Principles of Dress

God commands us to always dress modestly when in the presence of others. Not doing so is sinful and tempts others to sin also.

The Word of God provides six guiding principles regarding our dress and appearance. We are not to take away from, nor add to, God’s Word. We must not permit that which God condemns, but we must also not condemn that which God permits. These six principles are as follows:

SCRIPTURAL PRINCIPLES REGARDING DRESS AND APPEARANCE

Principle Required

Example Text

1. A proper perspective of personhood — inward beauty is more important than outward beauty or appearance

Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. — 1 Peter 3:3-4

2. The avoidance of undue anxiety regarding dress and appearance

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall He not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? — Matthew 6:28-30

3. Due care and respect for physical cleanliness and neatness

Let thy garments be always white; and let thy head lack no ointment. — Ecclesiastes 9:8

She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. She maketh herself coverings of tapestry: her clothing is silk and purple. — Proverbs 31:21-22

4. Modesty of dress — the avoidance of dressing in a manner to purposely impress others

In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with braided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array. — 1 Timothy 2:9

5. Dressing fittingly for the occasion

But every woman shall borrow of her neighbour, and of her that sojourneth in her house, jewels of silver, and jewels of gold, and raiment: and ye shall put them upon your sons, and upon your daughters; and ye shall spoil the Egyptians. — Exodus 3:22

And when the people heard these evil tidings, they mourned: and no man did put on him his ornaments. — Exodus 33:4

6. Distinctiveness between male and female dress and appearance

The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God. — Deuteronomy 22:5

Rachel was employed at an advertising agency. After working there for a few years, she told some of her younger teenaged friends, “You know, I really learned something about dress and appearance at the advertising agency where I work. You always advertise for the type of buyer you want. You design an ad for Cadillac buyers much differently from one for buyers of pickup trucks. Each ad carries a very different message.

“When you dress, you are advertising yourself. Let’s say you wish that a certain guy would notice you. If you wish to be noticed for yourself, then you must dress so as to let your personal beauty — kindness, warmth, personality, thoughts, etc. — shine through. This will attract someone who is interested in you. If, however, you just want to sell your body, you advertise that. But don’t be fooled; don’t think that those guys who take a second look are interested in you. They’re only interested in what you’re advertising. You are attracting a different type of buyer!”

All of God’s commandments serve as protecting fences. Also God’s regulating principles regarding our dress and appearance will keep us from danger. If we ignore God’s loving barriers, we only do so at a great risk. Do not advertise for the wrong type of “buyer”!

— JWB

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