24. How should men and women dress according to Torah? Isn't Yahweh more interested in the inward condition of our hearts than rules and regulations for dress?

Yahweh is always more interested in the inward condition of our heart than He is in the way we dress outwardly. However, this does not mean that He is unconcerned about the way we dress and our outward appearance. It is a mistake to think that everything has been "spiritualised" in the New Covenant or B'rit Chadashah - the New Covenant brings Torah to completion, it doesn't substitute for it. This means that that the emphasis is first on the inner man or woman and second on externals.

Torah teaches that the two genders should dress distinctly so that there is no confusion between the two in outer appearance (Dt.22:5). It also teaches that there is to be gender-specific hair length with the men wearing short hair and the women long (1 Cor.11:14ff), that women should wear head-coverings as a sign that they are submitted to their husbands (if married) and fathers (if unmarried) (1 Cor.11), and that men should wear fringes or tzitzit as a sign that they are subject to the commandments of Torah (Num.15:38ff; Dt.22:12) and therefore to Yahweh.

Whilst these things are not more important than the inward condition of the heart, they are nevertheless instructions from Yahweh and disobedience to them is disobedience to Yahweh that shows a lack of trust, thus reflecting the condition of the heart. A heart that loves Yahweh also loves His Torah and obeys it because it seeks to please our Heavenly Father. Whilst outward obedience does not produce inward holiness or set-apartness it is an indication of the true state of the heart when the Scriptures are known ... whether it is in obedience or rebellion. A true heart, cogniscent of the Word, will always respond appropriately outwardy. A false one will not.

A dress code is a visible, clear way to communicate what those who have the authority to set standards feel is acceptable and Yahweh-honouring. Husbands, fathers, pastors and others in headship positions have the prime responisbility to set standards. And whilst a dress code cannot affect issues of the heart or attitudes, it can, and should, set a standard.

Considering dress standards have changed over the Millennia, how should modern Christians dress? This is a matter for the heads of families (husbands and fathers), congregations, associations and the nation of Messianic Israel to decide until Yah'shua returns and implements the rules and regulations for the Millennial Earth.

The mandate to set a standard is given by Yahweh in Hebrews 13:17 - "Obey your leaders and submit to their authority". How, then, should leaders set a dress standard for their families and assemblies?

Firstly, a standard must be established upon the foundation of spiritual principles. In this we have considerable freedom. However, that freedom is not total - scripturally that freedom must guided and bound by three principles which need to be posed as serious questions to both those set-apart by Yahweh as leaders as well as to individual believers:

1. How do we honour Yahweh by our dress standard?

2. How do we honour others by our dress standard?

3. How do we honour ourselves by our dress standard?

1. We honour Yahweh by making personal choices that glorify Him. We honour Yahweh by choosing modesty for the sake of pleasing Him.;

2. As Christians we have a responsibility towards our brethren and sisters. Romans 14:12-14 says "So, then, each of us will give an account of himself to Elohim ... make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in your brother's way";

3. In Romans 12:1 we are called to "offer our bodies as living sacrifices, holy (set-apart) and pleasing to Elohim. 1 Corinthians 6:19 reminds us that "You are not your own, you were brought with a price. Therefore honour Elohim with your body".

Secondly, we need to examine these principles and translate them practically. Let us take these and make them more concrete as revealed by Scripture. The following illustrate this second level of unfolding:

a. Clothing must be "above reproach" (1 Timothy 3:2), meaning it should not be faultable as far as the biblical moral and ethical code is concerned. It must not attract undue attention or interrupt the spiritual focus of a Christian's witness both in the Assembly or in the world;

b. Clothing should not advertise anything that is contrary to Christian set-apartness such as alcoholic beverages, drugs, rock music, sexual libertinism, etc.;

c. Clothing should not have off-colour or questionable sayings;

d. Clothing should not be sexually provocative or suggestive in any way or emphasise or advertise those parts of the body that would compromise Christian chastity. Thus midriffs, for example, should be covered at all times, and dresses should not expose the legs;

e. Clothing should fit according to generally accepted adult standards. Pants must fit at the waist and be size appropriate;

Thirdly, we need to get even more specific, and it is here that individual heads and leaders need to responsibly define what they mean even more concretely. Such might include banning the following kinds of clothing:

i. Shirts that are backless, low-cut or tank-top style;

ii. Tight form-filling clothing;

iii. See-through clothing.

Members of MLT families follow the instructions issued by the leadership found in the Olive Branch in public and in assemblies (OB 5:1-5; 253:18-21 & footnote 523; 264).

Highly Recommended Article for Study

Christian Clothing - Scripture Standards for Dress and Conduct: at http://boston.server101.com/christian_clothing.htm

This is the most thorough and biblically accurate article on the subject that I have come across to date, and should be carefully studied.