As I stated in the section (What about tattoos and piercings) my hope is that people will talk to you and have a great impression of you and five minutes later not be able to recall what you were wearing or what your hairstyle was or what kind of car you were driving. Their impression of YOU should stem from what you are inside as a man or woman of God then any external accessories or embellishments.
I believe that ‘proper Christian’ dress should be whatever is basically ordinary in our society. It shouldn’t be the worst clothing because that would cause people to remember us primarily for our clothing. It shouldn’t be the latest ‘cool’ fashion for the same reason.
If I am in Tokyo, a simple business suit is just the way people dress. It is not up or down from just ordinary. This is the way I choose a car, or a house as well. We should not desire to stand out or draw attention to ourselves based on ANY outward appearances or material possessions. If we would spend as much time working on our hearts before the Lord as we do in front of the mirror, we would be a lot better off and happier too.
I do want add one more point though, especially for the sisters. In general, men are much more visually stimulated sexually than women. Be aware that in the church, it is lot just appropriate but it is also helpful to dress in a manner that does not put an extra stumbling block in front of the guys who are trying to be holy. There are plenty of those around as it is. I would like to think church could be a safe oasis in that regard.
I am NOT saying girls should run around in veils and burkas. We do not want to become like Iran. Their approach is to cover when up and take away the potential for men to look at them with lust. They put all their effort in taking away the potential for temptation rather than teaching the men how to walk above temptation. The true work of the gospel is to actually change the heart and not just have the right outward conduct.
Jesus works on the heart by saying to men, “If you even look at a woman with lust in your heart you have already committed adultery in your heart’. The emphasis is clearly on the MAN learning self-control and how to walk in the spirit and not in the flesh. That said however, men do not need additional stumbling blocks in their path by having sisters dress in ways that intentionally focus attention on their anatomy either. I do believe that a woman could walk down the street totally naked and the Lord would still expect the man to divert his eyes and not do a double take. (The first look is not your fault- the second one is.) But if you wear that low cut thing to church and bend over where the brother gets a good look down the front of your outfit, he is going to be fighting his flesh for an hour and just might not get as much out of the sermon! You dress decently and modestly and the guys are responsible for the rest. Keep your tight fitting jeans and cleavage at home.
While the issue is not quite as pronounced the other direction the guys also need to be aware that they too can stumble women in a similar fashion. I think most people are aware when they are crossing the line. The Lord is faithful to put that little nudge in your spirit if it will not be quite right. Just be aware and cooperate with the Lord if he asks you to choose something else. That goes for the girls and the guys equally.
