Title: DOES IT
1DOES IT MATTER HOW CHRISTIANS DRESS?
2How Should a Christian Dress?
A Gentle Appeal
Think Look at Yourself and Realize
I could be wrong. Some of my clothing could be
immodest.
3How Should a Christian Dress?
A Gentle Appeal
What Is Our Standard?
- World
- Parents
- Preacher
- Elders
- Always thought or done
Test all things hold fast what is good. 1
Thessalonians 521
4How Should a Christian Dress?
A Gentle Appeal
The Bible sets guidelines about dress
Do you desire to dress in harmony with the bible?
If so, you will listen, appreciate, and follow
(James 121-22) If not, you will be rejecting God
(John 1248)
To violate Gods standard is to act outside His
will
5Someones at the door could someone answer it
Im not dressed!
Im dressed Ill get it
Its probably my friends we are going to Wild
River Country.
6How Should a Christian Dress?
Why do People Dress Immodestly?
- Ignorant and untaught
- Want to fit in
- Want to be bold and turn heads
- Dont realize how they actually look
- Careless dont stop to think
- About Divine principles
- Allow worlds standards to influence them
- Brethren gradually get looser
7How Should a Christian Dress?
Examining Biblical Principles
Modest Apparel
1 Timothy 29,10 In like manner also, that the
women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with
propriety and moderation, not with braided hair
or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which
is proper for women professing godliness, with
good works.
?
8How Should a Christian Dress?
Examining Biblical Principles
Modest Apparel (kosmios)
- "Respectable honorable" (Arndt and Gingrich,
445). - "Well-arranged seemly" (Thayer, 356).
- "Orderly well-arranged decent" (Vine, III79).
- "The well-ordering is not of dress and demeanor
only, but the inner lifes uttering indeed, and
expressing itself in the outward conversation"
(Trenchs Syn. 346).
Modest Apparel
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9How Should a Christian Dress?
Examining Biblical Principles
Modest Apparel
- The Peoples New Testament Commentary defines
modesty as In simple attire which doesnt
attract attention. - Bible Knowledge Commentary - An appearance that
is simple, moderate, judicious, and free from
ostentation. . . . Christians must be careful
about letting a pagan culture set their fashions.
?
10How Should a Christian Dress?
Examining Biblical Principles
Modest Apparel
- Reserved
- Humble
- Respectable
- Decent
- Orderly
?
11How Should a Christian Dress?
Examining Biblical Principles
Shamefacedness-ShamefastnessPropriety
- With shamefacedness (aidos) A sense of
shame or honor, modesty, bashfulness, reverence,
regard for others, respect - "A sense of shame"
(Vine, IV17 Thayer,14). - Have we lost the ability to blush (Jeremiah 615
812)? - Those who dress (dont dress) in such a way that
the imagination has little else, if anything, to
imagine . . what would it take to get them to
blush?
12How Should a Christian Dress?
Examining Biblical Principles
SobrietyModeration
- SOPHROSUNE - Translated sobriety, KJV, ASV
moderation, NKJV - Soundness of mind... sound judgment
practically expresses the meaning it is that
habitual inner self-government, with its constant
rein on all the passions and desires which would
hinder the temptation to these from arising....
(Vines, Vol. IV, pp. 44-45). - Soundness of mind, i.e., (lit.) sanity or (fig.)
self-control (Strongs, 4997).
13How Should a Christian Dress?
Examining Biblical Principles
Godliness
- THEOSEBEIA - Denotes the fear or reverence of
God, (Vines, Vol. II, p. 162). - Devoutness, i.e., piety (Strongs,
2317). - Darby profession of the fear of God, NIV
profess to worship God.
14How Should a Christian Dress?
Examining Biblical Principles
Nakedness
- Unclad, without clothing . . .Ill-clad or
clad in undergarment only (Thayer, p. 122) - Badly clad or not fully clothed (Kittle,
I773-774) - Lightly clad (Liddell Scott, 170)
One can be wearing clothing and still be naked
15How Should a Christian Dress?
The First Clothing Genesis 37-21
21 . . . the Lord God made tunics of skin, and
clothed them.
16How Should a Christian Dress?
Examining Biblical Principles Clothed
Original I.S.B.E. article on Dress says chiton
resembled the Roman tunic, corresponding most
nearly to our long shirt, reaching below the knee
always, and, in case it was designed for dress
occasions, reaching almost to the ground
(I.S.B.E., II877). . . . the chiton of the
peasantry was shorter like modern kamis of Syrian
fellah which is to the knee.
From the shoulder to the knee
17How Should a Christian Dress?
Examining Biblical Principles Clothed
KUTTONET--"a tunic... generally with sleeves,
coming down to the knees, rarely to the ankles"
(Gesenius, 420 cf. Harris, 1459 Brown, Driver,
Briggs, 509). The tunic . . . was a shirt which
was worn next to the skin. It was made of
leather, hair-cloth, wool, linen, or in modern
times, usually of cotton . . . (Fred H. Wight,
Manners and Customs of Bible Lands, 91).
From the shoulder to the knee
18How Should a Christian Dress?
Examining Biblical Principles Clothed
. . . The simplest form of it was without sleeves
and reached to the knees or sometimes to the
ankles. . . . Women as well as men wore it see
Cant. 53, A.R.V., although there was no doubt a
difference in style and pattern in what was worn
by the two (Fred H. Wight, Manners and Customs
of Bible Lands, 91).
From the shoulder to the knee
19How Should a Christian Dress?
Examining Biblical Principles
Exposing the thigh exposing ones nakedness
Exodus 2842 And you shall make for them linen
trousers to cover their nakedness they shall
reach from the waist to the thighs.
Nakedness
20How Should a Christian Dress?
Examining Biblical Principles
Exposing the thigh exposing ones nakedness
Isaiah 472,3 Remove your veil, take off the
skirt, uncover the thigh, pass through the
rivers. Your nakedness shall be uncovered, yes,
your shame will be seen
Nakedness
21How Should a Christian Dress?
Our Dress and Actions Affect Others
- Our dress says something to others about
ourselves - Attire of a harlot (Proverbs 710) - Creates sexual temptation, causing others to sin
(Matt. 528 Prov. 625 Jam. 114
Matt.186-7) David saw Bathsheba and lusted (2
Sam. 11) - Sets a poor example (Matt.513-16), which could
put others in danger.
22How Should a Christian Dress?
Our Dress and Actions Affect Others
- Bring shame on Christ and His children (Eph.
525-27 Jam. 127). - Discourage other Christians (1 Thess. 514).
- Mislead weak Christians (Phil. 317).
- Ultimately, you lose your soul unless you repent,
and you may cause others to also be lost
(Gal.521).
23Examining Biblical Principles
Ways in Which One Can Be Immodest
- Too short, (revealing the thighs).
- Too low. Off the shoulders (showing
shoulders/chest/back). - Too sheer (can be seen through).
- Too tight (fits like a sausage wrapper - more
suggestive/ appealing to men). - Careless body positioning and movements.
OK when participating in sporting event? OK when
participating in a school function? OK at a
swimming pool or beach?
24Examining Biblical Principles
Ways in Which One Can Be Immodest
- Short dresses/ mini skirts
- Dresses with splits
- Backless dresses
- Sun dresses
- Low-cut blouses and dresses revealing cleavage
- Swimsuits
- Tight/formfitting
- Short shorts (revealing the thigh)
- Jogging shorts
- See-through styles
- Majorette uniforms
- Cheerleading outfits
25How Should a Christian Dress?
Questions Regarding How to Dress
- Can I stand, walk, sit, kneel, bend over, etc.,
in this clothing without being "naked" according
to Bible standards? - Does my clothing emphasize certain body parts or
areas that might tend to provoke lust in others? - Does my clothing cause others to admire and
respect me, or does it prompt opinions otherwise?
26How Should a Christian Dress?
Questions Regarding How to Dress
- Since clothing can indicate character (cf. Prov.
710), would my clothing suggest an abundance or
lack of upright character? - What kind of influence will my clothing have on
those who are not Christians? - What kind of influence will my clothing have on
those who are Christians? - Would I wear this if Jesus was physically in my
presence?
27How Should a Christian Dress?
Reminders for Parents
- Begin early - don't allow immodesty until 12 or
13, and then expect sudden correction. - Take the lead in teaching children about modesty
don't wait for someone else to do it. - Teach children by word of mouth - in our homes,
and teach them by example. Children can quickly
and easily identify inconsistency. - Be consistent in setting and applying standards.
- Mothers, teach your sons and daughters what God
teaches, and do not undermine godly husbands and
fathers as they properly lead.
28How Should a Christian Dress?
The Moral Impact of Immodesty
- We disregard God by disregarding His word
(Jno. 1248-49 cf. 1 Sam. 87). - Defiles and sears the conscience (1 Cor. 87 1
Tim. 42). - You lose your sense of shame (Jere. 615 812).
- You conform to the world (Rom. 121-2).
- Will likely move toward more immodesty (2 Tim.
313). - Will likely move to other forms of worldliness
(2 Tim. 313). - Will resent questions and teaching on the subject
(Acts 2222).
29How Should a Christian Dress?
Conclusion
- Modestly reserved, decent, respectable
- Exhibiting Shamefastness can blush, have shame
- Use Good Judgment common sense
- Show Godliness devotion to God
- Respect Others opposite sex could lust
- Cover Your Nakedness cover from the shoulder to
the knee
30How Should a Christian Dress?
Conclusion
As a ring of gold in a swine's snout, so is a
lovely woman who lacks discretion. Proverbs
1122
31How Should a Christian Dress?
A Gentle Appeal
What Is Our Standard?
- World
- Parents
- Preacher
- Elders
- Always thought or done
Test all things hold fast what is good. 1
Thessalonians 521