Can you identify a police officer by his face? What distinguishes restaurant employees from ordinary patrons, or military personnel from civilians?
A person’s clothing tells us a great deal, and at times it reveals more about the condition of the heart and mind than we realize.
The nearer the end comes, the more active and fierce the enemy of souls becomes, together with his spiritual forces of wickedness in high places and those who support them. One of the ways they tempt people in the last days is through moral corruption.
In the past, this was far away and known only by hearsay, but now this sin has taken an aggressive position and is being imposed everywhere, even to the point of administrative penalties for anyone who tries to resist its influence.
Sin stripped the first human beings, and they saw that they were naked. God clothed humanity. He gave people clothing and an understanding of decency. He taught humanity holiness in dress.
The nakedness of the human body can attract the attention of people with base passions, which, breaking free from the control of reason and will, will lead the soul into sin, and sin will lead to death.
Why are there so many drug addicts and alcoholics in our society? For one reason: there are those who sell them this poison. If all drug dealers were removed, the problem would quickly be solved.
If there is no temptation, there will be no one who yields to it, although the seed of evil will remain in the heart.
God expects holiness in outward appearance from His people and purity of conduct from those who could become a temptation to consecrated souls.
The influence of moral corruption has also entered the community of God’s people. Believers have begun to resemble the world, undressing and exposing themselves without considering what God desires to see. Yet the True Witness says, ‘...thou art...naked...’
Jesus allowed Himself to be stripped naked, nailed to the cross, and lifted above the earth in that condition as He bore one of humanity’s curses. He took this upon Himself together with the other sins and diseases of the world, so that by His wounds we might be healed. And He redeemed humanity from this influence.
But what are God’s people doing in the last days? They are undressing, exposing themselves, and displaying what God, in His love and wisdom, decided to cover and conceal.
Not everything fashionable in the world is beneficial or decent for God’s children. And God expects His chosen ones to have a clear understanding of modest dress and to resist the temptations that surround us.
God desires to see a holy people, a royal priesthood, who through their consecration, outward appearance, habits, and way of life—in eating and drinking—differ from the world and bear a clear testimony that they are God’s possession.
When I choose the clothes I will wear, I make a conscious decision. I do not simply put on the first item I find and go around in it. I examine it, try it on, look at myself in the mirror, set it aside if it does not fit, consider whether it is suitable for the weather, the situation, and the place where I will wear it, and then decide to purchase it, buy it, put it on, and go out in public. The choice has been made, and it was deliberate. I must also consider whether my appearance meets God’s standards of decency and whether it might be a temptation to someone. The influence of moral corruption is very great, and if I become its instrument, I bear responsibility for those whom I lead into temptation. If I tempt someone, then in God’s eyes I acquire the status of a drug dealer, and at the judgment He will ask me to give an account.
There are two kingdoms: the Kingdom of holiness and the kingdom of sin, and I represent one of them.
My public, complete or partial exposure of my body, or my wearing of indecent clothing, testifies to the world that I have consciously chosen this way of life. The world regards me as one of its own, even if I bear a holy name. And God accepts my choice and respects it.
In cold weather, I am compelled to dress decently, or else I will freeze. Yet I am sometimes amazed that, for the sake of fashion, many people are willing to be cold just to display exposed parts of their bodies to the entire world.
When hot or warm weather arrives, undressing becomes common and habitual among Christians. Today people are no longer disciplined, reprimanded, or even warned for this. Yet the temptation for many weak souls becomes so unbearable that they fall and sin—first in their thoughts, and then in their lives—leaving God forever. Meanwhile, the ‘drug dealers’ merely laugh, believing that weak people have problems they must solve for themselves.
Unfortunately, many sisters do not understand the difference between the way men and women think. They attach little importance to how they look, what they display, and the influence an indecent appearance has on their brothers. When asked to be modest and decent, they become angry and offended and change nothing. But God expects holiness and attentiveness to His light. And He will certainly ask me what I did with the revelation and the truths He sent me for my sanctification.
Woe unto the world because of moral corruption! For it must come; but woe to the person through whom it comes.
Doctors, firefighters, military personnel, and police officers have special clothing that distinguishes them from the world and from other people. This clothing is carefully designed. It tells us about the authority these representatives possess. Should God’s representatives also differ from the world? Does the Bible teach that the priests’ garments were to be special? Yes, it does. And are we a royal priesthood for this world? Yes.
One late evening, I met my wife and daughter at the train station. As we drove home, there were women standing on one of the streets near the station. My teenage daughter noticed them and assured me that they were prostitutes. I asked how she had determined this. She replied that their clothing said so. I thought sadly about the many believers I know whose clothing is no different from the clothing of prostitutes. Should there be a difference? If, in hot weather, a worship service looks like a gathering at the beach, can it be called an assembly of saints?
Church doctrines and policies do not teach that clothing should become a criterion for membership in the fellowship; therefore, this matter does not receive proper attention, and attempts to address it are often stopped.
But it is very important to understand how God regards my outward appearance. I studied this matter very carefully and made many discoveries for myself about what my clothing should be, what decency means, and what can become a temptation to others. At one point in my life, I reviewed my entire wardrobe, removed everything indecent from it, and decided never to wear those things again.
I also decided that even when I am alone in a room, I will never kneel in prayer before God if any parts of my body are indecently exposed. I do not require this of others, but I choose for myself to be set apart in my outward appearance.
I also decided never to visit beaches or places where public exposure is expected. I deleted every photograph in which I appeared indecently dressed. And I made many changes regarding holiness. Although this is not the basis of Salvation, it tells Heaven that I understand this matter correctly and live according to the light I have received. And God decides whether I am holy in this respect or not.
Bible verses for this chapter:
1 Peter 2:9; Ecclesiastes 9:8; Deuteronomy 8:2–5; 14:2; Exodus 19:10, 14; 28:2; 29:25–26; 28:36–43; 30:30; 40:13–15; Genesis 3:6–11, 21; Leviticus 10:6; 20:7–8, 26; 21:10; Matthew 26:65; Deuteronomy 22:5; Proverbs 7:10–11; 25:20; 31:21–25; Song of Solomon 4:11; Isaiah 3:16–23; 47:2–3; 64:6; Ezekiel 28:13; Joel 2:13; Matthew 6:25, 28–33; 17:2; 22:11–13; 27:35; Luke 12:22–24; 1 Timothy 2:9–10; 1 Peter 3:1–5; James 2:1–4; Revelation 3:4–5, 17–18; 7:9, 13–15; 16:15; 19:8, 11