I'm still adjusting
in the new environment that I am in.
I never had to think
about what I ought to wear while I was in the past churches I have attended
before.
I used to wear
shorts, even short-shorts and just a
t-shirt and VIOLA! I'm out the door. I never had to think about what my clothes
might say about me.
Howbeit, when the
Lord made me realize how I need to be in a biblically sound church, to be attending an IFB Church, I started to
analyze and to check myself.
Trying to figure out if there's anything that I
might need to "change".
Yes, the people in
my new church dress themselves very modestly.
The women wear skirts, an inch below the knee but some an inch above the knee.
The older women sometimes choose to wear slacks. The men wear polo barongs.
[It's hot in the Philippines don't expect the people here to wear long sleeves
with coat and tie. ] Then last but not the least the children here, cute little
ones, wear just about the same as the adults. :)
Since I was new
there, I guess it was "accepted" if I still wore my shorts and blouse for my first visit. But for my second
sunday, I was still wearing jeans and a polo blouse.
I was actually surprised that
the Pastor didn't call me to the side to tell me that I ought to wear dress
next sunday "or else".
Not that I expect him to. I guess, this church is not very "strict"
in their dress code.
Yes, I may have been
off the hook for two sundays but what I am really after is that, I knew Baptist
Churches encourage, and some even require,
proper dress codes for all members.
Even though I knew about that, I still
came, not following the "rules".
Well, I just don't
want to follow or do something, just
because I "ought to.
I want t realize first WHY they dress that way.
Why I need to dress that way.
1 Timothy 2
9 In like manner
also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and
sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
10 But (which
becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
Modesty is the goal.
Imagine if just for
the sake of wearing a dress/skirt, I
come to church [or any place], wearing a dress I bought before I got
converted?
A dress that is 2-3 inches ABOVE the
knee, plunging neckline and sleeveless. [Does that cover anything anymore?]
If all I know and
all I am after is that I have to wear
those things without knowing why…
see, it might even have caused me bigger
problems.
But then some would
reason to me that I HAVE to wear dress and skirts, whether I LIKE IT OR NOT, because the Lord has
ordered it.
Deuteronomy 22:5
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.
This verse has been
used [even abused!] to forbid women to wear anything that is used by men, i.e.
pants and slacks.
Woman
H802
נשׁים אשּׁה
'ishshâh
nâshı̂ym
ish-shaw',
naw-sheem'
The first form is
the feminine of H376 or H582; the second form is an irregular plural; a woman
(used in the same wide sense as H582).: - [adulter]ess, each, every, female, X
many, + none, one, + together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.
Pertaineth
H3627
כּלי
kelı̂y
kel-ee'
From H3615;
something prepared, that is, any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress,
vessel or weapon): - armour ([-bearer]), artillery, bag, carriage, + furnish,
furniture, instrument, jewel, that is made of, X one from another, that which
pertaineth, pot, + psaltery, sack, stuff, thing, tool, vessel, ware, weapon, +
whatsoever.
Man
H1397
גּבר
geber
gheh'-ber
From H1396; properly
a valiant man or warrior; generally a person simply: - every one, man, X
mighty.
Garment
H8071
שׂמלה
śimlâh
sim-law'
Perhaps by
permutation for the feminine of H5566 (through the idea of a cover assuming the
shape of the object beneath); a dress, especially a mantle: - apparel, cloth
(-es, -ing), garment, raiment.
I do agree with one
Sister in Christ who pointed this out to me. That a good study of hebrew will
give us interesting facts.
1) it is not
speaking of all men, but rather a specific type of men...
Soldiers. The word "man" in that verse is the Hebrew
word "geber", not "Adam". "geber" is translated "valiant
man, or warrior."
2) it is not
speaking of casual clothing, but rather battle apparatus. The word "pertaineth" is from the Hebrew word "kǝliy" and is speaking of "dress", or "apparatus."
So, in a way, the
verse, in its proper context, will give
us a command that goes beyond clothing.
It talks about how a woman should not put on a warrior's attire and become a
soldier and fight a war; likewise, men should not put on women's garment to
disguise himself as woman, trying to avoid the battle.
This command roots
down to how the Lord wants his people to see how He made men and women
differently and with different roles. And to not change His design on things
that He created because doing so is a sin.
It is an abomination.
Abomination
H8441
תּעבה תּועבה
tô‛êbah
tô‛êbah
to-ay-baw',
to-ay-baw'
Feminine active
participle of H8581; properly something disgusting (morally), that is, (as
noun) an abhorrence; especially idolatry or (concretely) an idol: - abominable
(custom, thing), abomination.
By doing such, we
indirectly say with our actions that we abhor God's order of things.
Titus 1:16 They
profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and
disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
1 John 3:18 My little children, let
us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
So, Celina, does
that mean, I can wear anything I want??!!
Sure! But don't
forget modesty.
To give you
something to think about, if you're a woman,
pants do indeed
emphasize the shape of a woman's thighs. Since men are enticed by what they
see, if he sees a woman wearing tight jeans, he might be tempted to look at
your lower body.
Thus, you might even cause them to stumble with lust.
A good dress hides
those legs and thighs, in such a way that, his eyes will be drawn to your face
instead.
But if you wear very short dress or skirts, he can still see a great amount of
your thighs and it loses the point.
So it is good to
keep in mind not to put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall, in his
brother's way.
Being godly starts
with the DESIRE to be godly.
Nonetheless, it is
still more important that we make sure that our souls are
wearing the right garments. We might wear the "right" and modest
clothes, and we might even seem to be godly in our lifestyles, but let us not
forget what kind of raiment matters most.
Matthew 16:26 For
what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Psalm 49:8 (For
the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)
Job 27:8 For what
is the hope of the hypocrite, though he hath gained, when God taketh away his
soul?
So what should our souls wear and what should they have for those souls to be saved?
Psalm 24
3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who
shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath
clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor
sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive
the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6 This is the
generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
So we ought to be
dressed in righteousness and in every good work; not stained by any sin or any
transgression.
Seems
impossible.
I agree.. VERY IMPOSSIBLE. I can only say,,, "WOE IS ME!"
Isaiah 6:5 Then said I, Woe is me!
for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst
of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of
hosts.
Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an
unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do
fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Romans 3
19 Now we know
that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law:
that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before
God.
20 Therefore by
the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the
law is the knowledge of sin.
Romans 3:23 For
all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are
mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul
that sinneth, it shall die.
Truly no man can
attain salvation then. We have no righteousness. All that we do and all that we
can do are but filthy rags and we have
sinned greatly and we ought to pay for those sins.
And those sins are only paid by DEATH.
Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the
gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Are we not THANKFUL
for the GOOD NEWS? Don't we rejoice because of the GOSPEL? Don't we love that
it is all paid for? That it's all by grace?
Don't you want to SERVE the God who chose to save you when there is nothing you
can repay Him for? When all we have to do is to RETURN towards God and BELIEVE?
Mark 9
23 Jesus said unto him, If thou
canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Genesis 15:6 And
he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.
Job 33
23 If there be a
messenger with him, an interpreter, one among a thousand, to shew unto man his
uprightness:
24 Then he is
gracious unto him, and saith, Deliver him from going down to the pit: I have
found a ransom.
25 His flesh shall
be fresher than a child's: he shall return to the days of his youth:
26 He shall pray
unto God, and he will be favourable unto him: and he shall see his face with
joy: for he will render unto man his righteousness.
27 He looketh upon
men, and if any say, I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it
profited me not;
28 He will deliver
his soul from going into the pit, and his life shall see the light.
29 Lo, all these
things worketh God oftentimes with man,
30 To bring back
his soul from the pit, to be enlightened with the light of the living.
Psalm 23
1 The LORD is my
shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to
lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my
soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Romans 3
21 But now the
righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law
and the prophets;
22 Even the
righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all
them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have
sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified
freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath
set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his
righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance
of God;
26 To declare, I
say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier
of him which believeth in Jesus.
Romans 4
2 For if Abraham
were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
3 For what saith
the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for
righteousness.
4 Now to him that
worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that
worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is
counted for righteousness.
6 Even as David
also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth
righteousness without works,
7 Saying, Blessed
are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
8 Blessed is the
man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Romans 4
20 He staggered
not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving
glory to God;
21 And being fully
persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
22 And therefore
it was imputed to him for righteousness.
23 Now it was not
written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;
24 But for us
also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus
our Lord from the dead;
25 Who was
delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as
have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
For by putting on
righteousness that is imputed unto us by believing in the Son of God, our Lord
Jesus Christ, we are now right with God.
We have peace with Him, we are saved from the wrath to come.
DECLARED RIGHTEOUS! Even if we are not!
Well, where is the justice in that?
Jesus Christ LOVES you and I so much that He would rather experience death [the
punishment] unto himself than for both of us, and all the world, to
perish. He did that when we don’t know
Him yet. When we were still sinners, loving the filthy deeds of the flesh:
which is SIN.
Romans 5
8 But God commendeth his love toward
us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
1 Thessalonians 5:10 Who died for
us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
1 Corinthians
8:11 And through thy knowledge
shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
Mark 9:23 Jesus said unto him, If
thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
John 5:24 Verily, verily, I say unto
you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath
everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from
death unto life.
John 6
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am
the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that
believeth on me shall never thirst.
40 And this is the will of him that
sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have
everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
47 Verily, verily, I say unto you,
He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
John 7:38 He that believeth on me,
as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.
John 11
25 Jesus said unto her, I am the
resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet
shall he live:
26 And whosoever liveth and
believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
John 12
44 Jesus cried and said, He that
believeth on me, believeth not on me, but on him that sent me.
46 I am come a light into the world,
that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
Only by believing.
Just by believing!
Isn't that
amazing?
Look at how the Lord Jesus EMPHASIZES, even repeating it over and over again,
TO BELIEVE on HIM??
Because He cares that MUCH.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only
begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.
He wants you to
believe and saved!
John
16:31 Jesus answered them, Do ye
now believe?
.…...
Now, let me end with a parable.
Matthew 22
1 And Jesus
answered and spake unto them again by parables, and said,
2 The kingdom of
heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
3 And sent forth
his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not
come.
4 Again, he sent
forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have
prepared my dinner: my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are
ready: come unto the marriage.
5 But they made
light of it, and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
6 And the remnant
took his servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them.
7 But when the
king heard thereof, he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed
those murderers, and burned up their city.
8 Then saith he to
his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
9 Go ye therefore
into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
10 So those
servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they
found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
11 And when the
king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding
garment:
12 And he saith
unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And
he was speechless.
13 Then said the
king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him
into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
14 For many are
called, but few are chosen.
Now, let me ask
you... WHAT IS YOUR SOUL WEARING?
