In our last issue we began briefly considering
the question, “Does God care what we wear?” So many of you responded positively
to this series of articles and I appreciate your feedback! In a day when
sloppier and sleezier is finding its way into the church and the Christian
home, may we reconsider clear biblical principles and transfer them to our
children. God gives us many good reasons to carefully choose our dress and to
set guidelines for how we “appear.” The first three reasons were as follows:
1. To please the Lord Jesus Christ and honor
Him above all. 2. To submit to the biblical principle of modesty. 3. To submit
to the biblical principle of appropriateness and identify with godliness. Our
last article provided verses and explanations, so if you missed it, feel free
to send me an email and I will forward it to you. Let’s consider the next three
reasons why we should hold a high standard for our dress choices both at church
and in our family.
4. To
promote an environment of purity and spiritual growth. Sadly,
teens today are more sexually educated, sexually active, and sexually tempted
than they have EVER been in American history! In our homes and church
environments we should be committed to maintaining a pure and godly
atmosphere—and that means dress should be modest and appropriate. The way we
dress absolutely contributes to the environment of a group or family setting,
and these environments should be godly and Christ-honoring.
Additionally, teens often draw much of their
identity from their clothing! They are highly self-conscious and image
conscious. Read this statement carefully: A group dynamic where every
individual is consumed with social status and fashion trends doesn’t lend
itself to individual spiritual growth! They must get over themselves before
they will grow spiritually.
Every time our youth group meets, we are
pursuing spiritual transformation! This is not a light thing. It is a very
serious matter. And our dress should contribute to the process, not detract
from it. Romans 13:14, “But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not
provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” Romans 14:19, “Let us
therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith
one may edify another.”
Think of this “environment” principle this
way: What if your child needed open heart surgery and the surgeon showed up for
surgery wearing flip flops, cut-off shorts, a tank top, a ball cap, sunglasses,
and smelling like sunscreen? You would deem him inappropriate and unfit for
surgery!
When my daughter was born she was eight weeks
early, and for two weeks she had to be kept in the NICU ward of the hospital.
Strangely, every time I wanted to hold her or see her, I had to scrub my hands
and arms and cover myself in the most odd-looking blue outfit you have ever
seen. Why? Because the NICU is about a delicate health environment where little
lives are at stake. The value of those lives places a premium on the
cleanliness of the environment.
So, how valuable are the young hearts we are
raising up in today’s godless culture? How safe and pure is the environment you
create for young people? Is your church or youth group a place where spiritual
growth is highly valued? Or is it a place where sensuality reigns in the name
of “grace.” I know that’s strong, but I fear that we have devalued our
spiritual environments to the point where, though kids might be having
fun—dressing and dancing and playing—we have killed the chance for real life
transformation. The environment matters, and kids don’t need us to juvenilize
God and His truth! They need us to call them to higher ground and to a biblical
lifestyle that rises above the dictates of culture.
5. To
honor the convictions of our pastor. What could possibly be
wrong with simply preferring another person—especially one in spiritual
authority? The Bible is clear on this principle in two ways. First, we are
commanded to honor those who have the rule over us. Hebrews 13:17, “Obey them
that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your
souls…”. Second, we are commanded to prefer one another! Romans 12:10, “Be
kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one
another.”
For young people, the question of dress is as
simple as, “What do my authorities want me to wear?” The attitude that says,
“I’ll wear what I want no matter what anybody says” is not only rebellious, it
is just purely selfish and childish. Any two year old can display that on cue!
If I know an authority figure prefers that I dress a certain way, I’m right to
honor and to prefer my authority just to show love and respect.
Question: Why will we do this for employers,
restaurants, golf courses, and bowling alleys (Yes… I’ll explain that one
later), but we won’t do it for the Lord or for environments that represent Him?
When I was sixteen working at McDonald’s, they made me wear a blue hat! I
didn’t like it. I didn’t want to wear it. I thought it was stupid. But I wore
it—and with a good attitude. Why? Because they paid me.
6. To
give an account to the Lord with joy. This
one is really big for me—both as a parent and as a youth pastor. We really do
have to stand before God to answer for the environment we allow! We will answer
to God for what we allow and for what we teach. May God give us the courage to
make our dress choices not by the movement of culture, but by the principle of
accountability to God. Second Corinthians 5:10, “For we must all appear before
the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his
body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”
So there you have it—three more reasons why we can conclude that
God really does care about what we wear. We’ve covered six so far and we have
four more to go! You really don’t want to miss the next article if only for the
fact that you must hear about a recent bowling alley experience that I had with
my family. Can’t wait to share it. Until then—give God His way and dress for
the glory of His name not your own!
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