Email Us
Greenville, IN 47124
(map & directions)
Sunday Bible Class:...........10:15am
Sunday PM Worship:............6:00pm
Wednesday Bible Class:......7:30pm
(more info)
God: Creator Of Correct Clothing
John R. Gentry
In the beginning man was naked and without shame (Genesis 2.25). However, after Adam and Eve sinned their nakedness was then equated with shame (Genesis 3.7-10). Unfortunately, many people today have lost this sense of shame. This time of year, men and women alike, take off their clothes and publicly walk around naked. The solution to this problem is to let God design our clothes. There are at least four occasions throughout the Bible where God is involved in the “design” of clothing.
The First Clothes. As mentioned, after Adam and Eve sinned, their nakedness caused them to be ashamed (Genesis 3.7, 10). They attempted to cover themselves with loincloths or aprons (v7). After which, Adam says he was still naked (v10). So “the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them” (Genesis 3.21). The word “garment” denotes clothing that covered from neck to knee.
The Priestly Garments. When God gave the design for the clothes of the priests in Exodus 28.3-4, part of the clothing included a “coat” (same as “garment” in Genesis 3.21) that covered from neck to knee. This definition is explained in verse 42, when God said that the garment must cover the thighs “to cover their naked flesh” (cf. Exodus 20.26).
When God Wore Clothes. “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...” (John 1.14). Jesus, who is God (John 1.1-2), lived in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation; a society that historians tell us was also infatuated with nakedness. And yet, as a teacher-figure, Jesus would have worn garments that covered him from neck to ankle (A. Eldersheim).
The Saints’ White Robes. When John describes the “white robes” of the saints in Revelation 6.11; 7.9, 13-14, he uses a word that also denotes being covered from neck to ankle.
It is clear that every “line of clothing” from God covered at least from neck to below the knee. The Lord says, “I counsel you to buy from me...white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen...” (Revelation 3.18). America, please put some clothes on and stop walking around naked!
originally published in the Banner-Gazette
2007.07.11
(Note: The basic concepts for this article came from a book by Jeff Pollard entitled “Christian Modesty And The Public Undressing of America." I highly recommend this book. It is a good little book with great insight to some of the developments of nakedness in the last couple of centuries in our country. You can purcahse a copy of this book from Truth Bookstore by clicking here.)