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The Message Dress Code: Difference between revisions
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:''The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.<ref>The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Deut 22:5.</ref> | :''The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.<ref>The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Deut 22:5.</ref> | ||
=What does the New Testament say?= | Here is an examples of William Branham's teaching on the subject: | ||
:''The Bible said that it's wrong. And get out on a afternoon and put them little bitty old short clothes on to mow the yard. It's wrong. '''It's a sin in the sight of God to do that. And you say, "No, I don't wear shorts; I wear slacks." The Bible said, "A woman that'll put on a garment that pertains to a man, it's an abomination in the sight of God."''' God doesn't change.<ref>William Branham, 58-0316A - As The Eagle Stirs Her Nest And Fluttereth Over Her Young, para. 41</ref> | |||
=What does the Bible teach on this subject?= | |||
Does the Bible agree with William Branham's dress code? | |||
==What does the New Testament say?== | |||
The New Testament repeatedly warns against trying to import Old Testament laws into the Christian church: | The New Testament repeatedly warns against trying to import Old Testament laws into the Christian church: | ||
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:''For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down tin his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Eph 2:14–16.</ref> | :''For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down tin his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Eph 2:14–16.</ref> | ||
The apostles did not require Gentiles to follow the law. This is clearly outlined in the Book of Acts: | The apostles did not require Gentiles to follow the law. This is clearly outlined in the Book of Acts: | ||
:''Therefore my judgment is that '''we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God''', but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ac 15:19–20.</ref> | :''Therefore my judgment is that '''we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God''', but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood.<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ac 15:19–20.</ref> | ||
:''They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, with the following letter: | :''They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers, with the following letter: | ||
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:''Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. '''But as for the Gentiles who have believed''', we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.”<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ac 21:24–25.</ref> | :''Thus all will know that there is nothing in what they have been told about you, but that you yourself also live in observance of the law. '''But as for the Gentiles who have believed''', we have sent a letter with our judgment that they should abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality.”<ref>The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton: Standard Bible Society, 2001), Ac 21:24–25.</ref> | ||
So if the Apostles specifically exempted the Gentiles exempted from the laws of Moses and Old Testament law, what gives William Branham the right to bring those laws back into effect in the New Testament church? | |||
==What does the Old Testament teach?== | |||
There are two different Hebrew words in Deuteronomy 22:5 that must be differentiated: | |||
:''The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto ''(kelî)'' a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment ''(śimlâ)'': for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.<ref>The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version. (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), Dt 22:5.</ref> | |||
The range of meanings for "''kelî''" extends beyond “clothing” to vessels and receptacles, utensils, tools and implements, furniture and furnishings, and jewelry. But the second term (śimlâ) is more specific, referring to the outer wrapper or mantle.<ref>Daniel I. Block, The NIV Application Commentary: Deuteronomy, ed. Terry Muck (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2012), 512.</ref> | |||
One explanation is that this practice was associated with the religion of Canaan; therefore, it was “an abomination to the LORD.” Apparently women appeared in male garments and men in women’s clothes when they worshiped their pagan deities. Yahweh wanted His people to be unique and to do nothing that was in any way connected with foreign religions. | |||
Another theory is that this verse could refer to war. A woman was not to put on the trappings ''(kelî)'' of a soldier or dress like a man in order to try to gain admission into the army. Nor were men to attempt to avoid military obligation by dressing as women. | |||
Another explanation often given for this ban is that it obscured the distinction between the sexes and therefore violated an essential part of the created order of life (Gen. 1:27). The Hebrew word ''kelî'' is used elsewhere in referring to decorations or utensils used by the opposite sex. During the days of Moses, garments worn by men and women were very similar (robes); so this command was designed to keep a woman from appearing as a man for purposes of licentiousness. The major difference between male and female robes was their decoration or ornamentation. This passage does not teach against women’s wearing slacks, hats, shoes, gloves, or other items that are now worn by both sexes, but rather against the wearing of any item specifically intended for the opposite sex. | |||
Still another explanation is that this verse refers to the practice of transvestism, a deviant form of sexual behavior which is often characterized by cross-dressing. The verse says women should not wear things “pertaining to” the male. This phrase includes not only clothing, but also ornaments, weapons, and other items normally associated with men. | |||
Transvestism is sometimes associated with homosexuality, and in the ancient world its practice was associated with the cults of certain deities. Whatever the circumstance, the practice of transvestism was “an abomination to the LORD.“<ref>John C. Maxwell and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Deuteronomy, vol. 5, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1987), 241–242.</ref> | |||
=Arguments used by Branham's followers= | =Arguments used by Branham's followers= | ||