The Attire Of The Christian
(Kent E. Heaton Sr.)

There is a lot of interest in schools to impose a certain dress code and in
many cases have a uniform dress code for all students.  Educators understand
the importance of what young people wear and what many times they fail to
wear as having an impact upon the environment of the schools.  As from time
beginning, the attire worn by an individual says a lot about who they are.

The attire of the Christian is a very important part of their character.
Having obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ, we have given our lives in service
to Jesus Christ.  This means that we should no longer seek to dress as the
world dresses but rather to glorify God with our bodies.  This point is made
clear in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 - "Or do you not know that your body is the
temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are
not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your
body and in your spirit, which are God's."

The Lord wants His disciples to know that their body's are members of Christ
and what we do with our body's matters to Him.  Our bodies are temples of
the Holy Spirit whom we received from God when we were baptized into Christ.
(Acts 2:38,39; 5:32)  We are to glorify God with our bodies and we "are not
our own."

Disciples of Christ made a covenant with God to put Him first in their lives
in everything.  That covenant is to regard our lives as complete before Him
and in accordance with His will.  The argument people use about having the
right to dress as they desire is not acceptable to God.  God said, "You are
not your own."  Why?  Because Jesus Christ died to redeem us and we were
"bought at a price."  The price of the life of God's Son is why we have no
right to dictate to God what we shall wear or what we shall put on.  He -
and He alone - has that right.  Paul then states - "Therefore glorify God in
your body and in your spirit, which are God's."

Does it matter what I wear?  What does my attire say about me?  Consider
what the Bible says about what statement is made in what I wear.  Proverbs
7:10 describes the harlot in this fashion:  "And there a woman met him, with
the attire of a harlot, and a crafty heart."  The attire of a harlot is the
statement made by a harlot by the way she dresses.  Judah thought Tamar was
a harlot by the manner of her apparel.  (Genesis 38:13-15)

Isaiah described the children of God in their wantonness and wickedness:
"Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with outstretched necks
and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, making a jingling with
their feet."  (3:16)  The truth is very clear - even to the minds of people
today - we show our lives by the way we dress.

The attire of the Christian is not based upon the world's fashions.  The
attire of the Christian is found in the love of God and obedience to Jesus
Christ.  1 Timothy 2:9-10 says, "In like manner also, that the women adorn
themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with
braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for
women professing godliness, with good works."  The attire that many
Christians wear is not modest, it has no propriety, without moderation,
gaudy and lacking godliness.

To see women who profess to be children of the Most High God exposing
themselves with the lack of clothing is a shame and disgrace to the blood of
Jesus Christ.  Women who wear clothes so tight they had to be poured into
them is unbecoming godliness.  The dresses are worn so short that sitting
down becomes an Olympic event by itself.  Christian women parade around town
in shorts so tight and so short that the last thing anyone who think of
those women is godliness.

Godly women need to be found in the church who are willing to dress like
godly women.  Elders need to take charge of the flock of God and instruct
the women concerning their dress - and the men also.  They are not exempt in
this.  Godly apparel is glorifying God - what many wear today does not
glorify God - and bring shame to the body of Jesus Christ.

"You are bought at a price!"  Post that on the mirrors when you get dressed.
Fathers need to dress their daughters and wives in godly apparel.  "You are
not your own" says that I must dress as God would desire me to be.  Let's
stop kidding ourselves and find solace in the fashion of the day.  Women -
if you are not dressed in godly apparel - go home and get dressed.  Men - do
not bring shame upon Christ by the way you dress.  Christians - dress godly!