Does the Bible Say Loving Fashion is a Sin?

Shelby appreciates fashion. Rising through the ranks in the banking industry, she always wants to look her best, and she enjoys wearing the latest trends that present her as a “modern woman” meant to be taken seriously in a male-dominated field.

But recently another lady in her Sunday School class commented that a love of clothes is sinful and vain. Shelby began to worry. Did other people see her this way – and even worse, did God?

 

1. Enjoying Fashion

Shelby started paying attention to the outfits worn by her fellow churchgoers. Not surprisingly, none of them wore plain burlap sacks that covered their skin from neck to toe. In fact, most ladies dressed fashionably and found pleasure in discussing their latest shopping finds with each other. This pleasure did not seem to detract from their relationship with God.

 

2. Avoiding Fashion

Yet other women at church do choose to dress more plainly, with long skirts and blouses so simple they could have belonged to Caroline in Little House on the Prairie. Shelby compared her outfits to theirs and wondered if she should completely revamp her entire wardrobe – though the thought of doing so was depressing.

 

3. The Bible and Earthly Goods

One of the most widely known tenets of Christianity is that its followers must put away earthly possessions and focus instead on heavenly treasures.

As stated in Matthew 6:19-20: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.”

In modern society, following this command proves pretty difficult, since having nice things is an outward sign of status and achievement. Plus, fashion is fun! But what about owning closets full of clothes and obsessing over the latest trends? Is it a sin for Shelby and others to want to wear nice outfits that look good?

 

4. Clothing Styles in Biblical Times

Clothing styles actually served a major role in the Bible.

Kings wore robes to distinguish themselves from their subjects:

• 2 Chronicles 18:9: “Now the king of Israel and Jehoshaphat the king of Judah were sitting on their thrones, arrayed in their robes.”
• Esther 6:8: “Let royal robes be brought, which the king has worn.”

Joseph wore a coat of many colors to indicate his special place in the family:

• Genesis 37:3: “Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons … and he made an ornate robe for him.”

Men and women were commanded to wear only clothing intended for their gender because doing otherwise expressed open defiance against God’s original design:

• Deuteronomy 22:5: “A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman’s garment, for all who do so are an abomination to the Lord your God.”

Clothing served and continues to serve not only as a basic necessity of life but also as a form of communication.

 

5. Okay to Love Fashion?

Jesus taught his followers to focus not on what they wore but on seeking first the “kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33), just as He taught not to love money but to “be content with what you have” (Hebrews 13:5).

Many link this second lesson to the mistaken belief that the Bible says money is the root of all evil, when in actuality it says the love of money that is the root of all evil (1 Timothy 6:10).

One can conclude, therefore, that the love of fashion is more detrimental to our mental well-being than fashion itself. Enjoying nice outfits and dressing up for church and work are signs of self-respect and, therefore, respect for one of God’s creations – yourself.

 

6. A Fine Line

God does want us to dress modestly and be mindful of how much we spend on our appearance (1 Timothy 1:9-10): “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.”

Fashion should not become an idol that we worship, and the fashion industry does not set the standard for beauty; this standard is set by God alone and is based not on outward adornment but on “your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight” (1 Peter 3:3-4).

Wearing nice things is fine as long as we maintain Biblical standards and a sense of perspective. We can dress modestly and stylishly without vainly trying to draw attention to ourselves, spending an outrageous sum of money on clothes, or crossing the lines of what is gender-appropriate. And there is a fine line between appreciating fashion and obsessing over it.

But if someone like Shelby chooses her favorite yellow dress tomorrow morning because it boosts her spirit and it’s the latest fashion trend, she can enjoy the process without feeling that she is committing a grave sin.

 

Does God Care What You Wear to Church?

When you go to church, do you find yourself asking, “Does God care what you wear to church?” Do you treat it as something special, something sacred? Or is it just another day? Do you prepare your heart ahead of time, or do you just show up?

Christians can be incredibly divided on this topic. While some insist that God doesn’t care and you can show up wearing whatever, others insist that we must wear our Sunday best. But what does the Bible say? Find out here.

Does God Care What You Wear to Church?

 

7 “Sins” the Bible Never Actually Prohibits

If you grew up in a conservative Christian household (like I did!), you may have learned that some actions weren’t appropriate for Christians.

For example, I was definitely taught that “you don’t smoke, drink, cuss, gamble, or spend time with those who do.”

Imagine my surprise, then, when — as an adult — I learned that not all Christians find all of these actions (or others) wrong in the slightest!

No matter your personal preference (and I still prefer not to do most of these things myself), here are 7 things the Bible never actually prohibits as sin.

7 “Sins” the Bible Never Actually Prohibits

 

Oops! These 10 Popular Bible Verses Don’t Mean What You Think

The Bible is full of inspirational verses that can encourage us, lift us up, and remind us of God’s goodness.

Yet, just because a verse sounds encouraging doesn’t mean that’s the way the original author meant his or her words to be understood.

Here are 10 popular Bible verses people love to take out of context, completely distorting their original meaning in the process.

Oops! These 10 Popular Bible Verses Don’t Mean What You Think