HOW THE CHILD OF GOD SHOULD DRESS
The following words are sent forth to help inform the Child of God of what the Bible teaches. Please read it carefully and prayerfully. This has been written with no axe to grind or any animosity from the heart of the writer. It is my firm belief that there are many of God’s dear children scattered across the land who truly love the Lord with all their heart but have never been taught the principles of Christian dress.
This in no way is an exhaustive study on the subject, but is sent forth with much prayer in hope that it will find a lodging place in the hearts of God’s people everywhere. As you read it, ask God to enlighten your heart concerning the scriptures.
The Bible has all the answers to all our questions. These questions cannot be answered unless we study what it says, and accept it with all our heart. Nobody has ever gone wrong trusting, believing, and clinging to the Holy Word of God.
After thirty three years in the ministry, I certainly see a need in our Christian realm concerning the dress of the Child of God.
Please read this with an open mind and a praying heart. Give these pages your undivided attention.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Bro. Dennis Dills
The Christian dress
1 Peter 3:3,4 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.
As you read this booklet, allow the Word of God to speak to your heart. Ask yourself, “Do I please the Lord in the way I dress? Would I be ashamed of what I am wearing if Jesus came back today? Does what I wear bring reproach upon Christ? Can the world say by what I wear everyday that I am a child of God? These questions should be asked by both men and women.
As a Child of God, we should desire to please the Lord with all of our heart. To be like Jesus should be our constant goal. Anything less would not be proper. Since we are the purchased possession of the Lord Jesus Christ, He has the right to dictate our lives. We should desire for Him to take full control of our lives and pattern them as He desires. As you read this booklet, prayerfully consider what the Lord would have you to do concerning these issues.
Saved men and women should set forth the Biblical standard for the world. A Child of God has an obligation to God, the Bible, and the world to dress according to what God commands and expects. Many say it does not matter what we wear but where our heart is. The fact is, our dress code and outward appearance tells the world where our hearts are and who we belong to. In these last days, the world and Hollywood are setting the standards of dress instead of the Church and the Word of God. Television and the entertainment world are setting the dress code for the young people. Young people in the Churches all over the world are looking everywhere but the Word of God to determine what they should wear. Many preachers will not preach on what a Child of God should or should not wear. They fear the congregation or their wife, their sons, or their daughters. Therefore, our churches are filled with the latest fads and fashions. It is a shame and disgrace of what you will see in the average Church today. No wonder the Power of God is missing.
A Child of God has an obligation to the Bible to dress correct, go to the right places, and have the right friendships. Many do not pay any attention to what the Bible says and then they wonder why God does not bless them. Many Sunday School teachers and preachers, including multitudes of pastors, do not teach what the Child of God should wear. They feel that it is not important or they do not want to make any so-called “waves” or “rock the boat’. They say that we should not be “negative” or “controversial”. We are told that there are a lot more important things to preach on or about. I agree, but if we preach the whole counsel of God, dress codes will come up. The Bible teaches that nakedness is a sin. Remember, your life may be the only Bible that many people will read. Woe unto the Child of God who brings reproach upon the Bible through what he or she wears.
If a lost man sees us coming out or going into the wrong places, he will not have confidence in us enough to allow us to win him to Christ. The same is true of our conversation. If the lost man or woman hears us speak with profanity or even worldly conversation, they will not listen to us when we tell them about Jesus. If our dealings with the public are unethical it will have a negative bearing upon the sinners life and his destination. In effect, we will grease the board for him on his way to Hell. God help us!
Our dress in the public is the same way. If we dress and wear the latest fashions of the day which reveals the body, this will cause the lost person to wonder if there is a difference between the Christian and the unbeliever. God said his people are a peculiar people.
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Counterfeits
If your life has not been different since you professed Christ, then you were slipped a counterfeit by the Devil. According to the Bible, a Child of God will look different, walk different, act different, dress different, and just be different from the rest of the world. Even his conversation will not be of this world. We are a new creation. If your life was not changed, you did not get the real salvation of God. You are still lost in your sin.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Many even get mad and upset when a preacher or any other Child of God tells them what the Bible says. God blesses those who honor the Word of God. To ignore the Bible brings distress and turmoil to one’s life. Every Child of God must have an open mind concerning the Word of God. I have found down through the years that those who get mad at the truth have their minds already made up. God cannot show anybody a new truth with a closed mind. Those who are sold out to God will search and seek the truth. Then when they see the truth, they will accept it and let it make them free. If you feel that what you wear is nobody’s business and what I am saying is wrong, then you don’t have to get mad. If you are right, you already have the truth. The reason people get disturbed at this is because the Holy Ghost has driven it into their hearts like a spike. So, in effect, you are not getting upset at the man of God but at God Himself. You don’t get mad at the mailman for bringing you things you did not want, so don’t get mad at the preacher, he is God’s delivery boy to you. I have heard preachers preach things that I knew were contrary to the Bible. This did not make me mad, I knew what was right. Notice what the Bible says:
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
As a fundamental Baptist preacher, I have been embarrassed many times by the way Church groups dress. I have been in quick food restaurants, when a Church bus, loaded with young people, would stop. These young people would be dressed indecent as far as the Bible is concerned but okay according to the standards of the world. Not only have I seen the youth dressed improperly, but the youth leaders as well. These all should be setting an example to the world of how a Child of God should dress according to the Bible. Woe unto the preacher who allows his Church to parade around indecent bringing reproach on Jesus, the Bible, and the Church of the living God.
It is a shame
It is a shame that the Church has bowed so low that they have to be constantly reminded how to dress. The pastor should never have to spend as much time as he does trying to inform the Church how they should dress. Go to many of our modern churches. You will see men in the choir with T-shirts (yes T-shirts in the house of God) advertising some worldly product or activity with hair down on their shoulders, wearing a necklace and an ear-ring. The women will have on short dresses with a low or plunging neck line and painted like they are fixing to go to a war party. Even a long dress with a split up the side will bring attention to the body. What has happened to the Old Time Religion we used to know? The women would come into the house of God dressed from the head to the toe. The only revealing of their body was when the Holy Ghost got them excited and they began to shout and wave their bonnets. You can tell that the average woman does not come into the Church to worship because if God showed up and they began to cry there would be a real mess running down their face.
Nakedness is a sin and must be dealt with. In the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve were covered by the “Shekinah” glory of God until they disobeyed the Word of God and ate the forbidden fruit. When they disobeyed God, they were stripped of the Glory of God and became naked. Because of this sin, God expelled them out of the garden of Eden. But before He expelled them out, He killed innocent animals and made them coats of skin to cover their nakedness. The blood of the innocent animals covered their sin and the skins of the animals covered their nakedness. Adam and Eve had sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons. God made them coats of skins. All of us know that coats cover more than aprons. God set the example with our first parents on how we should cover the body. Read the story in the third chapter of Genesis. Men and women are still trying to cover their spiritual nakedness with fig leaves of their own making instead of accepting God’s sacrifice of His only Begotten Son.
A Child of God, whether a man or woman should never wear anything that is revealing or brings attention to the body. To cause someone to look on us to lust after us is just as wrong as the one doing the lusting. Today’s fashions major in bringing attention to the body. The Devil is doing all he can in breaking down the morals of modesty and decency. Each year the fashions are more revealing than the year before. Each year you find the morals and modesty slipping away as well. For a Child of God to wear these fashions is sin and it must be repented of. It may be popular to wear the latest fashions according to the world, but let me ask you, Does it please the Lord and is it in accordance with the Bible?
Preachers are afraid to preach the truth!
There are very few preachers that will preach on modesty any more. One reason is that their family members, their own children, their own wife, and many times they themselves do not dress in modest apparel. A Child of God should pray over all that he or she wears before putting on something that will bring reproach on the Lord Jesus and be contrary to the Bible. It is a shame and a disgrace to see a preacher and his wife out in the public dressed in immodest apparel. In these days, it is common to see a preacher out jogging or working in the yard in shorts or without a shirt. His wife will be dressed in tight fitting jeans, shorts, a halter top, or a compromise of culottes, with bobbed hair and thinking nothing of it. His children will naturally be dressed likewise or even worse.
It is amazing how many mothers and dads will dress Godly themselves but allow their children to dress indecent. I have seen preachers that would not dress in shorts themselves but would allow their little boys and girls to wear them. This is a double standard. Likewise, pastors wives will not dress in slacks, culottes, or mini-skirts, but will allow their little girls to do so. I have even heard them say that they will leave it up to their children what they want to wear. If this is your philosophy, you need to bow your head and ask God to forgive and help you. Judgment day is coming.
My, how we have lost our morals and Biblical standards to live by. Years ago, this would be a disgrace, now, it is accepted. In addition, those who preach against these things are considered, “old foggy”, “negative”, “shallow”, “narrow minded”, or “trouble makers”. Maybe you have a few other words for them, but thank God for somebody who will stand for the things of God. People who will not stand for something will fall for everything.
Jeremiah 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.
Moses, the prophet of God, went up on the mountain for forty days. God gave him the ten commandments and instructions. While he was gone, the Israelites made a golden calf and danced before it. The Bible records that they danced before the golden calf NAKED. This brought the judgment of God on them and many lost their lives through God’s wrath that followed. Read the story in Exodus chapter 32:15-28. God is not pleased with the way his people dress today either. A Child of God has a duty to God to dress properly. Anything short of what God wants is sin.
Another Bible account of nakedness is found in the book of Genesis chapter 9 verses 20 through 27. Noah, God’s preacher of righteousness, planted a vineyard after the flood and got drunk. He then lay in his tent NAKED. Ham, Noah’s son looked on his nakedness and told his brothers. Because of this there was a curse put upon Canaan, (Ham’s son and Noah’s grandson). God does not smile on the sin of NAKEDNESS. Much could be said about drunkenness but that is another issue. One thing I do want to mention is that drunkenness is associated with nakedness. Being drunk on alcohol will cause you to expose yourself, and being drunk on the things of the world spiritually, will do the same to you spiritually.
We are living in a time when people of God are confused. In this time of equal rights for men and women, the Devil is trying to put no difference between the sexes. Men dress like women and women dress like men. Men are wearing the apparel of women and women are wearing the apparel of men. The Bible said this was an abomination.
An Abomination
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.
Abomination, according to the Webster’s dictionary means, extreme disgust and hatred or loathing. I realize that many will say that Deuteronomy 22:5 is Old Testament and we are not under the law anymore. That is correct, but the Word of God reveals that the Old and New Testaments are Divinely inspired and to be used.
2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Most church members get upset when they see Sodomites parade up and down the street in dresses (women’s clothing) but totally defend women wearing pants (men’s clothing). A man who wears dresses (women’s clothing) are called cross dressers. What would you call a woman who wears men’s clothing? This preacher calls them cross dressers also.
1 Timothy 2:9,10 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; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
Women have been dressing in slacks for years now, have cut off their hair, and moved into the work force that should be for men. The Bible said the woman was to be keepers at home.
Titus 2:5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
During the days of preaching the Gospel, I have seen many wives and mothers leave the home to help make a living with their husband. I have heard women say that they have to wear slacks on the job because of the job they have to perform. My reply has always been that if a lady has to wear something that is contrary to the Bible, then she is in the wrong place. Many times when women are on the job they meet somebody else they think is more interesting to them than their husband and then, you know the story. Divorce takes its toll upon the lives of the children. Sin has crept in while we have slept on our church pews and now we have so many single parents because of divorce that we have men and women playing both roles in the home. Our children are confused and frustrated.
The Universal Symbol
There is a universal symbol used to identify the rest rooms for men and women. The men’s rest room is identified by a stick figure symbol wearing pants. The women’s rest room is identified by a stick figure symbol wearing a dress. It is amazing how much this corresponds to the Word of God. Many women will say that they have not been convicted of wearing slacks. That does not change the Word of God. Their minds may be closed to the truth. God does not have a standard for one and another standard for others. Many women have been convicted by the Holy Ghost that pants are wrong. This in itself should be sufficient to convince anyone who is searching the truth. The Spirit of God is the person who convicts of sin. The Holy Ghost will never tell you to do anything that is contrary to the Word of God. So when He convicts a woman that wearing the garments pertaining to men are wrong, it is because the Word of God teaches the same. Likewise, the Holy Spirit will not tell one that it is right and another that it is wrong.
The Church and the Child of God should have the highest standards of all. A Christian lady should never be seen in the public in slacks, shorts, halter tops, mini-skirts, culottes, bathing suits, low neck dresses, see through dresses, or any other revealing garment or even a compromise of these. Many pastors have endorsed culottes. This is a compromise. A woman is to dress in clothing that is becoming of the Lord and of a Child of God. These statements are strong, but the Bible is the Word of God and must be heard. Many women will say that they don’t see anything wrong with slacks. As a general rule, these are usually too tight and they bring attention to the body. There is nothing modest or Godly about slacks on a woman.
Equal rights for women have destroyed the virtuous woman. It is not uncommon to see women dressed just like men with short hair and a masculine walk. We are living in the day of effeminate men and masculine women. It is time that men and women come back to the Biblical role of being a Christian and dressing like one. It is not uncommon to see women and men who are classified as “real Church workers”, out in the public in a pair of shorts and many times short shorts at that, wearing a T-shirt with a scripture verse on it. Well now sir or madam, what do you think the Lord thinks about that? Do you really care? God describes you in the following scripture:
James 3:10-13 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
Likewise, Christian men should never be seen in the public wearing shorts or going without a shirt. He should refrain from wearing a necklace, ear rings, or any other apparel that demeans his manhood. This is a day of perversion, cross dressers, sex changes, and men who get a thrill from wearing clothing pertaining to women. I’ve always said that I want to dress like a man, walk like a man, look like a man, and smell like a man even if I have to leave my right guard off. Men should always keep their hair cut and not wear it long. Long hair on a man is a shame unto him. A woman’s long hair is her glory. In this day, it is not uncommon to see men with longer hair than their wives. God help us, we are in trouble. Sir, get a hold of yourself, search the scriptures, find out what God wants you to be. He made you a man, be a man, a one hundred per cent man. We are living in the unisex day. The devil is doing what he can tear down the differences between men and women. He is using Hollywood and the fashion industry to help him.
1 Corinthians 11:14.15 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
Even at the time of this writing, it was reported on the news that a boy in one of the schools in America went to school wearing a dress. This cause much confusion. He was sent home. The news media played it up and reported that the girls in the school really resented his wearing the dress. Is this not a double standard? Girls and women have been wearing the attire of men and boys for years and do not think anything about it. There was a time that this was a disgrace. Now it is accepted. There will be a time, if the Lord tarries His coming, that men and boys can and will wear dresses and it will probably become as accepted as women wearing slacks. They already carry purses or shoulder bags like women. Preachers will preach a social gospel or a soothing gospel and say that it is all right just to please the crowd and keep a job. All this cross dressing brings confusion, and the Devil is the author of confusion.
If everyone who claims that they have been born again would begin dressing according to the Bible, we would send a message to the world and set an example for them to follow. Instead, we allow the world to show and tell us what to wear. God will hold us in account of how we obey or disobey the Word of God.
In this day of loose standards, the Church, which is the Bride of Christ has done much to reproach the Bridegroom. Double standards are so common in the average Church. Some pastors preach against men and women wearing shorts or women wearing slacks to the Church but do not preach against wearing them outside the Church. They are wrong in both places. The reason Churches have allowed the wearing of them in the congregation is because they have been quiet about wearing this kind of apparel in the home and in the public.
In this day, you better not say anything about shorts, halter tops, short skirts, low cut dresses, or women’s slacks. I have found that you can talk about a woman’s children, her husband, her dog, or her cat, but you had better keep your mouth shut about her britches. Most pastors have a “Holy Hush” and “Spiritual Lock Jaw” about these issues. They hum-haw around and try to evade the issue if you ask them about it. They are probably afraid of the Deacons who control their salary. They do not fear God and have forgotten who put them in the ministry in the first place, if they have been called at all.
I remember a time when Churches would not allow boys and girls no matter how small to wear shorts to Vacation Bible School or any other church function. Today it has gotten out of control. Years ago, even lost people in the community would not send their children to the Church house dressed this way. They had respect for the House of God. Today Church folk have dropped the standards and the Church has lost that respect.
If you start a child off dressing contrary to the Bible, he will grow up without the bible having any control over him. No wonder our jails and prisons are full. They have been taught to live against the Word of God. Not too long ago there was a Church, not far from where I was pasturing, that allowed one of its Vacation Bible School teachers to come to the Church and teach wearing a bathing suit. God help us and the pastors who will allow this.
For years we have allowed Sunday School teachers to go to the beach and lay out in the sun without enough on to wad a shotgun and then try to teach boys and girls how to live for God. This is an abomination. Double standards everywhere! What can they teach them? Woe unto the pastors and deacons that allow this to go on in their church. We will stand before a Holy God and give an account of these unholy practices.
If you drive by some churches on a Saturday, you will see teen-agers playing ball of some sort in indecent attire. They may be washing cars or having a bake sale, half naked, trying to raise money for some unholy trip or swimming party. God is not broke. Why would a Church allow this? We may be entertaining the young people but we are doing it at the expense of our Biblical standards and also deceiving them of the truth.
The maniac (Legion) of Gadara, lived in the tombs, cut himself, and wore no clothes. When he came to Jesus and the demons were cast out of him, he was found sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind. This should tell us that those who follow Jesus with all their heart will put on garments that will cover their nakedness. It is an automatic thing. When you get right with God you will dress according to the Bible.
Luke 8:35 Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.
Bad Examples
Today we are teaching our children everything but the Word of God about how a person should dress and especially the Child of God. The Bible has much to say about nakedness. We allow our children to dress indecent even in ht home, which is contrary to the Bible. Then they go out into the public indecent and have no shame about them. Parents even expose themselves too much to their children and this is also against the Bible. Mothers and dads should not parade themselves before their children scantily clad no matter how young they are. Children should not be allowed to parade themselves before parents or brothers and sisters either. Strong Biblical teaching and adherence to the Word of God will produce men and women with Godly character and a strong conviction to keep themselves covered. It is a shame how we see young men and women dress in the public. They have no shame about them. Many of them, it is sad to say, are parents and if you asked them about their salvation, they would tell you they were saved and living for God.
Leviticus 18:6,7 None of you shall approach to any that is near of kin to him, to uncover their nakedness: I am the LORD. The nakedness of thy father, or the nakedness of thy mother, shalt thou not uncover: she is thy mother; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness.
Leviticus 18:8-16 The nakedness of thy father’s wife shalt thou not uncover: it is thy father’s nakedness. The nakedness of thy sister, the daughter of thy father, or daughter of thy mother, whether she be born at home, or born abroad, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover. The nakedness of thy son’s daughter, or of thy daughter’s daughter, even their nakedness thou shalt not uncover: for theirs is thine own nakedness. The nakedness of thy father’s wife’s daughter, begotten of thy father, she is thy sister, thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s sister: she is thy father’s near kinswoman. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister: for she is thy mother’s near kinswoman. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy father’s brother, thou shalt not approach to his wife: she is thine aunt. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy daughter in law: she is thy son’s wife; thou shalt not uncover her nakedness. Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife: it is thy brother’s nakedness.
Leviticus 20:11 And the man that lieth with his father’s wife hath uncovered his father’s nakedness: both of them shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
Leviticus 20:17 And if a man shall take his sister, his father’s daughter, or his mother’s daughter, and see her nakedness, and she see his nakedness; it is a wicked thing; and they shall be cut off in the sight of their people: he hath uncovered his sister’s nakedness; he shall bear his iniquity.
Leviticus 20:19-21 And thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy mother’s sister, nor of thy father’s sister: for he uncovereth his near kin: they shall bear their iniquity. And if a man shall lie with his uncle’s wife, he hath uncovered his uncle’s nakedness: they shall bear their sin; they shall die childless. And if a man shall take his brother’s wife, it is an unclean thing: he hath uncovered his brother’s nakedness; they shall be childless.
Habakkuk 2:15 Woe unto him that giveth his neighbour drink, that puttest thy bottle to him, and makest him drunken also, that thou mayest look on their nakedness!
This is not a popular subject, but it is a very important one. Every Child of God will give an account of the way he or she dresses when they stand before a Holy God. Our excuses will not be accepted in that day. The lives we have affected as well will have to be accounted for. The Bible is the final authority.
2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.
Whether we want to admit it or not, the reason for many rapes and murders has been because of indecent dress. It may have not been the one who was raped that was indecently exposed, but pornography or indecent dress on someone else has caused the individual to commit the crime. The Devil is using the tool of nakedness to lure many in his direction. God help us as God’s people, to wake up!
Ask God what He would have you wear and how you should present yourself in the public. A dedicated Child of God will want to please God in everything he or she does. Too many times we want to cut the corners and see how far we can get into the world and still be called a Christian. If you have been offended by this booklet, it is a sure sign that you are not where God wants you to be. There is a rebellious heart in you which needs repented of. Please repent of it today and allow God to work in your heart. Believe it or not there are still many who will agree with this pastor concerning the things that have been written therein.
Allow the Lord to speak to your heart and apply these things to your life. Our biggest job is to be a Christian witness and bring many to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The manner in which we dress is very important. Do you dress to please the Lord or to please yourself and others?
A woman dressed in the attire of an harlot would have a hard time trying to witness and win a lost woman unto God. A man indecently dressed would have a hard time trying to win a lost man decently dressed unto the Lord. As a Child of God we are to major on the salvation of souls and not particularly on “things”, but how a Child of God dresses is very important.
I do not want to close before saying that it is very much possible to dress Biblically correct and be far from God. Many boast and brag about what they do not wear like others, and at the same time have other things in their heart that keeps them out of touch with God. Our Spiritual life is most important to us. Let us examine ourselves and get as close to God as we possibly can.
Many preachers will not agree with this. They preach that you can do a lot of things if you do it in moderation. The BIBLE is the final authority for the Child of God, not an hireling. It does not matter what the preacher thinks or what the deacon thinks, but what the Word of God says. Let us listen to the Word of God and the Holy Ghost concerning our manner of dress.
A-men, and God Bless you!
False. All false.