EVERYTHING about the Christian should be in keeping with the profession that he makes. Even the deportment and manner of dress are mentioned in 1 Timothy 2:99In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; (1 Timothy 2:9). Christian women in their adorning are to be marked by modesty and discretion, and not by the meretricious ornaments of gold, or pearls, or costly clothing. This is to be much remembered.
A hundred years ago, when the light of the Heavenly Calling, and of the Lord’s coming for His people, broke in upon the slumbering saints, it aroused true, warmhearted affection for Christ, such as had not been witnessed for many a day. Great spiritual energy was shown in going forth to meet the Bridegroom, and all that was felt to be unsuited to Him was given up. The fact that they were strangers and pilgrims took a real hold upon those who were thus awakened. The cost was not calculated. Prudence calculates, but true devotedness never. The zeal of Thine house hath eaten me up is its language.
A proof of the power these heavenly realities exercised over the minds and hearts of God’s people was soon seen. There was an auction at Plymouth, lasting for three days, of jewelry, plate, and other things deemed unnecessary for those who belonged to heaven, and the money obtained from the sale was devoted to the work of the Lord. It was a little sample of Pentecostal grace, power, and joy, and of the Spirit’s work in awakening believers, leading them to gird up their loins, and to have their lights burning, and the lamp of testimony bright and clear, ready for the coming of the Lord.
The remembrance of Israel’s devotedness when they shook off the shackles of Egypt was delightful to His heart. “I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after Me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. Israel was holiness unto the Lord” (Jer. 2:2, 32Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the Lord; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown. 3Israel was holiness unto the Lord, and the firstfruits of his increase: all that devour him shall offend; evil shall come upon them, saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 2:2‑3)).
If the coming out from Egypt and entering the wilderness to be with God and to be His peculiar treasure was sweet to the memory of Jehovah, can we believe that the Pentecostal devotedness, and that which was akin to it a century ago, was not delightful to Him? He loves what is the fruit of the Spirit in the saints—true devotedness to Himself. And devotedness only considers what is suited to the One that is its object.
It has been well said of those who were so affected at that time, that they had closed the front door on the world. We shall leave it to each one to say whether in these later days the back door has not been opened to let it in again.
It cannot be denied that whatever is worn for mere display is for the exaltation of self, and not of Christ. It is the evidence of spiritual decline. Even worldlings can perceive the inconsistency of ornamentation and display by those who profess to be no longer of the world.
The saying is a true one that “every trace of Egypt is a reproach to the Christian.” It is a reminder of his bitter bondage. The goodly Babylonish garment and the wedge of gold brought disaster on the warriors of Israel when fighting in the promised land. Similar things have had similar effects on those who are professedly God’s warriors today. In contrast; one of the greatest of them said, “Silver and gold have I none,” and another described himself as “Poor, yet making many rich.”
Why does the Holy Spirit forbid the wearing of gold, pearls, and costly array? Let us open our Bibles, and with our eye upon the words in the Epistle to Timothy, ask God, whose words they are, why He placed them there, and whether He meant them to be obeyed or not.
Let us be honest, and abandon the feeble talk about legality, too often used as an excuse for worldliness. Remember that it is the Word of God we are looking at, and that we cannot slight it, or turn aside its keen edge except to our own spiritual hurt and God’s dishonor.
Why have the most spiritual leaders ever known in the Church always discarded such things? Why did they give up all that would have given them a standing in the sight of their fellows? Why have they been so highly commended for their simplicity, even by those who were not moving with them in the truth of the Heavenly Calling? Is it not that they thus put into practice the truth they professed?
One great danger of the wearing of gold, pearls, and costly array, is that people are thereby given an undue place, even in the assembly, as James in his practical epistle affirms. (James 2:22For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; (James 2:2)).
James must have been grieved to see it, or he would not have written about it. In the assembly no one should receive respect for anything save devotedness to Christ and true spirituality. Nothing of man should be recognized in that sphere where Christ is Head.
One has said that it is no excuse for worldliness to say, “Oh! I can afford it.” There is no self-denial there. Self-denial in daily practice is the denying of what exalts self. If that be wanting, a badge of true discipleship is lacking. Said the One who had not where to lay His head, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.”
Our bodies are the Lord’s. They are the dwelling-place of the Holy Spirit, and are for the display of Christ. We are exhorted to present them to God a living sacrifice, and not to be conformed to the world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom. 12:22And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:2)). A complete change is to be seen outwardly as the result of the new mind which rules the body. The old mind made it the slave of sin and folly, the new makes it serviceable for the good pleasure of God.
We ought to seek to please God rather than the world of which we no longer form a part. We ought not to bring what is worldly into the assembly where God dwells, nor to deck the dwelling-place of the Holy Spirit with what the Spirit Himself condemns. If we do, it is in disregard of His Holy Presence in us, and of the Word of God.
In the coming age, all that is worldly in appearance will be swept away from the children of Zion (Isa. 3:16-2416Moreover the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks and wanton eyes, walking and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet: 17Therefore the Lord will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and the Lord will discover their secret parts. 18In that day the Lord will take away the bravery of their tinkling ornaments about their feet, and their cauls, and their round tires like the moon, 19The chains, and the bracelets, and the mufflers, 20The bonnets, and the ornaments of the legs, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earrings, 21The rings, and nose jewels, 22The changeable suits of apparel, and the mantles, and the wimples, and the crisping pins, 23The glasses, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the vails. 24And it shall come to pass, that instead of sweet smell there shall be stink; and instead of a girdle a rent; and instead of well set hair baldness; and instead of a stomacher a girding of sackcloth; and burning instead of beauty. (Isaiah 3:16‑24)). If we seek to live in the power of the kingdom, out of which shall be cleared all things that tend to obscure the coming age, when the glory of Christ shall be universal, how differently shall we conduct ourselves!
Whatever exalts us in the world hides Christ, a thing which no one devoted to Him would allow. Love to Him will lead us into the obscure path that He so joyfully accepted, doing the Father’s will. “The world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not.” Oh, that whole-heartedess to Him were rekindled afresh in our hearts! Oh, that the one absorbing thought of our minds may be to give Him pleasure! The devotedness of each with respect to dress and outward appearance, helps others by the influence it sheds abroad for good. Every bit of worldliness in dress affects for evil those who are inclined that way. We either encourage people by our influence and example, or we do them harm.
Alas, the tide of worldliness has broken in upon the Church of God; its marks are visible to all. Many mourn over it in secret, though they may not have the courage to lift their voices in public against it.
Special conferences may be held for prayers anti humiliation, and abject confession of worldliness made, but is it put away? We too rarely hear of jewels, gold chains, and other articles of personal adornment, being sold for the Lord’s work. We still retain the marks of the world, and in measure it may be said of us, “This people draweth nigh to Me with their mouth, but their heart is far from Me.”
Let each judge himself, or herself, by the unerring standard of Holy Scripture. What it forbids to be worn on our persons let us lay aside. This is not legality, but the service of love, and the truest liberty.
P. W.