DRESSING BIBLICALLY

For parents who are bent on modesty and propriety, their children often wonder why other parents allow their children to wear all kinds of trendy clothing while their own parent do not allow them. If your dos and don’ts about dressing is not based on solid and clear biblical explanation, you will come across to your children as being unnecessarily strict, old fashion and inflexible.

The bible teaches that “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far away.” (Pro 22:15 NIV). This folly is manifested in all facets of children’s life including immodest clothing.  And it is going to be overcome not by reliance on the force of our own laws but by the power of the Word of God.  The bible says “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.” (Psa 119:9 KJV).

It is helping our children to understand the ‘why’ behind God’s commandment on dressing that helps our children to acquire a personal vision of obeying God in that area.  Because there are many questions in the heart of our children in this area, I will not attempt to answer all of them at one time. In this article, I am answering just one question that will help give our children a good starting point as they develop a biblical philosophy for fashion.

Why do we wear clothes?

When we ask this question, most of the time the answer given is that we wear clothes in order to cover our nakedness or protect ourselves from the weather etc. Covering our nakedness and protecting ourselves from adverse weather conditions are some of the benefits of wearing clothes but not the reason for wearing clothes.  Adam and Eve were naked at creation, they were neither ashamed nor had they need for clothes. Need for clothes arose as a result of sin. When they sinned, sin distorted nakedness and evoked in the naked person and the one who behold the nakedness some embarrassing responses. Sin distorted nakedness by making it an object of lust and shame. Adam and Eve felt this shame and tried to hide themselves from God by sewing for themselves aprons of fig leaves for clothing. But their aprons were insufficient as a covering. God in his mercy provided for them sufficient clothing of coats made of animal skin.

Till today, people who have not lost their sensitivity to righteousness are still embarrassed about the stirring of sin wherever nakedness is exhibited. We therefore wear clothes because sin entered the world and changed the equation concerning nakedness, provoking sin and shame by it.  By wearing sufficient clothing, we prevent sin from expressing itself in us and others through our nakedness. Skimpy, skin tight and revealing clothing are insufficient clothing and therefore cannot stop stirring sin. Adam and Eve were able to make for themselves aprons of fig leaves but God judged it as insufficient clothing and made for them coats of skin. God replaced skimpy apron with full  coats of animal skin.  Gen 3:7, 21

In worldview Wars, Ifiok J. Ukobo exposes the hidden, but very aggressive, war of worldviews being waged against righteousness in our personal lives and community. This battle has now arrived in every home, community, and country. We are under attack, and the battle front spans our schools , media, national policies, and pulpits. Families are breaking down, children are becoming rebellious; communities no longer have shared values, and a cultural flux is emerging. In Worldview Wars, the author presents practical ways to win the battle in your life, family, and community. This book will renew your mind and help you to stay free and bring freedom to others that have been taken captive. You will also discover practical strategies that will help you to teach your children a biblical worldview and arm them against deception. "

Worldview Wars is a timely book. it arrives at a time in the war - when truly heavy ordinance is needed. It will be a game changer. Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN

DOWNLOAD A COPY HERE

God through Apostle Paul commanded “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; (1Ti 2:9 KJV). To be shamefaced is to possess the ability to be embarrassed by insufficient clothing. What Paul meant here is that every child of God should dress in a way that shows that she is embarrassed by insufficient clothing. Adam and Eve, having just fallen from a state of innocence were still able to respond with embarrassment to the awareness that they were naked. This is why they tried to hide themselves form God. They saw themselves as being inappropriately clothed before God. Every Christian is equipped to respond with a similar sense of embarrassment to insufficient clothing in the presence of people other than their spouses.  If a Christian is not embarrassed by insufficient clothing before others, he/she has lost his or her shamefacedness.

Many times I come across ladies in particular who fill uncomfortable in their low neck line blouse or shortness of their skirts. Often they keep pulling up their skirts or pull down their blouses. This is a manifestation of a struggle with the last ounce of innocence left in them.

Finally, we must ask ourselves the question, what is my clothing stirring up in me and in others? Is it helping to stir up sin in others or is it a covering that eliminate shameful and embarrassing responses from others. Mary Quant, a London designer considered to be the mother of miniskirts, said on November 13, 1967, “Mini clothes are symbolic of those girls who want to seduce a man”. Another fashion designer Leo Narducci, speaking about the philosophy of his design said women who wear his revealing styles are those who are “sure of themselves, who think of sex more openly and are not concerned about nudity”.  Apostle Paul said “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:  (Heb 10:24 KJV). We, children of God choose to provoke others unto love and not unto lust. We choose to dress to limit the effect of sin on us and those who behold us.

Written by Ifiok Ukobo
General Coordinator of TRLR & Lifebuilders Resource