FASHION: Is God Silent?

“Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them” - Genesis 3: 21, NKJV.

In Genesis 3:21 we read that God clothed Adam and Eve. God’s purpose for clothing them was to cover, however, today we live in a society where the trend is to uncover. Mankind, being sinful, uses what was intended for good for their own evil intent. God’s covering of Adam and Eve’s nakedness was good, but sinful mankind is constantly on the look out for ways to promote sexual appeal through clothing that exposes what God elected to cover! To ‘cover’ does not only mean to ‘place something over’, but it also means to ‘conceal’. Although no naked flesh may be visible on a pair of legs, the fabric of the clothing item, i.e. jeans, may be so skin-tight that it seems practically airbrushed or sprayed on – although the flesh is covered, the shape or contour is not only revealed but emphasized to the maximum!

The fact is that Satan is hard at work in the fashion industry – seeking to destroy. Paul warns us to ‘be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour’ (1 Peter 5:8). We need to take heed of Paul’s warning and resist the urge to thoughtlessly follow every fashion the world elects to be the flavour of the day or season. When shopping for clothing, shop with discernment – always ask yourself: why am I buying this outfit? Is it because I want to draw attention to myself? Is it to attract the opposite sex? What type of attention is it that I am seeking? Or am I buying it because I like it, and I like it because it also reflects my inner faith and displays my identity in Christ?

Is it really possible to be modest and fashionable at the same time? Absolutely! There is plenty of clothing available for girls, teens and women that is both modest and fashionable. A teen or woman need not wear the low cut and/or skimpy blouses or dresses, revealing skirts or shorts or transparent clothing constantly promoted in the shop windows, magazines and film industry in order to be fashionable. Such clothing, in addition to slit skirts, tights and tight jeans, as well as the fashion of wearing underwear as outerwear (including exposed bra straps!), is designed by sinful mankind to draw attention to specific body parts in an attempt to tease men and appeal to their carnal nature. Although such alluring and revealing clothing is contemporary, it is also indecent. Scripture does not condemn beauty or beautiful clothing – however, we are clearly instructed in 1 Timothy 2:9 to dress in modest apparel, in other words, in a manner that expresses humility and not vanity; that is not pretentious, extreme or excessive, but reserved, decorous and decent. Modesty is not provocative, it does not seek to draw attention to ‘self’ and it is not improper.

Our clothing speaks volumes about us. Look at what you are wearing right now … is what you are wearing pleasing to the Lord? We are called to love the Lord and to serve Him in all things. Do you serve Him with your choice of clothing, i.e. does the manner in which you dress show your love and respect for Him and your fellow believers? The way in which a true follower of Jesus Christ dresses will convey a ‘gentle and quiet spirit’ (1 Peter 3:4) – what does your clothing say about your spirit? God cares about all the choices we make. So as we go through life, let us choose to dress for Him, for all occasions.

Author: L Dell