Even though
worship is not a "dress parade", many times we become too sloppy, and
revealing in the way we dress for worship. Our clothes do
contribute to the emphasis we place on worship to God. This does
not mean we have to wear fine and expensive clothes. But the way
we dress should be in keeping with the dignity of the occasion.
Women are
commanded in 1 Timothy 2:9-10, "In like manner also,
that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and
moderation…which is proper for women professing godliness with good
works." Modest clothing is the way women who are
"professing godliness" dress. Certainly a woman or man whose
clothing is not modest is not professing godliness by the way they
dress. In this verse "moderation" suggests being restrained and
"propriety" suggests conforming to what is proper in the worship of God.
The wearing of
lewd and revealing clothing to worship God is unthinkable, but some do
it anyway. A woman who wears clothing that exposes herself to men
is contributing to their sin of lust. Our Lord says in Matthew
5:28,
"But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to
lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
She becomes guilty of contributing to his sin of adultery, so she also
becomes guilty. In our actions as well as the clothing we wear, 1
Thessalonians 5:22 says, "Abstain from all
appearance of evil."
Some think they
have to follow the style and fashion of the world, regardless of how
short and revealing clothing gets. But we are told in Romans 12:2, "And do not be conformed to this world." Why?
Because this world is going to be lost, and if we conform to this world
we will also be lost. We are conforming to this world when we
dress immodestly. We are "to keep ourselves
unspotted from the world" (James 1:27).
Would we dress
in sloppy or revealing clothes if we were attending our parent’s
funeral? Our Lord says in Matthew 18:20, "For
where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the
midst of them." How should we dress to show respect for
someone much greater than our parents, when we appear in the presence of
our Lord to remember the death of our Saviour and to honor and worship
God? He is the one who made us and who will determine our future
in eternity.
When we worship
we are actually in the presence of the Lord. He deserves only our
very best. We are told in Romans 12:1, "That
you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God".
Do you actually think God is pleased with us when we wear immodest
clothing as we present our bodies a living sacrifice in worship to Him.
Are we doing as our Lord says (Matthew 6:33), "seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness"?
If we are wearing clothing that is immodest, how could we? Our
dress should show a moderate opinion of our own value. Our dress
should be pure, proper, chaste, and decent. It should not call
attention to ourselves, because it is showy, sloppy or lewd.
Questions Lesson 12
Our Dress In
Worship
(click on the button of the answer of your choice)
1) (1 Timothy 2:9-10) How are
women commanded to adorn
themselves?
In revealing clothing.
In modest clothing.
In what ever style is popular.
2)
Immodest clothing is how those who profess godliness
dress.
3) (Matthew 5:28) One who lusts
after a woman
Commits adultery with her in his heart.
Does not commit adultery with her in his heart.
Is not responsible.
4)
A woman who dresses immodestly contributes to a man
committing adultery
in his heart.
5) (1 Thessalonians 5:22) We are
to abstain from
Doing good.
All appearance of evil.
Some appearance of evil.
6)
In our actions as well as the clothing we wear, we should
abstain from
all appearance of evil.
7) (Romans 12:2) Should we be
conformed to this world?
No, this world is going to be lost and we will be also if we
conform to
it.
Yes, so we can fit in with the world.
Yes, so we can be popular.
8)
We are conforming to this world when we dress
immodestly.
9) (Matthew 18:20) When we
assemble for worship
The Lord is not present with us.
The Lord is present with us.
We don’t know if the Lord is present with us or not.
10)
Our dress as well as our worship should honor the Lord
who is in our
presence at worship.