Few days ago, I raised the topic of appropriate adornment for a follower of Jesus Christ, mainly for women.

I wrote on this page and discussed the topic on a video clip that I uploaded on the Appeal for Purity YouTube channel and I heard from many of you who have commented on that.

Well, I don’t have anything more to say about that message than I’ve already said.

(But let me say this: Some people said, “Men too! Men have to wear appropriately.” I mean, let’s be honest. Do we women care if a man comes to church half naked, waist up or waist down? Do we? Let me leave that question to you and move to the next point.)

Okay, so today, I want to tackle that same topic from a different angle.

Paul writes: “I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” (1 Timothy 2:9-10)

What catches my attention from the above passage is this:

“appropriate for women who profess to worship God” – this is written for a specific group of women, not to ALL women who come to church.

Peter writes: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” (1 Peter 3:3-4)

“which is of great worth in God’s sight” – Do you see it? Peter is writing to women who are striving to live a life that is worthy before the eyes of God. Again, to a specific group of women!

That means, we cannot try to make these verses applicable to all women.

However, we who profess to worship God and live for God’s glory would love to hear this because we always strive to know ways to make our lives worthy before God. That means, we are responsible to follow the rules and regulations or traditions of the church and listen to the elders/leaders of the church we give ourselves to.

Being a Christian (born-again Christian) is one thing, giving ourselves to serve in the kingdom of God is a totally different thing. We who give ourselves to serve others are held in a high standard and we cannot hold EVERYBODY to that same standard.

After all, the Kingdom of God “is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish.” (Matthew 13:47) – all kinds of fish.

Let all kinds of fish come to church with all kinds of fashion, hairdos, styles and mannerism. If our teaching and doctrine that we give to all those fish is according to the word of God, those fish will soon change, follow suit (as they see it from us) and sign up to serve others. When they do that, the church will mentor them, teach them how to present themselves in a way that is appropriate to their confession. Then they will be held to the same standard that all ministers of the kingdom of God are held to.

So, what comes first?

Change of life, not code of conduct or rules that govern outside adornment. ///