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Plain, Modest Dress

Many try to claim that what one wears doesn’t matter, it’s what is in the heart. The fact of the …

Many try to claim that what one wears doesn’t matter, it’s what is in the heart. The fact of the matter is that the issues of life flow out from the heart. If one is proud, worldly and immodest in their spirit, be sure it will be expressed in their manner of dress. One’s clothing always speaks before their words ever do. Conversely, wearing modest clothing will not make you holy in your heart, but it will be a fruit evidenced when a heart is holy.

There was a time, not so many years ago, when even secular society believed in fully covering their bodies. Now we are living in a decadent society and with their plunging morality, they have become grossly immodest in their dress. The religious sector has gone hand in hand along with this trend, despite the apostle Paul’s warning: “Be not conformed to this world…” Romans 12:2. In all areas of our lives, including our attire, there are some things that are “are not of the Father, but are of the world..”

The Bible says to “…glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” (I Corinthians 6:20). “…I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Thessalonians 5:23.

The Bible also gives some specific instructions concerning dress–

Our dress is to be unadorned, plain and modest:

I Timothy 2:9-10

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array. But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”

F.G. Smith said, “Women must be arrayed in ‘modest apparel…not with gold, or pearls, or costly array.’ These articles of adornment, then, are not modest apparel. The wearing of them is prompted, not by feelings of humility and modesty, but by pride in the heart. It is plain from this scripture that such things do not ‘become women professing godliness.’ Reader, are you a woman ‘professing godliness?’ Are you adorned with these things? If so, then they do not become your profession, and you are not arrayed in modest apparel.

“These principles apply with equal force to the male sex. Do not deceive yourself, reader, in the belief that you can continue to wear things which the Word of God forbids, and still be a spiritual person, filled with the grace of God. It is impossible. God’s children are to be ‘obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance. But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation’ (I Peter 1:14-15).”

I Peter 3:3-4

“Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; 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.”

(In ancient times, women would “plait” or elaborately weave things into their hair producing complex hairstyles. The apostle warns against this fad and instructs the saints to wear their hair plain and simply without unnecessary items in it. No doubt Peter would have much to say to professing women today if he saw their immodesty and worldliness!)

I Corinthians 11:14-15

“Doth not even nature itself teach you, that if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.”

God designed that men and women should dress and look differently:

Deuteronomy 22:5

“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God.”

Apparently Moses and Peter and Paul felt it was their ministerial duty to address outward things! I would like to know how professing people today think they have the liberty to disregard these scriptures which were given by the inspiration of God, and continue in the prideful and immodest fashions of this world. Jesus says, “If a man love me, he will keep my words” (John 14:23). “Why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?” (Luke 6:46).

6 thoughts on “Plain, Modest Dress”

  1. I dress always in a long dress with long sleeves and buttoned to the neck and matched with a knitted at least knee length wool cardigan. Everything in plain muted colors. I wear my hair in a bun or ponytail. I have learned that I go to Chapel to praise the Lords not to distract others or make myself in any way a centre of attention.

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    • My hair will not grow past my ears. I would also be way too hot in that heavy long sleeve full length skirt outfit. I would die! Or else go crazy with all that heat. I like to wear tank tops and shorts when it is so hot. I don’t like to have them be revealing, just comfortable. What about going swimming, living on a lake, going skiing, is there anything wrong with that?

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  2. Well I have to comment on this I am a minister not a close line preacher now before you start to judge me let me speak first God looks on the inward not the outward that was the Pharisees that did this that’s why they couldn’t see what our lord was explaining to them you don’t know me because you do not know the father now I wear a wedding ring to church and a family past down ring from my grandfather kinda fancy has a few diamonds am I proud to wear it yes it was my fathers who passed away suddenly are you going to judge me for that and who said I can’t wear nice jeans and a nice shirt and sport coat I sometimes dress in my best and sometimes I want to feel comfortable I find I actually preach better this way so let’s examine something else here I have visited church of God churches and still do some are very judge mental and some are not so what if I came to your church and you invited me to preach and I wore jeans and a nice shirt would you say I am out of your dress code? See I believe we should dress nice that doesn’t mean a suit and tie that means whatever you are comfortable wearing and it covers you but I do not believe in judging by someone’s dress God looks at the heart this is what we must start to do Mary was a good example of this let him that is without sin cast the first stone would you throw it some would not the way Jesus would handle this at all he would look at her heart not her dress this is petty when there are souls to be saved and little time to do it let The Holy Spirit lead them I firmly believe he will clean them up better than we can

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  3. Romans states for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God or is this not the case?are we that holy to the point we are of no earthly good? I want you to examine this question before you answer it and take into consideration the fact we are not Christ and we are his disciples which this word means we learn discipline from who you ask the Holy Spirit he leads and guides us But we are not Jesus he was the lamb of God spotless and perfect and holy we are not we were grafted into the vine we are a gentile nation who is saved by his grace Jesus says this plainly with words written in red I am the vine and ye are the branches Jesus is the head not Us we are his followers we have a lot to learn to be like him as Paul said so greatly we strive towards the mark and the high calling he was right but unfortunately we are not there yet with so many denominations and beliefs when truly there should be only one and that is his word which was in the beginning this is our road map to heaven his word not man made doctrine but the unchanging word of God!

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  4. I have straight non dyed hair that reaches mid thigh. It’s usually in a braided bun to keep it out of the way and it stays up when it’s braided and held together with plain Bobby pins or a black, dark blue, or dark brown scrunched.

    I wear skirts or dresses in khaki, black, navy, or dark brown. I do wear dark unembellished denim. They are never shorter than mid calf. I usually wear tights in black, dark brown, or navy unless it’s hot out. I wear sneakers sometimes or ankle boots but none of my shoes have heels or embellishments, solid in color. Tops are long enough to cover the hips and are never shorter sleeved than mid bicep. Shoulders are always covered and reach my collarbone. I’m always wearing a camisole or t-shirt underneath. Button-down, t-shirt, pole, doesn’t matter: I prefer solids, stripes with no more than two or three colors and dark colors or earth tones.

    I have pierced ears but don’t wear earrings and no other piercings. My glasses are either my black frames or tortoise shell colored frames and functional, watch is either black, dark brown, or navy band I switch them out. Other than simple wedding band there’s no other jewelry.

    No one told me colors or patterns are bad or that I couldn’t wear earrings or a simple necklace or bracelet. I just feel “wrong” if I don’t dress this way. My husband and i think it’s modest.

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  5. Modesty is not a suggestion but a command.
    Choose you this day whom you will serve…
    Self or the God of the Bible?

    Vote with your actions.
    -Note to Self

    Reply

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