TO FERN'S HOMESTEAD!

Modest Dress

"Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right;
and I hate every false way."
Tehillim (Psalm) 119:128

“All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
And Adonai weighs the spirit.”
Mishlei (Proverbs) 16:2

When I read these verses today, I couldn't help but think of our current topic ~ Biblical Modesty. We can see by the above verses, that oftentimes our opinions may seem right to us, but we must go to the Word of Elohim, for all His ways are right.

First, I wanted to share a bit of my own background with you and how Father led me to change my heart and wardrobe to one which more accurately reflects what I feel His Word teaches.

I have been told since I was a young girl that I needed to have the correct *packaging* to attract a man. This was reinforced by men as I grew older, and by the media as well. I wore uniforms as I went to private schools growing up, otherwise my mother always picked out my clothing. I can remember in the 1960's wanting to wear bell bottom jeans, haha, but she would not permit that at all!

I lived in Hawaii in the 70's for about 8 yrs and dressed casual Hawaiian style....muumuu's and lots of bathing suits! I have always loved dresses and rarely wore pants up until the 80's. When I moved back to the mainland in 1982, I began to learn of the worldly fashions. I was not in *style* wearing my Hawaiian clothing anymore! I began to learn how to dress *attractively* for the opposite sex to notice me, according to the standards others had set for me.

I have been complimented on my legs since I was in high school and I usually always wore short skirts. When I met Yeshua in 1994, He made some amazing changes in the music I listened to and so much more. I dressed conservatively by this time in my life, but never really made any major changes in my wardrobe. In the summer of 2002 though, Abba led me to information on Headcovering, and not long thereafter, I opened a women's Messianic forum, Covered Messianic Sisters. This led to learning a lot about what Adonai had to say about Modest apparel as well! Headcovering and modest dress go hand in hand that's for sure!

Most of us have different ideas of what modest dress is, based on our past experiences, and the world around us. I thought I was dressing modestly for many years until Abba began to show me that I needed to make changes in this area. The main question we need to be asking ourselves is this........

"Do our opinions line up with the Word of G-d?"

Let's look at a few verses:

"I call upon you, therefore, brothers, through the compassion of Elohim, to present your bodies a living offering – set-apart, well-pleasing to Elohim – your reasonable worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you prove what is that good and well-pleasing and perfect desire of Elohim"
Romans 12:1-2 (The Scriptures)

Proverbs 3:7 -- "Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil."

"Let us walk becomingly, as in the day, not in wild parties and drunkenness, not in living together and indecencies, not in fighting and envy, but put on the Master Yeshua Messiah, and make no provision for the lusts of the flesh."
Romans 13:13-14 (The Scriptures)

"“A woman does not wear that which pertains to a man, nor does a man put on a woman’s garment, for whoever does this is an abomination to your Elohim."
Devarim (Deut.) 22:5 (The Scriptures)

Here are some definitions of Modesty from Noah Webster's 1828 dictionary.

"Properly restrained by a sense of propriety; not forward or bold; not presumptuous or arrogant; not boastful; moderate; not excessive or extreme; not extravagant; purity of manners; retiring and unobtrusive manners; conceding to all others due honor and respect; modesty results from purity of mind; unaffected modesty is the sweetest charm of female excellence, the richest gem in the diadem of their honor."

Are you surprised to read that modesty is more about what springs forth from a pure mind, than the clothing we wear? It is true. The outward appearance is a direct reflection of our heart and mind.

In the same way, that women also adorn themselves in decent clothing,
with modesty and propriety;
not just with braided hair, gold, pearls, or expensive clothing;
but (which becomes women professing godliness) with good works."
1 Tim 2:9-10 (HNV)

We can see from these verses that not only is our clothing to be decent and proper, but it is not to be overly excessive. We are to be adorned (decorated, embellished, to make beautiful, to set off) ourselves with our good works as well. We can see again that modesty comes from the heart and is manifested by our decent (not gaudy or ostentatious) clothing, *and* our good works (Torah observance).

Deut. 22:5 is pretty clear, "A woman shall not wear men’s clothing,
neither shall a man put on women’s clothing;
for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God.
HNV

If it is an abomination for men to wear women's clothing, then it certainly must be an abomination to G-d for me to wear men's clothing. Abomination means to abhor, to detest extremely. If I want to be pleasing to my Abba, then it behooves me to wear feminine clothing to set myself apart from a man. We women are to look like ladies, not men!! What is considered men's clothing today? It can often be difficult to differentiate as androgynous clothing has been popular for a few decades now in our American culture. So, do we decide what is feminine based upon current cultural styles, or from the Word of Yahweh? The answer is obvious of course!

"Your adornment should not be outward – arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on dresses – but the hidden Man of the heart, with the incorruptible ornament of a meek and peaceable spirit, which is of great value before Elohim."
~~1 Kepha (Peter) 3:3-4 (The Scriptures)

“‘Come out from among them,
and be separate,’ says the Lord.
‘Touch no unclean thing.
I will receive you.
6:18 I will be to you a Father.
You will be to me sons and daughters,’
says the Lord Almighty.”
2 Cor. 6:17,18 (HNV)

Let us not be conformed to the world's standards of dressing sisters!

Jane Diffenderfer writes, "Holiness unto YHWH is a good thing, but pride in our plain or ornate dress is a sin. A woman can become prideful if she thinks she is better or looks better than other women. Pride can enter in only when a woman thinks more highly than (she) ought to think of herself (Romans 12:3). Pride does not enter into a woman’s life because she is wearing a certain color or fabric. It enters in because a woman violates the Scriptures by comparing herself with others. We are not to be part of the group that compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."

Adonai weighs our spirit by putting us in one hand and Yeshua in the other. We are weighed down with egotism, self-reliance, haughtiness, judgmentalism, and a condescending nature. Living only according to the Scriptures is not a burdensome lifestyle as some may think. Indeed, it keeps the weight off our shoulders and makes our burden light—there are no negative by-products of our own self to weigh us down. Our spirit is light when we look to Yeshua as the sole standard of weights and measures because He enables us to say “yes” to the absolutes and “no” to all the extra weight. (Perfect Word Ministries)

Here are some questions you might want to consider asking yourself when evaluating the clothing you presently own, or when you are about to purchase new ones:

1. Does this make me look feminine?

2. Is it modest according to Biblical standards?

3. Does it inspire pure thoughts or could it possibly stumble one of your brothers?

4. Is it neat and clean, or does it have a sloppy appearance?

5. Is it questionable in any way?

And last but most importantly.........

6. Does it bring honor and glory to Yahweh?

Take the time to pray about this subject dear sister and let the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) lead you as you study His Word.

“Don’t be conformed to this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind,
so that you may prove what is the good,
well-pleasing, and perfect will of G-d.
Romans 12:2 (HNV) Amein.

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This page created January 15th, 2003
Last Updated November 14th, 2005