APPAREL
Innocency at first was man’s comely robe, in
comparison of which the richest clothes are but nasty rags. Ah, how lovely did
he look in that heaven-spun attire! In
his primitive splendour, the most gaudy and costly
apparel would have been but as a cloud over the face of the sun, or a coarse
curtain over a beautiful picture. But sin caused shame, and shame called for
clothes to cover it.
Works, v. 1.
If lustful
looking be so grievous a sin, then those who dress and expose themselves with
desires to be looked at and lusted after...are not less, but even more guilty.
In this matter it is only too often the case that men sin, but women tempt them
so to do. How great, then, must be the guilt of the great majority of the
modern misses who deliberately seek to arouse the sexual passions of our young
men. And how much greater still is the guilt of most of their mothers for
allowing them to become lascivious temptresses.
A.W. Pink
The
Sermon on the Mount, The Law and Adultery: Matthew
5:27-32.
God is not
offended by the way you dress, unless it is immodest or in unusual ways that
draw attention to yourself. Wear what you have and what you can afford. God
sees what is inside. Please Him, not others.
Curtis Thomas
Life in the Body of Christ, Founders Press, 2006, p. 248,
www.founderspress.org. Used by Permission.
[Guidelines
for the selection of church attire.] There are no set, specific rules. But there are some
personal guidelines. Some of them are: What is the custom of the church? How do
the members dress? What can our budget reasonably cover? What standard does the
general community condone? What is typically modest? What can be nice enough
but not draw attention to ourselves? What is the appropriate dress for the
occasion? What clothes enable us to be proper stewards of God’s money? A simple
rule is: Clothes should be clean and neat, not flashy but enhancing, and should
neither take attention away from nor draw attention to... Our words and walk are more important issues
than our dress.
Practical Wisdom for Pastors, Crossway Books,
2001, p. 30-31.
Dress to be
admired and not desired.
Author
Unknown