Let me be frank and begin by saying, my ideas about dress and modest apparel have not always been correct.
Before I was saved, my clothing motto was all about comfort and showing off my body. I did not own a dress. I did have miniskirts, however.
After I was saved, I still didn’t see anything wrong with my clothes. What I wore was really an afterthought. Then my pastor sent me home with a book on Biblical modesty. I mentally (and verbally with a friend) ripped the book to shreds! My thoughts were, “this is overkill!”
A few weeks went by and God started pricking my heart. “What is the big deal about what you wear, Michelle?”
Why did this issue rub me so wrong? And my answer was that I just don’t see it.
“Coincidentally” in my Bible reading I came to Proverbs 16:3 – “Commit thy works unto the Lord and thy thoughts shall be established.” So, I committed to obey God and let Him change my mind. And He did!
When the smoke settled, I no longer felt comfortable in immodest clothes, specifically pants. God changed my heart. Even loose pants draw attention to areas that should be hidden.
Here are my top 5 reasons why I wear skirts:
1 . Abomination is still abomination. God calls a woman wearing man clothes an abomination. Really it is cross dressing, which used to be called a perversion. Without thinking, we would say that person is a pervert. I certainly do not want to be that!
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. – Deuteronomy 22:5
2. Not that long ago, modest dress was not so odd. Now, I may stand out like a sore thumb in my exercise skirts, but the benefit of a clear conscious before God or when I “run into someone from church” far outweighs any embarrassment. (And little tip…modest “non wierdo” skirts exist for swimming and exercising).
Shouldn’t we have some shame if our secret parts are outlined?! I figure, if people can wear the word “juicy” or “pink” on their rear end, I can cover mine. A friend once told me, “In an insane world, the sane appear as insane.” *smile*
3. I identify myself with the female sign on the bathroom. It is still social normality that when a woman wants to look nice, she wears a dress. It is still feminine. I have never seen a bride in wedding slacks.
4. I don’t want to cause my brothers in Christ to morally stumble. My figure is nothing to gawk at, but it is still female. When a woman wears pants, it is to the center seam that the eye looks first (front and back) and, like it or not, that creates sexual thought in a man’s mind. Yikes!
5. It is such a small thing that God asks. How many areas of my Christian walk have I failed in? We all wear a uniform. Shouldn’t I dress like I am on God’s team? Is it really too much to ask? It is infinitesimal.
I am aware of the percentages of women in the world and in churches who wear pants. I do not harbor any ill feelings toward anyone due to dress! I love and have many dear friends who wear pants. I only share how God worked in my heart and ask you…have you asked God what is HIS opinion? My opinion is small. It is ONLY His that matters.
Joyfully serving her Saviour in her blessed position of wife and mother, Dr. Michelle Zarrillo has a unique perspective on health related issues. As a working chiropractor and an avid reader, she has many opportunities to practice that which she learns. Educating her children at home and discovering their special needs has further challenged her to examine the connection between the physical, mental and spiritual realms of the human nature. Her passion for healthier living and her quest for the Creator’s ways of healing keep her pressing forward in search of truth.
Read Michelle’s salvation testimony here and her articles here.
Comments 14
As a mother to 5 daughters and married to a strong, spiritual man of God for 15 yrs. What I’ve learned? Pants are not the problem.
In fact, skirts, even long skirts can easily be just as immodest as pants, if not more. If my daughters (who love to wear skirts, btw) are to be going anywhere where they are going to be active, such as playing on a playground, my husband doesn’t allow them to wear skirts. If they do, they have to wear biker type shorts or leggings underneath. Why? Because young girls playing don’t know how to be discreet. And no length of skirt or dress can hide that.
I’ve seen teenage girls with long skirts playing, on their backs on the ground kicking their feet up and boys trying to look.
This is real. Modesty and discretion are a lot more than long skirts.
Thank you for your comment. I agree with you that keeping yourself modest is not just a skirt issue. It is a challenge and a definite struggle teaching girls to be ladies. We do all we can to keep our girl looking like a girl and teaching her to keep covered. I agree you cannot drop either ball (and any teen girl on the floor kicking up their legs would be an issue even in pants)…two wrongs don’t make right. Holiness in a fallen world is hard! Add our sinful nature; it is difficult. I am thankful God is Holy and we all need His help in every way. He wants our whole heart and dress does not save us. I cannot answer to God for you, but commend your conscious effort to protect your girls. As for our house, we resolved to give this area to Him. We feel it is a small thing, but if it can’t be done as a lady…we abstain.
-Michelle
I agree that girls must find a way to be modest. I think leggings under a skirt are a great idea, and I also think teaching the young ladies to get up quickly when they fall and to be mindful of their clothes is very important. Sometimes you have to choose between two evils. While two wrongs don’t make a right, I have learned that sometimes with kids, if you don’t give just a little, they become bitter. I don’t think it is a bad thing for kids to learn to be different and stand alone. On the other hand, I don’t want my kids frustrated because they are the only ones in the church not allowed to play a ball game. So you do what works best, making sure they are as covered as possible and teaching them to conduct themselves modestly while developing a heart attitude of modesty and having fun with peers. Also, I don’t think fun should ever be limited to just peers.
I just have to say amen! I, too, am a Christian and wear my skirts/dresses proudly. I have been asked more than once if I have to dress this way and my answer is always the same, “I don’t HAVE to do anything, I dress this way because I want to, to glorify Him.”
Thank you for your comment, Beverly!
Amazing! I got saved the other day and one of my biggest challenge was moving from pants to modest dresses and skirts. I believe the prophet of this day…has echoed the voice of God. Trousers are an abomination! We will go to hell if we were them. No doubt. Thanks for sharing this.
Thank you for your comment. We pray the ministry of Grace & Honor is a blessing to you!
How exciting to hear of your new life in Christ! Keep pursuing the Lord and striving to please Him with your life.
We see clearly through Scripture that Bible salvation is by grace only, never of what good things we can do – wearing skirts being one of those “good works.”
Titus 3:5 says, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;”
Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Dressing appropriately is always good. Skirts and dresses are not inherently modest nor are they always appropriate.
I think that males should be taught to avert their eyes if they see something/someone leading them astray. Putting all the responsibility on females to cover up reduces males to helpless animals that can’t possibly be expected to be anything other than weak and undisciplined. Also, what is modest in the eyes of one man might be a major turn-on to another. Where does the crazy end? With burqas?
You know Jesus and his crowd wore robes, right? Doesn’t that make women wearing long flowing garments without separate compartments for the legs sinning by wearing what “pertaineth to a man”? Or does that make Jesus a cross-dresser? Or both? Please explain. No one in fundamentalism has ever explained that to me; they’ve always either ignored the question and deleted it or resorted to ad hominem attacks.
If my response doesn’t get posted, don’t worry. I’ve copied it and will cut and paste it elsewhere. Even though it’s not vulgar or nasty it is not agreeing with you. Polite disagreement isn’t tolerated in fundamentalism.
Thank you Jessa for your sincere response. I am in agreement that a skirt is not inherently modest. And modesty is our goal. No I do not think men are animals…they must learn self control. I seriously doubt my body is causing anyone to stumble but I have to give accountability to God for myself. I would always rather err on the side of being a helper to my brothers than a hinderance.
That being said…males and females..robes and all had a different appearance. In this unisex world, I am ok that I am female and looking feminine.
I do think it can be a struggle to submit our body to whatever would please God. At least it was for this proud stubborn soul. You are not rushing to the pits of Hell if you wear pants. My moral meter can be quite worldly and it was God who convicted my heart…that I should submit my attire to Him. Seek His guidance. You don’t need my approval. Just His.
What is wrong with polite disagreement? Even passionate disagreement! Doesn’t iron sharpen iron? And faithful are the wounds of a friend? 🙂
What is the name of the book on biblical modesty that the pastor sent you home with?
God’s Word quoted in previous comments is eternally settled in Heaven. Heaven, earth, modernism, social correctness and man’s ideas will pass away but God’s Word remain … Let us then welcome Christ in our hearts and lives and He will bear record of His Word today as He molds us to obey and manifest It.
I admit, I love your modesty point and where guys look. Maybe it’s just me, but out of concern for women I wish men would wear baggier pants or kilts. Jeans and especially tailored dress pants so clearly expose their manhood! I try not to look and I do my best, but some men really put it all out there. Swim trunks are even worse! It’s really discouraging.
Good point. Reminds me of Everyman looking on the others need. …
I wholeheartedly agree with your choice to wear dresses and skirts. As a Christian transgender woman, I too choose to wear skirts and dresses all the time as I feel it is a great way to express my femininity in a modest and godly way, and to differentiate myself as a lady. I don’t judge anyone on what they wear, I just prefer to dress in a feminine way that reflects a traditional female gender role. I have worn dresses and skirts and long hair since I was a preteen and was even married in a wedding dress, so femininity is very dear to my heart. Skirts are certainly more comfortable year round, too.