Is how we dress important to God?

Question

1 Sam 16:7b. "For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart."

This verse is used to silence anybody who would dare say that the way we dress matters to God. But ... Is this verse totally misused? Someone who is corrupt on the inside can put on a fairly deceptive front on the outside, that is for sure. But it can never be assumed that someone corrupt on the outside is pure on the inside. Wolves put on sheep's clothing, but sheep do not put on wolves clothing ... Or do they? lol

I guess what I'm asking ... Is how we dress important to God? Is it a reflection of the heart?

Answer 1

With God it is not about outward appearances. It is what is in the heart that matters. On the other hand that can look different to different people. A person can dress "modestly" to the point of covering every inch of their body, and be rotten on the inside, or another person can be good on the inside and wear shorts or whatever.

I have asked the same question myself, and I don't have a "cookie cutter" answer. I do know that when a person is filled with the Holy Spirit, they will act in a way that pleases Him, and that also includes how they dress. It involves changes where necessary. In other words the inside changes first and then the outside follows. But as far as specific standards, I'm not sure. I guess that is between the person and God. But whatever they decide to wear, the person who follows God will BE (not only look) modest.

Answer 2

I doubt if he gives it a second thought.

What you wear has nothing to do with who you are, in spite of the cliche, 'clothes make the man".

Have you ever considered how people are buried?
I saw a man I knew for years, and you couldn't get a suit on him if you threatened him with a gun. The man was a coverall man and nothing else suited him. He went to church in his coveralls.

He died a few years later and at the viewing, I was appalled to see him in a suit and tie. He had lost considerable weight and his face was drawn in the last days, but the funeral director puffed his face up and he looked a lot fuller face, and as a result, really didn't look very natural. The suit especially made him look out of place.
Point is, I know it is tradition that the clothing thing is an issue, but really, when you think about it, why?
We gonna' dig him up sometime down the road and check on the suit?
Which brings up the question of dress importance to God. I don't believe how we dress has anything to do with who we are. And it has nothing to do with what is in the heart.

Answer 3

Tim,
May I offer you these hints to help you understand the will of God as written in the bible.
1. Every author has intention of why he wrote a book. Understand that intention and you'll understand God's will.
2. A book reflects the personality of its author. So if God is love, justice, mercy, reason, practicallity, wisdom, power, majesty, etc. Then his book would reflect his qualities.
3. Ordinary words, ordinary meaning unless the resulting interpretation is absurd, or unjust, or unreasonable.

Hope that helped you.

Answer 4

he cares, a lot less trouble around people who find themselves looking the part. you know looking impotent. the devil wears Prada, god says,,,,,50 knockoffs for the same price, and i know if people notice..they dont. thats why he tossed lou. running around like spending like it grew on trees. it used too until the undocumented workers got to em, he was afraid they would sit on the corners and by oranges with the money they picked. he loves you but, hey hes got 2
billion woman up there.. and well how much **** do they need , its heaven , but come on. some of em havent stopped shopping for 1000000 years. you know for the first time in gods life he can/t fulfill all wishes, he has had to quit buying cars , everything is packed full. until he gets th public storage some public storage, no more cars, thank goodness k mart didnt go under!!! nip it in the bud.. what was that? verse ? i saw that in there somewhere, or on the andy griffith show.... gumbied my way through the bible..

Answer 5

I always dress importantnly for church. It not only shows God that I care and love Him, but it also gives an example to others to show them to have proper respect for the Lord's house. Of course, I have to ACT as good Christian as well. So, I believe it IS important how we dress, but it does not wholly tell others what kind of person we are.

People dress up for weddings and funerals. If they showed up in torn jeans and a tee-shirt, I think people would be offended. I think it offends God in a way when people give importance to things such as weddings, funerals, and sports, but do not dress up in His house, therefore giving--in a way-- more importance to those other things.

God BLess.

Answer 6

I believe modesty is very important to the Lord. I did a search on LDS.org for "modesty" and this is what came up:

Body, Sanctity of; Chastity; Humble, Humility; Virtue.

Gen. 3: 21
21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God makeacoats of skins, and clothed them.
1 Tim. 2: 9
9 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest capparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;
Titus 2: 5
5 To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.
Jacob 2: 13
13 And the hand of providence hath smiled upon you most pleasingly, that you have obtained many riches; and because some of you have obtained more abundantly than that of your brethren ye are alifted up in the pride of your hearts, and wear stiff necks and high heads because of the costliness of your apparel, and persecute your brethren because ye suppose that ye are better than they.
D&C 42: 40
40 And again, thou shalt not be proud in thy heart; let all thy garments be plain, and their beauty the beauty of the work of thine own hands;
Moses 4: 27
27 Unto Adam, and also unto his wife, did I, the Lord God, make coats of skins, and clothed them.
A of F 1: 13
13 We believe in being honest, true, chaste, benevolent, virtuous, and in doing good to all men; indeed, we may say that we follow the admonition of Paul—We believe all things, we hope all things, we have endured many things, and hope to be able to endure all things. If there is anything virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.

Answer 7

I don't think it's important to Him in terms of wearing our Sunday Best to church or trying to look "normal" in society. I do think it's important to Him when a person uses their wardrobe to shock and offend others. Motive surely plays a big part in how our dress relates to our relationship with God. People who dress in such a way as to intentionally cause sexual desire would do well to reserve such embellishments for their spouses. That verse is just saying that God isn't going to judge you based on sartorial criteria, but rather on your heart.

Answer 8

That verse means the Lord judges on our choices and knows that the way we look is not important. If we dress inappropriately, then the Lord is disappointed with us, because that is a CHOICE we made. Christ gave us commandments to follow, but he also gave us free agency. He wants us to follow him and to do the right thing because we want to, not because we have to.

Answer 9

yes, of course it is...
some good dialog at the site below

"The summary definition of modesty involves both one's manner of dress and inward qualities. The well ordering is not of dress and behavior only, but also of one's inner life which exhibits itself outwardly. Biblical modesty starts on the inside and works its way to the outside of a person."

Answer 10

I see it as a symbol to not discriminate due to the color of a persons skin...for GOD created them for HIS own pleasure...we are not to criticize others..GOD knows what is in our hearts..in other words..you cannot lie to HIM

also, not just skin but any outward appearance that we as people
may not find appealing