What to Aim for When We Dress?

So, I thought I kick off this post by talking about an often-addressed aspect in the Christian life: Clothing Choices.

Today, I want to answer the question: What do we aim for when we decide what clothes, what fashions, we're going to wear? What makes us look into our closet and decide between two different shirts? How do we look at a pair of jeans and a pair of sweatpants and choose which one to wear? I guess at first, it looks like there's two options. Do we dress based off of what others say is cool—what society deems acceptable, or do we dress based off our own tastes and fashions? Here's been my experience: People said to dress my way and be myself—but they still expected me to conform to what is deemed normal. “Be unique, different, and dress in what makes you feel good, without worrying about what others say—as long as it's not socially weird.” This confused me. I was told I had a choice. And apparently, my choice was not a good, normal, blendy-in type choice. Apparently, my choice was a weird, unnatural, standy-out-in-the-bad-way choice. I wore extremely loose men's pants and very boxy shirts (as in, gave my torso more of a box shape). I didn't shave my legs or my armpits. I loved the loose, natural, comfortable feel I got from these things. And people didn't like them. I was lovingly told that my clothes make me look fatter than I really am. That I needed to start shaving. That I'm almost sixteen, and that is certainly old enough to start taking good care of myself and my hygiene. That I need to start respecting my body. All of this was told to me out of a spirit of love and assistance, but I still got angry and sad. “Who cares that my clothes make me look fat?” I wondered. “So what if other people think I'm huskier than I am? I know the truth, and so does God. Why does it matter?” “And what do they mean, it's time to start taking care of myself and my hygiene?” I burned silently to myself. “I do respect my body! I do take care of my hygiene! I workout and eat healthily, I use good deodorant so I don't stink, and I shower every other day, washing my body and hair each time! And they think I don't respect my body, just because I don't shave and my thin hair gets oily and flat super easily!” “No one can see respect!” I exclaimed to myself. “And it can be there, even if some signs make people assume it's not!” Still, I tried to find some slightly less boxy shirts, and I started shaving. I didn't care, but the women in my life did, so I preformed these actions as a way to love them. I was still torn, though. Torn between being my weird self, and loving my family and friends. It hurt. Really, really badly. Then, God brought something to my mind. I suddenly pondered. What if...dressing isn't about pleasing other people, AND dressing isn't about pleasing yourself? What if the real issue is dressing to please God and to glorify Him? I think John Piper worded the answer beautifully in his book, Don't Waste Your Life. On page 119 in Don't Waste Your Life, John Piper said this: “The better questions to ask about possible behaviors is: How will this help me treasure Christ more? How will it help me show that I do treasure Christ? How will it help me know Christ or display Christ? The Bible says, “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). So the question is mainly positive, not negative. How can I portray God as glorious in this action? How can I enjoy making much of him in this behavior?”* So, when you look at a piece of clothing, ask yourself John Piper's above questions. They are the real questions that count when dressing. As for me, I glorify God with my body by sticking to what He has convicted me is appropriate. I still shave now, and I hope to find a dress to wear to weddings and other fancy things. The shaving and the dress is glorifying God by being respectful to others and loving them. (Matthew 7:12—“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”) I pray that you'll remember, perhaps even write down, John Piper's questions. May God bless you. <3 “Now to the King eternal,

immortal,

invisible,

the only God,

be honor and glory for ever and ever.

Amen.”

(1 Timothy 1:17)

*Piper, John. Don't Waste Your Life (Group Study Addition). Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 2007