SUMMARY:
Certainly, God has no problem with beauty as He created it, and it will be part of eternity. Revelation 21:2 says, “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband”. This is wonderful, “a bride beautifully dressed for her husband”. What an inspiring ideal for Christian modesty, with our attire bringing glory to the cause of Christ!
WE as Christian women do want the way we dress to reflect the character our Lord is pleased with.
And we have been dismayed at the popular fashions which so openly feature immodesty. We are especially alarmed at its impact on young women, particularly in their pre-teen years.
So, what is the stance of Christian women concerning their attire? Certainly, there are all kinds of opinions, but we don’t set our standards by opinions, we set our standards by biblical principles.
Let us look at 1 Timothy 2:9, and then look at several principles:
The Apostle Paul said: “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”.
- 1. The first principle is “to dress modestly”. What we wear should refl ect godliness, the character our Lord is pleased with. Our attire should attract attention to our face not our body. When we wear revealing clothes, such as showing the midriff or low cut at the neck, or with skirts very short and tight, we must ask: does this refl ect godliness, something our Lord is pleased with? What does our Lord think when what we wear encourages lust in men? In fact, is this why we wear what we do? Certainly, as Christian women we are to represent Christ in all we do.
- 2. The second principle is, what is our motive? The verse then says, “not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes; but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God”. Does this mean that we are not to do our hair nicely or wear jewellery or have nice clothes? No, what it is emphasizing is that true beauty and proper attractiveness comes from within. So, again what are our motives in the way we dress? Is it to attract attention to ourselves or to bring glory to God — as women who profess to worship God? Our inner self should refl ect the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.
- 3. Scriptural examples of these principles. Scripture indicates that godly women were “known for the beauty that comes from within,the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.
That is the way holy women of old made themselves beautiful” (1 Peter 3:3-5 NLT).
Women such as Sarah, were submissive to their own husbands. Saray obeyed Abraham and called him her master — and “
you are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear” (
1 Peter 3:6).
Of course this latter statement flies in the face of feminist rhetoric which suggests women are to be aggressive. We must be careful not to buy into such a mindset.
Certainly, God has no problem with beauty as He created it, and it will be part of eternity. Revelation 21:2 says, “I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband”.
This is wonderful, “a bride beautifully dressed for her husband”. What an inspiring ideal for Christian modesty, with our attire bringing glory to the cause of Christ! May we train our daughters and sons in this way.
God richly bless you.
Love to get your thoughts.
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Appeared in Issue CETF 34 November 2005
"...contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints" -- Jude v3
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-Last revised-
Monday, October 09, 2006
