What am I Going to Wear?
I Timothy 2:8-10
"What am I going to wear?" is a question many people ask nearly every morning.
a. Decision is based on where you are spending your day: work, relaxing, school, church, etc.
b. We take into consideration what looks good on us and what is fashionable and trendy (In High School, I wore a ruby shirt, straight-legged Levi’s and Docksider’s with no socks.).
But when a Christian asks this question, other issues should come into consideration.
c. Is it modest?
d. Is it proper for those who profess to believe and follow God?
e. I Tim. 2:8-10
So the question remains, "What am I going to wear?"
f. Are there certain items of clothing a woman should not be wearing?
g. What about men? Should they be concerned about modest apparel?
I am not going to propose some easy answers or simple guidelines such as shorts or shirts should be no more than two inches above the knee.
Rather I want to encourage prayerful consideration of what the Bible has to say, which provides some basic principles that can help one discern between good and evil.
The Bible says:
It is shameful to expose one’s nakedness.
Consider the example of Adam and Eve.
Gen. 3:7-10
a. After they sinned, they made "coverings" for themselves.
b. Hebrew – chagrah – means a garment that covered the loin area, an "apron"
c. But they still considered themselves naked.
Gen. 3:21
a. God made them "tunics" to cover them.
b. Hebrew – kethoneth" – a garment that covered from shoulder to thighs.
c. God was not pleased with the coverings they had made.
Isa. 3:16-17; 47:1-3 (punishment which brought shame)
At some point then, there is a line drawn, where if it is crossed, should bring us shame. (There are parts of the body that should be covered. If they are not covered it should make us embarrassed.)
We must not provide opportunity for fleshly lusts.
Rom. 13:13-14
Can the way we dress excite fleshly lusts?
The fashion magazines think so.
Mary Quant, fashions designer and the mother of the miniskirt – "Miniskirts are symbolic of those girls who want to seduce a man."
Are we so naïve to think that the way that clothes are worn or not worn has no effect on men or women?
Mt. 5:27-30 (two fold responsibility)
Phil. 4:8 – Men and women are responsible to guard their mind.
But men and women can also help to prevent the lewd stare.
If the clothing we wear (male or female) encourages the arousal of fleshly lusts in others, then we have clearly crossed the line.
We must be honest and objective when we wear something.
We need to start looking in the mirror and see what others see.
Clothing must be consistent with godliness (I Tim. 2:8-10).
Verse 8
"Modest"
"Orderly, well arranged, decent, proper adornment, well-ordered.
It is an outward expression of inner life.
Not drawing undue attention to self.
Not talking so much about the brevity of clothing as to the wearing of appropriate clothing.
There are certain situations, which require certain types of clothing.
a. What you wear to work in the yard may not be appropriate for you to wear to your job. What you wear to the gym may not be proper for a dinner party. What you wear around the house may not be appropriate for a job interview.
b. What you wear… may not be appropriate for church.
"Shamefacedness"
Having a sense of shame.
This deals with the brevity of clothing.
See first point.
"Sobriety"
Self-governing, keeping a reign on self.
Thinking of how we dress might affect others.
"Not with braided… clothing"
Talking about excess not dress.
"Not" is a comparative "not", points to verse 10 (Jn. 6:27; I Cor. 1:17; I Jn. 4:10)
Outward adornment is not wrong in and of itself, but it does not take the place of adorning the inner person.
The inside of a woman is far more important than the outside. (If we could just get our young people to see this.)
"But (which becometh women…)"
That which is fitting or that which is suitable.
"Professing" – what do you claim to be?
"Wear that which is suitable for one who claims to believe in God"
What have we learned?
It has not been my purpose to establish rules but instead give you some principles that can help you as a Christian to dress in such a way to please God rather than self or man.
"What am I going to wear?"
a. Wear that which reflects your profession of believing in God.
b. Seek counsel from those who are mature in the faith.
c. Parents help your young men and ladies to see when there is a problem.
Phil. 2:15
James David Pharr
Lenoir, NC