PROF. BEN ONYEUKWU (REV.)
NCE (English); Dip (Computer Studies); ND/HD
(Journalism); Dip, BA (Theology) MA, PhD.
THE BIBLE
AND DRESS CODE (PART 2)
Indecent Dressing as a Mark of Prostitution
Devotional Text:
Prov. 7:10-23
Introduction:
The heart of every true believer truly seeks
to please the Lord in every aspect of his life, and this, includes his dress
code. To this end, the cited believer ensures that his lifestyle and mode of
dressing are always to the glory of God. According to Ben Onyeukwu (2004), the
primary objective in dressing is the covering of nakedness. Other objectives as
necessitated by climatic and environmental problem include; the giving of
warmth to our bodies and the protecting of the skin from insect bite”. Socially
speaking, Ben Onyeukwu continues, “man also should dress to look nice”, but
there is no biblical support for indecent dressing which has become a common
feature in both church and society of today.
GENERAL REMARKS
(1)
Indecent
dressing is indeed, a mark of prostitution, (Pro. 7:10)
(2)
Indecent
dressing goes with crafty intent, (vs. 10)
(3)
Indecent
dressing is equally a sign of defiant spirit at work, (vs. 11)
(4)
Indecent
dressing also stimulates wandering behaviour (vs. 11-12)
INDECENT DRESSING AND
SPIRITUALITY
No doubt, indecent dressing does not connote
spirituality. One who dresses indecently and still claims to be spiritual is,
indeed in falsehood. Indecent dressing depicts sodomy, and sodomy, according to
the EN English Dictionary, simply means “any of several forms of sexual
intercourse held to be unnatural, particularly bestiality or homosexuality, but
also sometimes, anal or oral sex”. In fact, one’s dress code is a window by
which one’s spiritual life could be mirrored.
For, it is not often possible for one who dresses like a prostitute to
be a saint inside. Indecent dressing smacks the lust of the flesh (Gal. 5:16),
and on this note, the Scripture says
(i)
Walk in the
spirit, that you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh, (vs. 10)
(ii)
“For all
that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes”…
“is
not of the Father, but of the world”, (1 John 2:16)
(iii)
“And the
world passes away and the lust therefore, but he that does
the
will of God abides forever”, (vs. 17)
INDECENT DRESSING AND THE GLORY
OF GOD
The way we eat, speak or even dress should
give God glory, if we really acknowledge Him as our Master and Saviour. In this
connection, the Apostle Paul says…”whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of
God”, (1 Cor. 10:31). In the words of Ben Onyeukwu (2004), Christian attire
must be designed to give God glory. Though, he did not specify any particular
fashion, but stresses that Christian should always consider what promotes the
glory of God as they make their attires. And, to be blunt here, no indecent
dress code gives God glory. Indecent dressing is a mindless exhibitionism,
which means, “the practice or character trait of deliberately drawing attention
to oneself” and, without mincing words, such a tendency can never be to the
glory of God. Based on the foregoing, therefore, the believer should ensure
that;:
(i)
What he
wears to church services is not in the category of what the Bible
refers to as the attire of the harlot, (Pro.
7:10)
(ii)
His garment
for social activities (if different from what he wears to church)
should distinguish him as a child of God and
not a harlot, (vs. 10)
(iii)
The attires
he wears at home do not depict him as something different
from
what people know about him in church and social services, (vs. 10)
INDECENT DRESSING AND CHRISTIAN
IDENTITY
This
section of the lesson is designed to specify the character trait of the
Christian, and not just the successfully socialized into what may be termed the
excellent dress code of the Christian faith, but remains porous in terms of the
inward beauty of the believer, (2 Tim. 3:5). On this note, the Apostle Peter,
in a message to the women says, “while people behold your chaste conversation,
coupled with fear, let not your adorning be the outward adorning of plaiting
the hair and wearing of gold or of putting on of apparel. But of the hidden man
of the heart”… (1 Peter 3:2-4). Peter’s address indicates that it is possible
for someone to religiously relinquish indecent dressing, plait hair in
Christian manner, wear gold like Christians, as well as maintain other forms of
Christian dress code, and yet, without Christian virtues. (2 Tim 3:5). In line with this, let it be stressed that the
Christian identity can only be said to have been achieved when:
(i)
Decent dress
code and inner Christian virtue replace indecent dressing and
ungodly behavior, (1 Peter2: 2-4)
(ii)
Indecent
dressing is relinquished with a firm decision to adopt and maintain
Christian
dress code and lifestyle, (vs.2-4)
(iii)
Hypocrisy in
dress code is no longer prevalent in the life of the Christian, whether
at home or abroad or in secret or open place,
(vs. 2-4).
In conclusion, let it be summarized that indecent dressing
has been a big problem in both church
and society of today, but the Christian is expected to live above board, and accordingly shine as light, as a way of
giving God glory, (Matt. 5:16). And, to drop indecent dressing without a
consideration for Christian virtue is meaningless. PLEASE MAKE UP YOUR MIND!
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