Christian Biblical Attire

Christians are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people (1 Peter 2:9). Not in this generation. They look like, act like, and resemble everyone else. Christians need a lesson on proper biblical attire while in the public eye in our society today.

Modest Apparel

The Bible teaches that we must dress in modest apparel. “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shame facedness and sobriety” (1 Tim. 2:9). A failure to dress properly induces others to sin. Mary Quant, the London fashion designer and mother of the miniskirt said, “Mini-clothes are symbolic of those girls who want to seduce a man . . . and leads to sex. Mothers with young girls will do them a real favor by teaching them while little to learn to dress in modest apparel. It just may keep your unmarried daughter from being raped or getting pregnant out of wedlock.

Shamefacedness

Do you know what shamefacedness is? It means a “sense of shame, modesty, reverence, the ability to blush” (1 Tim. 2:9). About the only blush one can see today is that which has been rubbed on from a bottle! One of the things which led to the downfall of God’s people in the Old Testament was the failure to blush. “Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination? no, they were not at all ashamed, neither could they blush: therefore they shall fall among them that fall: at the time that I visit them they shall be cast down, saith the Lord” (Jer. 6:15).

Sobriety

What does sobriety mean? It indicates “soundness of mind, self-control, good judgment, especially as a feminine virtue, decency. ” We are too easily influenced by fashion and custom more than by the word of God when it comes to proper attire. Are your children wearing clothing more like the world or clothing that will help make them more Godlike? Fathers need to also talk to their boys about proper attire. Way too often today we see boys wearing their underwear on the outside of their pants and revealing the imprint of a certain body part. This is totally indecent.

Swim Suits

Women on board the hi-jacked pleasure ship Santa Maria left off wearing “enticing clothing of shorts, halters and swim suits” and stayed out of the ship’s pool for fear the rebels might have designs on them sexually! This was in the 1960’s. If you plan on swimming, you need to pick a place other than where there is mixed swimming. When women dress in such a way as to entice men, don’t be surprised when they want to do more than just look! Women of the millennium wear macro bikinis that reveal every aspect of he human anatomy. In other words, women of today parade themselves naked before the eyes of the world to see and cause them to lust after their bodies.

Makeup

Makeup was associated with the wicked in the bible. “And when you are spoiled, what will you do? Though you clothe yourself with crimson, though you deck yourself with ornaments of gold, though you rent your face with painting, in vain shall make yourself fair; your lovers will despise you , they will seek thy life” (Jer 4:30). Jezebel, the wicked queen of Israel used makeup, “Now when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked through a window (2 Kin 9:30). Makeup alters the face to make it appear less old, reduce human flaws, and to make one appear more appealing. At its best, makeup is deceiving. At its worst, it makes others desire that which doesn’t exist. In this generation, men are wearing makeup for the same purposes as do women.

Conclusion: Though in reference to eating meat, the principle is the same; we are not to cause our brethren to stumble (1 Cor 8:13). Wearing provocative attire and wearing makeup and fine jewelry could do just that. A Christian’s mission in this life is not to make others lust after them, but rather to obey the gospel and make themselves pure from this perverse generation. Lot didn’t join in the wicked practices of Sodom. No! He vexed (tormented) his righteous soul from their unlawful deeds (2 Pet 2:8). Christians are a special people, a peculiar people, who are called out of this present world to walk in the newness of life (Rom 6:3,4). So ought we all try to walk.