By Erica
It is with much wrestling with God in prayer that I have come to have this special burden of a primitive godliness placed upon my heart. I am ever on an upward pilgrimage myself, and it is the desire of my heart that every true-hearted Christian should unceasingly strive for the promised perfection. May God's children everywhere unite in the joyful proclamation, “Let us go on unto perfection.” (Romans 6:1)
One great aspect of such a godliness is true dress reform. I realize that the dress question should not be an overwhelming issue in the whole religious experience and I do not wish to make it so; but it is evident that we—as God-fearing Christians—are too often caught up in the externals of dress. Our every thought should be given over to the question, “Am I clothed with Christ?”
Is my clothing, my adornment, both the external and the internal, consecrated or carnal? If I resemble the carnal, how do I put on Christ? (Romans 13:14) How do I daily give Him the throne of my heart? True dress reform is, “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”
2 Peter 1:5, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue…” We must add to our beliefs the enabling power to obey. The righteousness which Christ taught is conformity of one’s heart and life to the revealed will of God. Sinful men can become righteous only as they have faith in God and maintain a vital connection with Him. Then true godliness will elevate the thoughts and ennoble the life. Then the external forms of religion accord with the Christian’s internal purity. It is in this surrender of self that we put on the Lord, making no provision to fulfill the lusts of our flesh.
One great aspect of such a godliness is true dress reform. I realize that the dress question should not be an overwhelming issue in the whole religious experience and I do not wish to make it so; but it is evident that we—as God-fearing Christians—are too often caught up in the externals of dress. Our every thought should be given over to the question, “Am I clothed with Christ?”
Is my clothing, my adornment, both the external and the internal, consecrated or carnal? If I resemble the carnal, how do I put on Christ? (Romans 13:14) How do I daily give Him the throne of my heart? True dress reform is, “Put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”
2 Peter 1:5, “And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue…” We must add to our beliefs the enabling power to obey. The righteousness which Christ taught is conformity of one’s heart and life to the revealed will of God. Sinful men can become righteous only as they have faith in God and maintain a vital connection with Him. Then true godliness will elevate the thoughts and ennoble the life. Then the external forms of religion accord with the Christian’s internal purity. It is in this surrender of self that we put on the Lord, making no provision to fulfill the lusts of our flesh.
Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked,”—without the robe of Christ’s righteousness—“and they see his shame. Revelation 15:16
This should be the dress we secure daily, otherwise our inner man is naked. (Ephesians 3:16)
I would like to call your attention to modesty. Scripture admonishes “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.” It means that we, as sisters in the Christian walk, will view our own talents and abilities unassumingly with humility, and that we will allow God to fashion us after His likeness. In its most basic and simple sense, self must be willing to be laid aside in every and all circumstances.
I would like to call your attention to modesty. Scripture admonishes “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.” It means that we, as sisters in the Christian walk, will view our own talents and abilities unassumingly with humility, and that we will allow God to fashion us after His likeness. In its most basic and simple sense, self must be willing to be laid aside in every and all circumstances.
Inward heart modesty (yielding my thoughts and words to Christ) precedes true outward, lasting modesty (acts, deeds, and responses). True modesty begins by choosing to dress for Jesus. “I like this modest top and skirt.” It’s choosing to think Christ’s thoughts. By repetition of such words and choices in Jesus, modesty will become our preference by divine power attending our human effort. As we learn to yield our wills to God, so we will yield our outer dress to His preference too. In Christ, not in self, you can have heavenly modesty. Sally Hohnberger
Lay aside all man's teaching of what constitutes pure, heavenly modesty—true dress reform—and let the holy Word of God direct your path completely and lead you in utmost godliness. Come to Scripture, and let it proclaim the Truth as it is in Jesus. (Ephesians 4:21)
I want to leave you with a beautiful analogy before closing this letter. Consider the Sanctuary, and its diversified yet consistent applications to many aspects in theology; even true dress reform. The tabernacle can be likened unto the woman. As the common priest would execute his daily duties in the courtyard, so does a man who associates in a nonchalant manner with a woman. Duty carrying the priest into the holy place of the tabernacle can be likened unto the man courting the woman of particular interest. Finally, as the common priest graduates to the office of the high priest and gains the privilege of entering into the most holy place, so does the man when he unites with the woman he loves in holy matrimony; he gains the privilege of entering into her, and he alone has that right.
Did you know that if any common priest were to enter into the most holy place on any given day—or so much as look at it—he would be consumed by fire from heaven? That's how serious the Lord is about other men looking upon a married or unmarried woman where only her husband or future husband has right to look. Greater still, is the woman's role in the matter. Imagine with me that when Israel built the tabernacle, they neglected to install the dividing veil between the holy and the most holy places. This would mean that any common priest who happened to be in the holy place would have to do all he could to look away from the glaring glory of the Lord upon the mercy seat. How difficult! The veil serves as “modest dress” in our little analogy. And get this: without the necessary veil, the tabernacle would have not have met the requirements to be used as the Lord's sanctuary—He would not have entered into it in the first place and thus been so unjust to the common priest. How carefully must the Christian sister protect her sanctuary [her body] and be sure that her dividing veil [true dress reform] is always in place!
I beg of the children of God to walk carefully and circumspectly before Him. Follow the customs in dress so far as they conform to the precious principles in the sacred Scriptures. Let our sisters dress plainly, as many do, having the dress of good, durable material, appropriate for this age, and let not the dress question fill the mind. Our sisters should dress with simplicity. They should clothe themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety. Give to the world a living illustration of the inward adorning of the grace of God!
I want to leave you with a beautiful analogy before closing this letter. Consider the Sanctuary, and its diversified yet consistent applications to many aspects in theology; even true dress reform. The tabernacle can be likened unto the woman. As the common priest would execute his daily duties in the courtyard, so does a man who associates in a nonchalant manner with a woman. Duty carrying the priest into the holy place of the tabernacle can be likened unto the man courting the woman of particular interest. Finally, as the common priest graduates to the office of the high priest and gains the privilege of entering into the most holy place, so does the man when he unites with the woman he loves in holy matrimony; he gains the privilege of entering into her, and he alone has that right.
Did you know that if any common priest were to enter into the most holy place on any given day—or so much as look at it—he would be consumed by fire from heaven? That's how serious the Lord is about other men looking upon a married or unmarried woman where only her husband or future husband has right to look. Greater still, is the woman's role in the matter. Imagine with me that when Israel built the tabernacle, they neglected to install the dividing veil between the holy and the most holy places. This would mean that any common priest who happened to be in the holy place would have to do all he could to look away from the glaring glory of the Lord upon the mercy seat. How difficult! The veil serves as “modest dress” in our little analogy. And get this: without the necessary veil, the tabernacle would have not have met the requirements to be used as the Lord's sanctuary—He would not have entered into it in the first place and thus been so unjust to the common priest. How carefully must the Christian sister protect her sanctuary [her body] and be sure that her dividing veil [true dress reform] is always in place!
I beg of the children of God to walk carefully and circumspectly before Him. Follow the customs in dress so far as they conform to the precious principles in the sacred Scriptures. Let our sisters dress plainly, as many do, having the dress of good, durable material, appropriate for this age, and let not the dress question fill the mind. Our sisters should dress with simplicity. They should clothe themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety. Give to the world a living illustration of the inward adorning of the grace of God!
Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love. 1 John 1:3