INTRODUCTION
The subject of Christian standards and fashion today is a very sensitive Subject.
The youth in the Adventist Church today want the world to admire their appearance, not to criticize it. If you express your disapproval of the way the youth in the Church appear in suggestive clothing, chances are that they will tell you, “What I wear is none of your business! If you don’t like it, don’t look at me!” People don’t want you to comment about what they wear.
There are many sincere Adventist Youth who see nothing wrong in wearing revealing clothes and fashionable jewelry, because everybody wears them.
One thing we must note from this point before continuing with this presentation is the fact that, Clothes do not make an Adventist but Adventists do reveal their identity through their clothes and appearance.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
Please before you proceed with the presentation, let the youth answer the following questions concerning how Adventist pastors and their wives should dress.
a) Should Pastors be required to dress in a way prescribed by the Church?
b) Is it okay for a pastor to wear fashionable jeans and fitting shirts in town?
c) Is it okay for a Pastor’s wife to wear tight jeans or trousers?
d) Is it okay for pastor’s wife to wear lip stick and paint her fingers?
e) Is it okay for a pastor’s wife to wear skirt above the knee cap?
f) Does the way a minister dress affect the effectiveness of his ministry?
The youth in the Church think that, it is only the pastors and their wives who are expected to be modest when it comes to dressing, but the Bible actually calls us all Priests of GOD. Read 1 peter 2:9
If the Pastor is expected to dress modestly, then the Adventist Youth who the Bible calls a Royal Priest according to 1 Peter 2:9 must also dress and appear modest in all things. We must let our light so shine in our appearance so that we can reflect the Character of Him who has called us out of darkness into His marvelous light.
We are living in the closing chapters of the earth’s history; it is therefore very important to know the devices of the devil so you are not deceived. 2 Corinthians 2:11 “So that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.” The Devil always deceives through devices. When we know the devices or the plans of the devil we will not be deceived into destruction.
There is a conflict going on between truth and error and each wants your allegiance. The only way we can be victorious in this great battle is to put on the full armor of God. - Ephesians 6:13
The way you dress reveals whose side you are in this great controversy. That is why God cautions us in His word to put His armor. “Consciously or unconsciously, the clothing we wear reveals a set of beliefs about ourselves that we want the world to believe” -Thoulby
GOALS OF DRESSING
The secular goal of dressing is to dress to look professional or successful or to gain credibility, or to seduce, or to reject traditional values. The secular goal of dressing is to show the externals.
Whiles the Christian model or goal of dressing is to reveal the beauty and simplicity of Christ inwardly and outwardly. The Christian goal of dressing concerns with the internal. The Christian modest dress serves as a frame to reveal the picture of Christ whom we serve.
WHAT DOES MODEST CLOTHING REPRESENT?
A) Modest clothes are used to represent the purity of the Church of God. Revelation 19:7-8.
B) Modest clothes also represent God’s provision of salvation for us. - Revelation 3:18
C) The redeemed of God are clothed in pure white robes. – Revelation 7:9
Ellen White says: “In no better way can you let your light shine to others than in your simplicity of dress and deportment. You may show to all that, in comparison with eternal things, you place a proper estimate upon the things of this life.” ( 3 T 376)
Externals, such as clothing, are a mirror of the inner person, a reflection of the heart. Whiles GOD want us to appear simple and modest, the devil wants us to appear arrogant, boastful and proud.
Today the fashion industry reigns supreme and many worship at her alter. Ellen G. White further states that: “Fashion rules the world; and she is a tyrannical mistress, often compelling her devotees to submit to the greatest inconvenience and discomfort. Fashion taxes without reason, and collects without mercy. She has a fascinating power, and stands ready to criticize and ridicule all who do not follow in her wake. {CTBH 85.1}
New trends of fashionable clothes are out doored almost every day. What was trendy today is out of style tomorrow. This has turned the hearts of many Seventh-Day Adventist youths from God to worldliness. From the pen of inspiration, Ellen Whites continue to say that: “Satan, the instigator and prime mover in the ever-changing, never-satisfying decrees of fashion, is always busy devising something new that shall prove an injury to physical and moral health; and he triumphs that his devices succeed so well. Death laughs that the health-destroying folly and blind zeal of the worshipers at fashion's shrine under his dominion. Happiness and the favor of God are laid upon her altar”. (Ellen White, CG 432.3)
Many youths today want to look like the images of the movies and hip-life stars they see on TV and in magazines. What they forget is that, these images do not represent the kingdom of God but that of Satan.
THE FASHION INDUSTRY TODAY PROMOTES THE FOLLOWING:
1. PRIDE: The fashion of today is all about ‘self”. People dress up in revealing clothes basically to show off, to make a statement, to let everyone know I am the best. No wonder the term that goes with today’s fashion is ‘selfie’. The youth today wear nasty revealing dressing and take pictures of themselves alone and post them on social media, people have become ‘lovers of themselves’. Adorning our bodies with excessive cosmetics, glittering jewelry, and extravagant clothes reveals inner pride and vanity, which are destructive to ourselves and to others.
“Pride and vanity are manifested everywhere; but those who are inclined to look into the to mirror admire themselves will have little inclination to look into the law of God, the great moral mirror. This idolatry of dress destroys all that is humble, meek, and lovely in character. It consumes the precious hours that should be devoted to meditation, to searching the heart, to the prayerful study of God's Word. No Christian can conform to the demoralizing fashions of the world without imperiling his soul's salvation” - (Ellen White, CG 433.2) “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom” Proverbs 11:2
2. LUST: The fashion of today rejects reverence and respect as the basis for constructive human relations. The main focus of the fashion trends of today is to sell its products by exploiting the sex drive of the human body, even if that means marketing indecent clothing. 1 Corinthians 6:18. Mary Quant, the mother of mini-skirts says that: “If clothes don’t make you noticed, they are a waste of money”. The goal of her clothing and cosmetics is to seduce a man to bed or make sex hot in the afternoon. That is why ladies are always deceived to wear short skirts to the office in the name of looking professional. Our bodies are the temples of God and as such we must be cautious of how we appear. Clothes that reveal the breasts, thighs, back, buttocks are not to be seen among the remnant children of GOD.
3. OCCULTISM: The enemy always works through devices and in these last days, fashions is one of the great devices of the devil to enslave the youth into occultism without their knowledge. Most popular clothing today show various occult designs. One of such popular but powerful occult symbol in today’s fashion is the skull and born symbol. The skull and bone is a powerful occult symbol that has the power to summon demon spirit to the one who blindly follows it. In the year 2005, a Swedish designer called Bjorn Atladx designed a jean with the skull and bone symbol at the back. When interviewed by the Associated Press as to why he put this evil symbol in his clothing line, Bjorn Atladx said: “It’s an active statement against Christianity. I am not a Satanist but I have a great dislike for organized religion. My purpose is not just to sell jeans, but to make young people question Christianity which is a false of evil”. (The Associated Press, Dec. 2005)
As Adventist youth, we must shun the fashion trends of the world and follow the simplicity of Jesus Christ our Lord. Anyone who follows the fashion of the world comes under the control of the spirit of demons. Skinny jeans, tear-tear, show your breast etc. are all not supposed to be found in the camp of the children of God. They belong to the world. - 1 John 2:15
In the Bible, seductive dressing is always associated with the Devil and his followers. Jezebel stands out in the Bible in her effort to seduce the Israelites into idolatry. In her final hour, Jezebel seductively adorned herself for herself to seduce the new king but she met her doom. 2 Kings 9:30
The great harlot of Revelation is arrayed in ‘purple and Scarlet’ and bedecked with gold and jewels and pearls, Revelation 17:4. She seductively lures mankind to commit spiritual fornication with her.
The early Christians were known for their modesty of dress. As Christians begun to conform to the paganism around them, their spiritual apostasy was reflected in their luxurious and extravagant clothes and ornaments. The Protestant Reformers condemned the use of extravagant clothes and ornaments and promoted a reform in Christian dressing which was characterized by simplicity and modesty.
CONCLUSION
The Bible does not prescribe a standard dress for Christian men and women, but it calls us to follow the simplicity of Jesus’ lifestyle, even in our clothes and appearance. The most effective witness to the change that Christ has wrought within is not a painted smile on the face of a seductively dressed person, but a radiant smile on the face of a clean, becomingly dressed person.
The experience of the ancient Israelite teaches us that, in order for us as Seventh-Day Adventist youths to experience spiritual renewal, we must remove all the ‘idols’ we cherish from our bodies and hearts and replace them with devotion to God.
“All matters of dress should be strictly guarded, following closely the Bible rule. Fashion has been the goddess who has ruled the outside world, and she often insinuates herself into the church. The church should make the Word of God her standard, and parents should think intelligently upon this subject. When they see their children inclined to follow worldly fashions, they should, like Abraham, resolutely command their households after them. Instead of uniting with the world, connect them with God”. Ellen White, CG 430
The beauty of an Adventist young lady does not lie in what she reveals but in what she conceals. Let your dressing say to the world; ‘look at how Jesus Christ has changed me from the inside out’. 1 Peter 3:3-4. May our outward appearance be a constant silent witness of our Christian identity. May it always tell the world that we live to glorify God and not ourselves.
God bless you
By: Pastor Isaac Apaw,
fb.me/pastorapaw
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