subject: Passion for Jesus and a Passion for Fashion? [print this page] Author: Shaila D Touchton Author: Shaila D Touchton
In Romans 8:14 says only those who are "led by the Spirit of God are sons of God" .You are a child of God if you live godly and you resemble God and You are a child of the devil if you do not live for God and your lifestyle is ungodly and if you resemble the devil which rebels against God for sinfulness, and living in evil pleasures and lusts. The Bible says, "In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God..." (1 John 3:10). "If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born ofHim," (1 John 2:29.The world has different standard of decency, but many Christians, instead of steering clear of worldliness, will try to get as close as possible to looking like people in the world.1 Peter 2:11, 12. There are 2 types of Father. True Father as God and then you havethe counterfeit father as Satan. You have the true God and the counterfeit god which is the devil. The Bible describes Satan as "the god of this age" (2 Corinthians 4:4) because the majority of people who live in this world do not worship the true God. And if you don't worship and servethe true God, you promote Satan's cause. Jesus said, "you can only serve one master" (Matthew 6:24). You can't serve 2 different masters at the same time. You either worship God, or you worship the devil. You either serve or submit to God, or you serve and submit to sin and through that, the devil. You are either a child of God, or a child of the devil. In todays fashion, we are stunned by the immoral dress of others. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 7:31, the fashion of this world passeth away. Although clothes are not a perfect measure, they can speak a lot about ones heart condition. The fashion industry is an industry that seems to hate morals. If Christians do not look different in dress from most anyone else in the world with no regard for godliness, they are obviously not behaving in a godly manner themselves. A worldly Christian is one who pleases the "flesh," the old sinful nature. We all have a sinful nature in us and it is up to us to get rid of that sinful nature within ourselves. The Bible says in 1 Samuel 16:17, for the Lord looketh on the heart. This verse plainly tells us that God sees he inside of our hearts first. our inside heart is right with God, then our outside appearance will be a exact representation Using false witnesses is one of Satan's favorite. In Matthew 7:22-23, Jesus says, Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in Thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from Me, ye that work iniquity. There will be false witnesses at the last day who think they are saved but are not. The true Christian is so grounded in biblical and spiritual understanding that they can apply it to the whole of life and the times in which we live (1 Chronicles 12:32; Matthew 16:3). Nudity, perverseness are the best selling these days and we know how much the Bible says against nudity. It seems that the more people get civilized and educated and the amount of covering the clothes gets lesser and lesser. Our lives as Christians are a living witness to others and we cannot break the laws of God without hindering others from coming to Christ. We must live our lives in purity before a sinful and wicked world. We should not be living according to their standards but according to God's standard in the Bible. The Bible says in Isaiah 47:2-3, Take the millstones, and grind meal; uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers. Thy nakedness shall be uncovered; yea thy shame shall be seen: I will take vengeance, and I will not meet thee as a man. Here we see just one verse that states that bare thighs (Eg, mini-skirts,bikinis and shorts) is equated with nakedness. It is amazing to me that a woman or man is generally embarrassed to wear only their undergarments in public but yet most of the world today make it a point to wear as little as possible at the public beach or swimming pools. There is not much difference. Nakedness is nakedness and God hates it. God says that men should be like men and women should be like women. No matter how good our intentions might be, and no matter how much we might love the Lord, He IS concerned about our appearance, and about the kind of impression we make on those who comes in contact with. Scripture says that God is the only one who can see into people's hearts (1 Kings 8:39), and because of that, the believer's outward appearance, actions, and words must be consistently Christ like, if we're to make a real difference for Him in this world. There are many Christian women today who is like Bathsheba (Bathsheba remains one of the most maligned women of the Bible), are careless when it comes to modesty. Many godly women who would recoil with horror at the very thought of displaying their bodies, do that very thing carelessly, thoughtlessly, and habitually. Like Bathsheba, they may be innocent of deliberately exposing themselves, but whether deliberate or not, the error is committed and the results are still damaging. There is nothing like Godly sins or Godly fashion or Godly lust. Sin is a sin. Satan is a master of misrepresentation. He is the world's greatest advertiser, packaging his product so it seems attractive and appealing while in reality it is deathly poisonous. He wants his clients to see him as good, beneficent and trustworthy. He wants his product -sin and rejection of God-to appear enticing and inviting, and he is usually quite successful. In 1Timothy, women are told to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, and not with expensive clothes (1 Tim. 2:9). There is obviously a connection between how ones body is displayed and sexual attraction. This is true for men as well as women. Immodest dress that overly reveals ones body often encourages sexual lust which is sin. The Bible says in Matthew, "anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matt. 5:28). This applies to women as well as men. For this reason all Christians should dress appropriately and maintain wardrobes that honor Christ and do not lead others away from His Kingdom. Sin has perverted all people. Satan never presents sin as it really is. He never presents both sides of the story, pros and cons. He presents only what he wants us to see, something that appears fun and exciting. He wants us to focus on pleasure, on what feels or looks good at the moment. He wants long-term consequences to be the last thing on our minds while he entices us to sin. Satan successfully presents himself as "an angel of light" ( 2 Corin 11: 14). Dressing in a manner that causes men to lust after you, whether intentional or not, does not glorify God. Godly men are not wicked. They are merely men, and are therefore weak to certain sins. David was not wicked but He was a man after Gods own heart. But in the presence of an unclothed woman, he was weak. I wonder how many men would have used that opportunity if they had similar situation. We can be stylish, while still being modest. The clothes we wear do say something about us. They openly reveal our attitudes - toward ourselves, self-esteem, relationships toward others, toward our workand toward God .Immodest clothing is a dead giveaway of a person with loose morals or someone who does not know God's views. What we wear indicates the importance we attach to what we are doing. Here is what the bible says! Proverbs 31:3: Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 1 Peter 3:3-4; your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight. Mathew 12 :28 :So you also outwardly appear righteous to others, but within you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness. 1 Thessalonians 5:22-23:"Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1Timothy 4:12 : "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity." Prov. 11:22 As a ring of gold in a swines snout, so is a lovely woman who lacks discretion. Proverbs 31:10 Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies. Proverbs 30:20 This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, And says, "I have done no wickedness." Mathew 15:18-19 :But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. The model woman described in Proverbs is a portrait of ideal womanhood. Woman who is called to be a mother and a wife, Who takes the cross and purpose to livea godly life Godly Women who INSPIRE US in Biblical times are: 1. Mary- the mother of Jesus, for her availability to do whatever God wanted and a role model of the virtuous woman 2. Abigail a woman of wisdom.She lived her life in a way gained much respect. 3. Dorcas-She lived a life of giving 4. Hannah was a woman who knew how to pray. 5. Lois and Eunice the mother and grandmother of Timothy who laid a great foundation for a great life 6. Elizabeth a supporter of those doing the will of God 7. Esther - courageous 8. Mary of Bethany a role model of living by priorities 9. Sarah a woman who believed God for something that was impossible 10. Ruth a woman of virtue All these Godly women dressed modestly which was pleasing and glorifying to God James 1:26 :If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 1 John 4:1 :Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. Ephesians 5:1-7:Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. ... Galantians 6:7-8 :Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Our outward appearance should not be our focus. If the reason we try to be the perfect weight, wear the best clothes, have facial treatments, etc., is to impress other people, then our physical appearance has become a matter of pride. We should be humbly aware of our appearance rather than acting to conform to the worlds standards. Mathew 23;12 says, "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted." And James 4:6 says, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
We must watch out for anything that draws us away from God, including the too-often extreme emphasis the world places on appearances. and we are not to think as the world does (Romans 12:2). Proverbs 1:15: my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths. A woman professing to be godly would never knowingly adorn herself in a way that excites lust in another person. Women are now aware of the messages they give when they wear certain types of garments or wear them are an immodest way. Some women continue to wear immodest apparel or try to hide behind excuses or simply know better but do it anyway. They need to be reminded that the harlot was "subtil of heart." "Subtil" means "cunning. In other words, she knew exactly what she was doing. Christian women need not be "subtil of heart." James 4:17 teaches, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin." Before you read this, you possibly did not know better. Feminist cause women to rise up and rebel against the order that God has given to mankind. Feminism was originally a positive movement, focused on giving women the basic rights God intends for every human being to have. Sadly, feminism has gone past those roots to focus on destroying any trace of a distinction in roles between men and women. "For everything in the worldthe cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and doescomes not from the Father but from the world" (1 Jhon 2:16). The Word of God proclaims, A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent (1 timothy 2:11-12). In the church, God assigns different roles to men and women. This is a result of the way mankind was created and the way in which sin entered the world ( 1.Timothy 2:13-14). God, through the apostle Paul, restricts women from serving in roles of teaching and/or having spiritual authority over men. This precludes women from serving as pastors, which definitely includes preaching to, teaching, and having spiritual authority over men 1 Corin 14:33-35 states, "...As in all the congregations of the saints, women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the Law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church." At first glance, this seems to be a blanket command that women are not allowed to speak at all in the church. However, 1 Corin 11:5 mentions women praying and prophesying in the church and does not condemn it. Therefore, 1 Corin 14:33-35 must not be an absolute command for women to always be silent in church.. Women may be gifted teachers, but they are not permitted by God to speak in such a manner in His churches. In fact, for them to do so is shameful, meaning disgraceful (v. 35). Modesty then clearly involves an attitude of reservedness, propriety, moderation, ofone professing godliness, chaste conduct, one who fears God, whose hidden person of the heart reflects a gentle and quiet spirit - meekness. A great inner spiritualstrength that comes to be manifested in the outward demeanor of the woman. Women cannot be validly ordained to the priesthood as Pastors, because Christ did not give His Church the authority to confer priestly ordination on women. Therefore, between now and the Return of Christ, women cannot be priests. The priesthood can only be used to bless and serve others. Even in O.T and N.T priesthood was always given to men and not women. Christ called men to be in his ministry and that the 12 apostles were men and that the perfect priest would have been Mary, but Jesus didn't choose her. God has ordained that only men are to serve in positions of spiritual teaching authority in the church. God chose twelve men to symbolize Christ as High Priest (both God and the Church) as Head of the Body and as Groom to the Bride. In the early church, women servants cared for sick believers, the poor, strangers, and those in prison. Paul is saying God calls women to be faithful, helpful wives, raising children to love and worship God and managing the household wisely (1 Timothy 5:14; Titus 2:3?5). The Bible also does not restrict women from teaching children. Many women followed Jesus, and godly women helped the Apostles. Paul wrote to Timothy about the importance of the spiritual influence of Timothy's mother Eunice and his grandmother Lois (2 Timothy 1:5). Bible women often held influential roles yet not necessarily leadership positions. Jesus Christ Was as a man is Priest, Head to the Body, Groom to the Bride, Son to the Father, Father of the World to Come. The woman can of course symbolize the Body and the Bride of Christ. That is why Christ chose only men to attend the Last Supper where He established the Eucharist and Priesthood. Mary is God's greatest creation, was the closest person to Jesus, and yet Jesus did not choose her to become a priest. God chose only men to be priests. Luke 2:36-37 - prophetesses, like Anna, were women who consecrated themselves to religious life, but were not ordained. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.James1:26 James 2:25,26:In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? 26As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. James 3:1:Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. James4:4:You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 1 Peter 1:13-16.Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy Put on the whole armour of God that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places (Ephesians 6:11-12) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5.) We go to church because church belongs to God and it is a body of Christ, we need to honor, be obedient and be submissive. We go to church to glorify and worship the true God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, To hear the voice of God, To honor the Lord's Day, to feed the wisdom of god for our souls, To confess our sins to each other and pray for each other so that we may be healed, To receive gods word, serve and have fellowship with God and other Christ followers, To enjoy the full richness of Gods blessings in our life, For spiritual growth and guidance and church is not business or marketing a place, its a bride of Christ. Even Jesus was angry in John 2:15, there were men selling animals and charging to trade money right inside the temple grounds. Jesus was very angry and turned over the tables and forced the merchants out. Why didnt the merchants belong there? It was a place of worship, not a marketplace for men to make money. It was a holy place for meeting and serving God. Glorify God with your body. Do not allow your body to be on display for the whole world to gaze upon. If you do, you are not glorifying God. You may be glorifying yourself, and you will be leading others into sin.About the Author:
