Dress Test for Godly Men
In the beginning God created mankind. They sinned and realized they were naked. They covered up their loins, but they didn’t cover all their nakedness. God would soon cover the nakedness of both man and woman. There was no “cultural definition” of nakedness. What God established from the beginning is the definition of nakedness for all time. What God covered them with was a “coat”. By definition, such an article of clothing begins above the shoulders and would go below the loins. This means chest, stomach, and back were also covered as naked. However, this term “coat” is not the same as the jacket we know today. It was much longer. What additional nakedness did God cover? By God’s definition of nakedness, the coat would cover the thigh going all the way down to the knee (Exodus 28:42). Dressing Godly, does not just involve covering nakedness. Test your own manner of dress by asking yourselves a few questions:
• Do I meet God’s standard for covering nakedness? (Genesis 3:21, Exodus 28:42) Will any of these areas be exposed when you sit, stand, turn, or bend down?
• Am I dressing so women will see me as a good man or a good body? (I Thessalonians 4:3-6; Galatians 5:19). Lasciviousness is an attempt to draw someone to lust after you. Clothes which allow others to see through them to your skin or are so tight no part of the anatomy is left unnoticed have the end result of creating lust. Yes, women do have desires. See examples of Potiphar’s wife and her advances on Joseph (Genesis 39:7-10) or the desire of the Shulamite for her shepherd (Song of Solomon 2:3-7).
• Am I concerned about keeping the purity of others?(Matthew 18:7, 1 Corinthians 8:9; I John 2:10, Ephesians 5:25-27) Each man should work to protect and keep every woman he encounters pure, as if she were his sister or wife. This means you.
• Will my clothing help or hurt my influence for Christ? (Romans 13:10; 15:3; Philippians 2:3-4, 2 Peter 3:14) A man should strive to be without blame in regard to his clothes.
• Will What I am wearing identify me as something other than Godly? ( I Corinthians 10:31, I Timothy 3:7) Do your t-shirts have lewd or suggestive sayings? Are your pants down below your butt making you look like someone from a gang or prison?
• Is it appropriate and respectful for the occasion? (Genesis 41:14; Matthew 22:11-14) Going to the ball game is definitely different than going to Church. God wants your best. Indeed, it may be your best jeans and shirt, but he still wants your best.
When you are in doubt… Remember I Thessalonians 5:22.
Now go share this dress test with others!