Truth Magazine

By John Smith

While on jury duty recently, I had the opportunity to gain some interesting and challenging insight into the attitude of the world toward immodest apparel. (As far as I was able to determine, none of my fellow jurors was a New Testament Christian.) Several times during the two-day trial a female bailiff came into the court bringing papers to the judge. While on break, one of the male jurors said that he was considering writing a note to the judge requesting that the bailiff change clothes. Her bright blue dress was such a distraction that he had trouble concentrating. The dress was a bit on the short side, but that was not the problem in this man’s mind. It was hard to tell whether she had used a shoehorn to put it on or if it had been spray painted on. Simply based on what she was wearing, he and other men on the jury referred to her as “Jezebel.” When one man saw a small cross hanging on a necklace, he suggested that her name be changed from Jezebel to Mary Magdalene.

On the second day of the trial, a female witness came into court wearing a short, tight shirt. Later during deliberations we were discussing her testimony. For some reason she was the only witness asked her occupation by the defense attorney. Discussing this, two male jurors laughed and said based on how she was dressed they expected her to say stripper or exotic dancer. 

You see, what you wear or don’t wear reflects on your character and profession of faith. It is sad and embarrassing when professing Christians fail to admit what those of the world readily acknowledge about modesty and character. In the parable of the unrighteous steward, Jesus noted that the children of this world are more shrewd than the sons of light (Luke 16:8).

Warm weather is upon us again and with the coming of warmer weather, clothes begin to shrink and disappear. The world follows rules given by the whim of society’s style and wishes. Little can be done at large for the world’s values but the Christian has a responsibility before his God. This responsibility is to present himself as an example of holiness. The pattern of holiness is not governed by the world but by the word of God. Can the Christian dress in any fashion and be pleasing to God? Certainly not! The Christian has a responsibility concerning what is done with the body and this includes the type of garment worn. God has bought us with the price of his Son and when we disregard his law and wear any kind of clothing we see fit, we fail to glorify him — thus we sin! No one who professes to be a Christian can dress like the world and find acceptance in the eyes of God.

It is not surprising that we find people in the world who dress immodestly and are unconcerned for their example and influence. If it is shameful for people of the world to wear immodest clothing, how much more shameful and inexcusable is it for Christians to do the same! People, not professing godliness, are unconcerned about how they influence others or reflect upon the cause of Christ. But those who profess to love the Lord and their fellow man must not make the same serious, soul-damning mistakes.

Fathers and husbands, God demands that you take the lead in your family and this includes exercising leadership regarding modesty. Any time I see a teenager dressed immodestly, my first thought is not one of condemnation for them (after all they are young, inexperienced, and lacking in wisdom). Rather, my first thought is one of shock that her father let her out of the house dressed like that or allowed such clothing to be purchased. Any time you see a young person or wife dressed immodestly, you know that somewhere there is likely to be a prodigal father or husband. Fathers and husbands, do you really want your daughter or wife to be the object of the lustful gazes of hormone-riddled men? Are you comfortable with the knowledge that you might stand in judgment watching your wife or daughter be condemned by our Lord because of her immodesty, knowing that you did nothing to stop it? In such a scenario, who will be next to hear those awful words, “Depart, I never knew you!”

If a randomly selected group of men on a jury can determine what is or is not modest and can understand the immoral impact of it, certainly those of us who are having our senses trained by the word of God to discern good and evil can do the same.

6215 Nolte St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46221 possum8@attglobal.net

By Weldon E. Warnock

In years past I have done a lot of fishing with artificial lures. They worked well in tricking bass that it was above to lay hold of a tasty morsel of food. Men, including preachers in the church of Christ, use artificial lures and   gimmicks to appeal to and attract people to Christ (?). Some churches have the appearance of a glorified country club rather than a church claiming to be the church of the Lord.

Men come to God through the drawing power of Christ and not claptrap methods of carnal men. Jesus said, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32). Jesus is the lure God uses to draw men out of the bondage of sin. Our Lord also said, “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day” (John 6:44). The next passage, verse 45, shows how God draws men to Christ. “It is written in the prophets, And they all be taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.” Observe that a man coming to Christ must be taught, hear, and learn. We see this process in every case of New Testament conversion in the book of Acts.

On Pentecost 3000 souls were converted to Christ by the power of the gospel preached by Peter. They continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayers (Acts 2:42). The apostles preached daily in the temple and from house to house (Acts 5:42). We read that believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both men and women (Acts 5:14). Again, “And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly” (Acts 6:7). Here were the results of preaching the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ. Indeed, it is the power of God unto salvation (Rom. 1:16). We don’t need antics of a circus, clowns, entertainment, ham and bean dinners, recreation that involves church gymnasiums, church sponsored ball clubs, etc.

Many are so accustomed to the church playing and partying that every time they hear the word “fellowship” or read it in the Bible, they think of donuts and coffee. Certainly, there is nothing wrong with Christians getting together to eat and to have a good time. This can bring us closer together. But social activities are not a function of the church, paid for out of the treasury of the church. Social activities are functions of the home, not the church. Paul wrote, “What? Have ye not houses to eat and to drink in?” (1 Cor. 11:22). Also, “And if any man hunger, let him eat at home” (1 Cor. 11:34). How appropriate are Paul’s statements in regard to kitchens and banquet halls paid for out of the treasury of the church.

My friends, the Bible says, “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds” (2 Cor. 10:4). Many can’t say this today with a straight face. God help us to put our confidence in the power of the gospel, that brings us to the saving blood of Christ.

87 Ormond Dr., Scottsville, Kentucky 42164

By Walton Weaver

Words are often used in the Bible in both a good and a bad sense. This is true of the word “provoke.” The word is often used in the Old Testament to show how Israel provoked God to anger by her idolatrous practices. In anticipation of the time when the Israelites would begin their trip to the promised land which God would give them, Moses said to Israel, “When thou shalt beget children and grandchildren and have grown old in the land, and act corruptly and make a carved image in the form of anything, and do evil in the sight of the Lord your God to provoke Him to anger, I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that you will soon utterly perish from the land which you cross over the Jordan to possess; you will not prolong your days in it, but will be utterly destroyed” (Deut. 4:25-26, NKJV; see also Deut. 31:20).

It happened just as Moses had promised. First during the wilderness wanderings (Num. 14:11, 23; 16:30; Deut. 9:22), and then numerous times after the people had settled in the land (Judg. 2:12; 1 Kings 14:15, 22; 15:30). The prophets often describe how God was provoked by the sins of his people (Isa. 1:4; Jer. 8:19; 11:17; 44:8; Ezek. 8:17; Hos. 12:14).

The New Testament also uses this word in a bad sense. But here we find it used especially with reference to our dealings with one another. Love, we are told, “is not easily provoked” (1 Cor. 13:5), or stirred to anger. Again, Paul says, “Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another” (Gal. 5:25). Fathers are instructed, “provoke not your   children to wrath” (Eph. 6:4). In Colossians it is simply, “provoke not your children” (Col. 3:21), although the KJV adds the words (in italics) “to anger,” evidently bringing the point over from the parallel passage in Ephesians. 

There are only two places in the New Testament where the word “provoke” is used in a good sense when Paul is describing the behavior of Christians: 2 Corinthians 9:2 and Hebrews 10:24. In the first of these passages Paul is commending the brethren in Achaia whose “zeal hath provoked very many” by being “ready a year ago” to participate in the work of helping the needy among the saints in Jerusalem. In the latter passage the writer urges his Jewish readers to “consider one another to provoke unto love and good works.”

“To provoke” is to excite, arouse, or call into action. Christians sometimes need to be incited, stimulated, or aroused to a good thing. Too often we are more inclined to irritate one another rather than to incite or stimulate each other to that which is good.

Consider One Another

Perhaps one of our greatest weaknesses, and, no doubt, one reason that we fail to provoke one another as we should, is that we do not give the consideration to each other that we ought. Paul prefaces this statement with the words, “consider one another.” If we were first in the habit of giving the attention to one another that this verse enjoins, it would come natural for us “to provoke one another” to the end that Paul charges in this verse. It is the mutual care on the part of the members of the body that is central in Paul’s statement. It is that care and concern for the welfare of the body that will lead the members “to provoke one another unto love and good works.” One serves as the purpose of the other, so that we are not surprised that Wuest translates as follows: “And let us constantly be giving careful attention to one another for the purpose of stimulating one another to love and good works” (Hebrews in the Greek Testament 182). 

Christians often forget that they are “members one of another” (Rom. 12:5). In the passages where Paul discusses the church under the analogy of a human body (Rom. 12 and 1 Cor. 12) Paul is teaching that no individual Christian can function effectively by himself. Man was not meant to be alone. People need people, and we need each other as Christians. Did you hear about the man riding in a cab in Times Square in New York being handed this note: “I’d rather you talk to me than tip me, I’m lonely. Your driver.”  How many lonely people do you suppose we have attending our services, and yet no one speaks to them?

Unto Love And Good Works

Paul gives us a specific message that caring Christians need to be sharing with each other. We need to stir each other up, arouse each other — but he wants us to excite and stimulate each other “unto love and good works.” I can’t think of two things that brethren need to be stirred up about more that these, can you? Christians in every local church I know need to be loving more, working more, and provoking more. There is probably more said on the subjects of love and good works than on any other subjects when it comes to instruction given in our New Testaments to Christians.

1. Unto Love. First, Christians need to be stirred up to love God more. But how much is “more”? Jesus answers, “with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matt. 22:37). We should also ask, “more” than what? Again, Jesus answers, “more than these” (probably the fishing boat, gear, etc. used to make their living) in his question to Peter (John 21:15), and more than one’s father or mother (Matt. 10:37). Also more than food and raiment, or whatever has to do with this life (Matt. 6:33).

Second, Christians need to be stirred up to love each other more. The law had required that one love his neighbor as himself (Lev. 19:18), and Jesus gives this as the second greatest commandment of the law (Matt. 22:39). But how much “more” should Christians love each other? Peter answers, keep growing in love until you “love one another fervently with a pure heart” (1 Pet. 1:23). Do people grow in love? They most certainly do. Paul prayed for his Philippian brethren “that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God” (Phil. 1:9-11). Christians can stir each other up to just his kind of love for God and each other.

2. Unto Good Works. It is sad but true that most Christians do not realize the real purpose of their salvation. Our salvation is not an end in itself. God has not saved us just so we can be saved.  No, he has a marvelous purpose in mind in saving us from our sins. Here is the way Paul describes it: “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them” (Eph. 2:10). God wants his people to be working, and he wants others to see their good works (not just their good moral life) and glorify him in heaven (Matt. 5:16).

But then he also wants us to be stirring each other up “unto good works,” or to the end that we might be doing the good works he has planned for us. Do brethren need to be aroused to do work in the kingdom? Surely, when one notices that about all that is done in a given community is done by ten percent of those who make up the local church at that place, all must concede that there is a great need for Christians to be stirring each other up unto good works. Who is to do the work of teaching the lost, visiting the sick, cheering up the depressed, comforting troubled hearts, taking care of the needy, encouraging others to faithfulness, and of stirring up each other unto love and good works? The preacher? Yes. The elders? Yes. All the members of the Lord’s church? Yes. If these works are not the works of all the members of the Lord’s church, then why the admonition that we each be arousing one another “unto love and good works”?

In The Assemblies

It is amazing to me that brethren have not seen that this work of provoking one another unto love and good works is one of the purposes of our assembling ourselves together. This is made clear by the admonition that follows the one to provoke one another unto love and good works: “not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” (Heb. 10:25).

Our assemblies are well suited (because they are designed by God himself for that purpose) as a means  of encouragement for those who attend and participate in the activities provided (Bible study and worship as God has planned). In addition to admonishing each other in the songs we sing (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16), we are also often admonished and encouraged in the Bible class studies and in the sermons preached (1 Cor. 14:17; 2 Tim. 2:15; 4:2; 2 Tim. 3:16-17). But as Hebrews 10:24-25 shows, these assemblies provide an excellent place and opportunity for every Christian to “provoke one another unto love and good works,” and no Christian should ever stop attending the assemblies because every Christian needs the kind of “provoking” commanded in Hebrews 10:24, as well as the “exhorting” mentioned in Hebrews 10:25. But, in addition to this, every Christian is commanded to be in these assemblies and to be provoking and exhorting other Christians.

When Christians begin to take seriously what each and every Christian is to be accomplishing in our assemblies the debate over “which assembly” we must attend will end. It is sad when the whole of one’s religion has come to center upon that issue — a question I am sure was not even in the mind of the writer. The word “assembling” does not refer to any particular assembly. Rather, it describes what ought to be the habit of every Christian, i.e., attending the assemblies of the church to provoke one another unto love and good works, and, more generally, to exhort one another in whatever way is needed at a given time. 

1820 Hairston Ave., Conway, Arkansas 72032 wpweaver@arkansas.net

By Steve Wallace

The problem with immodesty in our culture is shocking. Many men and women have long since become comfortable appearing in public in various states of undress. Many preachers will not preach on modesty or, if they do, they say little in terms of what should or should not be worn by God’s people. Some will even take issue with those who try to speak plainly on such things. The following news story entitled, “Motion Against Miniskirts In Swazi Schools,” came via the Panafrican News Agency. If there are preachers in Swaziland, their work of getting young people to dress properly was made easier recently by a new law.

“MBABANE, Swaziland (PANA) — Swazi legislators have instructed the education minister to issue a directive that school girls wear uniforms that are knee-long or below, starting 2001.

“Senator Majahenkhaba Dlamini moved a motion Wednesday that the minister issues the directive to school heads so that school girls above 10 years be compelled to wear knee-long uniforms.

“The motion reads: ‘To move that the minister for education issue directive by next year on a plan of appropriate action to the principals of every primary, junior or high school in Swaziland. The aim is to ensure that every school girl aged 10 and above wears a knee-long uniform at school (before and after) unless she is wearing a long tracksuit trouser as approved by the school.’

“The majority of senators supported the motion suggesting that it would restore decency in society.

“Dlamini later suggested that schools be headed by female teachers who, he said, have a good track record when it comes to effecting proper dress code on students, and girls in particular.

“He lamented that mini-skirt uniforms are mainly found in schools headed by male teachers.

“Dlamini said if female teachers were allowed to be in charge of schools, girls would adhere to the knee-long uniform concept.

“‘We are living in tough times clustered by the HIV/AIDS disease and we must not sit back and relax. We need to address the problem of dress code among students because all starts from there. Students are no longer wearing acceptable uniforms and this motion comes as a result of that,’ he stressed.

“But Senator Thab’sile Mavimbela took a swipe at her male colleagues labeling them sex maniacs.

“She said the motion betrayed the deep-seated lewdness among males and further demonstrated their weakness to control their feelings.

“‘This clearly shows that the men are very weak when it comes to sex, thus they want to use their privilege of passing laws to protect themselves or rather hide their weaknesses,’ she observed.

“Mavimbela, therefore, said she does not see the reason  for the passing of a law compelling students to put on knee-long uniforms.

“She added that instead of the ministry issuing a directive to schools, parents must take a leading role in solving the problem” (Copyright (c) 2000 Panafrican News Agency).

One knows not if or when such legislation may come down from Washington, so we take the opportunity of making a few observations on this one from Swaziland. 

1. A clear connection between dress and decency. The legislators believe this motion “would restore decency in society.” They obviously believe that dress is somehow connected with decency. The writer of Proverbs agreed with them (7:10). While driving recently I was listening to Dr. Laura. She noted that many women who go to malls today dress like “sluts” (her word). Dress is connected with decency!

2. They legislated a hemline! The motion is to “ensure that every school girl aged 10 and above wears a knee-long uniform at school.” What terms shall we use to describe these men? After all, they are not religious. So we dare not call them “legalists,” “Pharisees,” or “creed-writers.” (This is what some brethren will call preachers today if they suggest that the definition of nakedness, as defined in the Bible, includes showing one’s thighs [Gen. 3:1-10, 21; Exod. 28:42; Isa. 47:1-3.]) Therefore, in light of what we have already noted under our first point, I choose to describe their actions as being in harmony with terms like “modesty,” “sobriety,” and “shamefastness” (1 Tim. 2:9).

3. These legislators believe older women can teach younger women to dress decently. “If female teachers were allowed to be in charge of schools, girls would adhere to the knee-long uniform concept.” Paul wrote that older women are responsible to teach younger women (Tit. 2:3-5). One of the things they are to teach them is to be “chaste.” This word means, “pure, holy” (A&G, 11). By contrast, these young women in Swasiland have been dressing in such a way as to be “chased”!  A clear problem exists in the church today with regards to this point: Too many older women are dressing in a manner consistent with the word “chased” rather than the word “chaste.” Oh, that all of them might recognize where such conduct is leading!

4. They see the deeper problems connected with dress. “We are living in tough times clustered by the HIV/AIDS disease and we must not sit back and relax. We need to address the problem of dress code among students because all starts from there.” We all know HIV/AIDS is a sexually transmitted disease. These men see that dress is connected with lust which leads to fornication which leads to AIDS. Interestingly enough, Paul Harvey noted years ago that, when the miniskirt was first popularized, crimes against women greatly increased. One’s dress can lead to lust; lust can lead to fornication and fornication can lead to AIDS. But there is an even deeper, more enduring problem than AIDS. The Bible teaches that immodest dress, lust, and fornication are all sinful and can damn one’s soul (Prov. 7:10; 1 Tim. 2:9; Matt. 5:28-29; 1 Cor. 6:9-10). Is it not a travesty that these non-Christian legislators are moved by a temporal problem to do something about immodest dress when many preachers, who know the deeper, spiritual problems connected with it do little or nothing?

5. What mini-clothes say about those who wear them. “He lamented that mini-skirt uniforms are mainly found in schools headed by male teachers.” (We must remember that this is necessarily connected with sex in its context.) There are several reasons some women would wear such clothing in such a setting: (1) They know what men like and they are desirous of seducing them. Therefore, they wear the “proper attire” for the job. (2) They are naive as to the connection we noted under points 1 and 4 above, but like the attention men give them when they wear such clothing; (3) They follow fashion or what is popular. Sisters in Christ, if someone does not know you and sees you dressed in such a way, how will they know in which of the above categories you belong? Brothers in Christ, if you do not dress modestly, do you recognize the influence of your dress on the many bawdy women of our age?

6. The voice of the dissenter. Miss/Mrs Mavimbela’s words are worth looking at. She said those responsible for the legislation were “sex maniacs,” had “deep-seated lewdness,” and “are very weak when it comes to sex.” One wonders what she would think of Jesus, Paul, and Solomon? (Matt. 5:27-29; Rom. 1:26-27; Prov. 7) However, she hit the nail on the head when she said, “. . . Parents must take a leading role in solving the problem.” Yes, preachers should preach on it and it would be just great for schools to make rules about it, but children need to be taught by their parents to dress in a decent, modest manner.

Conclusion

Will it take a massive increase in instances of AIDS infection to wake brethren up concerning the shamelessness manifested in the way many Christians dress? Will we wait to be led by the world to do that which the Bible so clearly teaches? Not if we walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7). 

styvas@mindspring.com