Clothing and Outward Things

If we want to live in the perfect law of liberty, we cannot be bound by principles; they only serve to limit our freedom. Aslaksen himself was extremely flexible, though he might have appeared to be a man who lived by “principles.” A spiri­tual person cannot live according to principles, and neither can he be deadlocked in his way of thinking. New situations arise continually where we need a solution. No two situations are completely alike, so we must hear the Spirit’s voice in ev­ery instance. The most important thing is to have an ear. Then the Spirit will be able to remind us and work in such a way that we do what is best for others.

Preach Christ and reveal Him to the young people in such a way that they begin to look into the perfect law of liberty. Some behave and clothe themselves quite inappropriately, but there can be a good heart beating behind this façade. As a shepherd, you should greet them and talk with them. Often it is because they want attention, and you can give them that. Maybe they are in a rebellious phase and are in the process of becoming adults. Be wary of branding them as having fallen away. Young people can use the word “legalistic” regarding older people’s conservative or picky ways. They themselves can easily provoke others at this stage when they are search­ing for their own identity. Don’t be so quick to “arrest” them. We do not know what is going on in their hearts, but God knows them. You can make big mistakes in your assessment of them. They haven’t yet come to the point where they hate their own lives—they are simply under the law. The intention is not to “cast” them out; it is to save them.

We have to think about the children, not our own honor. Listen to the Spirit and think about the children’s salvation. They know when you have, in love, done the best you knew how according to your understanding. They don’t get of­fended by good people who lack wisdom. Manifest sin is what tears down their confidence.

And don’t be afraid to intervene at times when you really should just because you don’t want to be branded as legalistic. There must be no trace of sin in our actions. The body of flesh must be put off if a person wants to have a ministry in the church. Bear that reproach. If there is weak leadership, fleshly elements quickly come in and gain power.

An elder brother is not a policeman who puts everything between heaven and earth in order. “Here in the world, we must close one eye,” said Johan O. Smith. Preach the Word of God so that those who want to be saved can heed its instruc­tion. Pray about matters, and reckon with God.

Some who have a strong legalistic tendency are easily puffed up by their knowledge and self-righteousness, and they start going around correcting people in the church. They usually regard those who have the mind of a father as weak and spineless. Such people need to be watched. Maybe they support the leading brother when it suits them, but as soon as it no longer suits them, they come into an accusing spirit. People like this need help to come down from their imagined heights, down to the plains of reality where they can learn to humble themselves. If not, they can easily become a burden and an hindrance in their home church.

Many come from a religious background characterized by legalism. You must put such things behind you if you are go­ing to be of help and benefit in the church. Don’t compel the children to act or behave in a particular way just so you can have the honor. Respect what God works in them. If you use the strength of man to set things right, you are under the law. A number of mothers and fathers have brought unsound things with them from the religious world, and then they pass this understanding on to the children as something the church teaches. This must stop completely. Love has a drawing power, as do all the other virtues—gentleness, goodness, compassion, etc. Rejoice together with the children and do what they think is fun, together with them. Make it festive and blessed for them.

People with a religious background often see the church from the outside and are anxious about outward things. They do not understand Him who has been manifested in the flesh. People like this must not have any influence on the church. Don’t drag every vagabond into the church. Be watchful con­cerning such people—they often become a burden for others.

If we depart from Christ manifested in the flesh, we will soon have to start organizing and living by rules and regula­tions. Often we just need to bear with certain things from the younger generation growing up. We don’t need to pursue them and point out their lack of understanding. At our confer­ences, we want the sisters to wear appropriate skirts or dresses, and brothers should wear long trousers. Skirts ought to be at least knee length. Thigh-high skirts are extremely in­appropriate and unfitting for a believer. By dressing improp­erly, you also send out signals to the world. When people play sports or are at their job, etc., they must wear clothes to suit their specific activity. We cannot push people into forms that belong to another time. Leaders who continuously point out such things are a nuisance. They cause a lot of trouble. True shepherds who have a father’s mind must be the ones to point out such things, if anyone is to do it.

God’s Word mentions “modest apparel,” and the Word of God is our only standard. No matter what we do, everything is to be to the honor of God. Our body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, and the anointing will teach us what is appropriate. “But if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” 1 Tim. 3:15. The Spirit will show us how we ought to behave there.

If those in the outer court behave improperly, they need to be reminded. People who break down godly fear by their be­havior should be taken aside and exhorted. A young girl might clothe herself scantily, not necessarily because she wants to be provocative, but simply because it is “trendy.” The goal must be to establish a heart contact that allows you to work with the person. We must discern between insolent ringleaders and those who are just weak.

The subject of “modest apparel” must not be omitted from our preaching, but it must be done in a way that gives people some room, and it should preferably be addressed by the fa­thers in Christ. They will not establish guidelines according to the way things “used to be.” Our task is to preach the Word of God, and then give people freedom to determine what it means for them personally. We don’t need to give a lot of spe­cific examples. Tread carefully in these areas so that you do not create more unrest than help.

“In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works.” 1 Tim. 2:9-10.

“Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands.” 1 Pet. 3:3-5. Our focus must be on the inner adornment, and our preaching should awaken a longing for that.

We mustn’t encroach on people’s personal lives. Don’t use the pulpit to expose the few exceptions if you want to warn those who are unruly. In the meetings we must speak to those who conduct themselves properly. Those who are unruly must be admonished personally—do not drag such things into the preaching. When young people are difficult, some people feel compelled to attack them from the pulpit. That is not the way to work in the meetings; it will only complicate matters. Similarly, you cannot work with those who are unsaved in the same way as you work with those who are in the church. The unsaved can have a bad influence on those who are in the church. This work must be done in a more isolated way, one on one.

One special area concerning outward things is where Paul writes about the woman covering her head in certain circum­stances. He writes as follows: “But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved. For if a woman is not covered, let her also be shorn. But if it is shame­ful for a woman to be shorn or shaved, let her be covered. For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, since he is the im­age and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man is not from woman, but woman from man. Nor was man cre­ated for the woman, but woman for the man. For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of authority on her head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, neither is man indepen­dent of woman, nor woman independent of man, in the Lord. For as woman came from man, even so man also comes through woman; but all things are from God. Judge among yourselves. Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him? But if a woman has long hair, it is a glory to her; for her hair is given to her for a covering.” 1 Cor. 11:5-15.

There are only a few instances where the Scriptures give directives relating to outward things. The matter of head-cov-erings is one of these. Paul says that every woman should cover her head when she prophesies. He also asks the Corinthians: “Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered?” We do not want to stray in any way from what God’s Word says. When we gather for meetings and or­dinary edification in the church, the sisters should follow these words of Paul and be ready to serve in the way the Holy Spirit works in them. At other types of feasts and gatherings, it is a different matter. It is not so likely that a sister would give something other than a personal testimony on these oc­casions, and it would therefore be unnatural to “require” them to wear a head-covering. So we should leave it up to God­fearing women to find out what is fitting for them in various gatherings and decide for themselves whether they are speaking prophetically or not.

“For this reason the woman ought to have a symbol of au­thority on her head, because of the angels,” says Paul. The angels desire to look into the salvation that goes on within those who have entered into a disciple-covenant, but this in­ner life is hidden from them. 1 Pet. 1:12. When the angels see a woman with her head covered, they see one who desires godliness, and she comes under their protection. The angels are all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation. Heb. 1:14.

When you see things going on that are inappropriate, it al­ways involves just a few people. Some people exaggerate, lie and generalize, building on just one or on a very few situa­tions. If a few people clothe themselves provocatively, older sisters who are kind and mature should remind them—those who have the young people in their own homes and who love them. Do not make a big deal out of one or two exceptions. It could be that those who are so irritated by and preoccupied with the others have a much lower degree of purity in their hearts than those who are not clothed properly.

“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.” Deut. 22:5. Many people have used this verse according to the letter and in­sisted that for sisters to wear trousers is an abomination to the Lord. This verse actually speaks about transvestites—people who are inclined to wear clothes of the opposite sex. That is an abomination to the Lord, and such people are often filled with evil spirits. Godly fear and decency are not a matter of outward clothing. A woman in a bad spirit is indecent—regardless of whether or not she wears a skirt.

Women of our day are more involved in leisure activities than they were earlier, and naturally they must wear clothes that are appropriate to the activity. Many people have a weak conscience in this area. God will speak to the genuine daugh­ters of Sarah about their clothing and hairstyle. Don’t we be­lieve that God speaks to sisters? They have liberty to dress and behave just as they sense God works in them. And they should sense this liberty and respect from the servants of the Lord!

If a person does not believe in victory over sin, he feels he must turn back the clock and subject everything to strict laws and commandments. In several countries, fundamentalists have immense political power, but they do not attain to the life of Christ. Many of them are so extreme that people ridicule and despise them. “If the world mocks us, then let them mock us because of our godly fear and not because of our stupidi­ties,” Johan O. Smith wrote. That is a dishonor we would hap­pily bear.

When brother Sigurd Bratlie passed the ministry of apostleship on to me, I said: “If there is anything in particular you want me to deal with that is not clearly written in God’s Word, you have to tell me now. Otherwise, I will only preach God’s Word.” He thought awhile and said: “We mustn’t give too much attention to outward things. You brothers will have a sense for what is appropriate for the time you live in. But we should be among those who restrain.”