PROUDLY WEARING THE UNIFORM...
I have had something on my mind for a little while now that has been troubling me. A man recently asked some questions about Apostolic clothing standards and if I thought his wife was going to hell because she wears pants. While I am usually not one to beat around the bush about things, I somewhat tried to pass the questions off because I felt like he wasn't wanting the truth but my approval and I truly never want to offend anyone.
Either way since I have had these questions and many others on the subject asked of me...Why do I dress the way I do? Why do I not cut or dye my hair? Why do I not wear makeup or jewelry? Why is your “religion” so strict? Why this or why that?, in the past, I feel they deserve an answer. A truthful answer. A biblical answer.
So here goes.
Military personnel, no matter what country they serve are required to wear a uniform. In the United States, the government requires that each soldier take special care of his uniform. Before he dons it he must make sure that it is meticulously pressed, without wrinkle, spot or any kind of blemish. Their shoes have to be shined and they must be clean cut and shaven (also part of the uniform requirements). They must wear their cover (cap/hat) in public at all times. After all they are representing the United States of America every single time they wear that uniform. It must be perfect!!!!
Police officers all over the globe wear a uniform of some type to identify them as an officer of the law. They are also required to make sure that their uniform is picture perfect before they head off to work each day.
Nurses and doctors have specific attire to their profession as well. Postal workers wear a specific type of uniform and even most fast food workers don uniforms of some kind.
The thing is uniforms identify a person with their profession, who or what they serve. If everyone wore civilian clothing all the time you would never be able to tell a doctor from a police officer and a military member from a worker at McDonalds. Uniforms play a BIG role in our society!!!
With that said, it stands to reason that God, who is the King of Kings, the head of the heavenly government, has uniform requirements as well. These requirements are set out through the pages of the bible. When you become a soldier in God’s army fighting on the side of good, a Christian, there is a uniform involved and not wearing it is not an option!
2 Tim. 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.
He has called his people to be separate, different from unbelievers....the people of the world.
2 Cor. 6:14-18
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
A Christians actions, words and deeds are not the only changes God requires...but ALL things must become new.
2 Cor. 5:17—Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
Including our clothing. We cannot continue to wear the same outfit as the sinner and expect to be recognized as a Christian!!!!! We must don the uniform of a soldier of God...and it must be without spot, wrinkle or blemish. You can tell people you are a Christian all day long and even act like one but unless you are wearing God’s required uniform of holiness and modesty no one is going to be able to tell the difference between you and everyone else.
The bible says...
Deut. 22:5—The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
1 Tim. 2:9—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;
Requirements for hair!
1 Cor. 11:4-16 (NIV version as it is more understandable in this particular discussion)—Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. 5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. 6 For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head.
7 A man ought not to cover his head,[b] since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. 8 For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; 9 neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. 10 It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own[c] head, because of the angels. 11 Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. 12 For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God.
13 Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? 14 Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, 15 but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. 16 If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God.
So, why do I live like I do? I AM PROUDLY WEARING THE UNIFORM OF HOLINESS!
I am a soldier in God’s army. It’s not my “religion” that is strict... God does not ask more of us than our own government asks of its soldiers. God has specific criteria for my uniform so that others can see who I represent when they look at me. I am to look like a lady, dress like a lady and act like a lady at all times. According to his standards I am not to wear men’s clothing. That’s why I wear dresses...for those who do not understand this, there is no argument, pants are men’s clothing. Men do not wear skirts (dresses) so therefore it stands to reason that skirts and dresses pertain to ladies only...and pants pertain to men only. In the scriptures britches (breeches) Ex. 24:48 pertain to men...ladies never wore them! (By the picture in this post it seems that even our own government believes that woman should wear skirts to distinguish them from the men, I'm not sure why there is so much question over this). I am to be modest. My body is to be decently covered at all times. That means I do not show my cleavage or anything above my knee...EVER!! I am not to wear make-up but to be shamefaced. I am not to wear jewelry either. My cover is my hair, which the bible clearly explains is to be uncut (long). I do not need a hat or a veil because God has given me hair to cover my head. I will go a step further and say that if he doesn’t want his ladies wearing makeup on our face that we also should not put “makeup” (dye) on our hair.
Prov. 16:31—The hoary head (gray hair) is a crown of glory, if it be found in the way of righteousness.
HOLINESS IS TO BE MY ONLY ADORNMENT!!!
Psalm 29:2—Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
What about God’s men? What is his requirement for their uniform in service to him?
In the same regard, God’s men are to look, act and dress like men. They are not to be effeminate. Modesty is required. They are not to have long hair. They are required to be clean cut and shaven. Yes, if you read the scriptures given to Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost in 1 Cor. 11 (above) you know that a man’s head is to be uncovered...all of it...that includes your face. You might argue that men wore beards in bible times so why not now? It’s because the Apostolic church did not begin until after Jesus ascended into heaven and the Holy Ghost was sent. Then, under the unction of the Holy Ghost the Apostles preached and gave instruction of what God expects of his people, the church, in regards to all things pertaining to holy living, including clothing and hair and that’s what we must follow.
Just as in the secular world, our clothing and hair are submission issues. Some say submission is a bad word but when you wear a uniform and are in submission to the authority over you, you earn and receive the perks the company (or government) offers. With God those perks are many.
Will you go to hell if you want to become a Christian but choose not to wear the uniform?
All I can say is this...if someone becomes a soldier in the United States armed forces where they are REQUIRED to wear the uniform and they refuse, they are dishonorably discharged from service and are no longer allowed to enjoy the perks and benefits that uniform brings nor are they allowed any more on government property.
I will never tell a person for any reason they are going to hell but I can show them in the bible what God requires of every person desiring to serve him. I can show them scripture telling them that they will be judged by the word of God according to all their deeds on this earth but ultimately God is the one who says whether someone is going to hell or not.
John 12:48—He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Rev. 20:12—And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
I do believe that if you don’t wear the uniform you are dishonoring God and his kingdom. I believe you will be discharged from God’s army and will not be identified with all who wear that sacred uniform and therefore will not be allowed to enter heaven.
PROUDLY WEAR THE UNIFORM!!!
