THE SYMBOL OF RIGHTEOUSNESS
A Reformation
The Exodus Movement was a reformation as has been every great religious
awakening or movement to lead God’s people out of the world. On coming
out of Egypt, the Israelites had many things to learn and many to
unlearn. For generations they had been influenced by heathen customs and
practices until the lines of demarcation was almost indistinguishable.
Placing themselves under Divine leadership called for a complete
reformation touching every phase of life. They must learn to eat, drink,
dress and act in harmony with their holy calling and heavenly
citizenship.
A Sign
Citizenship in an earthly nation is a favor bestowed by the government
and is not obtained on the basis of conformity to its laws and customs.
However, the person who receives the gift of citizenship will
demonstrate his sincerity by obedience to the laws and customs of the
nation of his adoption. Likewise membership in the family of God is
possible only through the new birth, and citizenship in the heavenly
kingdom is a divine gift. These blessings and privileges are not
obtained through conformity to the divine regulations regarding the
diet, dress, language and customs of the saints of God. But those who
become members of the family of God and citizens of the kingdom of God
will give evidence of the relationship and demonstrate their sincerity
by cheerfully conforming to all the restrictions and regulations and
customs of the family and kingdom to which they belong.
Symbolic Garments
Moses was divinely instructed to make “holy garments” for Aaron and
his sons who ministered in holy office. Exodus 28:1,2; Leviticus 8:30.
These holy garments were to be sanctified with the priests who wore
them. The penalty for rendering these sacred garments was death.
Leviticus 10:6; 21:10. These priestly garments were not only symbolic of
the sacred office, but also represented the righteousness of Christ, the
High Priest of the heavenly sanctuary. These sacred garments were to be
made “for glory and beauty.” This was not only because they
represented the beautiful robe of Christ’s righteousness and were thus
the symbol of His character, but also as an example to all Israel to
teach them to avoid carelessness in dress and to clothe themselves in a
neat and becoming manner.
Divine Comment
“The idolatry of dress is a moral disease. It must not be taken over
into the new life. In most cases, submission to the gospel requirements
will demand a decided change in dress. There should be no carelessness
in dress. For Christ’s sake, whose witnesses we are, we should seek to
make the best of our appearance. In the tabernacle service, God
specified every detail concerning the garments of those who ministered
before him. Thus we are taught that he has a preference in regard to the
dress of those who serve Him. Very specific were the directions given in
regard to Aaron’s robes for his dress was symbolic. In all things we
are to be representatives of Him. Our appearance in every respect should
be characterized by neatness, modesty, and purity....The words of
Scripture in regard to dress should be carefully considered. We need to
understand that which the Lord of heaven appreciates in even the
dressing of the body. All who are in earnest in seeking for the grace of
Christ will heed the precious words of instruction inspired by God. Even
the style of the apparel will express the truth the truth of the gospel.”—Vol.
6:96.
Sign of Character
But the Lord did not confine His dress regulations to the priests. He
gave instructions that regulated the dress of every member of the
movement. Their dress must distinguish them from the world and be an
outward sign that they were children of God. Numbers 15:37-41. After
quoting this text the prophet of the Advent Movement wrote: “Here God
expressly commanded a very simple arrangement of dress for the children
of Israel for the purpose of distinguishing them from the idolatrous
nations around them. As they looked upon their peculiarity of dress,
they were to remember that they were God’s commandment keeping people,
and that He had wrought in a miraculous manner to bring them from
Egyptian bondage to serve Him, to be a holy people unto Him...An
Israelite was known to be such as soon as seen, for God through simple
means distinguished him as His.—Vol. 1:524.
Dress Restrictions. Deuteronomy
22:5,11.
It is very evident that the Lord intended that His people should be
distinguished from the world by their clothing. Women should not appear
manish in their wearing apparel or men effeminate. This distinction
should especially be seen in the hair-dress. 1 Corinthians 11:14, 15.
The modern custom among women of bobbing their hair is dangerously near
the border-line of disobedience to God’s instructions regarding a
clear distinction between the appearance of men and women. The boyish or
manish bob is clearly a divinely forbidden custom. Many other customs in
modern dress are breaking down the distinguishing marks identifying the
opposite sexes and are thus contributing to the modern laxity in moral
standards.
Ornaments Forbidden. Exodus
33:5, 6.
These ornaments were solicited from the Egyptians to finance the
movement and not to wear. Exodus 12:35, 36. Their decking themselves
with jewelry was the sign of their apostasy. The golden calf was made
from jewelry and in worshiping it they worshiped their heathen ornaments
which in their originals were pagan gods, images of the sun, moon and
stars. The holy women among the Israelites did not adorn themselves with
these Egyptian ornaments. 1 Peter 3:3-5. The Lord faithfully chronicles
events and customs regardless of whether they are right or wrong. It is
just as unreasonable to use the example of persons mentioned in the
Bible as an excuse for wearing rings, including wedding rings, as it is
for the Mormons to get their belief in polygamy from the example of
Abraham, Jacob, David and Solomon. Rings and bracelets were originally
images of the sun, moon and stars, which were worshiped as pagan gods,
and the making and wearing of them violated the second commandment.
Belong to Babylon. Isaiah
47:1-3.
“Remove the veil.” (R.V). “Bare the shoulder.” (Doray). “Shave
your tresses and strip off your robe. Bare your legs; strip yourselves
bare, exposing your shame.” (Fenton). Here is a picture of the nudist
tendency in modern Babylon. How sad that these immodest heathen customs
are imitated by many of the daughters of Zion. Isaiah 3:16-25. The
distinction that should exist between Christians and the worldlings in
their outward appearance is illustrated by the attire and appearance of
the two symbolic women of Revelation 12, and 17. The first represents
the bride or church of Christ, and the second the bride or church of
Satan. In Jeremiah 4:30 the “daughter of Babylon” is described as
clothed “with crimson”, and decked “with ornaments of gold”, and
her face rent “with painting.” The bride of Christ is simply,
becomingly and modestly attired with no artificial make-up or loud
colors or gilded ornaments.
Gospel Standard. 1 Timothy
2:8-10.
“I would have the women dress becomingly, with modesty and
self-control, not with plaited hair or gold or pearls or costly clothes,
but - as befits women making a claim to godliness - with the ornaments
of good works.” -Wey. A converted person will show the evidence of his
godly character in his outward appearance. “Cleanse the fountain, and
the streams will be pure. If the heart is right, your words, your dress,
your acts, will all be right.”—Vol. 1:158. The dress that symbolizes
the character of righteousness of Christ will be becoming and
attractive. “We are not to feel it our duty to wear a pilgrim”s
dress of just such a color, just such a shape, but neat, modest apparel,
that the Word of inspiration teaches us we should wear. If our hearts
are united with Christ’s heart, we shall have a most intense desire to
be clothed with His righteousness. Nothing will be put upon the person
to attract attention, or to create controversy.”—T.M. 130, 131.
These statements are reasonable and lay down fundamental principles.
Vitally Important
“Satan invented the fashions.”—Vol. 4:629. “Obedience to fashion
is pervading our Seventh-day Adventist churches, and is doing more than
any other power to separate our people from God. I have been shown that
our church rules are very deficient. All exhibitions of pride in dress,
which is forbidden in the word of God, should be sufficient reason for
church discipline. If there is a continuance, in the face of warnings
and appeals and entreaties, to still follow the perverse will, it may be
regarded as proof that the heart is in no way assimilated to Christ.
Self, and only self, is the object of adoration and one such professed
Christian will lead many away from God. There is a terrible sin upon us
as a people, that we have permitted our church members to dress in a
manner inconsistent with their faith. We must arise at once, and close
the door against the allurements of fashion. Unless we do this, our
churches will become demoralized.”—Vol. 4:547, 648.
Methodist Church
In 1913 Bishop Foster of the Methodist church said: “The church of God
is today courting the world. Its members are trying to bring it down to
the level of the ungodly...Do not Methodists, in violation of God’s
word and their own discipline, dress as extravagantly and fashionably as
any other class? Do not the ladies and often the wives and daughters of
the ministry, put on gold and pearls and costly array? Would not the
plain dress insisted upon by John Wesley, Bishop Asbury, and worn by
Hester Ann Rogers, Lady Huntington and others equally distinguished, be
now regarded in Methodist circles as fanaticism? can any one on going
into a Methodist church in any of our chief cities distinguish the
attire of the communicants from that of the theater and ball-goer?. …
How true that the Methodist discipline is a dead letter. … Its rules
forbid the wearing of gold or pearls or costly array. Yet no one ever
thinks of disciplining its members for violating them. They forbid the
reading of such books and the taking of such diversions as do not
minister to godliness, yet the church itself goes to shows and frolics
and festivals and fairs, which destroy the spiritual life of the young
as well as the old. The extent to which this is now carried on is
appalling. The spiritual death it carries in its train will only be
known when the millions it has swept into hell stand before the
judgment.”—Quoted from the Review and Herald, October 2,
1913.
God’s Remnant People
The people of the Advent Movement who go through to the kingdom will be
clothed with the beautiful garments of Christ’s righteousness, the
wedding robe that prepares them for the coming Bridegroom and “the
marriage of the Lamb.” Revelation 19:7, 8. In Isaiah 52:1 this
character-robe is called “beautiful garments”, and in Ephesians
5:25-27 it is said to be without “spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing”;
but it is “holy and without blemish.” The dress and appearance of
the Advent people will be an index to a character like that of their
expected Lord. “God will have a people separate and distinct from the
world. And as soon as any have a desire to imitate the fashions of the
world, that they do not immediately subdue, just so soon God ceases to
acknowledge them as His Children. They are the children of the world and
of darkness.”—Vol. 1:137.
The Royal Robe
“In dress, as in all things else, it is our privilege to honor our
Creator. He desires our clothing to be not only neat and healthful, but
appropriate and becoming. A person’s character is judged by his style
of dress. A refined taste, a cultivated mind, will be revealed in the
choice of simple and appropriate attire. Chaste simplicity in dress,
when united with modest demeanor, will go far toward surrounding a young
woman with that atmosphere of sacred reserve which will be her shield
from a thousand perils....It is right to love beauty and to desire it;
but God desires us to love and to seek first the highest beauty, —that
which is imperishable. … Let the youth and the little children be
taught to choose for themselves that royal robe woven in heaven’s
loom, —the fine linen, clean and white, which all the holy ones of
earth will wear. This robe, Christ’s own spotless character, is freely
offered to every human being. But all who receive it will receive and
wear it here...This apparel will make them beautiful and beloved here,
and will hereafter be their title of admission to the palace of the
King.”—Education pp. 248, 249. |
