that shorts for men are appropriate? Also, are shorts, short skirts and low necklines proper for women and girls? Christians need to consider these last two questions carefully even though these kinds of clothing are popular. But are they truly suitable for worshippers in the Lord’s church?
Pretend, for a moment that a famous, and admired statesman planned to visit your congregation and had announced that he wants to talk with each person. How would you dress? You would dress in your best even though your clothing might be poor, would you not?
Why be different when attending church for worship there to commune with the Lord of the universe, Jesus Christ? Matthew in Chapter 18, verse 20 tells us:
For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.
A part of today's style is for the men to wear their hats indoors as well as outdoors, even while eating in a restaurant. While teaching or in prayer during the worship of God, however, the hat or cap must be removed. First Corinthians Chapter 11, verse 4 says:
Every man who prays or prophesies (that is teaches) with his head covered dishonors his head.
To clarify this, study first Corinthians Chapter 11, verse 3, which reads in part:
Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ....
Should hairstyles be important for the Christian? First Corinthians, Chapter 11, Verse 14 and 15, tells us:
Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair it is her glory?
True enough, one must decide what is long and what is short. Let your Christian conscience aid you in this decision.
Does the style that we call "Cross Dressing" please God? This is where one dresses in the clothing of the opposite sex. Deuteronomy, Chapter 22, Verse 5, reads:
A woman must not wear men's clothing, nor a man wear women's clothing for the Lord your God detests anyone who does this.
To please God, then, no Christian should ever cross dress.
We can conclude that our clothing is important enough for God to have given us directions from His word, the Holy Bible.
Now, it is for the conscience of each Christian to dictate what styles are acceptable.