Self-image and being aware of how I present myself in various aspects of my community life is important to me. My guess is you guys don't relate to the deliberations we women face a we pose in front of the wardrobe each morning.
Sadly there is another factor that influences my wardrobe choice from day to day. That I guess is best described as putting my best foot forward in the community and business sectors in which I work. I am fortunately enough to largely work from home and behind a computer screen. So I confess many days I enjoy working in my P'J's. But sitting in my PJ's at a board meeting, or an potential editor well lets’ say I haven't tired it.
Unfortunately in today society and especially the business sector first impressions count and frankly there are days I feel that puts me behind the eight ball before I am even out the door. You see there's part of my appearance I can't change! I have a physical disability and I am challenged by a speech impairment. As soon as I entry a meeting, aboard meeting or approach a potential client I am being sized up. Well that's the way I often feel. I kid myself thinking, if I dress in my corporate clothing then people will know I am a business women.
You see there are few errors in that theory. Firstly any outfit we put on before going out the door in the morning doesn't change who we are. Then there's fact that we all have our own individual options on dress standards and styles. To some people dress sense is very important while for others it often goes unnoticed. Another factor for me is some people in the community assume my 'carers' dress me. I think is amusing myself as I do not have any 'carers' only support staff and there is a huge difference in those two roles. That's a whole another discussion for another day.
Just to provide you with an example, about 12 months ago I attended our AGM, as vice present I need to sit in the front row. An important local business couple sat behind me. They like everybody else were flicking through the annual report which has pictures of our clients and their yearly activities. At this point I should probable explain I am the vice-president of a organization that supports young people with disabilities. The couple asked if my photo was in the report. I tried to explain I was not a client of the organization, afterwards I wished I remembered my photo was in the report as a member of board. They seemed surprised and yet delight when I stood to be re-elected for my eight term. As this illustrates we will always be judge by our outwards appearances regardless of what we take out the wardrobe in the morning we will be judged by others.
However a dear friend of mine has a very different perspective on our outer appearance and how we show approach our grooming habits which is recorded in the Book of Matthew chapter 6.25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?27 Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? 28 “So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 29 and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? . And the book of 1 Peter records similar sentiments "Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. "
. . .And yet I know many fellow believers who share my same preoccupation with outer appearances. At a glance Paul in his letters (again recorded in the Bible) has much to say about our outer appearance as men and women of God. Both in terms of our display of character and the difference in appearance. When I was young I used to sing a song They will know we are Christians by our love.
So how do we distinguish ourselves as believers in Christ? Recently I heard a sermon on the 'outer garments' of Christ in particulate those worn by a Christian women. While the description the speaker gave matched that which Paul wrote in his letters. The man’s central message failed to reflect those of Christ himself.
The sermon was very much about the care a woman should take with her appearance. To my horror the man went out to describe that appearance. Had he gone on to use Paul's description of modesty his argument might would have prevailed at least with me.
However the speaker describe the 'Christian women' as modest in dress, wearing no make up, a dress or skit modest in length and long hair (which is consistent with Paul's teaching in that our hair is a veil not the head covering. Which Paul refers to women wearing in a meeting symbolizing she is under the headship and authority of Christ in the meeting of Christians. In my mind the two are very different teachings for very different purposes. Again that's a topic for another time.)
The Bible reference the man may of been referring to an example of Christian dress code is the story recorded by Luke . . . . . . .And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” We know this women had 'long hair' because she was able to dry Jesus feet, what is not clarify by Luke is at that point of time had she made a decision to follow Christ. Luke is still referring to her as a sinner.
In fact the reference to the woman who was a sinner, was in terms of her trade. The woman was a prostitute. Whether this was the turning point in her life or not is irrelevant to my argument. The fact is prior to the recording of this event the lady had long hair but was not a respected member of the community.
If as this gentleman shared, could tell if lady was a Christian by watching her walk down the street was solely by way she dressed and her deportment then based on the use of bible illustration that judgement is more than likely impaired. There is another story where Mary the brother of Larza’s wiped Jesus feet with her hair. However, the sermon wasn’t clear enough to stop me using the above example.
We can not judge Christians by their distinctive dress, especially in today’s secular society. We like Jesus and Paul need look at her composure and character. I believe it is our character not the way someone is dressed that should set us apart as believers.
Are we too as Christian women worried about outward appearances instead of working on developing a Godly character?
Disclaimer: Opinions in this article do not represent that of any Christian domination and are strictly a result of my personal study of scriptures and life's experiences. 