Undressing the Secrets of Clothing
Can you relate to being in an embarrassing situation when some article of your clothing malfunctioned? And to make matters worse, maybe you were not the first person to discover that you were exposed. Maybe you have heard about the woman who was speaking at a meeting; her hurried trip to the restroom just before she took the platform resulted in her accidentally tucking the bottom of her skirt in the back of her panty hose waist band. I can only imagine how mortified she was to make that discovery in front of a large group of people. Being exposed can be miserable and terribly embarrassing. Clothing and issues about our own privacy or exposure are related; but how?
How did this whole idea of wearing clothes get started anyway? If you remember Adam and Eve did not wear clothes in the Garden of Eden at creation. The Scripture says “The man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” (Gen. 2:25) So what happened? The serpent promised that if Eve would eat a certain fruit that God had declared “off limits” that she “would be like God, knowing good from evil.”(Gen. 3:5) As you know, Eve did finally eat of the fruit as did Adam and her eyes were opened, and what she discovered brought horror. The new knowledge of good and evil spoiled the innocence and purity of the couple’s relationship with God. They were miserable and embarrassed, ran for cover, sewed fig leaves together, and covered their bodies to try to hide their shame. When God found them cowering in the garden, running from sweet fellowship with Him, He explained the consequences of their sin of trying to be God. They would never be innocent in their naked state again. See Genesis 3 for the whole story.
Mary Kassian writes in GGW “Pre-Fall nakedness symbolized the purity and innocence of humans before God. Post-Fall nakedness symbolizes the inability of humans to make themselves presentable before Him. God did what Adam and Eve were unable to do. He covered them and made them presentable.” p.99 So it’s beginning to make sense; in Genesis 3:21, we see God clothing Adam and Eve in animal skins. God’s provision is profound because it cost the life of an animal and the shedding of blood. This is a window into the future when God would allow His Son’s blood to be shed to cover the sin of His people. So those first “clothes” were a beautiful provision given by God to cover the shame and brokenness of man. They are symbolic of God’s mercy and protection for the need of man that he or she is unable to provide to cover sin. The deep need of forgiveness and being made acceptable can only be met by God.
In the contrast of the Proverbs 7 woman, the writer is telling his son to beware of a woman who is “dressed like a prostitute” (Proverbs 7:10) Mary says that it might be hard for us to tell who this woman is if she showed at a game today because her clothing might not be very different from the other lady fans. Girls who are exposing their skin in shorter and lower cut fashions are using the intimate areas of their bodies to entice attention. Mary’s observation about the Proverbs 7 woman is that she is NOT a prostitute, she just dresses to hook men for what she wants from them. Now that statement brings this whole idea to a critical point for us. God gave clothing to cover, if we are uncovering ourselves to get something we want, the motive might not be so far from the wild woman in Proverbs 7. Exposing our bodies then becomes rebellious, as Mary instructs, this is a means of saying “no” to God’s provision and flaunting what He has said needs to be covered. Clothing is symbolic of our new dignity and forgiveness provided at a great cost by Jesus. There is a lovely freedom in receiving God's gift with humility and gratitude. See Revelation 3:18.
God desires that His girls be lovely; after all He created beauty. The hard part is to keep the focus on Him so that we will be balanced in how we present ourselves. It does not mean you can’t wear pretty or fashionable clothing, but it does mean you need to check out your motives in the clothing you choose. In 1 Timothy 2:9, some advice is given about godly women and their attire. “Women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control.” Mary says these three thoughts cut straight the path we need to pursue in the way we dress.
1. Respectable: Is it becoming or unbecoming? Does it fit with who you are as a believer?
2. Modest: Is it decent or indecent? Does the clothing you are wearing grant you proper dignity?
3. Self-Controlled: Is it moderate or excessive? Does your clothing have to be over the top in quality, or name brand or the trendiest fashion? Are you trying to draw attention to yourself sexually or ‘rocking some bling’ to prove your worth?
Read 1 Peter 3:4 What part of you does God want you adorn or decorate most?How did this whole idea of wearing clothes get started anyway? If you remember Adam and Eve did not wear clothes in the Garden of Eden at creation. The Scripture says “The man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed.” (Gen. 2:25) So what happened? The serpent promised that if Eve would eat a certain fruit that God had declared “off limits” that she “would be like God, knowing good from evil.”(Gen. 3:5) As you know, Eve did finally eat of the fruit as did Adam and her eyes were opened, and what she discovered brought horror. The new knowledge of good and evil spoiled the innocence and purity of the couple’s relationship with God. They were miserable and embarrassed, ran for cover, sewed fig leaves together, and covered their bodies to try to hide their shame. When God found them cowering in the garden, running from sweet fellowship with Him, He explained the consequences of their sin of trying to be God. They would never be innocent in their naked state again. See Genesis 3 for the whole story.
Mary Kassian writes in GGW “Pre-Fall nakedness symbolized the purity and innocence of humans before God. Post-Fall nakedness symbolizes the inability of humans to make themselves presentable before Him. God did what Adam and Eve were unable to do. He covered them and made them presentable.” p.99 So it’s beginning to make sense; in Genesis 3:21, we see God clothing Adam and Eve in animal skins. God’s provision is profound because it cost the life of an animal and the shedding of blood. This is a window into the future when God would allow His Son’s blood to be shed to cover the sin of His people. So those first “clothes” were a beautiful provision given by God to cover the shame and brokenness of man. They are symbolic of God’s mercy and protection for the need of man that he or she is unable to provide to cover sin. The deep need of forgiveness and being made acceptable can only be met by God.
In the contrast of the Proverbs 7 woman, the writer is telling his son to beware of a woman who is “dressed like a prostitute” (Proverbs 7:10) Mary says that it might be hard for us to tell who this woman is if she showed at a game today because her clothing might not be very different from the other lady fans. Girls who are exposing their skin in shorter and lower cut fashions are using the intimate areas of their bodies to entice attention. Mary’s observation about the Proverbs 7 woman is that she is NOT a prostitute, she just dresses to hook men for what she wants from them. Now that statement brings this whole idea to a critical point for us. God gave clothing to cover, if we are uncovering ourselves to get something we want, the motive might not be so far from the wild woman in Proverbs 7. Exposing our bodies then becomes rebellious, as Mary instructs, this is a means of saying “no” to God’s provision and flaunting what He has said needs to be covered. Clothing is symbolic of our new dignity and forgiveness provided at a great cost by Jesus. There is a lovely freedom in receiving God's gift with humility and gratitude. See Revelation 3:18.
God desires that His girls be lovely; after all He created beauty. The hard part is to keep the focus on Him so that we will be balanced in how we present ourselves. It does not mean you can’t wear pretty or fashionable clothing, but it does mean you need to check out your motives in the clothing you choose. In 1 Timothy 2:9, some advice is given about godly women and their attire. “Women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control.” Mary says these three thoughts cut straight the path we need to pursue in the way we dress.
1. Respectable: Is it becoming or unbecoming? Does it fit with who you are as a believer?
2. Modest: Is it decent or indecent? Does the clothing you are wearing grant you proper dignity?
3. Self-Controlled: Is it moderate or excessive? Does your clothing have to be over the top in quality, or name brand or the trendiest fashion? Are you trying to draw attention to yourself sexually or ‘rocking some bling’ to prove your worth?
Designer Insights
Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 If you really lived out what these verses say, how would it affect your clothing choices?
Read Luke 12:22-30 What is the attitude toward clothes that Jesus teaches His followers to pursue?
Ask the Lord Jesus to help you set guidelines for yourself in choosing your wardrobe to display yourself as a lovely woman of dignity and peace, filled with His love!
Read Luke 12:22-30 What is the attitude toward clothes that Jesus teaches His followers to pursue?
Ask the Lord Jesus to help you set guidelines for yourself in choosing your wardrobe to display yourself as a lovely woman of dignity and peace, filled with His love!
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