A Philosophy of Dress

[Meditation Moment]

Meditation Moment #95
Jul-31-2002
http://www.bbc-cortland.org/medmoment/

I was recently asked to put together a philosophy of dress as a background for the dress code at the Academy. With the thoughts fresh on my mind this seems like a good time to tailor the study for a more general readership. Perhaps second only to music, the matter of our personal wardrobe generates significant contention. Ever since Adam and Eve thought fig leaves would be fashionable people have had an issue with clothing. It is important enough for the Scriptures to make considerable use of the subject. As I have pondered and interacted with others about wardrobe questions over the years five key principles have emerged.

The first is the principle of purpose. This is a common sense principle. Clothing is designed to accomplish four things. One is protection. This speaks for itself. Two is function in a particular setting—the workplace, the playground, the relaxed setting of the home. The third purpose is spiritual in nature. In 1 Timothy 2:9, modesty is brought forward as a primary consideration in the choosing of our wardrobe. The fourth purpose is also spiritual. Passages such as Proverbs 7:10 remind us that people are recognized or identified by their choice of clothing. In any era a Christian must be alert to styles that are linked to wrong lifestyles or philosophies at that particular time. 

The second principle has to do with first impression. Protest as much as we will, the fact is that all of us, even the most dedicated libertarians, work through judgment issues whenever we meet people for the first time. Biblically, this is not wrong. Throughout scripture we are given guidelines for the process. Among other passages is Matthew 7:16-20 where Jesus tells us that we must evaluate the fruit of a person's choices. With regard to clothing, when a person decides to wear bizarre or provocative clothing they force others to work through significant questions. Does the chosen style accurately identify the person with the group or philosophy represented by the style? If it does not, why would the person choose to be identified with something that is not true of them? If it does accurately identify them, how close would God allow me to become involved with them and do I want to make the effort? Would being close to that person cause others to evaluate me wrongly? Because of this many, by their clothing choices have unnecessarily marginalized themselves and lost the opportunity of good friendships. 

Please understand at this point that we are talking about clothing that makes a statement. We are not talking about a distinction between poor and rich. In the book of James God clearly instructs us not to evaluate a person on the basis of the costliness of their clothing. Nor are we talking about cultural differences. Each culture has its clearly understood styles that demonstrate proper and improper choices. It is to those proper-improper issues within the styles of any culture that the principle of first impression applies.

Perhaps this is the best place to mention the question of fads. These are those unique and out-of-the-ordinary whims that accompany every generation. One must evaluate the degree to which he or his children will be caught up in such whims of style. However, a good perspective to keep in mind is the fact that the habit of being faddish can lead to vulnerability to marketing gimmicks. The need for the latest and the best can become an issue of financial bondage.

The third wardrobe principle is the principle of eye appeal. Scripture emphasizes the importance of the countenance (Proverbs 15:13, 30). The gist of God's Word would seem to be that we should dress in such a way as to draw people's attention to our face. Then, when they look at our face, there should be something worth seeing in terms of a pleasant and gracious expression. This emphasis runs contrary to the designer goals of the marketplace. The objective of many styles today is to create eye teasers. This is accomplished through out-of-place features in a garment that draw the eye to other parts of the anatomy than the face. It is also accomplished by the eye-catching exposure of skin. This exposure involves either revealing normally covered portions of the body such as the midriff, or giving a momentary glimpse of skin as is done in the slits of some long dresses or the holes in jeans. 

The fourth principle of dress has to do with respect. The frequent references to "honor" in the Bible (Romans 13:7) leave no doubt that respect for others is to be a part of a person's character. With regard to clothing, every culture has a defined way of demonstrating respect through the way that the people dress. Granted, some cultures have become so corrupted that even their respectful dress is scripturally unacceptable. Nevertheless, there is still a sense of respect. In current cultural changes in this country respect does not seem to play a significant role. Consequently, there is no emerging dress for respect on the immediate horizon. Instead, we seem to swing wildly between brazen impudence and embarrassing narcissism in our extreme styles. Because of the lack of any new definition of respect in dress, one is safe to stay with the general style that has been well defined for several generations.

Finally, there is the principle of place. At the bottom line of many dress conflicts is the right of an organization to stipulate a dress code. Ethically, those who choose to be or are required to be involved in an organization or an organized activity should accept the responsibility to work with that group's code. The exception would be if that code calls on them to dress immorally, immodestly, or unsafely. It needs to be understood that submission to a dress code does not equate with spiritual authenticity. Many of us remember with embarrassment those occasions when a dress code was defended in terms of one's spiritual condition—as though a white shirt and a tie indicated that all was well. However, it also needs to be understood that unnecessary resistance to a dress code because of a desire to make a statement about ones own individuality does indicate a spiritual problem. Life calls for many choices that we might prefer not to make. One may prefer jeans and tank-tops as their wardrobe of choice. Yet, to choose to work in an organization where those items are unacceptable means that the wardrobe of choice is replaced with the wardrobe of requirement. To promise to comply with an organization's dress code and then seek to push the limits does not express individuality. It expresses bad ethics. 

The matter of dress is so important that the Word of God uses it to speak of our salvation. In a parable concerning a wedding feast (Matthew 22:1-14), Jesus describes a man being cast out of an important gathering because he chose not to wear the proper attire for the occasion. The New Testament expression "put on" corresponds to "clothe yourself with." In Galatians 3:27 we are to cloth ourselves with Christ. That means that He and not we in our self-effort is the garment wherein we hope to be accepted by God. In Ephesians 4:24 we are to clothe ourselves with the new man. That has to do with the development of a new character in our daily life. Colossians 3:12 itemizes the characteristics of that new man and calls on us to clothe ourselves with those characteristics. Ephesians 6:11 speaks of equipment for the rigors of life in terms of armor with which we clothe ourselves. 

Wardrobe choices tell something about us. Character choices tell even more. Have you put on Jesus Christ by receiving Him as your personal Lord and Savior? There is no other wardrobe for heaven. As a believer in Jesus Christ are you developing your spiritual wardrobe? And, is the development of that wardrobe having a bearing on how you choose to dress as you walk in the workplace and the marketplace?

We would be glad to interact with you on these subjects.


Pastor Comings
pastor@bbc-cortland.org