GOD IS A CONSERVATIVE - Part 8a

GOD IS A CONSERVATIVE - Part 8a

Does God care how Christians dress? YES.

There is much controversy about this. Basically the question is should a woman wear pants?

Christians on the side of the pro-pants factions have said the following:

1. Christian women who only wear dresses have this standard because of other peoples opinion or because they do not understand Scripture.

2. People who believe women should wear dresses have a shallow understanding of what God wants in godly dress.

3. Amish women wear dresses too. They say, “Those people only wear dresses and they are wrong about salvation so they are wrong about this also.

4. Women’s pants are different from men’s pants.

5. Pants can be more modest than dresses.

We have been told each of these things. Some of them are very offensive and only ignorance can rescue the questioner from an accusation of arrogance. Before we show what God wishes for Christian dress I am going to answer each of these comments.

1. Christian women who only wear dresses have this standard because of other peoples opinion or because they do not understand Scripture.
This is possibly the most offensive accusation. Most wear dresses because of what God says in the Bible, because of the cultural import, because of a woman’s serious responsibility toward this area of men’s weakness, and because of the doctrine of separation, and because a Scriptural appearance, this standard is not achieved lightly. It is not easy but it is correct.

2. People who believe women should wear dresses have a shallow understanding of what God wants in godly dress.
This standard for some is because of a serious study of Scripture. Please note churches that are doctrine-light have few women who dress in modest feminine dress. The women almost always wear pants. Their philosophy is, “if you’ve got it flaunt it.” They say, “It is the men who should take care where they look and what they think. This is true but the LORD will judge these uncharitable women at the Judgement Seat.

3. Amish women wear dresses too. It is said, “Those people only wear dresses and they are wrong about salvation so they are wrong about this also.
This one may be the most inane comment. Amish also believes men and women should save the act of marriage until after the wedding. They believe men should not sleep with neighboring women. They believe it is wrong to steal from the grocery store. They believe women should not eat their children. Amish have the right standards but for the wrong reason. Does this negate the right standards? I think not.

4. Women’s pants are different from men’s pants.
In the past women’s zippers were on the side of the pants and men’s in the front. This was in answer to biology. Now this is seldom the case. Women’s pants are usually tighter for obvious reasons. This in itself is not a condemnation toward women’s pants because even a sleeping bag could be immodest if it were the wrong fabric or too tight.
A mature Christian woman will dress to draw a man’s eyes toward her face. Clothing can be very feminine and attractive but men’s eyes will still travel to the face. As a Christian woman walks away a man (immature Christian or lost) will notice the cut of the pants. This is true too of a dress and men’s eyes will travel toward various body parts rather than the face. A lustful man will stare at any woman but it is just like putting a lock on the door. Locks keep marginally honest people from stealing. Proper dress reduces the temptation for lust.
You ladies who wear pants please try an experiment. Next time you are in a crowd and introduced to men, watch their eyes. Usually ladies know where a man is looking. This is why I seldom wear sunglasses when I speak with a woman. For her to see where I am looking and for me to know she can see where I am looking.

5. Pants can be more modest than dresses.
This is in competition with the previous comment # 3 for inanity. Yes, riding a horse, painting a house on a ladder, skydiving, and standing on your head will make being modest while wearing a dress difficult. We are not speaking of these activities. Mini-skirts, shear material, tight fitting cuts, slits up the side, unfortunately placed unfastened buttons will make dresses immodest. Immodest pants are cut to show off every bump and wrinkle.

It is a responsibility for Christian women to dress modestly. I am going to finish the Scriptural content after the holiday.

I do not think all Christian women who wear pants are sinful. I do think they are in error though. We have the freedom to disagree.

If a woman comes to my church and wears pants she would be welcome and loved. No one will speak to her about it, either from the pulpit or personally. At least at the size of our church currently. There are other things more important for Christian women in our church to dwell upon, such as how wonderful the pastor is.

HTOITA, hopefully