Called to Be Separate

        God has given us an abundance of guidelines for how to make our dress and appearance pleasing to Him. They are specific in nature, and help us to rightly represent and honor Him. The fact that God’s standards for our dress are in such strong contrast to the world’s, should increase our desire to study and follow out His plan.

            “In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness….” 1 Timothy 2:9. A “shamefaced” Christian is not seeking to be on display, but rather to hide, to conceal, that which God says should be covered.

            When Adam and Eve sinned, one of God’s first lessons for them was the lesson of modesty. “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” Genesis 3:21. God designed clothing to cover them, to conceal them.

Throughout the Bible, this theme of clothing as preservation of modesty is continued. Nakedness is equated with shame, and is connected with sin. “Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen.” Isaiah 47:3. The demoniac whom Jesus healed had been without clothing, but when the demons were driven out, the man was “sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind.” Luke 8:35. Thus the Bible reveals that an immediate result of true conversion from sin will be a restoration of modesty.

In the message to the Laodicean church, the message for the church in our time, is a plea from the Lord which speaks to our spiritual condition, but also reminds us that a heart change must be accompanied by a return to modesty. “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear.” Revelation 3:18.

We are living in the last days, a time in which dress styles reveal more nakedness than ever before. In such a time, we are warned, “Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.” Revelation 16:15. 

            Modest clothing conceals the body—not only the skin, but also the shape. Immodest clothing reveals the body. It may reveal areas of the skin that should be kept covered, or it may cover them so tightly that it reveals plainly their shape. Those who wear revealing clothes attract attention, encourage pride, and set temptation in the way of others.

            This article specifically looks at women’s dress, but we should remember that modesty and freedom from adornment are very important for men too.

            Clothing should be loose-fitting, and not designed to accentuate the body. Skirts should have sufficient fullness at the waist to conceal the shape of the hips. Large or low necklines do not portray modesty. Nor do sleeves that reveal a large portion of the arm. The Christian woman will discard all tight tops, skirts, or jackets. Clothing that can be seen through, or clothing with slits, which reveal the legs, will also be rejected.

First Timothy 2:9 speaks of “modest apparel” in prescribing women’s dress.  The original Greek word for apparel, katastole, depicts a long, hanging down garment. This accords with Isaiah 47:2, 3, which shows that uncovered legs are immodest. “Uncover thy locks, make bare the leg, uncover the thigh, pass over the rivers. Thy nakedness shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen….”

“We advocate that the limbs of women should not be exposed, but sensibly, neatly, and comfortably, clad.” HR, May 1, 1872.

“We have traveled extensively the past twenty-five years, and have been eye-witnesses to many indecent exposures of the limbs…. It is a common thing to see the dress raised one-half of a yard, exposing an almost unclad ankle to the sight of gentlemen, but no one seems to blush at this immodest exposure. No one's sensitive modesty seems shocked for the reason that this is customary. It is fashion, and for this reason it is endured. No outcry of immodesty is heard, although it is so in the fullest sense.”  HR, May 1, 1872.

God’s plan was for women’s clothing not to reveal, but to conceal the legs and ankles. “If women would wear their dresses so as to clear the filth of the streets an inch or two, their dresses would be modest, and they could be kept clean much more easily, and would wear longer. Such a dress would be in accordance with our faith.” 1T 424.

The Christian will view clothing as covering, not as adornment. First Peter 3:3, 4 says: “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.”

            Here Peter states that women may adorn themselves, but with what? With the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. Furthermore, he lists those things with which true Christian women will not choose to adorn themselves: hairstyles, gold, or clothing.

It is understood that gold and other jewelry are adornment, and should be discarded by the Christian. However, clothing and hairstyles can also be used to adorn and draw attention to oneself. And it is not only extravagant, flamboyant clothing that adorns. The Christian will select styles and colors of clothing that are simple and plain. Hair will be worn in a plain, modest manner that is not attention-getting.

God’s plan for dress involves a decided distinction between the dress of males and females. As Seventh-day Adventists, we are not left with any room for question on the issue of men and women wearing similar styles of clothing.

“There is still another style of dress which will be adopted by a class of so-called dress reformers. They will imitate the opposite sex, as nearly as possible. They will wear the cap, pants, vest, coat, and boots…. Those who adopt and advocate this style of dress, are carrying the so-called dress reform to very objectionable lengths. Confusion will be the result….

            “In this style of dress God's order has been reversed, and his special directions disregarded. Deut. xxii, 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.’ This style of dress, God would not have his people adopt. It is not modest apparel, and is not at all fitting for modest, humble females who profess to be Christ's followers. God's prohibitions are lightly regarded by all who would advocate the doing away of the distinction of dress between males and females….

            “God designed there should be a plain distinction between male and female dress, and has considered the matter of sufficient importance to give explicit directions in regard to it; for the same dress worn by both sexes would cause confusion, and great increase of crime. St. Paul would utter a rebuke, were he alive, and should behold females professing Godliness with this style of dress.” 2SM 477, 478.

            “There is an increasing tendency to have women in their dress and appearance as near like the other sex as possible, and to fashion their dress very much like that of men, but God pronounces it abomination….

“Those who feel called out to join the movement in favor of woman's rights and the so-called dress reform [speaking of the mannish style being worn by some non-Adventists]  might as well sever all connection with the third angel's message. The spirit which attends the one cannot be in harmony with the other. The Scriptures are plain upon the relations and rights of men and women….

            “With the so-called dress reform there goes a spirit of levity and boldness just in keeping with the dress. Modesty and reserve seem to depart from many as they adopt that style of dress.” 1T 421, 422.

            Thus we see that God would be pleased for women to select modest dresses, skirts, and jumpers, and to lay aside pants, which fashion after the clothing of men.

God gave Sister White much to say on the subject of dress. When she called for a reform, women’s fashionable dress was extremely unhealthful. God had a kind of dress for Seventh-day Adventists which was much better. Known as the “reform dress,” this style came down to about 9 inches from the floor and was worn with loose, full pants underneath. It avoided the dragging skirts and hoops that were fashionable at the time.

Yet the reform dress, as a general thing, was not well-received by God’s people. So God, in His wisdom and mercy, gave us another “less objectionable” style, a description of the kind of dress He would be pleased for sisters to wear.

            “If all our sisters would adopt a simple, unadorned dress of modest length, the uniformity thus established would be far more pleasing to God, and would exert a more salutary influence on the world, than the diversity presented four years ago. As our sisters would not generally accept the reform dress as it should be worn, another, less objectionable style is now presented. It is free from needless trimmings, free from the looped-up, tied back overskirts. It consists of a plain sack [jacket] or loose-fitting basque [bodice], and skirt, the latter short enough to avoid the mud and filth of the streets. The material should be free from large plaids and figures, and plain in color. The same attention should be given to the clothing of the limbs as with the short dress.  

 “Will my sisters accept this style of dress and refuse to imitate the fashions that are devised by Satan and continually changing? No one can tell what freak fashion will take next. Worldlings whose only care is, ‘What shall we eat, and what shall we wear?’ should not be our criterion.’” 4T 640.

While not presenting one precise style, this short, concise description encompasses what God desired, and still desires, in our dress. Please notice a few points:

1. The upper portion of our dress should be loose-fitting, whether it be a dress bodice, blouse, or jacket. No tight or revealing styles should be worn.

2. God’s plan is for dresses, not pants. Jumpers are another good option, as they suspend their weight from the shoulders, not the hips. (“Every woman who values health should avoid hanging any weight upon the hips. The shoulders should sustain the weight of every article of clothing worn upon the person.” CTBH 89. Skirts can also be fixed so that their weight is suspended from the shoulders.)

3. Our dresses should be long enough for modesty, yet short enough that they do not brush in the dirt. The legs should be modestly clothed.

4. Our clothing should be simple and unadorned. It should be plain in color and avoid large prints.

We can be thankful that God has given us this direct, clear description of what our dress should be. We do not need to wander in darkness and confusion. God has seen the issue of dress of such importance that He has taken the time to make very plain to us what is pleasing in His sight. Will we honor Him by applying His dress principles in our personal lives?

All quotations are from Ellen G. White.