A standard as defined by Webster is, "a model which stands for or is
accepted as a basis for comparison". The way that you conduct yourself,
whether in word, deed, or dress, you are modeling a "Standard" for someone.
The way that you dress shows what you stand for. It is the first thing that
people see. Before you act out in any way, before you speak, people see the
way that you dress. I believe very strongly that if you do not talk right
and walk right, it's really irrelevant how you dress, but we are not going
to go into that aspect of holiness in this article. I am going to try in
the next few lines to share with you why it is so important that you "Live
In The Standards".
Hebrews 12:14 says, "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which
no man (woman or girl) shall see the Lord". Is holiness important? This
scripture says that it is vital to salvation. Holiness has to do with
"separation" and "dedication". It specifically means separation from sin
and the world, and dedication to God. II Corinthians 6:17 says, "Come out
from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord." If you look like the
world and dress like the world how can you be obeying this scripture.
Romans 12:1-2 says, "Present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed
to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." To
"Live Within The Standard", which remember, means modeling who we stand for,
we must first sacrifice our own desires and will.
Romans said, "which is
our reasonable service", this means we are willing to do anything to make
ourselves acceptable to God, regardless of the sacrifice. We must be holy
and separated in order to be acceptable. I John 2:15 says, "Love not the
world, neither the things that are in the world". When a person loves
someone, they will try to please that person in any way possible, even if it
means doing something that they don't particularly want to do or like to do.
How much do you love God? Are you willing to look different? Dressing holy
is not seeing how close we can get to resembling the world and still get by,
but it is about staying so far away from the look of the world that there is
no question who we are modeling for. We are commanded to "be not
conformed(to look like or represent)to this world". I Thess. 5:22 says,
"Abstain from all appearance of evil".
As Pentecostal young people, many times we lose sight at what holiness or
"Living In The Standards" is really about. It's not about obeying a bunch
of rules and regulations that your Pastor has set up for you. There are two
main goals of holiness. The #1 goal of holiness is to PLEASE GOD. The
second goal of holiness is to communicate Christ to others. Many people
think that through our standards of holiness we are trying to earn
salvation. Nothing we can be, say or do could ever earn us salvation! BUT,
just proclaiming to love Jesus and having faith in God is not a complete
Christian walk. James 2:17 says,"... faith, if it hath not works, is dead,
being alone". Although we are not saved by our works, when we love Jesus
Christ, it will cause us to do and not do certain things. We will live our
lives and dress in a way that shows, #1: to God, how much we love Him and
#2: to others, how much we love Him. Many people may feel that "Living
Within The Standards" is living in bondage, I beg to differ. Feeling the
pressure to cover our faces with make-up and show our bodies off through
immodest clothing and represent what Hollywood says is acceptable, THAT is
bondage!
I want to challenge you, if you look and act no different from the world how
can the world be saved. Stand up and refuse to bow to what "The
World/Hollywood", says is acceptable. If we look, dress and act like the
world, then we CANNOT be representing Christ. One of the reasons why so
many teenagers are sexually active at a young age is because they have
already seen so much with their eyes and there is nothing left, but to go
further. I have heard someone say concerning the way young girls or women
dress, "if you can see it, you can touch it". What are you showing or
exposing? I have read a book written by a good Baptist lady that is
entitled, "Your Clothes Say If For You". What do your clothes say about
you? When you make a stand and refuse to bow to what the world deems
acceptable or normal, you WILL meet resistance!
There is something about a
woman or girl who looks and acts pure that makes someone of the opposite
resemblance angry. When you are ridiculed for the way that you dress,
remember who you are trying to please, stand firm and you will in the long
run be more respected than anyone around you. I challenge you to make up
your mind today to take a stand and refuse to bow to the image of the world.
Many times fences are put up, not to just keep you in, but also to keep harm
out. "Live Within The Standards" and you will find safety, security,
protection and most of all you will please God.
