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Simplicity and Modesty
Occasionally you hear debates about what Christians should or should not wear. When the pendulum swings too far one way you see extreme plainness – everything is baggy and navy or sacks in black with no differentiation – the seamstress’ version of the baker’s cookie-cutter approach. In fact, what was intended to be simple and modest and, I suppose, ‘spiritual’ becomes eye-catching for its blahness and sameness. It becomes a costume that attracts attention to the outward appearance rather than the inner adornment of the person’s heart.
But when the pendulum swings to the other side, you have something that flies in the face of Scripture just as much as the extremely conservative clothes: flashy fashions that dazzle the eyes and cause heads to turn as they admire the ‘latest’ from your wardrobe. “Did you see that! I wonder where in the world that was purchased. I bet it was some high end fashion store. Did you notice that the white gold lining on the lapels and button holes matched the white gold ear rings and bracelets and toe-tips of the shoes? I always hold my breath waiting for the next show. It seems the simple aisle of the local church has become the fashion runway (catwalk) for models to display this season’s latest.”
Extreme conservatism and extreme liberalism both seem to be wrong because both draw attention to the wrong thing. What God wants people to marvel and wonder at is the sweet and holy condition of a Christian’s heart in contrast to the sad state of a sinner’s heart. The Apostle Peter expressed it well in his first letter when he was encouraging wives who had unbelieving husbands.
E. Peterson paraphrased 1Peter 3 this way:
Be good wives to your husbands…There are husbands who,
indifferent as they are to any words about God, will be captivated
by your life of holy beauty.
What matters is not your outer appearance-
the styling of your hair, the jewelry you wear, the cut of your clothes-
but your inner disposition.
Cultivate inner beauty, the gentle, gracious kind that God delights in.
The holy women of old were beautiful before God that way.”
(1Peter 3:1-5)
Peter saw the link between our outer appearance and inner godliness. Paul saw it too. To Timothy, Paul stressed that Godly people must say ‘no!’ to self and exercise self-control in how they dress. We should not draw attention to ourselves but to the Lord. We should outwardly present ourselves to a godless world in a way that suggests godliness is the driving force of our lives – not self-centeredness.
It is true that both Peter and Paul addressed their remarks to Christian women – but in an age where male bodies are worshipped as much as the female body – how Christian males present themselves speaks volumes as to their spiritual priorities in life as well. Males today want to adorn their bodies, as much as females, with jewelry and clothes that show off their physique and fitness. Are you trying to catch eyes with the way you dress or catch souls?
Someone developed four healthy questions to ask before you buy your apparel:
- Could it ENTICE lust? Could someone start thinking about my body if I put this on?
- Could it EXCITE covetousness? Could some other person be drooling with desire wishing they could afford it?
- Could it ENCOURAGE attention to me? Could it cause people to take a second look at me?
- Could it EMPHASIZE the outer appearance rather than the inner beauty of a Christ-like heart? Could I become more known for what I wear rather than ‘who’ I have in my heart?
Read 1Timothy 2 and 1Peter 3 on your knees. And for the guys reading this – do the gender conversion as you read. I think you will conclude that if we present ourselves in a modest, simple and dignified way, the possibility that the world will be drawn to the inner beauty of hearts in love with Christ is far more likely. That’s God’s plan. Is it mine?
Walk carefully and closely with the Lord today.
Warmly in Christ
Peter Ramsay