Well...before I am crucified let me defend my statement at least. Many years ago I would have told you that scripture applied to women wearing pants and men wearing dresses....however one day it dawned on me in those days they did neither. ( Yes , I know breeches were worn as a type unclothes for certain men) However that has nothing to do with this statement.
I AM NOT DEFENDING WOMEN WEARING PANTS OR MEN WEARING DRESSES...PLEASE DON'T GET ME WRONG. I am defending that we cannot take a scripture out of context and use it....especially for a doctrine.
The Bible teaches all of us to be modest both men and women for that matter. There are enough scriptures that teach us how to live godly without using something that any educated person knows it does not mean pants or dresses....
I am REAL busy right now with company and special services and cooking for 300-400 people for tonight but have squeezed in a few minutes to write a few words here.
Notice this...( I know some of you only use the KING JAMES but we have not always had the KJ in Portuguese so I enjoy looking at other opinions and not debating which is the best to use here. However I am just going to copy of the many translations of Prov.
New International Version
Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
New Living Translation
The woman approached him, seductively dressed and sly of heart.
English Standard Version
And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart.
New American Standard Bible
And behold, a woman comes to meet him, Dressed as a harlot and cunning of heart.
King James Bible
And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.
Holman Christian Standard Bible
A woman came to meet him dressed like a prostitute, having a hidden agenda.
International Standard Version
Look! A woman makes her way to meet him, dressed as a prostitute and intending to entrap him.
NET Bible
Suddenly a woman came out to meet him! She was dressed like a prostitute and with secret intent.
New Heart English Bible
Behold, there a woman met him with the attire of a prostitute, and with crafty intent.
Aramaic Bible in Plain English
A woman went forth to meet him in the attire of a harlot to make the young men's hearts flutter.
GOD'S WORD® Translation
A woman with an ulterior motive meets him. She is dressed as a prostitute.
JPS Tanakh 1917
And, behold, there met him a woman With the attire of a harlot, and wily of heart.
New American Standard 1977
And behold, a woman comes to meet him,
Dressed as a harlot and cunning of heart
DRESSED...like..... so the way we dress often does tell something about our inner character.
However we can hide and dress in a manner that does not display our real motive.
Genesis 38:14
So she removed her widow's garments and covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gateway of Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and she had not been given to him as a wife.
Genesis 38:15
When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, for she had covered her face.
Years ago when Mary Quant (fashion designer) and others had succeeded in introducing the miniskirt into mainstream use, Miss Quant was asked the question, "What is the point of the miniskirt?" She answered very simply, "Sex."
Some have wrongfully assumed that the Lord does not give any thought to the attire of His people. This assumption is based upon
1 Samuel 16:7
where the Bible says, ". . . for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." Man looks on the outward appearance, but God can see both the outward and the inward...
Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Clothes don't make the woman, but they sure can tell a lot about her.
Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
Proverbs 31:25, Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come. ( I love so much this scripture...strength and honour....)
The Bible does set many guidelines on many subjects....
Proverbs 23:6 Eat thou not the bread of him that hath an evil eye, neither desire thou his dainty meats: 7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. 8 The morsel which thou hast eaten shalt thou vomit up, and lose thy sweet words.
I know I am so different in my ways of thinking...guess living on the mission field for 49 years may have something to do with how I think and please try to understand that factor.... I go to ladies meetings and I hear these words....or something similar . "Our great-grandmother would never have worn anything but skirts." That is true....very true....However I look at the tight fitting skirts of the so called Bible teachers and I think , they would not have worn what you have on either! (Of course I say nothing) .
2Corinthians 10:12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.
I am not bragging but I think we ladies ought to have enough of God's spirit in us to speak to us and let us know if our manner of dress displeases Him that called us. (and by saying that I am not say to go against whatever is preached in the church you attend) . Often writing on the internet is misunderstood especially by people who do not know us.
We often hear . Pauls words quoted, "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;"
I wonder do we understand that the harlot often wears rich and costly clothing ....and so do Pentecostal women!
Someone said to me the other day, Sister Alvear, how can you ultra cons put a divorced man up to preach or pastor and send someone to hell for using cuff links?
Dear ladies, If Solomon was looking out his window and you passed by what would he say about you?
Sorry this is so scattered....have a lot to do yet today....and special services tonight!