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What Does the Bible Say About..How We Dress?

I am not Penecostal any longer because I find they concentrate to much on the standard no makeup, skirts only, etc. Now I am so confused and believe that I will go to hell because I now cut my hair and wear makeup and pants. Is this true and where is it in the Bible can I go about this standard thing, whether it is true or not...Please help.

Answer

The Bible does not say you have to wear a skirt or how long your hair must be. The Bible does generally condemn painting one's face or eyes and wearing makeup, because that was what harlots did. But that appears to be more of a cultural thing than specifically condemning makeup as it is now worn. There are a couple of specific New Testament passages that apply to what a woman wears or the length of her hair. "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works." (1 Timothy 2:9-10) It would be stretching the obvious meaning of this passage to say that it is forbidding braids, gold, and pearls. It is rather saying that what is more important is how a woman lives than what she wears. In 1 Corinthians 11 Paul addresses hair length. "Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering. But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God." (1 Corinthians 11:13-16) Two things are important in this passage. First, he never defines how long is long, other than earlier saying that it is a shame for her to have her hair all cut off. Second, the last verse of the passage says that if anyone thinks he has been talking about hair length as a rule, rather than talking about authority, then they need to understand that the church has no rules on hair length, for men or women.

The passage quoted above from 1 Timothy does say women should dress in "modest" apparel. A more accurate translation might be "in orderly apparel, with modesty and sobriety." What is modest apparel? Generally it is that which does not call undue attention to oneself or one's body. In Arab countries a woman dressed in a maxi-skirt, a long-sleeved blouse, wearing no makeup, and having hair shoulder length or longer might still be considered immodest if she doesn't have her face covered. In many places the "plain" clothes of the Amish might be considered immodest because they draw the stares of people because of their strangeness. Again, what Paul was emphasizing was that a woman should be noted for her good life rather than her good clothes. The Bible says nothing about women wearing pants because at the time it was written pants were a new item for men or women. Historically, even men were condemned for wearing pants until recent centuries.