“The first impression people have of you is who you are.” Anonymous. Is that true? Yes, it can be partially true. People address us based on our dress code.

Indeed, God sees the inside of man’s heart, but He also cares about your appearance and what you wear. In extreme cases, some people hear what you have to say based on how you look.  

We are misjudged because of our outfits sometimes. Though the stress on this post is on physical dressing, our precious spirits need dressing too. The latter is according to the divine purpose of God. I encourage you to dress neatly and decently.

Does our dress affect how people address us?

Our clothing has a significant effect on how people regard us. Since ancient times, dress has been used to depict professions. Everyone gives honor to military officials when they see their uniforms. If we respect our jobs, we can honor God through our clothes.

A typical example of dressing our spirits is in Apostle Paul’s allegorical analysis. He explains using Roman soldiers’ uniforms in those days. Eph 6: 13-16.

• “Therefore, put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
• Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, the breastplate of righteousness in place, and your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
• In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
• And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people”.

Who instituted dressing?

God instituted dressing when He made clothes for Adam and Eve (Gen 3:21-23).

Dressing up appropriately is what everyone has to do. Strangely, some Christians nowadays are either indifferent or nonchalant. There has to be a balance between what we wear physically and what we wear spiritually. Some people cannot reconcile some Christians’ dress with the gospel, so they wrongly address them as such.

There are some Christians who think focusing on building the spirit is essential. As a result, the emphasis is not on the physical. They dress and expose their bodies, saying God is within. At the same time, another group of Christians has established exaggerated doctrines on how to dress. For example, they insist that ladies wear headgear or hats in church.

The list is long for denominations, but one thing is certain decency, in general, is imperative. From the Biblical characters and Jesus, inclusive is relevant. Jesus is our standard.

Everything God created was good. Also, everything He has given man the wisdom to develop is for the well-being of man. The purpose of clothes was for us to cover our nakedness. Choosing to dress half-naked is disregarding God’s intent for creating clothes.

When our dressing is inappropriate, we shouldn’t be surprised when people inappropriately address us too.

“Looking good is good business.” How you look is how you feel.

Everyone, at the least most people, dance or smile when they wear new clothes. Some women usually make turns around the room. Others move in front of the mirror, envisaging the occasion; they will wear the new dress.

Ever wondered why supermarkets have big wall mirrors where clothes are? Could it be because everyone wants to look at themselves in different outfits? “People go-to wedding celebrations to see the kind of wedding dress the bride will be wearing, “Anonymous. How accurate is this statement?

Is God interested in how we dress?

God has an interest in the kind of clothes we wear. He created Males and Females with specific differences warranting unique dressing. Even though our generation has made alterations to the type of clothes, these changes are now based on each gender group. However, as Christians, we need to be cautious and deliberate in what we wear.

Many quote Deut 22:3 as evidence for gender clothing. It says, “A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wears women’s clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this.”

Spiritual decency, according to God, is not about the price tag of your clothes. Neither is it the colourful hair extensions. Nor the height of our heels, or is it the brand/kind of pieces of jewellery and accessories you wear. These are not bad. But they have to be in moderation.

In simple words, Apostle Paul again explains in 1 Tim 2:9-10. “I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.”

Let your conduct reflect how you dress.

Apostle Peter equally remarks about the qualities of beauty and fashion in relation to dressing. He commends Christian women nowadays to adopt the dressings styles of married women in the Bible and to consider how they were addressed. Their sauce affected the address they received

His recommendation is in 1 Pet 3:2-5. “when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands”.

“The clothing of the people in Biblical times was made from wool, linen, animal skins, and perhaps silk. Most events in the Old and New Testaments took place in ancient Isreal. This is why most Biblical clothing is ancient Hebrew clothing. They wore underwear and cloth skirts.”

It is not scripturally acceptable for a God-fearing man or woman to dress naked partially. We have to treasure and value our bodies. This entails keeping them clean and well-covered. Nudity is a secular fashion trend that isn’t Biblical.

The value and cost of Jesus’ clothes in Mat 27:25 are of good quality. That sounds like an assumption, right? Unfortunately, it is not. The evidence is“After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.” You accept they couldn’t have cast lots for something worthless, right?

Our dressing affects how people address us, whether we are aware or not. We are responsible as Ambassadors of Christ to uphold reliable impressions everywhere we go. How do you dress?

For more Godly advice, consider reading the article giving up is not a Christian Option.