HOT POTATO
THE ONE TOPIC THAT MANY FUNDAMENTALIST YOUTH LEADERS APPARENTLY DON’T TOUCH. . .
DRESS STANDARDS!
I remember as a child playing the game called, "Hot Potato”. You got rid of the object as quick as possible and did not want to be stuck with it in your hands. That is exactly what it seems like many church leaders do with the subject of “Dress Standards”. They pass it off to someone else besides them. Looking the other way has become more difficult these days now that the proverbial “big elephant in the room” is in plain sight for all to see. That room is now the church! And it is the church that is supposed to set the standard! What in the world happened?...well, the church has let in the World!
I think of the Ethiopian who cried,
“How can I, except some man should guide me?” (Acts 8:31)
A large percentage of the status of our teens can be attributed to the lack of guidance from the former generation. “My church already enforces good dress standards!” That may be true, but if teens are not taught “WHY” standards are important, then their faith will only go as far as the rules and will not be planted in God’s Word.
Psalms 145:4
One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.
Falling into the spirit of the Laodicean age, we have found many churches “giving up” when it comes to standards. Let’s first get something out of the way. I’m not talking about teens from the bus ministry. I’m not talking about the unsaved. I’m not even talking about the new “christian” teenager who just got saved. I’m talking about the “Christian” teen that SHOULD know better, but tragically has NEVER been taught. Teens should know WHY dress standards are important. Where is the back bone of our Youth Leaders? Too many times they find just the right spiritual excuse. Where is the spiritual growth? The hypocrisy is that fundamentalists rag on the “New Age” Churches and their ecumenical ways, while letting their own “dress standards” slide towards ecumenicalism in their own churches.
Ezekiel 22:26
Her priests have violated my law, and have profaned mine holy things:
they have put no difference between the holy and profane, neither have
they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean,
and have hid their eyes from my sabbaths, and I am profaned among them.
Fundamentalists preach against churches that have christian rock, corrupt bible versions, modern liberal methods, etc…, But yet they have one thing in common with these churches…. “the same dress standards in their youth group”!
It is the spirit of the age, and it is NOT God’s Spirit!
There are in turn some consequences that result when dress standards are not taught.
First of all, teens fail to learn the importance of a Godly testimony. A person’s image reveals the importance that is placed upon their God. Sadly, many teens are more concerned about their “self image” than being in “God’s Image” and glorifying Him. It is the responsibility of “the bride” to adorn the doctrine of God.
Titus 2:10
Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn
the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.
The 1828 Dictionary defines the word, “adorn”: To deck or decorate; to make beautiful; to add to beauty by dress; to deck with external ornaments.
The Church, as the bride of Christ, is to adorn herself correctly to be obedient to and for { “…her husband (Revlelation 21:2) ”}
Christ, so the Word of God be not blasphemed! (Titus 2:5)
Our dress is an indicator of our belief. Give me a long haired, earring wearing punk, andI’ll show you someone who has loose standards on music and not enough Bible maturity in him to be a man.
Give me a teen girl who draws attention to her body by the ungodly way she dresses and I’ll show you a teen girl who has rebellion with levels of impurity.
Whatever happened to avoiding the very appearance of evil?!? (I Thessalonians 5:22)
Proverbs 11:22
As a jewel of gold in a swine's snout, so is a fair woman which is without discretion
Teen lady, God then calls you a jewel of gold in a swine’s Snout! How utterly gross! Taking God’s precious creation and shoving it up a pig’s nose! That’s how God feels when a teen girl is not modest. By the way ladies…What’s wrong with a dress? The one, main thing that defines you as a lady is one particular article of clothing…A dress. God wants you to be distinct.
Deuteronomy 22:5
The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
In our youth rallies, we “push” to have the example set in front of the young people with dress standards in all areas including singing, preaching, bible quiz and skits. When a young man gets up to preach a message for the Lord, he ought to look like a preacher. When a lady is up singing a song, she ought to look like a lady. Secondly, teaching dress standards show teens to honor the Lord with their appearance. At a funeral or a wedding, you honor the person’s life with the way you dress. Does God deservemore honor than a mere human? Of course He deserves it! If we are to honor the Lord with our “substance” (Proverbs 3:9), would that not also include the way we dress? Hey, I’m glad if you believe the King James Bible. I’m thrilled if you are part of a great fundamentalist youth group. If so….Don’t look like a bum! Does it really hurt to give God your best? Comb your hair! Straighten up! Tuck your shirt in! Pull your pants up! Tie your shoe laces! Shave your two hairs under your chin! Take your hat off! Smile!
Give God the honor He’s due!
Lastly, teens need to be taught the dangers of living on the edge. Sometimes a rebellious teenager will even follow the letter of the law and be rebellious to the Spirit of the law and be as wicked and sensual as could be. Achan did not realize that coveting the “dress/clothes” of the world would eventually lead to the destruction of his entire family. In other words, he lost all the potential he had for God because of his love for the world.
Joshua 7:21
When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver under it.
Joshua 7:22
So Joshua sent messengers, and they ran unto the tent; and,
behold, it was hid in his tent, and the silver under it.
Joshua 7:23
And they took them out of the midst of the tent, and brought them unto Joshua,
and unto all the children of Israel, and laid them out before the LORD.
Joshua 7:24
And Joshua, and all Israel with him, took Achan the son of Zerah, and the silver, and the garment, and the wedge of gold, and his sons, and his daughters, and his oxen, and his asses, and his sheep, and his tent, and all that he had: and they brought them unto the valley of Achor.
Joshua 7:25
And Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the LORD shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones.
Joshua 7:26
And they raised over him a great heap of stones unto this day. So the LORD turned from the fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place was called, The valley of Achor, unto this day.
Another danger of experimenting with “worldly” dress is the “ungodly attention” it will draw. If the Devil is as a “roaring lion” seeking whom he may devour, then you will receive ungodly attention for sure. (I Peter 5:7) Ladies, what kind man is drawn to you? Are they drawn to the outward? Or the inward? Drawing the eyes of men to your body is spiritual prostitution!
Matthew 5:28
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after
her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Stop trying to impress someone who doesn’t even care about you. Flirting with sin will only bring heartache. Seek to please God and God will bring the right person your way. Why not let God be first in everything you do, including what you wear! Jewelry in a jewelry store is out on display because it is for sale. If you’re not selling it, don’t display it!
1Peter 3:3-4
Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting
the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which
is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and
quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.
Standards do not equal Spirituality, but they do reveal a level of Spirituality. Standards are for protection. Teenager, you need as much protection as you can get. Seek to please God and not man! Be an example! Excuses are abundant with accusations of legalism, hypocrisy, or the wrong focus, However, to have the proper balance one must please the Lord with the way they dress. If God singled out His people Israel for dancing “naked” (Exodus 32) …He Absolutely, without a doubt, cares that teens are covered up, decent and modest! When was the last time “dress standards” were taught or preached?
1Timothy 4:12
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers,
in word, in conversation,in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
Who’s going to set the standard? Who’s going to be an example of purity? Who is going to stand in the gap? Can you see the giant? Is there not a cause? This issue of dress standards is an ongoing battle that God’s people should not retreat from. Let’s leave retreat for the cowards, after all; aren’t you a little old to be playing Hot Potatoe?
For the cause of Christ,
Pastor Ryan Guenther
*Please send any responses to:
Ryanyouth@aol.com
How Do You Choose to Dress?
By Dr. Sam Gipp, Th.D.
Generally there are three ways that all people dress; "up," "down" and "average." For the sake of this essay we are excluding job-related "work clothes" since those differ with every job; from Burger King, to the mechanic, to the business man. "Work clothes" are not clothes of choice but required clothing, therefore they are not related to your free will. You wear them because you have to not necessarily because you want to. This essay is an inquiry into how you choose to dress.
Also, since I am a man I will primarily be dealing with how men dress. I don't claim to understand women's fashion but I am sure there is a way this can be applied to women.
Average - There is the way you dress everyday. You can call it "casual," "everyday," or anything else you want. It is the way you dress because there is no pressing issue to force you to dress in some other fashion. Let's say this "average" dress is represented by casual dress slacks and a casual shirt. We are not talking about tank tops, cutoffs or blue jeans. And by no means are we talking about walking around like a mouth-breathing idiot with the top of your pretty underwear showing! (That is no "style" at all. That's just an idiot who is afraid the people around him won't know that he's an idiot!) I guess the female equivalent of this male stupidity are those trashy women who walk around in what looks like their slips. How many times have you seen such a brainless idiot and thought, "She forgot to finish dressing!"? (There is no pride in being an idiot.)
Your "Average Dress" should be appropriate for your everyday activities; going out to eat, going to the mall, going out to eat, running errands, going out to eat, going to the doctor, going out to...oh never mind.
Your "Average Dress" should not particularly draw attention to you either because of its glitz nor because of its grunge. It doesn't have to be expensive but shouldn't be junky. One of the unwanted results of the cries of those insecure people who are always whining, "We need to be more European" is that the casual dress of many Americans has become just barely one step above that of a homeless person.
When dressing your "Average Dress" you are dressing for no one, but your appearance should be neat and clean, not repulsive or disheveled.
Down - Where, in your "Average Dress" you are not dressing for any person or purpose, in dressing "Down" your clothing is picked for an intentional purpose, not necessarily a person. Basically you dress "Down" because you're about to do something that might ruin your everyday clothes. You might call these clothes your "work" clothes. You have to change the oil in the car, do some painting or repairs around the house, or some other dirty labor. Although you may run to the auto parts store or Home Depot in your "Down Dress" it isn't something you would normally wear to the restaurant for lunch. There is no shame when going out in public in your "Down Dress" because it is both vain and foolish to change clothes just to "run for parts" but you ought to be ashamed if you lack such self-respect that you don't care if you normally dress like a bum in public.
Up - Just as you dress "down" for a specific reason you also dress up for a specific reason. Everybody wants to look their best for someONE or someTHING. You "Dress Up" for weddings, funerals, graduations and various other occasions. If not an occasion then you "Dress Up" because you are going to meet some special person. If you just proudly said, "I don't dress up for anything or anyone!" you're either a liar or an idiot.
If you're a liar then you will "Dress Up" for someone even though you won't admit it. There is someone... SOMEONE who, if you thought you were going to meet them, you would not wear your everyday clothes to the meeting. There is SOMEONE that you would care enough about meeting as to influence the way you dress, I don't care what you say. Everyone has dressed for someone at sometime in their life. (If you never dressed "up" for a job interview, it may explain why you didn't get the job!)
If you're an idiot, there is nothing to say since you can't reason with an idiot, especially a proud idiot.
Today, due to a combination of several factors, many good, godly Christians dress either "average" of even "down" when they go to church. These factors are:
1. The disintegration of the character of the American people due to the television induced stupor most Americans, including Christians, live in without even knowing it. Many Americans no longer care if they wear their best to church. Some even wax self-righteous about this lack of character with lame excuses like, "Church shouldn't be a style show." or "God looks at my heart not my clothes." (True, and you would throw up if you knew what He sees in your heart!)
2. A younger generation who were not made to "Dress Up" for church in their youth because their parents were too intimidated by the above statements.
3. One of the worst influences on God's people is the devil's contemporary church movement. Rick Warren has opened the door for coming to church looking as sorry as you possibly can and feeling self-righteous about it. In some of those "churches" the idiot pastors come in on skateboards looking like a dim-witted pizza delivery boy (no offence intended to non-dim-witted pizza delivery boys) and are haughtily proud of it. (Now THAT is dim-witted! The pizza delivery boy would probably make a better pastor.)
I don't believe that church should be a style show nor that you should dress to impress some human there. But, there is something wrong with your heart if the best clothes in your closet are reserved for some worldly activity rather than for GOD. You shouldn't wear your best clothes to church to impress some human but you should wear your best because God deserves your best. (You got His Best, didn't you?)
I have spoken with Christians who bemoaned that some people don't dress up for a funeral, yet they themselves won't dress up for God! Is your best reserved for some human function while anything will do for church? Men, if you won't wear a shirt and tie to church for God then don't you ever wear one for some less important function. Don't wear one to a wedding, funeral, your boss's birthday party or to meet the movie star you fantasy about. Ladies if you won't wear a nice dress to church for God then don't you ever wear one for some less important function. Don't dress up for a SINNER'S wedding if you won't dress for a SINLESS God!
No matter what you say, there has been a time when, just before walking out of your door you stopped, looked in a mirror and asked yourself, "Do I look good enough?" If you do that for some worldly function but not before you go to church, you have a spiritual problem. You shouldn't "Dress Up" for church, you should "Dress Up" for GOD! What other place do you go to on that is solely dedicated to God?
If you dress better for non-church functions than you do for church functions it is simply because you have lower esteem for God than for man. I don't care how you excuse it.
|
| |