Is it justified for Christian women to wear pants?

                                                                                                                                             +           

Is it justified for Christian women to wear pants?

Our obedience as children of God is not measured by what clothing we wear but by our walk in the Spirit

Galatians 5:16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. English Standard Version (ESV)

Whether Christian women should wear pants or slacks is an issue about externals. The life of the child of God should rather be about a spiritual relationship based upon our position in Christ as believers, which is an issue of the heart.

When resolving doubtful things, we need to take Scriptures in context. We study the principles that will help us walk as believers, consider the dispensation and the whole counsel of God.

In the Old Testament a woman is forbidden to wear men's clothing:

Deuteronomy 22:5  A woman shall not wear a man's garment, nor shall a man put on a woman's cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God. (ESV)

The context of this passage is the second giving of the law to the nation of Israel as they were preparing to enter the Promised Land. 

Deuteronomy 22:5 is an admonition not to live as a transvestite. The prohibition has to do with more than just clothing.It also speaks of a life that emulates in every way those of the opposite sex.

Transvestism was a practice of the Canaanites.Israel was to consider it an abomination. We take a principle from this and apply it to our lives as believers. But we must use it in the context in which it is given and do so in relation to the dispensation of grace.

The Apostle Paul wrote extensively on the difference between the law and grace in Romans. We are not justified by our adherence to the law, but we are justified by faith in Christ (Romans 3:21-28).

The believer in Christ Jesus is "dead" to the constraints of the law. 

Romans 7:6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.  (ESV)

A true Christian does not live by the rigorous rules of legalism but by grace. What has that to do with a believing woman wearing pants? There is no biblical law that specifies what a woman should wear or not wear.

The issue is one of modesty. Paul addresses the modesty of women in his first letter to Timothy.

1 Timothy 2:9 likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire,                          ¹⁰ but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. (ESV)

The Greek word translated modest is “kosmios.” It occurs twice in the New Testament, once as "modest" in this passage and once as "of good behavior" in 1 Timothy 3:1. It means "well-arranged, seemly, and modest."

The word “clothes” in the Koine Greek is “katastole.” It means "to send or to let down or lower," which applies to a garment that was let down. In that day it referred to a stole or a loose outer garment worn by kings and persons of rank.

Paul was not speaking to people of rank. The context here is simply modest attire, without any specifics.  

Paul addressed this issue here because the women in church at that time were trying to outdo each other in how they dressed. They were losing sight of the inward virtues that should adorn a godly woman - humility, sobriety, godliness, and good works.

The words "dress modestly" are not used here in the context of specific garments, but rather to being clad in a modest covering.

The text should not be used to prove a prohibition against wearing pants

1 Peter 3:3 Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear—                ⁴ but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious. (ESV)

A born-again woman’s clothing should be a matter of the woman's own conscience before the LORD.

If a Christian woman allows her outward appearance to be the measure of her inward relationship with Christ, she could be living under the  stringent constraints of legalism.

Women in Christ are free to wear whatever modest apparel they choose. Their own conscience should be their guide: "Everything that does not come from faith is sin" (Romans 14:23).

We are not to allow our consciences to be dictated by legalism and the pressures of others. Our own relationship with Christ should not be affected by such issues are clothing, as we walk in obedience to the Lord.

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

Would you want to have a deeper relationship with God?

God has made it possible for you to know Him and experience an amazing change in your own life by receiving His Son, Jesus Christ, and have eternal life.

Say the following prayer:

“Father God, I confess I am a sinner and my sins have separated me from you.

I am truly sorry. I now want to turn away from my past sinful life and live a new life pleasing to you.

Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again.

I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer.

I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Thank you that according to your Word, I am now born again.

Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. Please use me for Your glory.

In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.”

 

  “Throne Of Praise”            DON MOEN

               https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP83wz3-bqs

lyrics

Jesus, we lift you on our praises
So every eye can see your face your power and grace
Behold you as you really are

Brighter than all the stars of heaven
Our worship is for you alone
We build you this throne of praise

As long as I have breath
I'll find a way to say that I love you
Every thing may change and the world may pass away
I'll still Love you

With every song we sing
Every prayer we pray
We'll build you a throne
Made from the sound of praise

Jesus, we lift you on our praises
So every eye can see Your face Your power and grace
Behold You as You really are

Brighter than all the stars of heaven
Our worship is for You alone
We build You this throne of praise

You O Lord deserve the praise of all earth
And we worship You
A Sacrifice you died now great and glorified
And we worship You

With every song we sing
Every prayer we pray
We'll build you a throne
Made from the sound of praise

Jesus, we lift you on our praises
So every eye can see Your face Your power and grace
Behold You as You really are

Brighter than all the stars of heaven
Our worship is for You alone
We build You this throne of praise

Jesus, we lift you on our praises
So every eye can see Your face Your power and grace
Behold You as You really are

Brighter than all the stars of heaven
Our worship is for You alone
We build You this throne of praise

Jesus, we lift you on our praises
So every eye can see Your face Your power and grace
Behold You as You really are

Brighter than all the stars of heaven
Our worship is for You alone
We build You this throne of praise
We build You this throne of praise
We build You this throne of praise