WHY SHOULD WE DRESS PLAINLY ? by M. E. Hanes

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 21, 1901

WHY SHOULD WE DRESS PLAINLY ?

By M. E. Hanes

MRS. M. E. HANES (Battle Creek, Mich.)

The Bible commands us to dress plainly. 1 Peter 3:3, 4; 1 Tim. 2:9, 10; Isa. 3:16-24. If God did not care how His people dressed, He would never have mentioned anything in regard to it.

In ancient times women in general were proud of their hair, and spent much time and money for hair dressing. Are not our minds too much absorbed with fashionable hair dressing and the wearing of ornaments? Are not these things just as displeasing to God to-day, when practiced by a people professing to live lives preparatory to translation?

But, says one, “I am not proud, I never think of my dress.” Dear sister, the Lord requires us to think, or He would not mention these things in the Book He has given as a guide for His children.

Why should we adorn the temple of God with cast-off clothing, first worn by the lower animals, and take pride in so doing? No one follows the fashionable world because he loves Jesus so much; but in so doing we rob God of time and money. Our devotion to God demands plain dress. 1 John 2:15, 16; Col. 3:17. Love to our neighbor requires it. James 1:27; 2:1, 2; Phil. 2:4; 4:9. Who of us are willing to buy for our destitute neighbor as good raiment as we buy for our personal adornment? Who buys a set of diamonds for her hired servant?

The outside should manifest the work wrought within. Rom. 12:1, 2; 2 Cor. 5:17; I Corinthians 13. When the heart is changed, the desire for display gone, and the meek and quiet spirit has taken possession of the soul, then the outside should be a rebuke to the pride and vanity of this world.