What Our Clothes Say About Us

2. Statements” Statements” Statements” “Fashion “Fashion “Fashion What Our Clothes Say About Us

3. God Is Concerned Re: Our Appearance • God’s primary concern is with man’s inward being 1 Sam 16:7 • Yet, God has shown or expressed concern for how man has appeared outwardly • In the Patriarchal Age Gen 3:21

4. God Is Concerned Re: Our Appearance • In the Mosaical Age Ex 28:42 • In the Gospel Age 1 Tim 2:9-10 • So, we learn it is incorrect to say… “God isn’t really concerned with how I dress.”

5. What “Statements” Do Clothes Make? • Ostentation? • “Excessive display; showy” [Webster] • A desire to have everyone look at you, notice what you’re wearing • The apostles taught against this

6. What “Statements” Do Clothes Make? • Ostentation? • Paul 1 Tim 2:9-10 • Emphasis on a “claim to godliness” • Others should see our “works”…not our clothing

7. What “Statements” Do Clothes Make? • Ostentation? • Peter 1 Pet 3:2-6 • Focusing only on the outward is not “precious” to God • A “gentle & quiet spirit” is “precious”

8. What “Statements” Do Clothes Make? • Ostentation? • Peter 1 Pet 3:2-6 • Chaste conduct is the proper “adorning” • Ostentation is the sin of pride… something God opposes 1 Pet 5:5

9. Sex Sells! What “Statements” Do Clothes Make? • Seduction? • The single most influential mindset in the fashion industry • Designers willingly admit this “motive” • New ways found to expose more flesh

10. What “Statements” Do Clothes Make? • Seduction? • New technologies, fabrics accentuate body parts…even if “technically covered” • No longer just concerned with cover… must also guard against tightness, etc.

11. What “Statements” Do Clothes Make? • Seduction? • The “attire of a harlot” Prov 7:10 • What was it? • However, we know what she was by what she wore (her appearance) The Bible does not say

12. What “Statements” Do Clothes Make? • Conformance? • The overall truth in Rom 12:2 • This touches every facet of our lives • Do the world’s standards dictate how we dress…how our children dress?

13. What “Statements” Do Clothes Make? • Conformance? • Though it is getting tougher to find modest & decent clothing, are we inching closer to more worldliness? • This is something “easily justified”

14. What “Statements” Do Clothes Make? • Conformance? • Because we participate in some activity, we tell ourselves the clothing required by that activity is “okay” (cheerleading, band, athletics)

15. What Guidelines Should We Follow? • The Biblical view of nakedness • “Naked” doesn’t necessarily mean totally nude, without any clothing • Partially clothed is “naked” Gen 3:7-11 • Totally nude…partially covered…“naked”

16. What Guidelines Should We Follow? • The Biblical view of nakedness • An uncovered leg is “naked” Ex 28:42 • “Breeches” were undergarments…worn in case thighs “accidentally” exposed • Similar concern found in Isa 47:2-3

17. What Guidelines Should We Follow? • The Biblical view of nakedness • What do these passages teach us? • We should at least be covered to the knee • Anything short of this is “nakedness” • Gen 3:21“Coats” vs. “Girdles”

18. What Guidelines Should We Follow? • The Biblical notion of “modesty” 1 Tim 2:9 • “Proper” or “Modest” • That which is well arranged; seemly; that which is appropriate [Thayer, Vine]

19. What Guidelines Should We Follow? • The Biblical notion of “modesty” 1 Tim 2:9 • “Modestly” or “Propriety” or “Shamefacedness” • A sense of shame; that which is “fast” or rooted in character [Thayer, Vine]

20. What Guidelines Should We Follow? • The Biblical notion of “modesty” 1 Tim 2:9 • “Discreetly” or “Moderation” or “Sobriety” • A sound mind; soberness; seriousness re: something important [Thayer, Vine]

21. What Guidelines Should We Follow? • The Biblical notion of “modesty” 1 Tim 2:9 • Our choice of clothing has to fall under these guidelines & requirements • Else, we are guilty of dressing in an immodest way

22. What Guidelines Should We Follow? • The Biblical notion of “modesty” 1 Tim 2:9 • Purposefully dressing immodestly is lascivious or licentious Gal 5:19 • We must also be careful about accidental or non-intentional exposure cp. Ex 28:42

23. What Guidelines Should We Follow? • Concern for others • Our dress (lack of dress) can affect others • Do we want others to commit the sin of lust if we expose ourselves? cp. Mt 5:28 18:6-7

24. What Guidelines Should We Follow? • Exercising Personal & Parental Control • Paul did all things “for the sake of the gospel” 1 Cor 9:23 • Our choice of clothing at all times needs to reflect this important attitude

25. What Guidelines Should We Follow? • Exercising Personal & Parental Control • Parents need to exercise influence and authority over their children Eph 6:4

26. What Guidelines Should We Follow? • “Envisioning Jesus” • Imagine the Lord standing next to you… right in your physical presence • What would He say re: your clothes? • Is He not actually there anyway??

27. Some Closing Thoughts… • Not trying to be the “Fashion Police” • Yet, all of us need to seriously think about and occasionally reconsider what we wear • This is a necessary study because it is a topic the Scripture addresses

28. Some Closing Thoughts… • Our goal should not be for others to notice what is on us • We would rather them notice us because of Who is in us Col 1:24-27

29. Some Closing Thoughts… • This is requires preaching, warning, and teaching so that we may “…present every man complete in Christ” Col 1:28 • What we wear goes a long way toward achieving such a noble spiritual goal