D.Lim: Modest clothing(ie: suit of armour, priestly gown) is not necessarily plain. Plain clothes(such as underwear or biniki) is not necessarily modest.

Victorian dressed were rarely plain though covering the feet and much of the arms. They were decorative and even sexually expressive. Even mistresses wore big hats.

D.Lim: What one wears reflects ones conceived position in society.

What is immodest is what that do not reflect the true status or nature of the heart.

There is priority of judgement; but all are to be considered before final verdict is made.

The Bible has/holds many paradoxic themes and teachings. We must consider each teaching with the situation and background it is revealed. We must consider the very purpose it is delivered and compare the differences between the seemingly opposing verses of teachings to learn more from the whole subject the Word of God is teaching, and apply the knowledge and wisdom accordingly in love and righteousness.

D.Lim: Victorian societies in Britain (in the 19^th century right into the early part of 20^th century) believe in covering up with layers of clothings and long dresses. It is a time of adultery and scandels. Sex crimes were rampant to the extend that we have a Chinese Proverb that a well covered-up lady is a hypocrite, pretending to be modest.

In earlier times, there were European village girls believing in covering up their feet well, so that no tan is shown from their feet and arms. This paleness of their limbs would be a sign that they did not need to work in the fields; thus marking their social class above the peasants.

This was a product of a CLASS system.

Many African tribes used to have no clothings. Naked bodies there were not matters of immorality. These tribal people danced naked. Their dance were made for naked bodies. They were made to put on clothings when the Western Colonialists came, with perhaps a Christian/Roman Catholic moral of the time. The tribal people have problems expressing themselves in the same dance as they were not made for the later dresses.

D.Lim: Dressing up with minimum clothing is not automaticly immodest in dressing.

Chinese hockers in Fish stores and Meat stores wear little to no upper body clothing for cooling the bodies. Manual workers wear little to no upper body clothing for cooling.

When I went to baptize believers in India, I wore no upper clothing, and very modest lower clothing, as tradition would have me. This is decent solemn ceremony.

So, what does immodest in dressing mean?

Let us not to be tempted by tricks of suggestions. Let us have facts.

Our decadent societies are caused by love of ungodly politics and social practice and a geniune hatred of God and the Scriptures. Biblical principles are loathed and ignored and mocked at.

There was a time of rebellion in the USA(and possibly in Europe as well) in the 60s. That was the time of Rock and Roll music. That was a time of Hyppies, a yearning to follow Indian/Eastern Mysticism and Hinduism. Erotic practices from Indian Hinduism came to be liked and adopted by the West. Erotic Sexuality became expressive in clothings. Life for many lives seek tension. This was a time of exploration(people competted to reach the Moon) and trials(many smoked Harsh/Grass). There was the social code of seductivity in Fashion. Wearing less was not a monopoly of prostitution.

There is also the element of “SHOCK” in many cultures, including Fashion and Business. For instance, it is shocking to be grossly overdressed. This is not necessary immoral, or amoral. This is excitement, fun and exploration, this is personality and game.

Is the Bible condemning them all?

Is the Bible forbidding them all?

I do not see it.

However, the Bible teach us to get near to God, to worship God, to be Godcentred.

Some of the questions we believers of God need to address ourselves and our people are:

1. Are we worshipping God in what we do, what we dress?

We wear our best in worshipping God as a respect to the Most High. So, the best we have comes to be known as our Sunday’s clothing.

This is fitting to folks coming to meet any dignitaries, Kings, and Governors.

However, there is very little clothings in some tribal clothings. So, these tribal people would put on very little when they come to pay homage to Kings and Queens. This is not any lack of respect. This is not mocking or slighting.

Some Satanic worshippers wear razor blades to cut people they pass by, to shed blood.

2. Are we evangelising in what we do and what we dress?

The prophets dress in camel clothing.

Indian pastors dress in shirt and trousers, as there is very little worldly possession.

The Bible is carried around in style inside special Bible carrier/case. This is like carrying a handbag.

3. Are we witnessing for God when we do this and dress like that?

The Buddhist Monks shaved their heads and dressed in certain robes.

Some Muslims carry their prayer mat around for prayer and witness. Some grow beard and dress up like Mohammad their preacher/dictator of faith to witness for Islam, regardless of whether society like it or not.

The Indian Sikhs wear turbans and long hair underneath for their belief.

The Roman Catholic Monks set themselves apart in their Monastic Movement by dressing up in another code of Robe dressing and shaved heads. Nun followed with special head dress and gowns.

The Anglicans set themselves apart by their gowns. Even choir boys dressed up with special robes.

The Baptists invented the “Dog Collar” to set themselves apart from the Roman Catholics.

Islam made women cover up. It does not make them holy or sexually pure.

4. Are we setting ourselves apart from the secular societies and their code of conduct by what we do and dress?

The Monks were trying to be different.

The priests were trying to be different. Some wear big metal crosses.

The Bishops carried large ceremonial shepherd stick as sign of authority.

The Baptist Preachers were trying to be different to protest their faith and doctrines.

Some politicians like Mao, Lenin, Stalin, and Islamic Imam wear particular clothing for all their days. It is their emblem. So, what is the emblem of Christians? To be Godly, holy(set apart from the secular) and loving.

5. Are we glorifying God and the body of Christ in what we do and dress?

Do we want to witness for God and the Gospel in what we do?

Some preachers carry wooden cross around for preaching.

Some believers carry Holy Bibles around for witness and get reach for personal studies and witnessing.

Conclusion: Religions and Beliefs have their own clothings and Dress Codes.

Believers of one faith do not behave as believers of other faith.

D.Lim: We believers are to be set apart(holy) from acts and witness of all other faiths.

D.Lim: We are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, what we think, consider and act upon. Not by following other trends, worldly trends, or trends of other religions.

It is not what we wear; but what we think and what we teach(witnessing and answering enquirers with).

What is the Will of God?

That we sell sex? By no means.

That we have no jewels to show? No. Christians are not necessarily poor people. There was Lydia who was not poor. There was Joseph the merchant who claimed the body of Christ. Poverty is not a universal sign/emblem of Christians.

That we wear black only? The Bible does not teach that.

The prayer shrawl has blue threads in it. There is much white in many Jewish clothing.

Jesus transfigured in white garment. The angels are in white dazzling clothings.

Camel hair is not necessarily black, so that the prophets were not in black.

The High Priests of Israel are not in black, as required by the Law.

So, we are not to have clothing and color that convey misery all the time. In fact, the Biblical coce of misery is tearing ones clothing and put ash on ones head. Wearing black is not part of the picture. We know that the Puritans wore black, and the extreme right of Calvins wear black, many Mennonites wear black, many Lutheran pastors wear black, many choir uniform is black. This is their own business.

D.Lim: Not just glorify God in our body, as in our physical conducts and dressings; but in our spirit, through living and preaching.

God is the Creator of all complicated things. Dressing up simply does not necessarily reflect the glory of God.

1Cor6v 18(AG)Flee immorality. Every other sin that a man commits is outside the body, but the immoral man sins against his own body.

D.Lim: The passage in the context is teaching us to fless immorality.

This is not a matter of dressing up with more cloths and covering or less.

This is a matter of MORAL.

This is about SEXUAL SIN!

Sexual seduction can be part of it. This is not the same as dressing up sexy, man being man, and woman being woman. This is about temptation to sin. This immorality in the context is about sexual temptation and sexual sin, and attraction to other religions and faiths. We are to worship God/Yhwh only, even in our dressings.

Is your clothing tempting people to sin? Are you attracting people to other religion with your clothing? Are you dressing up like a RC monk or priest? Are you dressing up like a Muslim? A Buddhist?

Get your hearts right. Get your clothing and conduct right.

D.Lim: This passage in the context teaches many things.

It is for entire sanctification. Not just dress codes.

We are to rejoice always. Puritans in black show little rejoicing in much of their daily living and worship. Often, their emblem is misery and gloom. Many do not dance. Many do not dance with joy. Many cannot lift up their heads to pray and give thanks to God. Many cannot celebrate with color. Many cannot celebrate with music instruments.

We are admonished to pray without ceasing. So, do we dress up in suitable ways for praying?

Please do. For we all need praying.

Verses 19 and 20 are very much not practiced by Anti-Charismatics. Cessationism is used to override Biblical teachings.

V21: Abstain from every form of evil. If wearing certain kinds of clothing is evil to you(to your understanding), abstain from it then. Do not insist in evil, or you will have downfalls and destruction and shame.

V23 speaks of spiritual Godly preservation. This is no physical cover-up of the body.

Be God-centred and Godward, and life is fine.

D.Lim: This is not about dressing but religious behaviour.

V8 admonish men to pray; without dissension. V9 likewise, is admonishing women to avoid dissension.

V9 when taken out of context and made up doctrines on its own merit would be a code of dressings for women only(excluding men, for verse 8 is about prayer.).

When taken into context, it is about daily living, what is fitting for men and women in the Church, and not outside the Church. This is not a verse for social conduct in the secular world.

V8 down to v15 and down to 1Tim3 is all about church life, behavior regarding worship(ie: prayer, teaching and leading).

Discription in v9:(with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments) is that of prostitutes in the Mediterranean area of the time of Christ. This is about Worldly attraction. This is not how we should worship God. We are to be what we are, dressing up fitting to our status. We are to worship by means of good works. We are to gain godliness and not worldliness. Dressing up with more cloths does not necessarily point to godliness.

D.Lim: This explanation suggest that the term "modest" was for relationship to men.

But this modesty was referring to decent clothing. KJV has the term kosmios translated as of good behaviour. What is good is what is for God; for God is good. We are comparing decency with what is acceptable in the sight of God.

D.Lim: Soundness of mind. One can dress up in any way sensible to the occasion. Sensibility is a subjective judgement(decided by oneself), and it is also an objective judgement(decided by social norm, social status quo, and sentiment of locales.). This is not necessarily agreeable or cut and dry. This is something requiring judgement and much reasoning to what we are attempting to achieve.

D.Lim: This is a case of pretext, taking things out of context.

Modesty does not equate humility. Neither should the two be coupled.

Kings and queens adorn themselves with gold and jewels, as is fitting to their esteemed status, commanding social/public respect and awe. They also wear gold crowns, gold signet rings, and carry gold sceptres as sign of authority.

D.Lim: The High Priests of Israel wear much gold and jewel, as is fitting for their spiritual service, and godly appearance.

Blue was the most expensive color in historic Christian times, and yet all Israelites are to have blue threads in their prayer shrawls. Modesty? Pride? Godliness?

Ancient African tribal did not go naked because of lust.

Chinese manual labour go naked not because of lust or sexual offense.

I had baptized half naked in traditional costume. And glory to God.

King David and Solomon married many wives, and were still spiritual men writing Scriptures.

By/In faith are we saved; not by works, lest anyone may boast.

D.Lim: We are/were made free men in Christ.

13. Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

D.Lim: A matter of action and not dressing. Set your hope in/on the grace and not on works and appearance.

14. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.

D.Lim: Do not conform to the evil desires/lusts. Wearing flamboyant clothing is not necessarily being immodest or having lust. Many societies have Class system, and clothes show your social status to function properly in societies. The Western suit is not plain or simply in comparison to the Chinese overcoat/jacket. It is internationally accepted as decent proper clothing. Even extreme right Calvinists wear suits in and out of Church. For keeping warmth and the wind and the water out, a ski-jacket or leather jacket would be better than a suit. A racer jacket is plainer than a suit with tie and leather belt. Why do ladies not all wear racer jacket? It is because of social dress code. Many dresses are not helping body movement. They follow social dress code for visual appeal more than for physical practicality. Wearing dresses, including skirts, is not necessarily evil or following lust of former ignorance or sexual contact.

15. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do;

D.Lim: This is about what you do instead of what you are dressed in. It is action rather than visual impression. One can spend money in action as well as in visual dressing/impression.

16. for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." - NIV

D.Lim: Be in the World for witness and evangelism, even that, SPIRITUALLY you are not of the World. Physically, you are part of the World. You breath, you grow, you age and you can be killed. So, do not count yourselves so spiritual and godly as to ignore and deny your earthly existence.

You are very much an animal(a living organism) from dust.

D.Lim: The hidden man is the inner part, the spirit of man. The spirit is not meek or quiet.

The temperament of meek and quiet spirit is not the inner man.

This is about behaviour rather than about dresses.

D.Lim: In the Chin Dynasty of China, all men by law have to have braid long hair(Taoist priests and monks and foreigners were exceptions).Culturally, it was normal for men to have long hair.

D.Lim: Do you wear leather belts? Well, that is unnecessary. A rope or a buckel in the trousers would do. Do you tie long hair up for ease and requirement of work? Well, that is unnecessary. A piece of string or a rubber band would do. Do you wear stockings? Well, that is unnecessary. A long dress would do. Do you have suit cases and wardrobes? Well, that is unnecessary. A few racer or ski jackets would do. Do you wear suits for work and meetings? Well, that is unnecessary. A pullover and trousers would do.

Really? Civilized?

What non-sense!

We dress up to look good. Not just to cover the bodies up. We put on jewels to look good.

Modesty and decency have to do with what current culture accept as reasonable. And "reasonable" is a very subjective word.

Modern societies are turning against the Biblical faith, and regarding Christian beliefs, acts and appearance as indecent, being gross and intolerable.

Unlike the Quran, the Bible gives men much freedom for decision and action.

God gives people "Free Will".

D.Lim: Sadly in modern days, few Christian women in Western culture lower themselves to male leadership. Many feel absolutely alright to be and have female pastors(in many denominations, pastors are the highest in the ranks of leadership).

D.Lim: Jesus and many of His Apostles wore long hair. Some Artists try to depict Jesus as someone with short hair amongst people with long hair, making Him a rebel in appearance. So, how short is short? How long is long?

Joan of Arc had very short hair. The RC church did not complain about her hair style.

Samson had long hair. So was Samuel and John the Baptist. No complain.

Traditional Chinese, Koreans, and Japanese men had long hair.

When the Western Missionaries came, they glorified God, preaching the Gospel with long hair like the natives. Hudson Taylor was famous for his pigtail and Chinese dress. Serve God with what you have and what you can do.

Traditionally the Jewish priests wore robes.

Traditionally Scotsmen wear skirts/kilts, and still appear different to the traditional Scotish women.

Traditional Chinese wore long robes, and still appear different to the traditional Chinese women.

Tradition Japanese wore robes, and still appear different to the traditional women.

D.Lim: Let there be a separation between man and woman.

D.Lim: Mr preacher, destroy all your suits of Western disguise/hypocrisy, before you venture out for some unloving/cold enforcement and mocking on others.

Learn to look into the heart with much prayer and gifts of the Spirit. Quenching the Spirit disqualifies you from the offset.

D.Lim: Gay Prides wear very little jewel or clothing. One can have little clothing and jewel to be very proud and immodest.

Look to the Jewish Law on color and learn to enjoy color, decoration and symbolism.

D.Lim: No haircut. Very long hair.

So, those who have short hair, have short hair for the Lord. And those who let hair grow, have long hair for the Lord. Everybody be sober and get ready for answering and witnessing. Let your vows to the Lord be kept. Be faithful.

D.Lim: Shaving head was also dictated in the law.

D.Lim: Solomon had locks of hair on his head(not seen in the KJV, but turn to the NASV).

There is Royal Purple color with his locks. Just think of a man having color decoration on his head/hair.

Some might argued that the locks of hair were said to be LIKE purple instead of being colored purple. However, if it was just a comparison of intricate shapes and structure, color would not have been mentioned. Also, having such intricate unusual shapes is not in any common way being modest or plain.

In our modern culture and understanding of language, casual clothing is regarded as modest or plain most of the time. Christians are wearing modestly if they do not go about elaborating clothing and decoration beyond the means of their piers common to their social class.This does not mean exclusion of gold, silver and jewels.

From very early times, it has been a custom for married couples, especially Christians to exchange and wear gold wedding rings. So, modesty does not mean exclusion of precious metal, or precious jewels on the body. The rings being outward things have been quite necessary for outward declaration and sentimental items.

Many Christians also wear crosses as necklace or rings or belt bucket, or bracelet, for witnessing. Roman Catholics having treasured much unBiblical doctrine and teaching tend to have very expensive jewel; but Biblical Christians are not avoiding jewelry/decorative crosses like plague. On the whole, it is hopeless trying to sell expensive/pricy jewels to Christians. Biblical Christians are modestly adorned; as they put their money(worldly treasure) to Gospel work and charity. I have had Christians pledging their jewels to receive/entertain me. Gold and pricy jewels do have their use in Gospel work and Christian fellowship.

D.Lim: Samson had long hair into a special fashion of 7 locks. Probably it was the custom of the time to have 7 locks on man�s head. Samson just happened to have longer hair. The difference was not very apparent or readily conceivable by the enemies of Israel.

D.Lim: Do you have pearls with you? In order to cast them(pearls) about, you must have them in the first place/instance. Christians are not so plain and poor spiritually after all. Christians treasure the imperishable things more than just earthly treasures.

Use/apply your precious stones and treasures wisely.

D.Lim: What does God say? Not just a few lines. The whole Word of God is for our good(2Tim3v16).

Love God first. Do you pray and meditate upon the Word all the time, day and night? Well you need to do that first.

Do you love your neighbours as yourselves? Well, most likely you do not know who your neighbours are. So, do the first part first.

D.Lim: Build up your faith and the Kingdom of God with what is precious(in the understanding of all). We are being tested in our daily lives. What is precious to us shows up to all judging us.

Be wise, and use what last to eternity. Do not treasure wickedness.

Do not cloth yourselves with chaff.

1:5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

In the days the New Testament was written, Greek and Roman women were little more than property. They found their worth in their clothing, in their hair, and in their jewelry. Of course, as they came to know Christ as their Savior, they brought this part of their life into the church.

Peter helped these women understand where their true worth was found in 1

Peter Chapter 3. These words are just as applicable today as many women are

in the same trap the women of that day were in. Trying to find their worth

in the fashion of the day, the hairstyle of the moment, and the endless

array of jewelry that is as close as your local mall or TV shopping channel.

Peter said, "Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as

braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it

should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet

spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

Let me come back to the word I want you to clearly hear today, and that is

modesty. There is nothing wrong about dressing in a way to feel good about

yourself. But the question is, do I feel good about myself because of what

I am wearing, or who I am in Christ? Do I get my worth from how other

people view me, or how God views me? Do I dress to impress others, or

impress God? These are important questions you need to ask yourself.

There are two important Biblical principles I want you to be aware of. One

is avoiding the appearance of evil, and the other is to not be a

stumblingblock. The world sends the exact OPPOSITE message. Appear evil

and do your best to be a stumblingblock. The media feeds women a steady

diet of lies from the pits of hell of how a woman should dress from the

music, television, and movie industries.

Don't you realize when you dress like Paris, Britney, or Christina or any of

these stars, you are sending a message that you are for sale? Just as bad,

men are visual creatures. There are VERY FEW men on the face of this earth

that don't struggle with lust. Don't you realize when you dress

provocatively, you are being a stumblingblock to men? Why give someone the

false impression you are not a Godly woman just because of what you wear?

Why cause a man to sin by lusting after you because of what you wear? Pray

about what you wear when you are out socially, pray about what you wear when

you go to work, and please, PRAY ABOUT WHAT YOU WEAR WHEN YOU GO TO CHURCH!

When in doubt, remember Paul's admonition, MODESTY.

I love you and care about you so much. This message today is about maturing

in Christ, being a real woman of God. Like many of the women in the early

church, there are many women that may be young in the Lord who simply don't

know they need to change the way they dress. That is why older women of the

faith need to be involved in the lives of younger women, that is Biblical by

the way (Titus 2:4), to help them know how God expects them to live and act

and what to wear.

I will be praying for you today. Praying that God will speak to you through

these words. Please don't misunderstand this message. There is NOTHING

wrong with a woman wearing nice clothes, looking her best, having her hair

done nicely, or wearing jewelry. Simply be cognizant that in what you wear

you do not give the "appearance of evil," or are a stumblingblock to others.

The key is to know that your worth to God is not in what you wear on the

outside, but in who you are on the inside. It is not your clothes God will

judge, it is your heart!

In His love and service,

Your friend and brother in Christ,

Bill Keller

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