DRESS; THE FORGOTTEN VIRTUE

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 (KJV)

No sooner had Adam and Eve sinned than they discovered that they were naked. In order to cover their nakedness, they took fig leaves which of course did not supply their need. God, knowing their desperateness, he made clothes for them. Leave alone the spiritual meaning of this. Let us take the literal meaning of it.  We see that the primary purpose of putting on garments is to cover our nakedness. It is shameful to walk outside in nakedness. “No education can be complete that does not teach right principles in regard to dress. Without such teaching, the work of education is too often retarded and perverted. Love of dress, and devotion to fashion, are among the teacher's most formidable rivals and most effective hindrances.” (Education 246.1) True education cannot downplay the importance of modesty. The irony is that the prevalence of immodesty among the educated is large compared to the uneducated class. I am perplexed if there is a relationship between education and disregarding the right principles of dressing. If there is then we are deceived! What we have been calling education is not education at all. I have seen young girls dressing up modestly, but after entering the universities their dressing style changed. Some had never put on trousers but later they made it their favorite dress despite the explicit command of the LORD; “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so [are] abomination unto the LORD thy God.” Deuteronomy 22:5. People are not afraid of practicing abominations to God! “Fashion rules the world; and she is a tyrannical mistress, often compelling her devotees to submit to the greatest inconvenience and discomfort. Fashion taxes without reason, and collects without mercy. She has a fascinating power, and stands ready to criticize and ridicule all who do not follow in her wake…We see the world absorbed in vain amusements. The first and best thoughts of the larger portion are given to dress, and the culture of mind and heart is neglected. Even among those who profess to love and keep the commandments of God, there are some who ape this class as nearly as they possibly can and retain the name of Christian. Some of the young are so eager for display that they are willing to give up even the Christian name if they can only indulge their vanity in dress.” (Christian temperance and Bible hygiene 85.) People do not want to talk about Christian standards for fear of being called extremists, what a terrible condition! We are falling short of the standards which Christ is demanding from us. “When we reach the standard that the Lord would have us reach, worldlings will regard Seventh-day Adventists as odd, singular, strait-laced extremists. We are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men." (Fundamentals of Christian education 289.) Let us go back to the instructions from God. “Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where [is] the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls.” Jeremiah 6:16. Let us flee from worshipping under the shrine of fashion. Remember our dress reveal who we are!

Benjamin Juma
nyamseri@dr.com