But ( which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.
What becomes women who profess godliness is to be adorned with good works, meaning godly character and deeds rather than outward display. In its setting this means modest clothing worn with reverence and self-control, not with elaborate braided hair or gold or pearls or costly array. It forbids extravagant and showy dress and ornaments that draw attention, and requires dress that is plain, simple, neat, clean, becoming and healthful, judged by Scripture and Christ's example rather than fashion. The true and costly adorning is inward, the hidden heart with a meek and quiet spirit shown in modest, reserved and chaste conduct, speech and deportment, and in a life filled with practical kindness. Such good works mean strict economy and self-denial in dress to help the poor, relieve the needy and advance God's cause, giving a holy visible example that distinguishes His people, while luxurious display in the last days brings reproach, imperils salvation and will meet condemnation in the Judgment.
Fitting Adornment Defined
What becomes women professing godliness is adornment with good works, meaning godly character and deeds rather than outward display. That profession is shown through modest dress joined to good works, not through costly or showy adornment, for good works are what befit a profession of faith. In context this is modest apparel worn with shamefacedness and sobriety, understood as reverence and self-control, and not with braided or broidered or plaited or elaborate hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly or expensive array and clothing. Display of vanity is contrary to following the meek and lowly Jesus, and devoting God-given time and means to decoration of the person is contrary to the spirit of the gospel, while humility and self-denial befit those whose sins cost the infinite sacrifice of the Son of God. The Bible standard binds conscience even when older and experienced Christians openly disregard it, and professed Christians dare not follow worldlings in demoralizing fashions or appear to sanction them by adopting them. Those who adopt such fashions show that Christ is not formed within, and where God's ancient women covered the face with a veil in public, small bonnets exposing face and head, hoops, glittering gold rings, large showy earrings, artificial flowers, costly ribbons in bows and puffs, extra ornaments, useless trimmings, and extravagance to gratify pride show lack of modesty and must be laid off and discarded.
Outward decoration with jewels and luxury and expensive ornaments adds no worth to character and no value to influence, and the idea that dressing as worldlings dress gives weight to influence must be put away. Adorning the person with jewels and luxurious things is idolatry, revealing love for things supposed to give value to the person, giving evidence of a heart destitute of inward adornment, bearing the sign of inward poverty and lack of spirituality, and giving an incorrect representation of truth that should always appear as of highest value. The nicety and exactness often given to outward appearance belongs far more to inward adorning, the hidden man of the heart in the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is of great price in the sight of God. Value in the Lord's sight comes not from dress but from inward adorning, the graces of the Spirit, the kind word and thoughtful consideration for others, with meekness, humility, modesty, prudence, chaste simplicity, modest behavior, refined taste and a cultivated mind surrounding a young woman with a protective reserve. Devoting much labor, time, and money merely to make outward appearance attractive diverts the mind from eternal consequence, leaves beautiful traits of character uncultivated, forms stumbling blocks, obscures vision so inner faults are not discerned, and is self-indulgence and self-pleasing gratifying pride and love of appearance and praise. The outside appearance testifies of the inward working of the heart, and truth received transforms mind and character into doers of the Word, distinct and separate from the world in dress, speech, and deportment, turning from worship of self and spending for self-gratification to self-denial, economy, and relieving the needy.
The verse belongs to Paul's instruction in 1 Timothy 2 to be received and obeyed as written, and placing oneself on the Lord's side under divine guidance to heed it is for present spiritual good and of great consequence to all who desire enlightenment. It is joined with men praying everywhere lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting, and women learning in silence with all subjection. This plain teaching condemns vanity, worldly fashion, frivolity, and self-pleasing, and requires holiness of heart and life, sobriety, devotion, and prayer. It directs an aggressive work conducted on Bible principles with Christlike simplicity, patience, forbearance, and love for God and for souls, to convince and not to condemn, without coming down to the enemy's level or using satanic weapons, while uplifting Christ, exalting the law of God, and demonstrating faith as a power of which Christ is the Author.
Modest Dress Standard
The verse forbids extravagant and showy dress that imitates worldlings, including elaborate braided or broidered hair, glittering gold rings and chains, large showy gold earrings, pearls, artificial flowers, bonnets adorned for display, costly ribbons arranged in bows and puffs, hoops, gaudy lace, fantastic dress, and extra ornaments with useless trimmings and needless adornings that draw attention to gratify pride. Such display is contrary to modest apparel worn with shamefacedness and sobriety, and what becomes women professing godliness is adornment with good works rather than vanity, humility and self-denial rather than devoting God-given time and means to decoration of the person. In the last days fashions are shameful and immodest, first brought in by those past feeling and given over to lasciviousness, and luxurious living and extravagant dressing carried to excess is one of the signs of the last days that no Christian can follow without imperiling salvation. The Bible standard binds conscience even when older devoted Christians dress that way and are taken into the church without reproof, and parents must see that God's directions are carried out rather than children's wishes, since loving dress and dressing children fashionably sows vanity for which God will hold parents accountable.
It requires clothing that is plain and simple rather than patterned after worldly dress, neat and tasteful and carefully made of good, durable material as true economy, clean, orderly, becoming, and appropriate for age, without rich trimmings and unnecessary expense for self-gratification and fashion. Christian women are to avoid vanity and display by dressing plainly and abstaining from jewelry and other ornaments, adorning themselves in modest apparel with shamefacedness and sobriety and not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly array or gay or expensive clothing, but with good works. Untidiness, laxity, overdressing, and deformed lack of form are also contrary to it, and where reform dress is adopted it calls for uniform order and right length; value in the Lord's sight comes not from dress but from inward adorning, the graces of the Spirit, the kind word and thoughtful consideration for others.
Dress is to be judged by Scripture and God's directions and by virtue and practical propriety rather than by fashion, pride, display, or the customs of a fashionable world, following Christ's meek and lowly example instead of thinking much of appearance and decorating mortal bodies. This applies especially in the house of God, where delight in display of dress, show and love of dress, and following the fashions of a degenerate age to gratify pride are forbidden, while those who dress modestly have the blessing of God. No single pattern is required, and customs in dress may be followed so far as they conform to health principles and to modesty, with dress plain and simple in good durable material appropriate for the age. At the same time the dress question must not fill the mind nor be made an all-absorbing present truth and test that creates division and controversy, but believers are to walk carefully and circumspectly before God as a living illustration of inward grace under the discipline of the living oracles.
The verse is given to instruct God's people to keep a peculiar, holy character distinct from the world, maintaining modesty and a clear separation in dress, deportment and good works rather than sanctioning demoralizing fashions by adopting them. As inhabitants of earth grow more corrupt the line of distinction between them and the Israel of God must be more plain, for if God's professed people had not departed from Him there would be a marked difference between their dress and that of the world. It upholds the distinction between male and female dress, setting modest apparel and good works against costly adornment and against clothing that erases that distinction. It condemns extremes in fashion and shameful immodesty and exposure of face and head, in contrast to ancient women who covered their faces with a veil when in public, counting small bonnets exposing the face and head and hoops a shame and lack of modesty.
Godly Conduct Beyond Dress
What becomes women professing godliness is modest, reserved, sober and circumspect conduct, with chastity and virtue that set them apart from the sexual corruption around them and hold up a better example. That profession is to be made visible in restraint and modesty, with less boldness and less joking and jesting in one another's company, since such levity is unbecoming and grieves the Spirit of God. Deportment is to be careful and circumspect and words select and well chosen, avoiding even the appearance of evil and reflecting grace. The fitting marks are modesty and reserve with sobriety, meekness, kindness, humility and purity, while forwardness, excessive familiarity and coarse joking are unbecoming to godliness.
Speech and deportment are therefore to be without boldness, excessive familiarity, coarse joking and jesting, and without even the appearance of evil, reflecting grace and benefiting the church rather than hindering it. A woman professing godliness displays it through good works and a character marked by grace, meekness and dignity, so that her influence helps the church.
Profession alone does not prove purity or faithfulness, for even those serving in sacred things may be deeply corrupt. Outward appearance testifies of the inward working of the heart, and clothing is to accord with the faith professed — modest and plain, without worldly adornment — lest it contradict a godly character or mislead others. Truth received in the heart transforms mind and character and makes doers of the Word, distinct and separate from the world in dress, speech and deportment. Pride budding and blossoming in apparel reveals the thoughts and interests of the heart and is idolatry in small as well as large matters, separating from God as did the golden calf, and the call is to self-denial and economy, turning from worship of self and spending for self-gratification to relieving the needy and suffering.
A true lady in God's sight is known not by meeting the world's idea of a lady, nor by being merely an ornament, nor by spending time and strength for self-gratification, but by a life filled with good works. Godly women keep mind and heart on thoughts that strengthen purity and draw them into communion with God, and this guards them against being led astray by deceptive and seductive temptations. That higher life uses physical, mental and moral powers in the Master's service to be a blessing to those around, including being a useful wife and mother and helping practically such as by personal activity to help a husband reduce family expenses, which alone brings real happiness. Young women professing godliness are to follow Christ in conduct and not encourage romantic attachments in ways that harm others or undermine their usefulness.
Economy for Benevolence
The fitting adornment for women professing godliness is good works expressed in strict economy and self-denial in dress, choosing plain, simple, durable clothing of good quality without rich trimmings, useless expense, extra ornaments, or extravagance to gratify pride. Costly or useless ornaments are to be laid aside, laid off and discarded, even sold, and the savings economized to help remove heavy debts on churches, to advance the cause of truth, to support missionary work, and to lay up treasure beside God's throne in heaven, which is well pleasing to God. Dress remains neat and tasteful, of good material carefully made as true economy, without display for self-gratification and fashion, leaving more money and time to help others, including teaching poorer women to dress simply and tastefully. In the last days of probation this separation from the world in dress is urgent, for value in the Lord's sight comes not from dress but from inward adorning, the graces of the Spirit, the kind word and thoughtful consideration for others.
Spending God's money and time on needless finery while the naked lack clothing and the hungry lack food withholds help from the poor and robs God's cause and its work of mercy and benevolence. Such outward decoration with jewels, expensive ornaments and luxurious display adds no worth to character and no value to influence, and the notion that dressing as worldlings dress gives weight to influence must be put away. Devotion to extravagant dress diverts the mind from matters of eternal consequence, leaves the beautiful traits of character uncultivated, obscures vision so inner faults are not discerned, encourages pride and vanity, can stir lust, can stifle the desire to do good, forms stumbling blocks for self and others, and puts salvation in danger. Adorning the person in this way is idolatry and self-pleasing, love for things supposed to give value to the person, gratifying pride and love of appearance and praise, revealing inward poverty and lack of spirituality, separating the soul from God like the golden calf, and giving an incorrect representation of truth. The outside appearance testifies of the inward working of the heart, so truth received transforms mind and character into distinct, separate doers of the Word in dress, speech and deportment, turning from worship of self and spending for self-gratification to relieving the needy and suffering in harmony with faith.
The practical good works that befit the profession are relieving the suffering, clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, visiting the poor, comforting the discouraged, reading God's word to those who cannot read, telling the truth for this time to those who know it not, and faithful service and work for Christ rather than living for display and pleasure. They include using modest means and personal effort to help others receive the message, putting away pride and ornaments, practicing self-denial, and cherishing love, piety and faith so their fruits appear in the life. A profession of godliness is thus shown through doing good, with money and time used for the needy and for gospel work instead of vanity.
Witness Influence and Accountability
Adorning with good works gives a holy and visible example of inward grace that marks those who profess godliness as distinct from the world and represents Christ to others, drawing them toward truth. Modest, reserved and sober conduct, with chastity and virtue set apart from surrounding corruption, is itself part of that witness, while immodest display and levity bring reproach upon truth and spread among believers like leaven. Plain dress without worldly fashion and display puts influence on Christ's side, and professed Sabbath-keepers are to choose modest apparel and live to God's glory so that dress and conduct distinguish them from the world.
Parents must carry out God's directions for dress rather than the wishes of their children or the customs of a fashionable world, teaching modesty and godly character instead of sowing seeds of vanity by loving dress and dressing children fashionably, for which they will be held accountable. Plain dress without useless ornamentation or display, with cultivation of Christian graces rather than fostering love of dress in self or children, is what befits the profession. New converts must be taught that vanity and pride in dress are to be left behind, even when following the gospel requires a decided change, and apparel then bears witness that they are being purified from vanity and selfishness and are not idolaters. In worship extravagant dress and outward display are contrary to inspired instruction, and dress and spirit should suit the holy place, with the worshiper's unselfish life becoming a living message to others, though faith must be supported by corresponding works that have no merit of themselves, since credit belongs to God when His Spirit works in the obedient.
Neat, orderly and refined dress and deportment suit worship and shape the impressions made on unbelievers and youth. Clothing should be neat, clean, plain and simple without unnecessary adornment, with even garments touching the skin kept clean and free from offensive odor, helping keep thoughts pure. Fantastic dress, gold chains, gaudy lace, excessive trimmings, ornaments and worldly fashions that attract attention profane the house of God and show poor judgment and pride, and delighting in display of dress there to gratify pride by following the fashions of a degenerate age is contrary to modest apparel. Costly fashionable clothing spends God's money that should be invested in good works and missionary work to carry truth to the perishing and teach them to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ, and those with great light who continue in it rob God's cause of means needed for present and eternal good and separate their souls from God under the eye of the holy Watcher who traces what their means might have done to His glory. Those who dress modestly have God's blessing, while immodest display surrounds the soul with an atmosphere that is spiritual malaria to others coming into the faith, and the leaven of pride and extravagance spreads until the whole lump is leavened, ceasing only when those whose names are on the church books are converted.
Luxurious living and extravagant dressing carried to excess are among the signs of the last days, and no Christian can conform to demoralizing fashions of the world without imperiling salvation, since adopting them shows Christ is not formed within and appears to sanction what professed Christians dare not follow. The plain teaching to adorn with modest apparel worn with shamefacedness and sobriety rather than braided hair or gold or pearls or costly array, with men praying everywhere lifting holy hands without wrath and doubting, requires holiness of heart and life, sobriety, devotion and prayer, condemns vanity, worldly fashion, frivolity and self-pleasing, and in the Judgment will condemn those who have not heeded it. Pride and vanity that look into the mirror to admire self leave little inclination to look into God's law, and this idolatry of dress destroys what is humble and meek and lovely in character, consumes precious hours that should be given to meditation, searching of heart and prayerful study of God's Word, and obscures vision of inner faults. Outward appearance testifies of the inward working of the heart, and truth received transforms mind and character into doers of the Word who are distinct and separate from the world in dress, speech and deportment, with zeal according to knowledge. Pride budding and blossoming in apparel reveals the thoughts and interests of the heart and is idolatry in small as well as large matters, like the golden calf, separating from God, while showy extravagant dress encourages pride and vanity, can stir lust and can stifle the desire to do good. Where ancient godly women covered their faces with a veil in public, small bonnets exposing face and head and hoops now show lack of modesty and shame, and as the earth grows more corrupt the line of distinction between the world and God's Israel must grow more plain, lest the curse falling on worldlings fall on God's professed people who have departed from Him. In the last days of probation those professing godliness must come out and be separate in dress, with neat tasteful clothing of good material carefully made as true economy but without rich trimmings and needless expense for self-gratification, valuing inward adorning, the graces of the Spirit, the kind word and thoughtful consideration for others, and practicing strict economy and self-denial in clothing for self and children in order to bring means to God, lay up treasure beside His throne, advance His cause, relieve suffering, clothe the naked, feed the hungry and tell the truth for this time to those who know it not.
What becomes women who profess godliness is to be adorned with good works, meaning godly character and deeds rather than outward display. In its setting this means modest clothing worn with reverence and self-control, not with elaborate braided hair or gold or pearls or costly array. It forbids extravagant and showy dress and ornaments that draw attention, and requires dress that is plain, simple, neat, clean, becoming and healthful, judged by Scripture and Christ's example rather than fashion. The true and costly adorning is inward, the hidden heart with a meek and quiet spirit shown in modest, reserved and chaste conduct, speech and deportment, and in a life filled with practical kindness. Such good works mean strict economy and self-denial in dress to help the poor, relieve the needy and advance God's cause, giving a holy visible example that distinguishes His people, while luxurious display in the last days brings reproach, imperils salvation and will meet condemnation in the Judgment.
Fitting Adornment Defined
What becomes women professing godliness is adornment with good works, meaning godly character and deeds rather than outward display. That profession is shown through modest dress joined to good works, not through costly or showy adornment, for good works are what befit a profession of faith. In context this is modest apparel worn with shamefacedness and sobriety, understood as reverence and self-control, and not with braided or broidered or plaited or elaborate hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly or expensive array and clothing. Display of vanity is contrary to following the meek and lowly Jesus, and devoting God-given time and means to decoration of the person is contrary to the spirit of the gospel, while humility and self-denial befit those whose sins cost the infinite sacrifice of the Son of God. The Bible standard binds conscience even when older and experienced Christians openly disregard it, and professed Christians dare not follow worldlings in demoralizing fashions or appear to sanction them by adopting them. Those who adopt such fashions show that Christ is not formed within, and where God's ancient women covered the face with a veil in public, small bonnets exposing face and head, hoops, glittering gold rings, large showy earrings, artificial flowers, costly ribbons in bows and puffs, extra ornaments, useless trimmings, and extravagance to gratify pride show lack of modesty and must be laid off and discarded.
Outward decoration with jewels and luxury and expensive ornaments adds no worth to character and no value to influence, and the idea that dressing as worldlings dress gives weight to influence must be put away. Adorning the person with jewels and luxurious things is idolatry, revealing love for things supposed to give value to the person, giving evidence of a heart destitute of inward adornment, bearing the sign of inward poverty and lack of spirituality, and giving an incorrect representation of truth that should always appear as of highest value. The nicety and exactness often given to outward appearance belongs far more to inward adorning, the hidden man of the heart in the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is of great price in the sight of God. Value in the Lord's sight comes not from dress but from inward adorning, the graces of the Spirit, the kind word and thoughtful consideration for others, with meekness, humility, modesty, prudence, chaste simplicity, modest behavior, refined taste and a cultivated mind surrounding a young woman with a protective reserve. Devoting much labor, time, and money merely to make outward appearance attractive diverts the mind from eternal consequence, leaves beautiful traits of character uncultivated, forms stumbling blocks, obscures vision so inner faults are not discerned, and is self-indulgence and self-pleasing gratifying pride and love of appearance and praise. The outside appearance testifies of the inward working of the heart, and truth received transforms mind and character into doers of the Word, distinct and separate from the world in dress, speech, and deportment, turning from worship of self and spending for self-gratification to self-denial, economy, and relieving the needy.
The verse belongs to Paul's instruction in 1 Timothy 2 to be received and obeyed as written, and placing oneself on the Lord's side under divine guidance to heed it is for present spiritual good and of great consequence to all who desire enlightenment. It is joined with men praying everywhere lifting up holy hands without wrath and doubting, and women learning in silence with all subjection. This plain teaching condemns vanity, worldly fashion, frivolity, and self-pleasing, and requires holiness of heart and life, sobriety, devotion, and prayer. It directs an aggressive work conducted on Bible principles with Christlike simplicity, patience, forbearance, and love for God and for souls, to convince and not to condemn, without coming down to the enemy's level or using satanic weapons, while uplifting Christ, exalting the law of God, and demonstrating faith as a power of which Christ is the Author.
Modest Dress Standard
The verse forbids extravagant and showy dress that imitates worldlings, including elaborate braided or broidered hair, glittering gold rings and chains, large showy gold earrings, pearls, artificial flowers, bonnets adorned for display, costly ribbons arranged in bows and puffs, hoops, gaudy lace, fantastic dress, and extra ornaments with useless trimmings and needless adornings that draw attention to gratify pride. Such display is contrary to modest apparel worn with shamefacedness and sobriety, and what becomes women professing godliness is adornment with good works rather than vanity, humility and self-denial rather than devoting God-given time and means to decoration of the person. In the last days fashions are shameful and immodest, first brought in by those past feeling and given over to lasciviousness, and luxurious living and extravagant dressing carried to excess is one of the signs of the last days that no Christian can follow without imperiling salvation. The Bible standard binds conscience even when older devoted Christians dress that way and are taken into the church without reproof, and parents must see that God's directions are carried out rather than children's wishes, since loving dress and dressing children fashionably sows vanity for which God will hold parents accountable.
It requires clothing that is plain and simple rather than patterned after worldly dress, neat and tasteful and carefully made of good, durable material as true economy, clean, orderly, becoming, and appropriate for age, without rich trimmings and unnecessary expense for self-gratification and fashion. Christian women are to avoid vanity and display by dressing plainly and abstaining from jewelry and other ornaments, adorning themselves in modest apparel with shamefacedness and sobriety and not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly array or gay or expensive clothing, but with good works. Untidiness, laxity, overdressing, and deformed lack of form are also contrary to it, and where reform dress is adopted it calls for uniform order and right length; value in the Lord's sight comes not from dress but from inward adorning, the graces of the Spirit, the kind word and thoughtful consideration for others.
Dress is to be judged by Scripture and God's directions and by virtue and practical propriety rather than by fashion, pride, display, or the customs of a fashionable world, following Christ's meek and lowly example instead of thinking much of appearance and decorating mortal bodies. This applies especially in the house of God, where delight in display of dress, show and love of dress, and following the fashions of a degenerate age to gratify pride are forbidden, while those who dress modestly have the blessing of God. No single pattern is required, and customs in dress may be followed so far as they conform to health principles and to modesty, with dress plain and simple in good durable material appropriate for the age. At the same time the dress question must not fill the mind nor be made an all-absorbing present truth and test that creates division and controversy, but believers are to walk carefully and circumspectly before God as a living illustration of inward grace under the discipline of the living oracles.
The verse is given to instruct God's people to keep a peculiar, holy character distinct from the world, maintaining modesty and a clear separation in dress, deportment and good works rather than sanctioning demoralizing fashions by adopting them. As inhabitants of earth grow more corrupt the line of distinction between them and the Israel of God must be more plain, for if God's professed people had not departed from Him there would be a marked difference between their dress and that of the world. It upholds the distinction between male and female dress, setting modest apparel and good works against costly adornment and against clothing that erases that distinction. It condemns extremes in fashion and shameful immodesty and exposure of face and head, in contrast to ancient women who covered their faces with a veil when in public, counting small bonnets exposing the face and head and hoops a shame and lack of modesty.
Godly Conduct Beyond Dress
What becomes women professing godliness is modest, reserved, sober and circumspect conduct, with chastity and virtue that set them apart from the sexual corruption around them and hold up a better example. That profession is to be made visible in restraint and modesty, with less boldness and less joking and jesting in one another's company, since such levity is unbecoming and grieves the Spirit of God. Deportment is to be careful and circumspect and words select and well chosen, avoiding even the appearance of evil and reflecting grace. The fitting marks are modesty and reserve with sobriety, meekness, kindness, humility and purity, while forwardness, excessive familiarity and coarse joking are unbecoming to godliness.
Speech and deportment are therefore to be without boldness, excessive familiarity, coarse joking and jesting, and without even the appearance of evil, reflecting grace and benefiting the church rather than hindering it. A woman professing godliness displays it through good works and a character marked by grace, meekness and dignity, so that her influence helps the church.
Profession alone does not prove purity or faithfulness, for even those serving in sacred things may be deeply corrupt. Outward appearance testifies of the inward working of the heart, and clothing is to accord with the faith professed — modest and plain, without worldly adornment — lest it contradict a godly character or mislead others. Truth received in the heart transforms mind and character and makes doers of the Word, distinct and separate from the world in dress, speech and deportment. Pride budding and blossoming in apparel reveals the thoughts and interests of the heart and is idolatry in small as well as large matters, separating from God as did the golden calf, and the call is to self-denial and economy, turning from worship of self and spending for self-gratification to relieving the needy and suffering.
A true lady in God's sight is known not by meeting the world's idea of a lady, nor by being merely an ornament, nor by spending time and strength for self-gratification, but by a life filled with good works. Godly women keep mind and heart on thoughts that strengthen purity and draw them into communion with God, and this guards them against being led astray by deceptive and seductive temptations. That higher life uses physical, mental and moral powers in the Master's service to be a blessing to those around, including being a useful wife and mother and helping practically such as by personal activity to help a husband reduce family expenses, which alone brings real happiness. Young women professing godliness are to follow Christ in conduct and not encourage romantic attachments in ways that harm others or undermine their usefulness.
Economy for Benevolence
The fitting adornment for women professing godliness is good works expressed in strict economy and self-denial in dress, choosing plain, simple, durable clothing of good quality without rich trimmings, useless expense, extra ornaments, or extravagance to gratify pride. Costly or useless ornaments are to be laid aside, laid off and discarded, even sold, and the savings economized to help remove heavy debts on churches, to advance the cause of truth, to support missionary work, and to lay up treasure beside God's throne in heaven, which is well pleasing to God. Dress remains neat and tasteful, of good material carefully made as true economy, without display for self-gratification and fashion, leaving more money and time to help others, including teaching poorer women to dress simply and tastefully. In the last days of probation this separation from the world in dress is urgent, for value in the Lord's sight comes not from dress but from inward adorning, the graces of the Spirit, the kind word and thoughtful consideration for others.
Spending God's money and time on needless finery while the naked lack clothing and the hungry lack food withholds help from the poor and robs God's cause and its work of mercy and benevolence. Such outward decoration with jewels, expensive ornaments and luxurious display adds no worth to character and no value to influence, and the notion that dressing as worldlings dress gives weight to influence must be put away. Devotion to extravagant dress diverts the mind from matters of eternal consequence, leaves the beautiful traits of character uncultivated, obscures vision so inner faults are not discerned, encourages pride and vanity, can stir lust, can stifle the desire to do good, forms stumbling blocks for self and others, and puts salvation in danger. Adorning the person in this way is idolatry and self-pleasing, love for things supposed to give value to the person, gratifying pride and love of appearance and praise, revealing inward poverty and lack of spirituality, separating the soul from God like the golden calf, and giving an incorrect representation of truth. The outside appearance testifies of the inward working of the heart, so truth received transforms mind and character into distinct, separate doers of the Word in dress, speech and deportment, turning from worship of self and spending for self-gratification to relieving the needy and suffering in harmony with faith.
The practical good works that befit the profession are relieving the suffering, clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, visiting the poor, comforting the discouraged, reading God's word to those who cannot read, telling the truth for this time to those who know it not, and faithful service and work for Christ rather than living for display and pleasure. They include using modest means and personal effort to help others receive the message, putting away pride and ornaments, practicing self-denial, and cherishing love, piety and faith so their fruits appear in the life. A profession of godliness is thus shown through doing good, with money and time used for the needy and for gospel work instead of vanity.
Witness Influence and Accountability
Adorning with good works gives a holy and visible example of inward grace that marks those who profess godliness as distinct from the world and represents Christ to others, drawing them toward truth. Modest, reserved and sober conduct, with chastity and virtue set apart from surrounding corruption, is itself part of that witness, while immodest display and levity bring reproach upon truth and spread among believers like leaven. Plain dress without worldly fashion and display puts influence on Christ's side, and professed Sabbath-keepers are to choose modest apparel and live to God's glory so that dress and conduct distinguish them from the world.
Parents must carry out God's directions for dress rather than the wishes of their children or the customs of a fashionable world, teaching modesty and godly character instead of sowing seeds of vanity by loving dress and dressing children fashionably, for which they will be held accountable. Plain dress without useless ornamentation or display, with cultivation of Christian graces rather than fostering love of dress in self or children, is what befits the profession. New converts must be taught that vanity and pride in dress are to be left behind, even when following the gospel requires a decided change, and apparel then bears witness that they are being purified from vanity and selfishness and are not idolaters. In worship extravagant dress and outward display are contrary to inspired instruction, and dress and spirit should suit the holy place, with the worshiper's unselfish life becoming a living message to others, though faith must be supported by corresponding works that have no merit of themselves, since credit belongs to God when His Spirit works in the obedient.
Neat, orderly and refined dress and deportment suit worship and shape the impressions made on unbelievers and youth. Clothing should be neat, clean, plain and simple without unnecessary adornment, with even garments touching the skin kept clean and free from offensive odor, helping keep thoughts pure. Fantastic dress, gold chains, gaudy lace, excessive trimmings, ornaments and worldly fashions that attract attention profane the house of God and show poor judgment and pride, and delighting in display of dress there to gratify pride by following the fashions of a degenerate age is contrary to modest apparel. Costly fashionable clothing spends God's money that should be invested in good works and missionary work to carry truth to the perishing and teach them to be clothed with the righteousness of Christ, and those with great light who continue in it rob God's cause of means needed for present and eternal good and separate their souls from God under the eye of the holy Watcher who traces what their means might have done to His glory. Those who dress modestly have God's blessing, while immodest display surrounds the soul with an atmosphere that is spiritual malaria to others coming into the faith, and the leaven of pride and extravagance spreads until the whole lump is leavened, ceasing only when those whose names are on the church books are converted.
Luxurious living and extravagant dressing carried to excess are among the signs of the last days, and no Christian can conform to demoralizing fashions of the world without imperiling salvation, since adopting them shows Christ is not formed within and appears to sanction what professed Christians dare not follow. The plain teaching to adorn with modest apparel worn with shamefacedness and sobriety rather than braided hair or gold or pearls or costly array, with men praying everywhere lifting holy hands without wrath and doubting, requires holiness of heart and life, sobriety, devotion and prayer, condemns vanity, worldly fashion, frivolity and self-pleasing, and in the Judgment will condemn those who have not heeded it. Pride and vanity that look into the mirror to admire self leave little inclination to look into God's law, and this idolatry of dress destroys what is humble and meek and lovely in character, consumes precious hours that should be given to meditation, searching of heart and prayerful study of God's Word, and obscures vision of inner faults. Outward appearance testifies of the inward working of the heart, and truth received transforms mind and character into doers of the Word who are distinct and separate from the world in dress, speech and deportment, with zeal according to knowledge. Pride budding and blossoming in apparel reveals the thoughts and interests of the heart and is idolatry in small as well as large matters, like the golden calf, separating from God, while showy extravagant dress encourages pride and vanity, can stir lust and can stifle the desire to do good. Where ancient godly women covered their faces with a veil in public, small bonnets exposing face and head and hoops now show lack of modesty and shame, and as the earth grows more corrupt the line of distinction between the world and God's Israel must grow more plain, lest the curse falling on worldlings fall on God's professed people who have departed from Him. In the last days of probation those professing godliness must come out and be separate in dress, with neat tasteful clothing of good material carefully made as true economy but without rich trimmings and needless expense for self-gratification, valuing inward adorning, the graces of the Spirit, the kind word and thoughtful consideration for others, and practicing strict economy and self-denial in clothing for self and children in order to bring means to God, lay up treasure beside His throne, advance His cause, relieve suffering, clothe the naked, feed the hungry and tell the truth for this time to those who know it not.