by Mary Van Nattan
by Mary Van Nattan
There are several different subjects that are very sensitive, even volatile, in the Lord's church these days. The KJV-Only position, house churches, and women being in submission to their own husbands are some of them. The matter of modesty is one such subject, and in some cases may be the most volatile of them all.
On the one side we hear: "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man..." (Deuteronomy 22:5); "God can't use a woman in pants;" "You have to dress by 'these' standards to be right with God;" "If you don't wear the proper clothes, you can't be spiritual;" etc. All right, maybe most don't come right out and say all of these things in so many words, but it's implied.
On the other side we hear: "I have my liberty! I'm free to wear pants if I want to;" "You can't tell me what to do!" "You are just a bunch of hypocrites anyway!" "I need freedom of movement that I can only get in pants;" "We're under grace;" "You are a Pharisee!" etc. [Please note the glaring lack of scripture in these arguments.]
So, who is right anyway?
By the grace of God, we are going to take a look at what the Bible has to say about this. God does not leave us without answers, but sometimes human nature gets in the way Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered... Mark 7:13
First off, it must be pointed out that modesty
is not a way of dressing. It is a way of life, a matter of the heart. 1Peter
3:3 Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the
hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 4 But let it be
the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament
of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
The point of this verse has been mistakenly thought to mean a woman should
not plait (1) her hair, nor wear jewelry. If this was true, however, then she
also should not wear apparel, and since we know that is not what God would say,
we must look for what He is saying. The whole point here is that the outward
things a woman does to herself or puts on, are not the ornaments that God finds
of great price. He looks for what is in the heart. 1Samuel
16:7 But the LORD said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height
of his stature; because I have refused him: for the LORD seeth not as man
seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the
heart. The heart is where modesty begins and therefore, if
the heart is not right toward God, all the outward efforts at modesty will not
add the value that God finds so precious. Proverbs
4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of
life.
|
Page 3 | |
 |
Practical
Helps for Modest Dressing
Last updated -
Sept. 14
Related articles:
Eve
Is Again Listening To the Voice of the Serpent
Last night I was up late watching an old episode of "I Love Lucy." In this episode Lucy wanted to get a new "Italian" haircut. This is a haircut that is similar to if not identical to the one on the heads of at least 50% of the women in most every Baptist church I have preached in (and I have preached in hundreds of churches in nearly all 50 states). In fact, the "Italian" cut that Lucy wanted was longer than the "do's" I have seen on the heads of a lot of Baptist pastor's wives.
Ricky's (Desi Arnaz) reply was: "Lucy, there is a difference between men and women. Men have short hair and women have long hair. I am not going to have my wife getting her hair cut off and looking like a man. It will confuse Little Ricky and I do not want my son to grow up with a mother that looks like his father."
If Ricky Ricardo could preach I Cor. 11:14-15 on his TV show, I should hope Baptist preachers will start to do so from their pulpits.
graphics and background by mary vannattan