LOOK INTO THE MIRROR - Niki Lott
We wake up in the morning and one of the first things we do is get dressed. I would guess
that all of us look in the mirror after we get dressed to make sure everything is in order. My
challenge today is that we look into the mirror before we get dressed - not the one hanging
on our wall, but the one we can hold in our hands – the Word of God. James 1 tells us that
God’s Word is like a mirror. It will show us exactly what we need, but it only helps us if we
actually do what it says. (Jas. 1:21-25)
Does God really care what we wear? According to His Word, He does. And while He may
not spell out individual articles of clothing, He gives us clear principles that we can apply
when choosing what we are going to put on our bodies. The styles and fashions of this
world change constantly, but we serve a faithful and unchanging God. His principles are
steadfast and true through all generations. We dare not use our culture or even our
conscience as the standard of comparison. We must allow God’s Word to be our guide.
I ask you to consider four basic principles about clothing from the Word of God. As you do,
do not glance into the mirror of the world. They will seek to conform you to their image.
Do not even gaze into the mirror of other Christians around you. While they may (or may
not) be good examples, they are not to be our standard (II Cor. 10:12; I Cor. 2:12-16). We are
not commanded to conform to the image of other believers. People change. People fail.
God does not.
Open your Bible and look into the mirror of the Word of God. It will instruct you. It may
correct and reprove you. If you obey it, it will ultimately transform your mind and conform
you to the image of Christ. (Rom. 8:29; 12:1-3; I Pet. 1:14-16)
So, what are the basic principles for clothing that God’s Word gives?
1. Design
God is the designer of our bodies and the first designer of clothing. Fashion
designers may have many different ideas and motivations for their designs, but God
does not. Once sin entered the world, He created clothing to cover nakedness, and
that design has not changed. (Gen. 3:7-10, 21) From Adam and Eve in the Garden of
Eden, to the demoniac of Gadara, and Peter gone fishing, we find that when people
who were naked encountered God, they immediately tried to cover themselves.
We must look to the Word of God (not the world) to properly define nakedness. The
Bible teaches that nakedness is uncovering, revealing, or exposing that which
should be covered or hidden (Isa. 47:1-3; Ex. 20:26; 28:42; Rev. 3:18). This
specifically deals with the private, sexual areas of the body, and that which is to only
be uncovered in marriage. Covering nakedness does not mean concealing the “bare
minimum” – that is what the fig leaf aprons of Adam and Eve did. We need to be sure
we are covered in a way that pleases and honors God. This includes being careful of
how things fit, where things hit, the way we walk and sit, and so much more.
Outside of marriage, nakedness in Scripture is associated with shame. We live in a
wicked, confused world that says that if we teach women to cover their bodies
appropriately, we are teaching “body shaming,” but that is not true. Scripture
teaches us that our bodies are sacred, and that revealing our bodies is shameful.
Dressing modestly is not body shaming; nakedness is.
Look into the mirror of God’s Word. Does your clothing cover you sufficiently?
2. Distinction
Not only does God teach us that clothing is designed to cover us, but it is also to
characterize us. God designed and desires women to be clearly different from men
in our appearance and our actions. He tells us that nature teaches us that men and
women should have distinctions in the length of their hair. He also teaches in
Deuteronomy 22:5 that His people were to have clear distinctions in their clothing,
and that men and women were not to put on one another’s garments. While this
commandment was under the law, the principle of distinction between male and
female, as well as between God’s people and the world’s culture, continues in the
New Testament. Men are not to be “effeminate,” (this includes both their clothing
and appearance, as well as immoral behavior), and women should not be
masculine. (I Cor. 6:9; 11:4-5)
In our current culture, we are seeing increased blurring and confusion of gender
differences, and an outright assault on God’s creation of male and female, of
marriage, and morality. Consider carefully – when immoral people want to “cross
dress,” what do they wear? What do men wear and do when they want to look
effeminate? What do women wear and do when they want to be masculine?
Generally, they adopt the defining hair and clothing of the opposite gender. These
are the two areas God specifically addresses. As godly women, we need to be
careful that we are never blurring God’s clear lines between male and female. God’s
plan for distinction in our appearance has not changed.
We are also taught that women who profess godliness are to be distinct in the way
that we adorn ourselves - not only from men, but from the world. Everything that we
do with our bodies should honor the holiness of our God. Never forget – being
different from the world does not make you like Christ, but being like Christ will
make you different from the world.
Look into the mirror of God’s Word: Is your clothing clearly feminine? Does it
reflect the likeness of Christ or the world?
3. Discretion (Tit. 2:2-5; I Tim. 2:9-10; I Pet. 3:1-4)
Femininity alone is not always sufficient for my clothing to be honoring to God. The
“strange woman” of Proverbs 7 was clearly using her feminine attire and appearance
to seduce the men around her. We are told that godly women are to learn “to be
sober...discreet, chaste...good...,” and to adorn themselves “in modest apparel, with
shamefacedness, and sobriety...” (Tit. 2:4-5; I Tim. 2:9). Our femininity should be
fashioned according to these qualities. This is so that “the Word of God be not
blasphemed.” (Tit. 2:5) The way we live, including how we adorn ourselves, is a
serious thing to God.
Discretion discerns wisely between good and evil, between what is unholy and
profane (Ezek. 44:23). Chastity does willingly what is good, pure, right, and holy.
Modesty is the inward attitude and outward expression of a woman who is
virtuous, sober-minded, discreet, and chaste. Our primary “adornment” – what
we put on – is to be inward. We are to be adorned with a meek and quiet spirit. (I Pet.
3:4) We are to be clothed with humility. (I Pet. 5:5) We are to be clothed with strength
and honor. (Pro. 31:25) Modesty begins in the heart, but it never ends there.
When we possess these inward qualities, then outwardly, we are going to be more
concerned about doing good for Christ, than we are about looking good for others. (I
Tim. 2:10; 5:10; Pro. 31:10, 12, 29, 31) Beauty is not inherently sinful, but the favor
(or popularity) we often hope to gain from it is deceitful, and beauty is vain. (Pro.
31:30) This means it has little purpose or value. Living a life that fears God and is
filled with virtue is worthy of praise.
“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.” (I Tim.
2:9-10)
Modesty is a humble and holy view of self that is based on our view of God. It makes
much of God and little of me. It is seen by God in our hearts, and it is evident to
others through our appearance, our attitudes, and our actions.
Inwardly and outwardly, everything in a godly woman’s life should be able to be
characterized as modest, discreet, and chaste.
Look into God’s mirror: Does your clothing reflect a discreet mind and a chaste
life? Would God say that your heart is modest? How about your clothing? Your
makeup? Your hairstyle? Your jewelry? Your countenance (especially toward
men)? Your conversation? Are your clothes “becoming,” not just to your face or
figure, but appropriate for a woman who professes to be holy and godly?
4. Devotion
The final principle of clothing is vitally important. We should seek to dress in a way
that shows devotion to Christ, and that shows the love of Christ to others.
Charity “doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own...” (I Cor. 13:5)
Unseemly means “inappropriately; not in good form or taste; not suitable for time or
place.”Charity – godly love - seeks to be appropriate (discreet, becoming), and
unselfish. In other words, when applied to my dress, I do not dress just to please
myself. I choose the way I dress based on those I love.
First, I want to show my love for the Lord more than anything else. The way I dress (or
do not dress) is just one aspect of that. Many will say it does not matter at all, but if
my body is His temple, then what I put on it matters to Him. We should want to
honor and glorify Him in the way that we dress.
Second, we should show love for our spouse. Before I was married, I wanted to save
my body for my husband. Now that I am married, I still want to save my body for my
husband. Ladies, we should not display our bodies for the pleasure of any man
besides our husbands. If your goal is to look “hot” for anyone besides your spouse,
something needs to change.
Finally, we can show charity for those around us. We show Christ’s love for our
brothers in Christ by being discreet in the way we dress and behave around them.
Let me be clear: if a man lusts, he is responsible for his sin. But if I am dressing or
behaving in a way that provokes that lust, I am equally responsible for my sin. If you
are unsure about his, read Proverbs 7 carefully and see where God places
responsibility. The young man is responsible for being foolish, not listening to his
father, not avoiding the wrong places. The strange woman is responsible for being
seductive and deceptive, and God pays attention to specifics about her attire, her
attitude, her words, and her actions. We will give an account of ourselves to God.
We show love for our sisters in Christ by setting a godly example for them, and by
not tempting their sons, fathers, brothers, and husbands to sin. We show love for
the world by living a life of good works and by being a sweet and godly example of
Christ to them.
Look into the mirror of God’s Word: Does the way you choose to dress reflect a
love for yourself or a love for Christ? Does your clothing and demeanor reflect
the love of Christ to those you encounter?
Some concluding thoughts:
Why do you dress the way you do? Is it because it is what you have always done? Is it
to be comfortable? Is it to fit in and be accepted? Is it to be considered attractive? Is
it to please Christ? Is it because someone you are following has changed and you do
not want to be left behind? Does the “reproach” that comes with holy living tempt
you to conform to the world? Who and what are you allowing to influence your
decisions?
I encourage you to look into God’s mirror. This is a brief study of this topic. God’s
Word is filled with truth to guide us. Open your Bible. Open your heart and mind to
the Lord. Then, open your closet, your dresser, and your wardrobe. Ask the Holy
Spirit to go through it, and to show you anything that would not please Him. Dress to
please the Lord Jesus Christ. He is your Savior. He is your King. He is worthy.