Page 27 - No Apologies

Kristin has on occasions asked me for counsel concerning clothing. One thing that is
popular among young women today are t-shirts that have some image or message written
right across the breast area. I have advised my daughter to be aware of the subtlety of Satan
in such fashions. Even if the message or image is innocent, it draws the eyes to the breasts
of a woman. Men don’t need much encouragement in this area. A young girl, or woman is
doing her brothers in Christ a disservice if she is by her dress and appearance causing them
to have thoughts of a sexual nature stirred up inside them.
Kristin has many Mennonite friends, and they too dress modestly, and eschew jewelry,
and elaborate hairdos. I cannot remember seeing any of them with their nails polished, or
cosmetics on their faces, yet they glow with a different type of beauty. They have the beauty
of purity and innocence.
There are a few denominations and groups like the Mennonites and Charity Churches
that have chosen to array themselves in a manner that is altogether distinct from the
sensual fashions of this world. Some refer to themselves as “plain people.” Such a
description is offensive to the woman who wants to appear worldly in order to have the
admiration and respect of the world. To be “plain” is to be humble. Jezebel is not humble,
but the woman whom God favors is.
I have had a fair amount of interaction with some of the women and young girls in
these churches. One thing that has impressed me is that the beauty of the inner life is much
more readily evident in these ones than in women from churches that dress according to the
fashions of the world. I see a greater honor in the homes. The children are respectful and
courteous. The women submit themselves to their husbands, and they are renowned for
their good works.
Although there are exceptions, I have noted a contrast among those Christian women
who dress in worldly fashions. The women are much more likely to be outspoken, to seek
equality with their husbands. Rather than being keepers at home, they are often career
women, and many are addicted to shopping and entertainment instead of being devoted to
good works.
In effect, the women who focus on adorning the outside of the cup are more selfishly
minded. Those women who have adopted plain attire while pursuing an inner beauty are
more likely to exhibit a selfless attitude, focused on serving others.
The apostle Peter, while contrasting the carnal and the spiritual woman, declared that
the beauty of the spiritual woman is “imperishable.” No matter how much success a woman
has in making herself outwardly attractive and desirable, she will soon find her beauty
fading. The glow and vitality of a youthful body soon loses its luster. In contrast, the woman
who has beauty of spirit finds that her attractiveness never grows old.
Surely my words and counsel on these things will strike many as alien. If so, then
perhaps I have conveyed some of the difference between the kingdom of God and the
kingdom of this world. Few ministers will speak forth these things today. Jezebel is
renowned for slaying prophets and righteous men. Those she cannot destroy, she will drive
into hiding.

I Kings 18:13
“Has it not been told to my master what I did when Jezebel killed the prophets of
Yahweh, that I hid a hundred prophets of Yahweh by fifties in a cave, and provided
them with bread and water?”