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Is it permissible for women to wear pants?: Difference between revisions

 
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William Branham taught that '''if a woman wears pants, she simply isn’t a Christian.'''
William Branham taught that '''if a woman wears pants, she simply isn’t a Christian.'''


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=What the Bible teaches=
=What the Bible teaches=
<youtube>https://youtu.be/nTDfN1JWsFw</youtube>


The New Testament does not allow a person to bring Old Testament law into the new covenant.   
The New Testament does not allow a person to bring Old Testament law into the new covenant.   
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===Does the word "abomination" refer to a special class of sin?===
===Does the word "abomination" refer to a special class of sin?===


The root Hebrew word תֹּועֵבָה (towʿebah, pronounced "to·ay·baw")<ref>James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995)</ref> is translated by the KJV as "abmoination" or "abominable" depending on the sense.  In order to determine whether the argument is valid, we need to look at other uses of the word.
The root Hebrew word תֹּועֵבָה (towʿebah, pronounced "to·ay·baw")<ref>James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995)</ref> is translated by the KJV as "abomination" or "abominable" depending on the sense.  In order to determine whether the argument is valid, we need to look at other uses of the word.


In Deuteronomy 14 we read:
In Deuteronomy 14 we read:


:''Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.  These are the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat, the hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois.  And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat.   Nevertheless these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof; as the camel, and the hare, and the coney: for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you.   And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcase.  These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat: 10 And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you.<ref>The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Dt 14:3–10.</ref>
:''Thou shalt not eat any abominable thing.  These are the beasts which ye shall eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat, the hart, and the roebuck, and the fallow deer, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the wild ox, and the chamois.  And every beast that parteth the hoof, and cleaveth the cleft into two claws, and cheweth the cud among the beasts, that ye shall eat.   Nevertheless, these ye shall not eat of them that chew the cud, or of them that divide the cloven hoof; as the camel, and the hare, and the coney: for they chew the cud, but divide not the hoof; therefore they are unclean unto you.   And the swine, because it divideth the hoof, yet cheweth not the cud, it is unclean unto you: ye shall not eat of their flesh, nor touch their dead carcass.  These ye shall eat of all that are in the waters: all that have fins and scales shall ye eat: 10 And whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye may not eat; it is unclean unto you.<ref>The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Dt 14:3–10.</ref>


So eating catfish, clam chowder, crab cakes or shrimp tacos are also an abomination to God.  Eating bacon or a pulled pork sandwich is as bad as a woman wearing pants.
So eating catfish, clam chowder, crab cakes or shrimp tacos are also an abomination to God.  Eating bacon or a pulled pork sandwich is as bad as a woman wearing pants.


It is clear then that the use of the word "abomination" does not mean that somehow mean that the sin described carries through to the New Testament... unless you believe that Jewish dietary laws are also in effect today.
It is clear then that the use of the word "abomination" does not somehow mean that the sin described carries through to the New Testament... unless you believe that Jewish dietary laws are also in effect today.
 
===An "abomination to the Lord" is a special class of sin===
 
Deuteronomy 22:5 reads:
 
:''“A woman shall not wear man’s clothing, nor shall a man put on a woman’s clothing; for whoever does these things is '''an abomination to the LORD your God'''.<ref>New American Standard Bible, 1995 Edition: Paragraph Version (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Dt 22:5.</ref>
 
Some have said that when the specific sin is an "abomination to the Lord", it is a special class of sin that still is considered a sin by God today.  The problem with this reasoning is seen in  Leviticus 18:22:
 
:''Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.<ref>The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Le 18:22.</ref>
 
Under this interpretation, homosexuality is a much less serious sin than a woman wearing pants.
 
===If it was a special type of sin, wouldn't the punishment be special as well?===
 
You would think that if a woman wearing a man's garment was a special type of sin, there would be a more extreme form of punishment.
 
But there isn't.
 
The penalty for breaking Deuteronomy 22:5 (cross dressing) is the same as for Deuteronomy 22:11 (wearing clothing made from linen and wool).
 
==What about Paul's admonition for women to dress modestly?==
 
! Timothy 2:9-10 tells us:
 
:''Likewise, I want women to adorn themselves with '''proper clothing, modestly and discreetly,''' not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly garments, 10 but rather by means of good works, as is proper for women making a claim to godliness.<ref>New American Standard Bible, 1995 Edition: Paragraph Version (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), 1 Ti 2:9–10.</ref>
 
We have been told that the Greek word for "clothing" used here (καταστολή katastolē)
 
==Conclusion==
 
In 2 Corinthians 3:7, Paul refers to the law as the ministry of death:
 
:''Now if the ministry that brought death, which was engraved in letters on stone...<ref>The New International Version (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2011), 2 Co 3:7.</ref>
 
"Engraved on letters of stone" is clearly a reference to the ten commandments.
 
If the Mosaic covenant is no longer in effect because it has been replaced by the “new covenant,” then the laws, which belong to that covenant, are no longer binding either.<ref>Thomas R. Schreiner, 40 Questions about Christians and Biblical Law, ed. Benjamin L. Merkle, 40 Questions Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic & Professional, 2010), 67.</ref>
 
Paul says believers are no longer “under law” in Romans 6:14. The law is no longer in effect.  Romans 10:4 asserts that Christ is “the end of the law.” Paul’s discussion in Romans 5:12–21 explains that the Mosaic covenant is no longer operative. We see a further indication that the law has come to an end from Romans 7:6, where believers are released from the law through the death of Christ. Release from the law means that the law is no longer in force.
 
The Old Testament law clearly forbid the eating of certain foods (Lev. 11:1–44; Deut. 14:3–21). Paul, however, identifies the weak as those who have a restricted diet (Rom. 14:2), whereas those who are strong feel free to eat anything. Paul sides theologically with the strong. He clearly speaks about the food laws in the Old Testament when he declares, “I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself, but it is unclean for anyone who thinks it unclean” (Rom. 14:14). It is quite clear that the legitimacy of eating foods forbidden by the Old Testament is the subject of discussion in Romans 14:20: “Do not, for the sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he eats.” The term translated “clean” (katharos) often refers to what is considered to be pure (e.g., Lev. 10:10; Deut. 14:20; 23:11 LXX). What is remarkable is that Paul declares foods that are forbidden by the Old Testament law and the Mosaic covenant to be clean (cf. also Col. 2:16, 20–22). Such a conclusion indicates that believers are no longer required to obey the stipulations of the Mosaic law, and thus the Mosaic covenant is no longer in force.
 
Finally, a few other observations confirm that the Mosaic law is no longer in force. Circumcision was mandated in the Mosaic law (Lev. 12:3). Indeed, Moses was nearly killed by the Lord himself because his son was uncircumcised (Exod. 4:24–26). Furthermore, Israel could not enter the Land of Promise without being circumcised (Josh. 5:1–9). But Paul clearly teaches that circumcision is no longer necessary to belong to the people of God (Rom. 4:9–12; 1 Cor. 7:19; Gal. 5:2–4, 6; 6:15). If the initiation rite into the Mosaic covenant is no longer required, then it follows that the covenant itself is no longer operative. In the same way, the Sabbath was a central part of the Mosaic covenant (e.g., Exod. 20:8–11), but Paul identifies the Sabbath along with the food laws as part of the shadows that give way to the substance, who is Christ himself (Col. 2:16–17). Similarly, in Romans Paul is unconcerned if one considers every day to be alike (Rom. 14:5–6). He almost certainly thinks of the Sabbath here, but he reckons it to be a matter of inconsequence. Paul’s attitude of indifference relative to the Sabbath indicates that it is no longer normative. A new era has dawned in which the Mosaic covenant has passed away. This reading is confirmed by Ephesians 2:15. Jews and Gentiles in Christ are now one new man, for Christ has “[abolished] the law of commandments expressed in ordinances.” In other words, one reason Jews and Gentiles are unified is that the requirements of the Mosaic covenant, which separated Jews from Gentiles, have become passé.<ref>Thomas R. Schreiner, 40 Questions about Christians and Biblical Law, ed. Benjamin L. Merkle, 40 Questions Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Academic & Professional, 2010), 69-71.</ref>
 
Given that the Mosaic law is no longer in effect, there can be no commandment that forbids women from wearing pants.  More problematically, pants were only invented 500 years ago and so Deut 22:5 could not have been aimed at women wearing pants.
 
This was simply the opinion of William Branham and did not come from scripture.


=William Branham's opinion=
=William Branham's opinion=
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William Branham taught that if a woman wears pants, she simply isn’t a Christian:
William Branham taught that if a woman wears pants, she simply isn’t a Christian:


:''But if she’s got bobbed hair, wearing makeup, shorts, pants, looks like man’s, all these slacks and ever what they call them; saying those kind of things, and doing those things, and living for the world, she’ll stop; she can’t get through There. No, sir. It’ll stop her at the beginning.  (65-0822E - A Thinking Man's Filter)
:''But if she’s got bobbed hair, wearing makeup, '''shorts, pants,''' looks like man’s, all these slacks and ever what they call them; saying those kind of things, and doing those things, and living for the world, she’ll stop; she can’t get through There. No, sir. It’ll stop her at the beginning.  (65-0822E - A Thinking Man's Filter)''
 
:''How could you draw a bobbed-hair woman through that Filter? Tell me. How could you ever draw '''a woman that wears slacks''' through There, when “It’s an abomination for her to put on a garment pertains to a man”? See, '''God’s Filter would catch her out there, It wouldn’t let her come in.''' (65-1207 – Leadership)''
 
:''How could a bobbed-haired woman ever come through this Filter? How could a woman '''with shorts''' on ever come through It, '''or slacks''', when the Bible says, “It’s an abomination to God, for a woman to put on a garment that even pertains to a man”? (65-0911 - God's Power To Transform) ''


:''How could you draw a bobbed-hair woman through that Filter? Tell me. How could you ever draw a woman that wears slacks through There, when “It’s an abomination for her to put on a garment pertains to a man”? See, God’s Filter would catch her out there, It wouldn’t let her come in. (65-1207 – Leadership)
:''Who’s powerful enough to tame this legion stripping the clothes off of our women, in the name of preachers, Methodist, Baptist, and even Pentecostals? Painting their faces like Jezebel, and bobbing their hair, and '''wearing pants just like men'''. Our preachers, not enough get up about them to tell them about it. Devil-possessed! It was the legion that tore his clothes off of him. Who is this roaring devil? (61-1119 - Perfect Strength By Perfect Weakness)''


:''How could a bobbed-haired woman ever come through this Filter? How could a woman with shorts on ever come through It, or slacks, when the Bible says, “It’s an abomination to God, for a woman to put on a garment that even pertains to a man”? (65-0911 - God's Power To Transform)


:''Who’s powerful enough to tame this legion stripping the clothes off of our women, in the name of preachers, Methodist, Baptist, and even Pentecostals? Painting their faces like Jezebel, and bobbing their hair, and wearing pants just like men. Our preachers, not enough get up about them to tell them about it. Devil-possessed! It was the legion that tore his clothes off of him. Who is this roaring devil? (61-1119 - Perfect Strength By Perfect Weakness)
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