One of the
most controversial topics of discussion among Christians today is the issue of
dressing. Some ministers have shied away from the topic for fear of losing
members by offending them and others go to the other extreme of dictating what
someone should and should not wear to get a place in heaven. It is time for us
to study this subject from the standpoint of the Bible and not mere doctrines
of men. We shall discover that God has a lot to say concerning the way His
people should dress up and the Bible is the best guide to furnishing the
Christian's wardrobe.
THE FIRST CLOTHES
Our first
parents Adam and Eve apparently wore no clothes at the beginning and had no
problem with it. “And they were both
NAKED, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed” (Genesis 2:25) Form this scripture one might
assume that you could see their private parts as is commonly portrayed in
Biblical art. However before their fall Adam and Eve were clothed with God's
glory, the same light that surrounds God on His throne. They possessed this glory
because they were created in God's image and likeness, "For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast
crowned him with GLORY and honor” (Psalms 8:5). Since Adam and Eve were
surrounded by this shining light they were not really "naked" in the
true definition of the word. We see God having this light around Himself in
heaven and it is described as a light “which no man can approach unto”, in
other words it is a blinding light that shines all around the throne (1 Tim
6:16).
When Adam
and Eve sinned this glorious light that was covering them was withdrawn and
they discovered that they were naked, "And the eyes of them both were
opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together,
and made themselves aprons” (Genesis 3:7). Their response to realizing
their nakedness was making aprons or a row of fig leaves tied together along a
rope. This kind of clothing obviously was temporary and God came to their
rescue by making the first clothes, “Unto
Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and CLOTHED
THEM” (Genesis 3:21). God made for them each a long shirt-like garment from
animal sikins to use as their first lasting clothes. This shows that God was
concerned about them not showing their nakedness in public. He swiftly moved
into action when He saw that their glory had vanished and uncovered their
nakedness.
THE CLOTHING OF THE PRIESTS AND HIGH PRIEST
God was
very specific about the kind of clothing that was to worn by the Priests and
High Priest. He gave specific instructions to Moses in Exodus 28 of the
materials and style of the clothing of Aaron the High Priest and all other
priests concerning how they were to dress when ministering to Him. The main
reason why God gave such details is stated as, "And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory
and for beauty” (Exodus 28:2). Note that God said that these are holy
garments, meaning that there are garments which are not holy or not fitting.
God was so particular about the dressing of the Priesthood that he even warned
them that they would die if they came to minister without those specific
clothes.
Apart from
the general specifications about their outward clothes, God went ahead to
outline how their underclothes should be, "And
thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins
even unto the thighs they shall reach” (Exodus 28:42). The breeches or
shorts can be compared to the boxers or tights. This was the underwear of the
priests. God did not make a mistake in detailing this and His reason is shown
in this verse, “Neither shalt thou go up
by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon”
(Exodus 20:26). He did not want the nakedness of the priests to be seen since
this would put them to shame and make them an object of ridicule. The attention
of the people offering sacrifices would be drawn away from the work of God to
mocking the priest.
Another
interesting regulation is given in the book of Ezekiel concerning the dressing
of the priesthood in general. “They
shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon
their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth SWEAT”
(Ezekiel 44:18). God made it clear that he did not want them to wear anything
that would cause them to sweat. This would rule out any tight clothing commonly
referred to as tights or skin-fitting shirts or trousers.
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