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TYPES OF CLOTHING
There two types of clothing which the Bible discusses. They are (1) the attire
of a harlot, and (2) modest clothing. Harlots knew how to dress in such a
fashion that they were recognized, according to Proverbs 7:10. Read Genesis
38. Tamar knew exactly when she was ready to do what she did. She put off the
clothing she was wearing and put on other clothing which advertised her as
being something completely different. She was quite aware of that and
everybody else was also.
We may as well wake up and be aware of these things in the time in which we
live. There is one question I have never been able to answer for myself: “How
would one recognize a harlot today?” We have lived to see the day when such
people have become the fashion setters of our time! Mini-clothing, which has
been accepted by so many, has been described as being symbolic of those who
want to seduce another—which is what harlotry really is. And may I point out
that the one who described mini-skirts in this way is the lady who created
them, Mary Quant. Your outward appearance projects YOU tremendously!
Maybe you are saying, “Why all this emphasis on the woman instead of the man
when speaking about modesty?” The best answer I know to that is... God put it
there! I am not saying that men and boys are not to be modest. I would like to
highly suggest, as I have already mentioned concerning swimsuits, that a boy
or man going about shirtless or with skin-tight clothes is not doing anything
to enhance his Christian image, I guarantee you! Such a person needs to keep
in mind that in the garden of Eden, though they were clothed about the
mid-section, God said they were naked. Please don’t forget that. God knew the
physical and mental make-up of man and woman, and so far as modest dress is
concerned, God placed the greater responsibility with the woman to control the
situation. He knew what He was doing!
CLOTHING AND SEX IDENTIFICATION
We have already noted the connection between clothing and modesty, but there
is connection between clothing and sex identification. When a child is small
we dress him in such a way that he begins to take upon himself an identity.
Clothing for protection, utility, status and ornamentation...“adorning” are
the main ideas in every race and culture I considered. But there is one other
big one and that is sex identification. It helps a child identify his sex. A
little boy dresses like his daddy, not just so he can look like his daddy, but
so he can immerse himself in daddy’s masculine world and activities. So it is
with the little girl. She is dressed in a dress as a little girl and is
brought up in a feminine world where she can be immersed in the world and
activities of her mother. This brings distinction between the sexes. One of
the most deeply ingrained codes in the various groups and cultures I studied
was for a boy to understand he is a boy and a girl to understand she is a girl
and for them to play–and dress–those roles. That was something insisted upon.
There is a thing called “transvestism” and for lack of a better term I will
use it. It just simply means “trans-vest”—one sex wears the clothing of the
other sex. This was strictly taboo in every culture I considered. There were
some distinct feelings and laws against the male dressing as the female and
the female dressing as the male. There are such laws in this country although
they are not strictly enforced, which is quite evident. I do understand,
however, that men are still arrested in various places for dressing themselves
like women. Laws and civil codes insist transvestism is wrong. Let me give you
the reason. They said it was to preserve moral and political and social order.
However, the main reason these things were at one time written into the laws
of various states is that transvestism increases homosexuality in both men and
woman. They made it into law because they saw the problem and knew they had
better deal with it.
THINGS WRITTEN AFORETIME — DEUTERONOMY 22:5
Things “written aforetime were written for our learning and our admonition,”
Romans 15:4; 1 Corinthians 10:11. In Deuteronomy 22:5, Amplified Version, “The
woman shall not wear that which pertains to a man neither shall a man put on a
woman’s garment for all that do so are an abomination to the Lord your God.”
The Revised Standard Version, “A woman shall not wear anything that pertains
to a man nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment for whoever does these
things is an abomination to the Lord your God.” I pointed out the fact that
there was a similarity in clothing. I hasten also to point out to you the fact
that there was something that was exclusively a woman’s clothing and something
that was exclusively a man’s clothing, and God said they shall not interchange
those things. In other words, God said, “I want you to be able to visibly tell
the male from the female. We should appear to be the sex we are by the way we
DRESS.
You talk about a strong prohibition...He handed one down to Israel! “The woman
shall not wear that which pertains to the man, neither shall a man put on a
woman’s garment for all that do so are an ABOMINATION TO THE LORD YOUR GOD.”
Why such a strong prohibition? I think it is based upon an ancient principle
of separation that God has required of His people in every age of time. Israel
was not to be like those around them, and their daily activities were to
constantly remind them that they were not the same as other people. There was
to be no unisex situation. There was to be no exchanging of garments. It was a
strike at transvestism, and again may I repeat, every authority I considered
still said the strike was against homosexuality. Homosexuality is sin. Even
though it may exist in this day and an attempt has been made to elevate that
practice to a degree of respectability, it is sin in God’s sight. To wear the
clothing of the opposite sex labels one and places a stigma upon him that God
said He doesn’t want His people to have.
By donning certain apparel, a woman may appear as an Amazon – “a tall, strong,
masculine woman,” (Webster’s Dictionary). And a man may don certain apparel
which makes him appear effeminate. Effeminate means, “soft, soft touch, as
used of raiment.” Notice what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:9, “Know ye not
that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived
...” (and I want you to listen to the company this is found in), “neither
fornicators, nor idolater, nor abusers of themselves with mankind (homosexual
offenders, NIV), shall inherit the kingdom of God.” God absolutely insists we
not practice or allow such.
Let me point out to you that in Deut. 22:5, this matter of exchanging clothing
was an ABOMINATION in God’s sight. The word abomination simply means “an
object of great disgust.” I can think of a lot of words, but when I say I am
disgusted, that is pretty strong. God said He is disgusted with that kind of
thing. It is highly detestable in God’s sight. He promises that those who work
ABOMINATION shall be forbidden entrance into the Holy City.
I realize what I quoted to you from Deuteronomy 22 is in the Old Testament.
But I want to raise this one question: As we progress from the Patriarchal to
the Mosaic to the Christian age, has God ever lowered a standard? He has
raised many of them, but has God ever made something that was absolutely
disgusting and highly detestable in one age a matter of indifference in
another age? The answer is a strong, resounding “NO!” My conclusion would be
that men should be very much afraid of putting on a woman’s clothes. I don’t
mean just afraid of the laws of the land, I mean of God! I would also suspect
that a woman should be very much afraid of putting on a man’s clothes.
[For space we have decided to include just this much more of brother Wayne
McKamie’s study on Modesty. We hope to have more later, Lord willing. –R.N.
...This study
may be found in tract form. You may order copies of this and other tracts
from brother George A. Hogland, P. O. Box 1018, Lubbock, TX 79401].
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