Being in the Apostolic faith for 14 years now, I’ve always been led to believe that holiness was clean living, free from the grip of sin. However, some people seem to have a different definition for holiness. Some believe that it’s in what you wear…as in no makeup, no jewelry, dresses or skirts for women (at least past the knees), pants for men (no shorts)…but is that really holiness?
The bible says in plenty of places that GOD said “Be ye holy, for I am holy.” So I want to know what God wears. LOL. Okay, we all know God is a Spirit, and they that worship Him must do so in Spirit and in truth. So if God is a Spirit, which I would conclude that God does not wear clothes, and we are to be holy as He is holy, then how does attire have anything to do with holiness? If anyone has an answer, then let me know. Now before anyone bashes me for being rebellious for asking a question or accuse me of looking for a new revelation, the bible tells me that in ALL my getting, get understanding, and the bible tells YOU to be ready to give an answer.
One always struggles to find scriptures that would indicate that a man wearing shorts (not short shorts), or a woman who wears pants, or anyone who wears jewelry have sinned. And I firmly believe that if I put forth a position, it should be according to scriptures so here goes. Mark 5:1-15 and Luke 8:27-35 speak of a man possessed with Legion. The man was NAKED, showing all his shame, but when the man ran to Jesus, you don’t find where Jesus sought to cover him up or making a big issue about putting on some clothes. Instead, you find Jesus speaking to the issue, which was the demons possessing him. Once the issue left, THEN you find when people came to see what had happened where the man was clothed. Nothing said about Jesus making an issue. So IF JESUS DID NOT make an issue about the man not wearing anything, but instead dealt with the issue…and we’re SUPPOSED to let THAT mind be in us that was in Christ Jesus…then why do some judge concerning what a person wears? At least that person came to the church clothed.
Instead of harping on how a person is dressing, dealing with them on the principles of holiness…love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance…THAT IS WHAT HOLINESS IS: The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-26)! Once a person receives that into their life, then that’s where God deals with a person on what they wear. Let’s be real, when you work a job, you don’t go in looking any kind of way, but you wear the attire that fits the job you do. When you go into the Armed Services, you don’t go to war wearing anything, but there is a standard uniform that you put on. If you are royalty, you don’t dress like you’re in the streets with the hoochie mama dress or with your pants sagging, you put on the royal attire. Likewise when you come to Christ and get saved, that change causes you to look at yourself and dress a certain way. Women desire to look like women and men desire to look like men. Both desire to look presentable because we all are charged with spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. And that’s where God will deal with men and women on how to dress. The key is LET GOD DO IT!
On the flip side, just because I put on a policemen’s uniform don’t make me a policeman. Just because someone wears skirts all the time don’t mean they’re holy. Before I got in church (I have to put that on there), I knew a young woman who wore skirts all the time, but I always saw her at the parties dancing up close to all the guys they danced with. The bible says they shall know you by the fruit you bare.
You take a beat up car. If you start with putting on the rims and tinting the windows and painting the outside, but don’t address the power train, then eventually that car will break down and it will be no good. However, when you work on the power train first, then that reliable, smooth running engine and smooth shifting transmission will inspire you to get the outer appearance together. A holy person dresses a certain way because we’re of a royal priesthood, but dressing a certain way doesn’t make you holy. That’s why the old saints used to say something on the inside is working on the outside.
To close, let’s look up what holiness is and define it the way GOD wants it defined, and then apply THAT to our lives, because Hebrews 12:14 tells us to follow peace with all men, AND HOLINESS, without which no man shall see the Lord. Let’s get it right. God bless.
-- Submitted by Deacon Ken Humphrey