I've
presented you with 5 questions:
-
Is it worn by
the opposite sex?
-
What does it
make other people think of me?
-
What kind of
people dress that way?
-
Must I use
the argument of the world to defend it?
-
Will it cause
anybody else to stumble?
Allow me to
now make some strong suggestions for you:
1. Make
sure your convictions are biblically based. When you believe something is
wrong, you had better have a good Bible reason for believing it. You ought
to know where the Bible talks about that, and if you don’t think you can
remember it, write it down so you can show people. Have biblically based
convictions, not just opinions.
2. When
you have a conviction, be firm. Don’t waver no matter what crowd you
are with, no matter what environment you find yourself in. If you
believe it is
wrong and sinful to wear a bikini bathing suit walking down the street, it is wrong
to wear one in the swimming pool. The water doesn’t have anything to do
with it. That is why you have to be careful about where you
go swimming. Don't you expose your body to the lustful thoughts of
others! They are going to have lust whether you like it or not and a
Christian should NEVER help them by wearing revealing clothing. Be firm in
your convictions.
3. Be
kind when you have convictions. The Word of God tells us that Love is
KIND. Don’t be smart about it. When the time comes to express
yourself, or to say no, or to give a reason, be kind about it. Learn
your reasons, and know them. Don’t be afraid, and don’t be angry
or sharp tongued but BE KIND.
4.
Don’t act superior. This is called haughtiness and God hates it.
(Proverbs 6) Don’t act like you are better than somebody else.
That’s the first charge they are going to make against you, I promise
you. Anytime you have a conviction about anything, whether it be about
music, or drinking liquor, others are going to accuse you of thinking you
are better than they are. It's not anything new. Just don’t act superior
to anyone. Politely and firmly let them know, however that you
aren't going to violate YOUR conscience by giving in to something you have
been convicted about.
5. If
you MUST talk to somebody about your convictions, deal with their
heart first. All of this is a matter of the heart. You might get somebody
straightened out on the matter of the clothes they ought to wear and they
still be just as lost as they were before you met them. Before I talk to
anybody about clothes or anything else, the first thing I want to know is
what about the heart? Have they obeyed the plan of salvation?
The first thing I want to know is about their heart and their salvation.
After all, if they aren't saved, nothing else matters anyway.
As a final
thought:
All that I
have written here applies to those who are saved.
If you
haven’t been saved, it’s not going to help you or your soul one way or the
other to change your clothing or your thinking concerning your clothing.
It WILL NOT HELP YOU AT ALL TO DO SO. All the modest dress in the
world can't save your soul! If Jesus
doesn't live in your heart, that is your first need. After all, if you're
not saved, what good is all the wealth or all the knowledge in the world.
To read more
about salvation and the plan of salvation use the following links:
