Issue #1

Hey all,
Last night it took me awhile to get to sleep, and as a result, many thoughts ran through my mind. Or maybe that's why I couldn't sleep ;) Anyway, I've got a couple different posts running through my mind, and also at least one more issue (besides the following one) to research out, but for now, I'll try to stick to the issue I mentioned in the previous post. Please read this with an open mind, and completely through before making any judgement. I would appreciate any comments, opinions you may have, but keep in mind that any critical comments will not be posted. I pray that God uses this post to enlighten you, encourage you, strenghten you, and give maybe someone some answers that maybe they have been looking for. What you are about to read is my interpretation/opinion over an issue that could be very contraversial, carefully researched out and based on the principles in God's word as well as from the historical information gathered from commentators and Bible dictionaries. So, if you're ready, here's what I've thought out and worked through.

Scripture: Deuteronomy 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."

All my life I have been taught that this means (American) women are to wear dresses/skirts and men are to wear jeans/pants. (Each country and culture has it's own dress "code" for men and women.) Ever since grade school even, I have been in discussions about this and would hear the argument that women's jeans are different than men's jeans, so it's ok for women to wear women's jeans. I have always stood with my teachings, and as a teenager, I sort of studied it out, but not in detail, and concluded that the teachings I grew up with were correct.

Just recently I had this discussion with a friend of mine, and it was pointed out to me that in the Bible times everyone wore robes, and so there had to be a distinct difference between the women's robes and the men's robes in order for this scripture to mean anything. Here is what a couple of Bible dictionaries on my Power Bible CD have to say.

The chief garments of the Hebrews were the tunic or inner garment, and the mantle or outer garment. These seem to have constituted a "change of Rainment," Jg 14:13; 19:1-30; Ac 9:39. The tunic was of linen, and was worn next to the skin, fitting close to the body; it had armholes, and sometimes wide and open sleeves, and reached below the knees; that worn by females reached to the ankles. (American Tract Society Dictionary)

We shall first describe the robes which were common to the two sexes, and then those which were peculiar to women. (1) The inner garment was the most essential article of dress. It was a closely-fitting garment, resembling in form and use our shirt, though unfortunately translate "coat" in the Authorized Version. The material of which it was made was either wool, cotton or linen. It was without sleeves, and reached only to the knee. Another kind reached to the wrists and ankles. It was in either case kept close to the body by a girdle, and the fold formed by the overlapping of the robe served as an inner pocket. A person wearing the inner garment alone was described as naked. (2) There was an upper or second tunic, the difference being that it was longer than the first. (3) the linen cloth appears to have been a wrapper of fine linen, which might be used in various ways, but especially as a night-shirt.
The dress of the women differed from that of the men in regard to the outer garment, the inner garment being worn equally by both sexes. Among their distinctive robes we find a kind of shawl, light summer dresses of handsome appearance and ample dimensions, and gay holiday dresses. The garments of females were terminated by an ample border of fringe (skirts, Authorized Version), which concealed the feet. (Smith’s Bible Dictionary)

So we see by this that the robes were different in length, and also the fringe being only on the women's robes. Also, women's robes were more beautiful, and colorful than the men's robes, from what I gather from what is said here. So, we see a DISTINCT noticeable difference in the dress of the genders in the Bible days.

Let's take a look at modern day dress for a moment. Womens' jeans are made different then mens. The cut is obviously different, especially in the designer jeans, to highlight the woman's figure. The zippers are generally shorter, the waist band sits lower, and the button/snap and zipper are usually on the opposite side as the mens jeans. Sometimes the women's jeans are different colors while the men's jeans are normally just the blues, black, and sometimes white or khaki. However, I don't see any distinct differences, aside of color. If I were to hold up a pair of womens' jeans in one hand and a pair of mens jeans in the other hand (of the same color) a person standing several feet away possibly could not tell the difference. For the most part, a closer look is needed. And for the most part, a pair of "girls'" jeans are decoarated with girly things and colors, while boys jeans are either not decorated at all or have boyish designs, but the real issue here is not really color, or design but the one little word in the scripture that I feel a lot of times is overlooked.

It's that little word "PERTAIN." What does this word mean?

per·tain [pər táyn] (past and past participle per·tained, present participle per·tain·ing, 3rd person present singular per·tains)
vi
1. have relevance: to have relevance, reference, or a connection to something
2. be appropriate: to be appropriate or suitable
3. be part or belong: to be part of something or belong to something, especially as an attribute or accessory
[14th century. Via French < Latin pertinere , literally "hold to" < tenere "hold, keep"]
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

pertain (v)
relate, refer to, connect to, apply to, belong to, affect
Encarta ® World English Dictionary © & (P) 1998-2005 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

From Webster himself. Pertain means associated with. In America, from the very beginning, pants/jeans have been associated with the man, skirts/dresses have been associated with the woman. Society has so degraded itself that anything and everything can and will be justified however "wrong" it may be. Please, don't get me wrong. I am just sharing what I have found in this little study and I'm just going to let God take it from here. I am not condemning any woman for wearing jeans, I am simply taking the principle found in God's word and expounding on it, trying to found out what was really meant by it, and how does it apply to us today. God will lead a searching heart and show them exactly what He wants for their lives from the smallest issues (like what to wear) to the bigger issues (like who to marry). I believe He uses others as tools, and that is all I intend for this post to be: a tool to be used by God to show someone His divine will for them on this issue. I for one, after researching this out, must retain my convictions, and continue to joyfully wear what I feel God would have me to wear.

God bless each of you and thank you for listening to my thoughts on this issue that is fast becoming an issue in my church circles. We MUST NOT judge one who lets down on their standards because standards are not what constitutes salvation. We must allow God to deal with the person and allow HIM to show them His will, not dictate what we think His will is.

Now, I'm going to shut up before I start saying things that haven't been thought out well and come across the wrong way ;) Hope everyone has a great week!!!!

Until next time,

Esther

P.S. I have pics. of the tables and since I don't have school any more this week, will do my best to get them on here in the next couple of days. Stay tuned!!!!