Overview
Apostolic faith practices a doctrine of Holiness. It is NOT a set of rules. It is NOT legalism. It is a Biblical standard and principle.
"Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear." - 1 Peter 1:13-17
We are never going to be truly Holy until we are glorified with God in Heaven. But here on earth we can be separated from the world, and honor the Lord with our practice of Holiness. Holiness is something that is special to me because I, as an individual, can do this for the Lord on my own behalf. Holiness is a very personal thing. Holiness is an inward thing - and reflected on the outside.
Don't you want to please the Lord with your appearance?
Peter says, 'be sober-minded'. This doesn't only mean not-drunk. 'Sober' = Serious about the pursuit of the Lord. Do not 'fashion yourself', or in other words pattern yourself, with the things of the world. Follow the Lord seriously and the outward will show it. Holiness is a separation from the world. God clearly states there is a difference between clean and unclean. He says we should be clean.
Holiness is the fear of the Lord and the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. We approach God with fear because He is Holy - not because we think He is going to condemn us, but because it is how He is to be approached - with fear and reverence for who He is. He's holy!
"Holiness, without which no one will see the Lord." - Hebrews 12:14
This scripture is not talking about whether you're going to Heaven or not. But it is saying that without Holiness, no one will see God. I don't know about you, but I want to see the Lord! Holiness is essential and commanded by God.
"Give unto the LORD the glory due to His name;
Worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." - Psalm 29:2
Holiness is beautiful! In the sight of God, I am beautiful!
The fallen mind of the world looks at the human body as a plain canvas... like an artist wanting to paint and create. We've already been created! Everything we are and everything we have was created by God. Why do we need to add to it?? The world wants to "fix" the body through plastic surgery and try to make this human 'masterpiece.' We were created masterpieces to begin with! We are 'fearfully and wonderfully made.' (Psalm 139:14)
"Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised." - Proverbs 31:30
The fear of the Lord is holiness. Beauty is vanity. 'Vanity' means its going to pass away. Everything will be burned up and gone eventually. Like Solomon says in Ecclesiastes, 'everything is vanity' the same meaning of the word is used here to talk about worldy beauty.
What do you want to invest your time in? The things of this world? Spending hours on your hair and make-up and ornamentation? Or would you rather spend time on the things of God? Getting caught up in beauty is a wordly distraction. Holiness separates us from this.
"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." - 1 Peter 3:3-4
What is a gentle and quiet spirit? Well, it doesn't mean that we are to be quiet all the time or we are to be doormats. But rather, having a gentle and quiet spirit is about peace and humility. When we have peace on the inside, we don't have to broadcast who we are on the outside. God values holiness in women as something of great worth. God values me, whether man does or not. Don't I want to be precious in the sight of God? Isn't pleasing our true love - the Lord - our most important priority?
Specifics for Women*
*According to the word of God. NOT legalistic because everyone is convicted at different levels. These are general holiness standards. Most details are just common sense - God gave us brains for a reason. :)
Dress
“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." - Deuteronomy 22:5
Criticism: 'The Old Testament laws do not pertain to us anymore after Christ.'
Truth: There were three different kinds of Old Testament laws that God had set in place for the Jews. The first were Sacrificial Laws which were wiped out after Jesus died on the cross - being the Ultimate sacrifice. Secondly, there were Ceremonial Laws. These were laws that were specific, or 'kosher' to the Jews because they didn't have the full revelation of God. They were laws about how to approach the presence of God. (ex. in verse 11) The final set of Laws, which still pertain to us today, were Moral Laws. Moral laws show us the difference between right and wrong. These Laws haven't changed! Moral laws don't include just the 'ten commandments'. In verse 5, God says that this is an "abomination" to Him. Abominations are things that God hates with all of His heart. These don't change! After the cross, God didn't just say "Okay, all the things I hated I am cool with now." This is just not true. God will always hate sin.
Criticism: "This verse doesn't say 'women shall wear skirts only'."
Truth: This verse was meant to be defined by the culture. The Bible wasn't written only for Americans. If God has used the word "skirt" in this passage, it would have confused other cultures... like the Asians or Indians. For example, the Indian women wear long tunics and pants and sometimes saris. Their apparel is different, but it still clearly differentiates a man and a woman. In Jewish times, men and women both wore robes... but there was a distinct difference in the make of their robes and how they were worn to separate the sexes. To define our culture, we can take a quick glance back at our history, say 50 years ago when women were only allowed to wear skirts in school. On our bathroom doors, women are defined by a symbolic figure wearing a skirt/dress. There is to be a distinct difference between a man and a woman. God values the difference between man and woman. Our femininity and man's masculinity were created to mesh together perfectly when they both are solid. When things become unbalanced, problems arise - and with the diminishing of other values in our society (marriage, family), we can already see the fruit of this sin. In Christ Jesus, man and woman are equal... but they are NOT the same!
Criticism: "There are women's pants!"
Truth: If you're asking that question, you're missing the point. It's not about the skirts or the pants - it's about being feminine by wearing something that pertains specifically to a lady. And in our culture, that is without-a-doubt a skirt or a dress. The bigger picture of this whole situation is modesy. I'm going to address that next, but while we are on the topic of pants - pants are not as modest as skirts or dresses. (Yes there are immodest skirts, but that's not what I'm talking about. Skirts that don't come up above the knee and are not tight is what the standard is.) Most pants or jeans are tight enough to show the shape of a woman's butt, thighs, and legs. This is not modest. We, as women, may not see it as clearly. But ask any man, and they will agree.
Modesty
"In like manner also, that the women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with propriety and moderation, not with pleated hair or gold or pearls or costly clothing, but, which is proper for women professing godliness, with good works." - 1 Timothy 2:9-10
Modesty is godliness. And godliness is holiness. Most people, when they think of modesty, they think solely of 'showing too much skin' or 'covering up'. Although that is important as well, Timothy warns against other things, such as 'costly clothing'. We have to be careful not to make idols out of clothing and what we 'adorn' ourselves with, especially jewelry. We shouldn't invest our money into these wordly things and we are called to be good stewards of our finances. Tithe the extra! 'Propriety and moderation' refers to a sense of honor and respect towards others and a reverance for God. (Hebrews 12:28 uses the same words to refer to reverence.) Holiness is an attitude of discresion, self-control, and chastity. If you want to profess holiness, do good works!
"Moreover the LORD says:
'Because the daughters of Zion are haughty,
And walk with outstretched necks
And wanton eyes,
Walking and mincing as they go,
Making a jingling with their feet,
Therefore the Lord will strike with a scab
The crown of the head of the daughters of Zion,
And the LORD will uncover their secret parts.'
In that day the Lord will take away the finery:
The jingling anklets, the scarves, and the crescents;
The pendants, the bracelets, and the veils;
The headdresses, the leg ornaments, and the headbands;
The perfume boxes, the charms,
and the rings;
The nose jewels,
the festal apparel, and the mantles;
The outer garments, the purses,
and the mirrors;
The fine linen, the turbans, and the robes.
And so it shall be:
Instead of a sweet smell there will be a stench;
Instead of a sash, a rope;
Instead of well-set hair, baldness;
Instead of a rich robe, a girding of sackcloth;
And branding instead of beauty." - Isaiah 3:16-24
"Now when Jehu had come to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it; and she put paint on her eyes and adorned her head, and looked through a window. Then, as Jehu entered at the gate, she said, “Is it peace, Zimri, murderer of your master?”
And he looked up at the window, and said, “Who is on my side? Who?” So two or three eunuchs looked out at him. Then he said, “Throw her down.” So they threw her down, and some of her blood spattered on the wall and on the horses; and he trampled her underfoot. And when he had gone in, he ate and drank. Then he said, “Go now, see to this accursed woman, and bury her, for she was a king’s daughter.” So they went to bury her, but they found no more of her than the skull and the feet and the palms of her hands. Therefore they came back and told him. And he said, “This is the word of the LORD, which He spoke by His servant Elijah the Tishbite, saying, ‘On the plot of ground at Jezreel dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel; and the corpse of Jezebel shall be as refuse on the surface of the field, in the plot at Jezreel, so that they shall not say, 'Here lies Jezebel.'" - 2 Kings 9:30-37
Since the history of the world, people have been associated with something by the way they look or dress. When you get dressed, you have to ask yourself, 'Who am I identifying with?' I can tell someone who is 'gothic', that they are 'gothic', and someone who is 'emo', that they are 'emo', etc. When someone looks at you, do they associate you with Jesus? Do they see the Lord? If you put something on, and have to ask, 'Is this okay?"... it probably isn't.
Hair
"The silver-haired head is a crown of glory,
If it is found in the way of righteousness." - Proverbs 16:31
"Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black." - Matthew 5:36
Although the specifics on dyeing hair is not completely clear here, we can use our common sense to know that the dyeing of the hair is something done out of vanity. We are not to be vain, but holy. Set apart. The hair color that God created you with is perfect for you. God didn't make any mistakes. Your hair color is what's best for you and for your skin tone, eyes, etc. As we get older, gray or white hair is still beautiful - it is a crown of glory for God's people. Hair dyeing is a cultural fad that is commercialized. Hair product companies and salons don't care what you look like, they just want your money! The products and treatments are designed to make you think you 'must' have them in order to look your best. It's just another money-maker for the american consumer. Don't buy into the world's lies about what you should look like... be not conformed to the world... but be set apart and holy. Embrace the true beauty that God has created you with.
"Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you. But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ, the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonors his head. 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. But if anyone seems to be contentious, we have no such custom, nor do the churches of God." - 1 Corinthians 11:1-16
This passage is obvious and clear. Some churches like to pick and choose what they want out of the Bible to apply to their lives. But these verses are Scripture, too! They are just as important as the ones before them and after them. All Scripture is God-breathed. Let's dissect this passage...
It's not about short or long hair, it's about uncut hair. Many people say, "Well, if you just trim your hair it would be longer." That's not the point. Women shouldn't cut the hair on their head. Like Paul says, if you're going to shear it a little bit... you might as well shave it all off! Baldness was a punishment referred to earlier in Isaiah 3. The issue of hair is a submission issue. 'Submission' is a bad word in our culture today, but it shouldn't be. Submission is about being in order - the order that God created and organized. Men are called to be the priest of the household and women to submit to the man, who is in the will of God. (example... a figure 8... with God at the head, man below God, and woman below man who then submits to the man who brings them both to the glory of God.) Man is the image of the glory of God, and woman is the glory of man. If you have a problem with this, remember who got here first. A woman's hair is a sign of her submission. Why did God make these signs? Because they are obvious and can be seen by man. Man and woman were meant for eachother and they need eachother in the Lord. For men, long hair is a shame; but for women, long hair is their glory. Women's hair is their covering. 'Covering' is a noun - it's The covering. In verse 15, we can supplement the term 'long hair' wherever it says 'covering'. No woman can deny that there is an emotional connection to us and our hair!
Verse 10 is a bit confusing, but here is the cool idea... talking about how a woman's hair is her "symbol of authority because of the angels". So what does this mean?... Angels are ministers to the children of God, and although Hollywood likes to play up angels as these flowing, mystical creatures, angels are real. They are given very important jobs in the Bible. They don't preach, but they are messengers and protectors. We all know the story of Lucifer (Satan) when he fell. Why did he fall? Because he got out of his Divine order. He wanted to be just as good as God. There were no second chances. It was a submission issue that got him kicked out of Heaven. When a woman wears her hair uncut, it is a sign of submission to God in her Divine rank of the Lord. Now, the angels know about Lucifer. It is not something they forget. That is why we have spiritual warfare. When the angels look down and see a woman's holiness, it is a sign to them that they can act upon that woman on behalf of God without hesitation. Holiness is something that the angels must see with their eyes, for they cannot see our hearts. Holiness is an inward submission to God that can't help but be portrayed outwardly.
Closing Thoughts
This study was mostly on the standards of Holiness that pertain just to women. There is more to the doctrine of Holiness, but this is, as a woman, what I am most focused on. The other standards are mostly common sense. The underlying theme is to honor God in every aspect of our lives, and every aspect of how we look, act, and portray ourselves. There is, of course, a time for practicality and modesty that may overrank standard principle, but the heart of the matter is wanting to reflect God's glory. There is nothing more important to me than to be beautiful in the sight of the Lord. He made us perfectly the way we are supposed to be. We are beautiful!
Sometimes I wish I was someone other than me
Fighting to make the mirror happy
Trying to find whatever is missing
Won't you help me back to glory
You make me beautiful
You make me stand in awe
You step inside my heart, and I am amazed
I love to hear You say
Who I am is quite enough
You make me worthy of love and beautiful
Holiness, Holiness
is what I long for
Holiness, Holiness
is what I need
Holiness, Holiness
is what You want from me
so take my heart
and form it
take my mind
transform it
take my will
conform it
to Yours, to Yours, Oh Lord
