Fashion and the Christian

•Why do people go after the latest in fashion?

•Can you rate someone’s character by looking at his external appearance?

• Is it desirable for a Christian to follow the fashion trends of the world?

• How can we honour God with our body?

Fashion is about our appearance in society. To a great extent it is exhibitionism. People are so conscious about what others think about them. The modern society looks at those in unrevealing attire as outdated and uncool.

Today’s generation rates one’s social status by his dress and his possessions. Their lifestyle is their fashion statement. Designer wear, which was the choice of the rich some years ago, has become common among the middle class today. People are rated fashionable or not by the brand of their apparels and accessories. Seemingly, women with lesser clothing are considered to be more fashionable these days. Your fashion is rated by the number of holes on your jeans and where all those are positioned. It’s all a “show” business. The more you reveal the more fashionable you are in ‘high society’.

Clothing is for our comfort and convenience. It also has some bearing on the geographical, cultural and climatic conditions. Fashion in itself is not wrong if it is modest and within the limits of decency. But fashion pageants are off the limits since women are not meant to be objects of display.

Partying is an essential element in the modern lifestyle. Party is no party without drinking a bit and shaking a leg. However, there’s lot of vulgarity in the name of fashion today. Now people walk around in what used to be inner wear till a few years ago. They have colourful tattoos to exhibit. Those who are less beautiful get tattooed all over and dress scantly to display the art. Many Christians too follow the world in these matters. Unfortunately, some Christian parents, instead of correcting their children, take pride in them when they adopt this lifestyle. They bring their fashion to the church too and distract others seated around them. But when is it excess and where shall we draw the line? What is the Biblical view on these?

Christians are advised not to follow the world because they are a special people set apart by God for His purposes. A Christian should not follow the crowd but obey the Word of God.

“Don’t copy the behaviour and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2 NLT)

“But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Pet. 2:9 NLT)

A Christian’s body is the Temple of the Holy Spirit and it is his/her awesome responsibility to keep it holy.

“Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God
and that the Spirit of God lives in you? God will destroy anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.” (1Cor.3:16, 17 NLT)

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honour God with your body.” (1Cor.6:19, 20 NLT)

Jesus redeemed us with his precious blood and purchased us to be his own. This means we are not our own anymore. He saved us with the specific purpose of displaying the goodness of our God to the world around. We are called to be the light in darkness. We must live to glorify our God. Both Apostles Paul and Peter instructed Christians to be modest in their lifestyle.

“And I want women to be modest in their appearance. They should wear decent and appropriate clothing and not draw attention to themselves by the way they fix their hair or by wearing gold or pearls or expensive clothes. For women who claim to be devoted to God should make themselves attractive by the good things they do.” (1Timothy 2:9-10 NLT)

“Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewellery, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.” (1Pet. 3:3-4 NLT)

Modesty is what should guide a Christian in these matters. It is better to avoid explicit displays that grab attention. If you are a Christian who is modest in your appearance and social behaviour, you are honouring God. Obedience without arguments pleases our God.

Our Identity

One of the major issues among the younger generation is identity crisis. Hence they succumb to peer pressure, inferiority complex, dare devilry, idolizing and imitating their heroes, etc. They try to be like somebody else and never want to be themselves. They struggle to create a fake identity instead of realizing their own. This is because they have not understood their unique identity and their God-given potential.

Countries can issue unique identification numbers to its citizens because God has made each individual unique. No two individuals are identical, not even the so called identical twins. God has made you for a specific role in this world which no one else can play. You cannot be somebody else either.

This becomes more significant to a Christian in the context of the family of God. Apostle Paul elaborates this with the analogy of the body.

Yes, the body has many different parts, not just one part. If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything? (1Cor.12:14-17 NLT)

You are precious to God because He sacrificed His Son Jesus to save you. You are forgiven and God has declared you righteous because you placed your trust in Jesus. You will not be judged for your sins anymore. You have been adopted as a child of God and by this you are made an heir of God’s riches. The Holy Spirit of God is living in you as your companion, guide, comforter and all the more as the guarantee of your eternal salvation. You are the apple of His eye. If you belong to Him you have His backing.