"While the visions have reproved pride and imitating the
fashions of the world, they have also reproved those who
were careless in regard to their apparel and lacked cleanliness
of person and dress. Especially have I been shown that those
who profess present truth should have a special care to
appear before God upon the Sabbath in a manner which would
show that we respect the Creator who has sanctified and
placed special honors upon that day. All who have any
regard for the Sabbath should be cleanly in person, neat and
orderly in dress; for they are to appear before the jealous
God, who is offended at uncleanliness and disorder, and who
marks every token of disrespect. Some have thought it
wrong to wear anything upon their heads but a sunbonnet.
Such go to great extremes. It cannot be called pride to wear
a neat, plain straw or silk bonnet. Our faith, if carried out,
will lead us to be so plain in dress, and zealous of good
works, that we shall be marked as peculiar. But when we
lose taste for order and neatness in dress we virtually leave
the truth, for the truth never degrades, but elevates."-1T,p.276
"As we bear testimony against pride and following the
fashions of the world, we are met with excuses and
self-justification. Some urge the example of others. Such a sister
wears hoops; if it is wrong for me to wear them, it is wrong
for her. Children urge the example of other children, whose
parents are Sabbathkeepers. Brother A is a deacon of the
church. His children wear hoops, and why is it any worse
for me to wear them than it is for them? Those who by
their example furnish unconsecrated professors with
arguments against those who would be peculiar, are laying a
cause of stumbling in the way of the weak; they must render
an account to God for their example. I am often asked:
"What do you think of hoops?" I reply: I have given you
the light which has been given me. I was shown that hoops
are a shame, and that we should not give the least countenance
to a fashion carried to such ridiculous lengths."-1T,p.276
A hoop skirt or hoopskirt is a women's undergarment worn in various periods to hold the skirt extended into a fashionable shape. Its Tudor name was a 'farthingale'.-Wikipedia (I know,let's just use it,shall we?).
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| Examples of hoop skirts |
"He that framed us never designed that we should be
deformed with hoops, or anything to look like them. But God's
people have so long been led by the inventions and fashions
of the world that they are unwilling to move out independent
of them. When I study the Scriptures, I am alarmed for the
Israel of God in these last days. They are exhorted to flee
from idolatry. I fear that they are asleep and so conformed
to the world that it would be difficult to discern between
him that serveth God and him that serveth Him not. The
distance is widening between Christ and His people, and
lessening between them and the world. The marks of distinction
between Christ's professed people and the world have
almost disappeared. Like ancient Israel, they follow after
the abominations of the nations around them."(emphasis mine)-1T,p.277
"
May the Lord deliver His people from this grievous sin!
God will not pity those who will be slaves to fashion. But
supposing there is some little convenience in wearing hoops,
does this prove that it is right to wear them? Let the fashion
change, and convenience would no longer be mentioned. It
is the duty of every child of God to inquire: "Wherein am
I separate from the world?" Let us suffer a little inconvenience,
and be on the safe side. What crosses do God's people
bear? They mingle with the world, partake of their spirit,
dress, talk, and act like them."-p.278
Read 1 Timothy 2:9, 10: "In like manner also, that
women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with
shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or
pearls, or costly array; but (which becometh women
professing Godliness) with good works." Also 1 Peter 3:3-5:
"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.
For after this manner in the old time the holy women also,
who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection
unto their own husbands."
- We are counseled to dress modestly,with shamefacedness and sobriety-because these represent women professing godliness.How I dress as godly woman must differ from a woman who does know Christ.
- We learn that modesty is an expression of that which is inward(hidden man of the heart),characterized by a meek and quiet spirit-which is not corruptible
- Compared to broided hair,gold,pearly and outward adorning-these are all incorruptible
- So,in essence this text calls us to conversion-uprooting of evil within,so that when the heart is full of the fruit of the spirit-meekness being one of the fruit
- Then,not only will the inward and the outward go hand in hand,this will extend to our works-good works
- To God,meekness and a quiet spirit is of great price.So if we value God's opinion more than the world's,we need not the fashions of this world to dictate how we should dress
- Also,the question comes to mind:as young woman,who do we look up to?If we claim the likes of Ruth,Esther,and many more women who feared God,we learn that they dressed modestly.Wouldn't we rather follow those who trusted God-than those who have no knowledge of the God we clain to serve?
- Lastly,how we dress,to a great extent,is a reflection of what we delight in:If we delight in spending hours checking the newest fashion,we will gradually reflect that by what we choose to wear
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