Miscellaneous

It has become quite an issue. It has divided Christians deeply. Something that should not happen. Why, because Christians have a concrete rule of faith and practice, the Bible, and that rule has the answer on all subjects concerning matters governing our relation with God and our testimony to the world around us. Of course, God's people have always been the target of the devil. He has tried from the very beginning, back in the early days of history, to bring about a merging and assimilation of the two separate lines, that of Cain and that of Seth, which God wanted distinctly apart and in many ways had made it clear to His people. But I will have to skip significant events and a long span of time, and come to the point at issue. In Deut. 22: 5, God decreed: "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." Some argue this was an Old Testament commandment that is not in force in this dispensation. But, sure, that argument does not hold water. Christ changed and interpreted in spirit a number of Old Testament commandments and ordinances. The fact He did not say anything on this subject, clearly indicates that there was no need. The Jews to that day respected the old command and no occasion was given that our Lord might repeat:"But I say unto you..." Throughout the Bible the principle holds that men and women had the sex distinctive outward appearance evident in all circumstances and activities. In the Bible unisex in dressing -unfortunately now adopted by the majority of professing Christians- not only was unknown, but also strongly condemned. Besides the strong emphasis upon the distinction between man and woman in outward appearance, decency and modesty were undisputed norms. When we come to the New Testament, here, because of the gentiles having been accepted in the Christian fold, and, as very well-known, invariably immorality among them was closely associated with their religion, the divinely inspired writers, especially Paul and Peter, strongly impose the Christian principles of dressing on -it seems as far as men were concerned there has never been a probrem- women who had accepted Christianity. Paul in 1 Tim. 2:9 writes:"That women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array." This scripture covers the whole subject of the Christian woman's outward appearance, and it is so clear that to misinterpret or misrepresent it, takes a lot of disrespect and indifference for what God requires of those that profess faith in Christ. Also, the apostle Peter in his first Epistle 3:3 referring to Christian women says:"Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;" These and other scriptures, either directly or indirectly, leave no doubt as to what the outward appearance of the Christian, man or woman, ought to be. To the objection that so often is raised that those injunctions were good for past ages but not for now that customs have so much changed, the answer is only one: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and for ever, His word abides for ever and what was good or obligatory for past ages is just as good and obligatory for this age, too, and the principles of modesty and sobriety follow the gospel of Christ as fruit the tree. And I will close this comment with Paul's admonition, which is not but God's command:"Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." Rom. 12:2. Brother and Sister, obey God on this subject and your reward will be beyond imagining. May the Holy Ghost speak to you and lead you to complete and unreserved surrender to God's will in all areas of your life.