DOES IT

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DOES IT MATTER HOW CHRISTIANS DRESS?
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How Should a Christian Dress?
A Gentle Appeal
Think Look at Yourself and Realize
I could be wrong. Some of my clothing could be
immodest.
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How 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
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How 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
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Someones 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.
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How 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

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How 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.
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How 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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How 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.

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How Should a Christian Dress?
Examining Biblical Principles
Modest Apparel

• Reserved
• Humble
• Respectable
• Decent
• Orderly

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How 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?

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How 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).

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How 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.

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How 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
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How Should a Christian Dress?
The First Clothing Genesis 37-21
21 . . . the Lord God made tunics of skin, and
clothed them.
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How 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
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How 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
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How 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
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How 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
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How 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
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How 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.

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How 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).

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Examining 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?
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Examining 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

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How 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?

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How 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?

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How 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.

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How 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).

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How 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

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How 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
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How 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