Balanced & Beautiful
Dressing for the Glory of God
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WHAT’S APPROPRIATE?
by Laurel Damsteegt, Part 10
Sometimes we get the idea
that simplicity is tackiness, but nothing could be farther from
the truth. “Christians should not take pains to make
themselves a gazing stock by dressing differently from the
world.”1
Solomon said it this way: “To every thing there is a season,
and a time to every purpose under heaven.”2 You couldn’t
find a better definition of appropriateness. What we wear while
working in the garden would be totally inappropriate at church
or a business meeting. What is just right for the dead of winter
would certainly not be sensible in the sweltering heat of
summer. Our garments while flying down the road on a bicycle
would probably not be what we would wear to a dinner party.
Appropriateness combines common sense with all the other
principles of dress, to make a balanced picture. It keeps us
from such extremes in dress that simple grace and beauty are
lost.
The cultures of different countries play an important part in
deciding what is appropriate dress. In Middle Eastern countries,
where women are still largely covered except for the eyes, a
western woman or girl would need to take extra care to dress
modestly and respectfully. In some countries of Europe, people
dress so elegantly that a sloppy American, in T-shirt and jeans,
becomes almost a laughingstock. Dressing appropriately means
dressing with good judgment.
What is appropriate for men is not always right for women, even
if common culture allows it. Today the unisex look is trendy,
but as Christians we need to make certain that there is clear
distinction in our clothing. Scripture teaches us to respect the
distinctions between men and women.3 These distinctions are
important if we are to understand who we are and the role God
wants us to fulfill.
“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. ‘In like manner also, that women
adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and
sobriety’ (1 Timothy 2:9). . . . God designed that there
should be a plain distinction between the dress of men and
women, 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.”4
Christian clothing should be not only appropriate but also
pleasant to look at. We should not deliberately dress in an ugly
way so that people are disgusted when they see us. This would
detract from God, also! No one should ever be able to say, “I
would sure hate to be a Christian! Look at what hideous clothes
their God makes them wear!” Instead, “In dress, as in all
things else, it is our privilege to honor our Creator. He
desires our clothing to be not only neat and healthful, but
appropriate and becoming.”5
God loves the beautiful. If He didn’t, He would not have
filled this world with such a variety of beautiful colors. True
beauty in clothing starts with style rather than fashion.
Fashion comes and goes, but style remains. Fashion is exciting,
transient, and faddish; style is poised, lasting, and
consistent. Good design is ageless. In fact, fashion is almost
synonymous with temporary. If fashion designers created timeless
styles, they would soon work themselves out of their high-paying
careers!
On the other hand, clothes with true style do not easily become
outdated. Like quality works of art, they say something and have
a purpose. In fact, many classic styles have been appropriate
for years and will never go out of fashion.
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1. Ellen White, Child Guidance, page 414.
2. Ecclesiastes 3:1.
3. Deuteronomy 22:5.
4. White, op. cit., page 427.
5. Ibid., page 413.
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