A word for the fashion conscious christian youth!

Fashion is the general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear or accessories. It embodies anything that is the current trend in the look and dress up of a person. Most Youth or Teenagers often get their fashion ideas from what the ‘latest’ models or celebrities are wearing or in fashion magazines. Some teenagers even buy the fashion magazines every week to see the latest clothes in vogue so they can purchase it to wear. These teenagers definitely do not care if the clothes are provocative or not, as they are led by what’s in vogue.

The bible however does not approve of provocative and indecent dressing. Romans 12 vs. 2 says ‘Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God, what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect’. Most teenagers however, hardly read the bible or go to church so they don’t know the mind of God concerning dressing and even if they do attend the church what is being said is not absorbed or listened to. Some also think the bible was written thousands of years ago so the fashion sense is old and does not really need to be followed.

1st Peter 3 vs. 3 says ‘You should not use outward aids to make yourselves beautiful which implies to the way you wear your hair, or the jewellery you put on, or the outfits you wear. Verse 4 of the same chapter of the bible, says ‘Your beauty should consist of your true inner self, the ageless beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of the greatest value in God’s sight. Both verses clearly state that beauty should come from within and not the outside. Teenagers should not be overly concerned about their outside look rather, they should focus on dressing smart, looking good while being decent and respectable at the same time. Wearing layers and layers of make-up, wearing very short skirts, revealing clothes etc does not make youths attractive by the standards of the bible.

There are plenty of great clothing available for Christian teens that are both modest and fashionable. It is not a sin for youths to like nice clothes, but it is a sin when that desire for fashion becomes more important than your faith and it is also unacceptable when you are constantly drawn to inappropriate clothes. It is not Christian to tempt others through your dressing. If dressed in something inappropriate, and you find that people are getting the wrong impression because of what you have on, then you have not only sent the wrong message but you might have caused another person to think impure thoughts.

On a final note, youths should not follow the ‘crazy’ fashion of the world that contradicts the standard of God, rather youths should value their Godly natural beauty and clothe themselves with Godly Christian character.