Uncovered Righteousness

Ladies, have you ever wondered what you will wear in Heaven? Well I had not even considered this until recently. What caused me to ponder this is what I am wearing today!! Which is a mossy oak breakup jumper and an hunter orange T-shirt under it with a matching mossy oak bandana style head piece. This is really wild to some………but it is modest!

There is much controversy in clothing these days. From being in “style” to traditional clothing. From modest to immodest in both arenas. I have been in churches that my sons had to constantly look down because of the indecently dressed women and girls in the auditorium, that it was sickening. But this was common and accepted practice, ignoring scripture that speaks directly against such immodesty ( 1 Timothy 2:9 I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes). Modesty is not defined here, yet one can understand it does mean clothing cut low in the chest and short in the legs is immodest. And thus some just decided to go around the “letter” of the law, ignoring the “Spirit” of the law to covering all parts, just form fitting-------this too ladies is immodest. What are we trying to prove, show or advertise? Proper decent attire is part of our “walk” as Christians.

Now while this is true, There are other groups that feel it immodest to have part of your arms showing! Or not having a certain conformity of pattern or the right type of material. Some even cover their feet. The problem with this in general is that it is a fertile bed for growing legalism and pharisitical righteousness. What I mean is………I had a lady give look upon me with contempt because I did not have the normal noted attire for a certain group. She did not know me but I thought how sad that she thinks I am not a Christian because my modest clothing does not fit her “list” of style pattern and print of the clothes. It was as though I was pronounced on the spot “lost and worldly” in just a sneering glance. This is so wrong. I have visited other churches that too had legalism about clothes (not as spelled out), saying that because some young men were now wearing suits and cutting their hair properly were obviously saved and going to heaven. This again is wrong!
So in laughable discouragement I thought: You know what I will never please these people---for I am not a people pleaser. But a “Truth pleaser” (Ephesians 5:8-10 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. )
You know what? in Heaven it is not going to matter what I wear, I ain’t taking these clothes with me. And wearing the legalistic clothes list does not impart anymore righteousness than simply obeying---dress modestly. It is not in what we wear it is in WHO we obey. In heaven we are not going to wear make-up, or get perms, or wear cape dresses or for that matter head coverings either.

I guess my point is that so many people get so wound up (many times it is in their silence not just their words) about the clothes/hair/makeup/jewelry being their righteousness (which it is not on any “fruit” listed in the Bible) that they miss “the boat” so to speak. They put this command of modesty above all others. Not having love and grace for others as God has bestowed on us. I am not saying modesty is not important. BUT so is Love your God with all your heart, soul, mind, strength. And love your neighbor as yourself. Be submissive to your husband, give to those in need, encourage those in the body and so on……So in our “dress codes” we have forgotten to love others. We have made it into a “banner” of “covered righteousness” and have forgotten the “banner” of love. And as Scripture says without love you are nothing.

We need to remeber to give the same grace and mercy to others that we desire ourselves.