What Happened to Distinction?
The day is December 7, 1941 and the United States of America declares war on the Imperial Forces of Japan. In an unprovoked attack, they had bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This thrust the U.S. into war and soon we were engaged in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters taking on Germany and Italy, also. Soon we were sending men in the hundreds of thousands to both fronts. Though some men were left behind, a new phenomena occurred. Women entered the industrial factories of wartime America. Because the work was dirty, greasy, and dangerous, they dawned the coveralls and pants of the working man. Though we saw our way through the war, and God in his mercy, gave us victory in both places, we suffered two blows. Women became a permanent fixture in the workplace, and women kept wearing mens clothing.
Does God have anything to say about this? Does he have a principle for us to examine? The answer is yes:
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.
1. There is a clothing that pertains to men.
2. There is a clothing that pertains to women.
3. They are NOT interchangeable.
4. It is an abomination to God.
The Hebrew word for abomination means, disgusting, abhorrence, idolatry, an abominable custom or thing. God made women to be women and men to be men and for the distinction to be clear. Anything else is disgusting to God, is the practice and custom of the heathen whom God was casting out of the land before the children of Israel before they could call it their own. Some try to justify themselves by listening to those who teach that women can now wear women's pants. Then we should not be offended if men wear men's dresses. . . right? WRONG! Ask 100 people and you will see, anyone in their right mind will tell you, like God, it is a disgusting thing for men to dress like women. Some may listen to those who teach that EVERYONE wore a dress in Bible times. . . right? Wrong again. True, they both wore a long flowing garment, but men's garments were different. They were cut so they could reach between their legs, grab the back flap of cloth, pull it up between their legs, tuck it into their girdle, (belt,) and work or war. This is was called, girding up oneself.
Job 38:3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
Notice God said, gird up now thy loin like a man. This is because women did not gird themselves up. Their garments were long and flowing, covering the leg, consistent with the distinction between women and men that God designed.
The Role of Fashion
"That outfit was to die for!" You've heard someone use that phrase before, haven't you? There is a story in the Bible of an outfit a man DID die for. Read on:
Joshua 7:19 And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.
Joshua 7:20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
Joshua 7:21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
Joshua 7:22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.
Joshua 7:23 And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD.
Joshua 7:24 And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.
Joshua 7:25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.
Joshua 7:26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.
The children of Israel had taken the wicked city of Jericho. It was such a wicked city that God commanded not to take any of their things because it was all accursed to him. but Achan saw something. . . to die for, a Babylonish garment. He saw that fancy outfit and said, like so many who cruise the malls, "I've got to have it!" It was his undoing. Style, fashion, people spend millions every year so they can keep up with the styles. They come out of Paris, London, and New York. For the most part, designed by people with defiled minds, caring not that nakedness be covered. . . as God commanded.
Can a garment tell you what a person is or what image is being portrayed by them? Yes indeed!
Proverbs 7:7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
Proverbs 7:8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
Proverbs 7:9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
Proverbs 7:10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
The one here called, simple, is not living a simple, pure, life, but is to be understood as one who, as we say in the country, "...ain't got no sense!" He went into the streets, came to the house of a certain woman, and her clothing said it all, she had on the attire of an harlot. Not only did she dress like this, but it spoke of her inner heart motives, she was subtil, like the serpent in the garden. So, is everyone who wears wrong clothing a devilish harlot? No, but the Hebrew implies by the word harlot, it is not ONLY one who is a harlot, but one who portrays one. Your outfit says it all. If the outfit is not long and flowing, properly covering the nakedness, wrong ideas can arise. Tight fitting clothing is JUST AS BAD. Consider this lesson from nature.
Everyone knows what a banana looks like. Whether the peel is on, or the peel is off, the banana is basically the SAME shape. When a woman wear her outfit so tight it outlines her shape, she is showing her nakedness. One might try to get out of the blame by saying, "Well, men should not be looking at me, anyways!" If one such as this would be honest, that is why the tight or improper clothing was chosen in the first place, to attract the attention of the opposite sex.
God made men visual and women emotional. Men see and conquer, women like to feel special. Women use this to their advantage when trying to CATCH a man. For this reason, God commands the Christian woman to be modest. Her apparel should not attract the WRONG kind of attention, but speak of her relationship with the Lord. Paul saw the glory of a godly woman and gave her clear teaching to protect this.
The Danger of Feelings
Some women may say something like this, "But I feel modest." or "Dressing the way I want does NOT make me feel immodest." So, what's wrong with those statements. Nothing, if they are made in the light of Bible truth. First of all, we need to understand that we cannot always trust our "feelings." Notice what the Bible says:
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?
According to Jeremiah, the prophet of God, the heart is not to be trusted. Why? Because the heart is prone to be influenced by emotions more that facts. This is why we have to have a final authority. What did Solomon, the wisest man in the Bible, (next to Jesus,) have to say:
Proverbs 28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
So we see that the heart is not a good guage for what is right or wrong. So what should I rely on for TRUTH?
Psalm 119:169 Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.
Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
So we can plainly see that we HAVE to let the Bible be the final say so on ALL matters of life and faith.
Paul's Plea for Godly Women
1Timothy 2:9 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;
1Timothy 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
The phrase in verse 9, "modest apparel," means clothing that promotes proper behaviour. An outfit that hangs down and takes attention away from self. Wow! That is the opposite of the fashion world. There is even a magazine called, SELF. The verse goes on asking the Christian woman to have shamefacedness. This word means to have downcast eyes, to be modest toward men. Her shamefacedness is coupled with sobriety. This is a lady with a sound mind, one who is discreet, one who has self-control. She is said to be a woman professing godliness with good works. She is not a slave to fashion, but a servant of Christ.
Peter's Plea for Godly Women
1Peter 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
1Peter 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
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;
1Peter 3:4 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.
1Peter 3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
The lifestyle of the godly woman in our text is able to reach those who obey not the word, namely, the unsaved. Wow! She carries herself in such a way that Christ is the one they can see in her life. It says she is chaste. This word means, clean, innocent, and pure. When a woman is dressed in a way that attention is drawn to her form, or the revealing of flesh, is the first thought of her innocence? Not at all. This IS NOT to be the testimony of the woman who professes godliness and good works, of whom Paul spoke. Her chaste conversation, or lifestyle, is coupled with fear. This is something that has been explained away to such an extent that modern Christendom virtually knows nothing of it. Though God loves us dearly, many have gone to such an extreme to take away guilt and proper fear and reverence that they have made him our great big buddy in the sky. God is holy, he is high and lofty, his ways are terrific to comprehend.
Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
When a Christian lady sees the Lord for who he is then she develops a holy fear and wisdom that will turn her away from practicing evil and copying the fashions of the world. This godly lady Peter speaks of does not make the OUTWARD the key element in her life, but is concerned with the "hidden man of the heart," and for an ornament, she wears, "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit."
Ladies, I hope in reading this, you do not see an unrealistic mountain, impossible to climb, but instead a key to open the door and set you at liberty from the restraints that are put upon you by the fashion world. You were created by the Lord beautiful already and there is a beauty far more important to the Lord. He wants you to worship him wearing this beautiful outfit.
Psalm 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness
The day is December 7, 1941 and the United States of America declares war on the Imperial Forces of Japan. In an unprovoked attack, they had bombed Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This thrust the U.S. into war and soon we were engaged in both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters taking on Germany and Italy, also. Soon we were sending men in the hundreds of thousands to both fronts. Though some men were left behind, a new phenomena occurred. Women entered the industrial factories of wartime America. Because the work was dirty, greasy, and dangerous, they dawned the coveralls and pants of the working man. Though we saw our way through the war, and God in his mercy, gave us victory in both places, we suffered two blows. Women became a permanent fixture in the workplace, and women kept wearing mens clothing.
Does God have anything to say about this? Does he have a principle for us to examine? The answer is yes:
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.
1. There is a clothing that pertains to men.
2. There is a clothing that pertains to women.
3. They are NOT interchangeable.
4. It is an abomination to God.
The Hebrew word for abomination means, disgusting, abhorrence, idolatry, an abominable custom or thing. God made women to be women and men to be men and for the distinction to be clear. Anything else is disgusting to God, is the practice and custom of the heathen whom God was casting out of the land before the children of Israel before they could call it their own. Some try to justify themselves by listening to those who teach that women can now wear women's pants. Then we should not be offended if men wear men's dresses. . . right? WRONG! Ask 100 people and you will see, anyone in their right mind will tell you, like God, it is a disgusting thing for men to dress like women. Some may listen to those who teach that EVERYONE wore a dress in Bible times. . . right? Wrong again. True, they both wore a long flowing garment, but men's garments were different. They were cut so they could reach between their legs, grab the back flap of cloth, pull it up between their legs, tuck it into their girdle, (belt,) and work or war. This is was called, girding up oneself.
Job 38:3 Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.
Notice God said, gird up now thy loin like a man. This is because women did not gird themselves up. Their garments were long and flowing, covering the leg, consistent with the distinction between women and men that God designed.
The Role of Fashion
"That outfit was to die for!" You've heard someone use that phrase before, haven't you? There is a story in the Bible of an outfit a man DID die for. Read on:
Joshua 7:19 And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.
Joshua 7:20 And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the LORD God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
Joshua 7:21 When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
Joshua 7:22 So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and, behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.
Joshua 7:23 And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua, and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD.
Joshua 7:24 And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.
Joshua 7:25 And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.
Joshua 7:26 And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.
The children of Israel had taken the wicked city of Jericho. It was such a wicked city that God commanded not to take any of their things because it was all accursed to him. but Achan saw something. . . to die for, a Babylonish garment. He saw that fancy outfit and said, like so many who cruise the malls, "I've got to have it!" It was his undoing. Style, fashion, people spend millions every year so they can keep up with the styles. They come out of Paris, London, and New York. For the most part, designed by people with defiled minds, caring not that nakedness be covered. . . as God commanded.
Can a garment tell you what a person is or what image is being portrayed by them? Yes indeed!
Proverbs 7:7 And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,
Proverbs 7:8 Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,
Proverbs 7:9 In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:
Proverbs 7:10 And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
The one here called, simple, is not living a simple, pure, life, but is to be understood as one who, as we say in the country, "...ain't got no sense!" He went into the streets, came to the house of a certain woman, and her clothing said it all, she had on the attire of an harlot. Not only did she dress like this, but it spoke of her inner heart motives, she was subtil, like the serpent in the garden. So, is everyone who wears wrong clothing a devilish harlot? No, but the Hebrew implies by the word harlot, it is not ONLY one who is a harlot, but one who portrays one. Your outfit says it all. If the outfit is not long and flowing, properly covering the nakedness, wrong ideas can arise. Tight fitting clothing is JUST AS BAD. Consider this lesson from nature.
Everyone knows what a banana looks like. Whether the peel is on, or the peel is off, the banana is basically the SAME shape. When a woman wear her outfit so tight it outlines her shape, she is showing her nakedness. One might try to get out of the blame by saying, "Well, men should not be looking at me, anyways!" If one such as this would be honest, that is why the tight or improper clothing was chosen in the first place, to attract the attention of the opposite sex.
God made men visual and women emotional. Men see and conquer, women like to feel special. Women use this to their advantage when trying to CATCH a man. For this reason, God commands the Christian woman to be modest. Her apparel should not attract the WRONG kind of attention, but speak of her relationship with the Lord. Paul saw the glory of a godly woman and gave her clear teaching to protect this.
The Danger of Feelings
Some women may say something like this, "But I feel modest." or "Dressing the way I want does NOT make me feel immodest." So, what's wrong with those statements. Nothing, if they are made in the light of Bible truth. First of all, we need to understand that we cannot always trust our "feelings." Notice what the Bible says:
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart [is] deceitful above all [things], and desperately wicked: who can know it?
According to Jeremiah, the prophet of God, the heart is not to be trusted. Why? Because the heart is prone to be influenced by emotions more that facts. This is why we have to have a final authority. What did Solomon, the wisest man in the Bible, (next to Jesus,) have to say:
Proverbs 28:26 He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool: but whoso walketh wisely, he shall be delivered.
So we see that the heart is not a good guage for what is right or wrong. So what should I rely on for TRUTH?
Psalm 119:169 Let my cry come near before thee, O LORD: give me understanding according to thy word.
Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
So we can plainly see that we HAVE to let the Bible be the final say so on ALL matters of life and faith.
Paul's Plea for Godly Women
1Timothy 2:9 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;
1Timothy 2:10 But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
The phrase in verse 9, "modest apparel," means clothing that promotes proper behaviour. An outfit that hangs down and takes attention away from self. Wow! That is the opposite of the fashion world. There is even a magazine called, SELF. The verse goes on asking the Christian woman to have shamefacedness. This word means to have downcast eyes, to be modest toward men. Her shamefacedness is coupled with sobriety. This is a lady with a sound mind, one who is discreet, one who has self-control. She is said to be a woman professing godliness with good works. She is not a slave to fashion, but a servant of Christ.
Peter's Plea for Godly Women
1Peter 3:1 Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives;
1Peter 3:2 While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.
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;
1Peter 3:4 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.
1Peter 3:5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:
The lifestyle of the godly woman in our text is able to reach those who obey not the word, namely, the unsaved. Wow! She carries herself in such a way that Christ is the one they can see in her life. It says she is chaste. This word means, clean, innocent, and pure. When a woman is dressed in a way that attention is drawn to her form, or the revealing of flesh, is the first thought of her innocence? Not at all. This IS NOT to be the testimony of the woman who professes godliness and good works, of whom Paul spoke. Her chaste conversation, or lifestyle, is coupled with fear. This is something that has been explained away to such an extent that modern Christendom virtually knows nothing of it. Though God loves us dearly, many have gone to such an extreme to take away guilt and proper fear and reverence that they have made him our great big buddy in the sky. God is holy, he is high and lofty, his ways are terrific to comprehend.
Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
Proverbs 16:6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.
When a Christian lady sees the Lord for who he is then she develops a holy fear and wisdom that will turn her away from practicing evil and copying the fashions of the world. This godly lady Peter speaks of does not make the OUTWARD the key element in her life, but is concerned with the "hidden man of the heart," and for an ornament, she wears, "the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit."
Ladies, I hope in reading this, you do not see an unrealistic mountain, impossible to climb, but instead a key to open the door and set you at liberty from the restraints that are put upon you by the fashion world. You were created by the Lord beautiful already and there is a beauty far more important to the Lord. He wants you to worship him wearing this beautiful outfit.
Psalm 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness
