Why I Dress The Way I Do
Leaving the commissary a while back, the older man carrying my groceries for me asked me a question I had never heard before. We had been talking for a moment - a little small talk about weather - and then asked me: Why are you so dressed up today?
I had to look down to remember what I was wearing. I knew I was going straight home (frozen foods and all), so I had no other plans. I was wearing a blouse, jacket and denim skirt - nothing I'd wear to weed the garden for sure, but a more casual outfit for me.
So I said these were my normal clothes, not for anything special.
After he looked at me funny, the man said, Most people don't care what they wear out running errands. Thank you for taking care of yourself.
I was shocked, to say the least. I always notice when ladies wear their pajamas or something similar out in public, but I wasn't dressed in anything unusual - for me.
So I explained that I was an independent fundamental Baptist and that when God saved me He changed me from the inside out. That meant wearing skirts and dressing my best to be a good testimony of the God living inside me.
Now it was this man's turn to be shocked. He was a Christian himself, but didn't go to the kind of church that had that kind of dress code.
But my church isn't the reason I dress the way I do. Yes, my pastor is the one who introduced me to the doctrine of female dress, but it was my belief in God's infallible word that convicted me.
The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, nether shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are an abomination unto the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 22:5
This becomes a touchy subject for some women because they don't want to give up their jeans and pants suits. They'll tell you that the Old Testament is outdated and we live under grace now. That means the law isn't necessary or applicable anymore, but God's Word is timeless, just as He is.
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
In the end, I decided that I wanted my outsides to match what God has done for me on the inside. When I got saved I became a new creature, one that has the Holy Spirit living inside it. That kind of temple, as the Scripture says, means dressing right and well. If simply dressing appropriately is honoring unto the Lord, then I am willing to make that effort for my God.
I take care to dress in a way that separates me from the world, so that you can truly tell a difference between me and a lost person who doesn't have Christ living in them yet. I also want to make sure that what I wear won't create lust in a man who isn't my husband. Did you realize there were so many effects of the clothes you put on your body?
Christian women can dress in a way that is comfortable and easy to work in, but in the end we are to be honoring unto God in all we do, say, eat and wear. Make sure that your clothing choices reflect the Christ residing in your heart.
I had to look down to remember what I was wearing. I knew I was going straight home (frozen foods and all), so I had no other plans. I was wearing a blouse, jacket and denim skirt - nothing I'd wear to weed the garden for sure, but a more casual outfit for me.
So I said these were my normal clothes, not for anything special.
After he looked at me funny, the man said, Most people don't care what they wear out running errands. Thank you for taking care of yourself.
I was shocked, to say the least. I always notice when ladies wear their pajamas or something similar out in public, but I wasn't dressed in anything unusual - for me.
So I explained that I was an independent fundamental Baptist and that when God saved me He changed me from the inside out. That meant wearing skirts and dressing my best to be a good testimony of the God living inside me.
Now it was this man's turn to be shocked. He was a Christian himself, but didn't go to the kind of church that had that kind of dress code.
But my church isn't the reason I dress the way I do. Yes, my pastor is the one who introduced me to the doctrine of female dress, but it was my belief in God's infallible word that convicted me.
The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, nether shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are an abomination unto the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 22:5
This becomes a touchy subject for some women because they don't want to give up their jeans and pants suits. They'll tell you that the Old Testament is outdated and we live under grace now. That means the law isn't necessary or applicable anymore, but God's Word is timeless, just as He is.
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20
In the end, I decided that I wanted my outsides to match what God has done for me on the inside. When I got saved I became a new creature, one that has the Holy Spirit living inside it. That kind of temple, as the Scripture says, means dressing right and well. If simply dressing appropriately is honoring unto the Lord, then I am willing to make that effort for my God.
I take care to dress in a way that separates me from the world, so that you can truly tell a difference between me and a lost person who doesn't have Christ living in them yet. I also want to make sure that what I wear won't create lust in a man who isn't my husband. Did you realize there were so many effects of the clothes you put on your body?
Christian women can dress in a way that is comfortable and easy to work in, but in the end we are to be honoring unto God in all we do, say, eat and wear. Make sure that your clothing choices reflect the Christ residing in your heart.
It's a no-brainer. Christian women should dress modestly and in an overtly female manner ... and on its face that would disinclude the wearing of pants in public. Men wear pants, and there are anatomical reasons for it. Moreover, God hates androgyny.
ReplyDeleteWhat a privilege to be a woman and to dress like one.
I appreciate the way you take care of yourself too, Laura. You're a model of sweet femininity.
THANK YOU, dear daughter for sharing your life as a Christian woman and how God lives in you. Your life reflects this in every way and I know God will bless yours and Danny's life as His love is more and more revealed. God has just recently changed my heart about the way I dress and you put my heart and thoughts into words by what you wrote. God does want us to be different from the world and what better way to show this than by the way we dress. God has shown by what you wrote that HE can and will use this to testify that there is a difference and we should share this with those around us in word and deed as God allows. I pray God continues to open many doors for you to share. God bless you ALWAYS - Mom
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, Sister!
ReplyDelete