Deuteronomy 22:5

“The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth to a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all who do so are an abomination.” (pants, slacks, trousers, etc…)

A lot of women have a problem with this from the start because they think, “What am I going to wear” and still look cute.  I think I started with one denim skirt that I wore all the time and just built a wardrobe from there.  Now I get compliments all the time on how I dress and even get an occasional ‘oh I never realized that you never wore pants because you always look so nice’.  Duh.  It is possible.  Some may say how am I going to stay warm in the winter?  The women in the so-called American Indian tribes survived some of the harshest winters.  Female slaves on the plantations worked in the fields without pants and often without shoes so don’t use the excuse of warmth.  You can wear tights, stockings, panty hose, leggings and thermals UNDER your clothing.  They are not to be used as a substitute for a wardrobe.  All about vanity.  No one should be able to see the crack or curve of your backside.  The so-called Jewish women who stole our identity have no problem with this so why do you?  It’s because you want to show what your mamma gave you.

There was a time when women were expected to dress like a lady and act like one too.  Nothing less was accepted especially in the black community. During segregation, dress code was clearly defined in schools, church and around the way.  As society changed culturally so did moral expectations. The only time you really see women in a dress or skirt now is only when they are going to “serve da Lord”.

We have to remember that prior to the turn of the century women   NEVER wore pants.  Slave owners had female servants dressing their wives in layers and layers of fabric.  The rich wore petticoats and knickers under those beautiful dresses and those that did dress like a man were put to death.  Remember Joan of Arc?  When female slaves were taught to sew we were given the scraps to make garments for ourselves for maybe one spring/summer outfit and a fall/winter outfit.  You were really fortunate if you had a decent pair of shoes.  No one was making or thinking about a pair of slacks back then.  Imagine having to sew a garment by hand and not having the use of electricity and a sewing machine.  Your wardrobe usually consisted of the clothes on your back and maybe one other change of clothes if you were fortunate enough to have a master that was a little bit merciful. Consider yourself blessed when you can look around and see the different dresses and skirts and beautiful things that you own as change of apparel.  Our foremothers didn’t have options in captivity.

Women of Israel and our daughters should know how to sew.  Everyone needs clothes on their back. Being a tailor or seamstress is a profession that has lost some of its importance in modern society as the advance of machines and mass production in the manufacturing industry has grown, but still has a big standing with the Lord.

Proverbs 31 vs. 19

“She layeth her hand to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.”

Acts 9 vs. 39

“And all the widows stood by him weeping, and shewing the coats and garments which Dorcas had made, while she was with them.”

Fashion is dictated by society mainly the filthy rich in couture houses in Europe and are then filtered down to the common folk at cheap cost so trends come and go.  However, the wearing of pants has stayed dominant as the Feminist movement and sexual revolutions were played out in the 1960’s and 1970’s.

Zephaniah 1 vs. 8

“And it shall come to pass in the day of the Lord’s sacrifice, that I will punish the princes, and the kings children, and all such that are clothed in strange apparel.”

Numbers 15 vs. 38

“Speak unto the children of Israel , and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout  their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue.”

Deuteronomy 22 vs. 11

“Thou shalt not wear a garment of divers sorts, as of woolen and linen together.”

When you are shopping for clothing for you and your family look for the fabric content label to say 100% which is usually on the inside of the article of clothing.  If it is mixed you should not purchase it.  For example, 90% cotton denim and 10% spandex or 40% linen and 60% rayon.  When you go out you are representing not only your house but more importantly the house of the Most High and Christ so make sure you are dressed appropriately in nothing too short (should be below your knees or longer), not too tight, revealing or flashy.

Ezekiel 16 vs. 11-14

“I decked thee with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain upon thy neck….and I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears and a   beautiful crown on thy head…thus was t thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of  fine linen, and silk and broidered work…and thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty.”

I Corinthians 11 vs. 3-6

“But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of  Christ is God…every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoreth his head (Christ)…but every woman that prayest or prophesieth with her head uncovered, dishonoreth her head (husband or father); for that is even all one as if she were shaven…for if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.”

Whenever you are talking about the scriptures, blessing your food or attending a service in the presence of men you should have your head covered. You should teach your daughters this also at a young age so that they are comfortable with it.  They may forget and have to go running around trying to find one at an inappropriate time.  Practice tying different types of head coverings and looks so that you can match up to your personal style.  My mother is always complaining that my daughter likes to have her head coverings on all the time, that’s how comfortable she is with it.  My mother thinks she should show off her pretty long hair…so what!  My daughter knows she better have a head covering when she needs to.  Haughtiness and vanity is what got us in trouble as women to begin with.  Part of the curse we have inherited is jacked up hair.  Our women, yes us sisters, spend a small fortune in the hair and cosmetic industry to become acceptable to what mainstream society has deemed  necessary to ‘fit in’.  Although locks, braids and natural hairstyles have found more popularity in recent years it still is frowned upon in corporate America despite the  limited tokens that have made their way up the ladder.  So in general, black and some latino women are really funny about their hair and what we put on it or in it and how we wear it and take care of it.  There are tons of hair salons available to pacify our perceived hair demons.  I completely understand…vanity…I get it…. you need to know really I do……

I have had so  many  personal hair stories…. Like the time I got a relaxer and some beautiful crunch waves and after wearing the style for two weeks I went to wash my hair and it literally melted off my head and went down the drain because the hairstylist forgot to use the neutralizer.  My husband was home and heard me sobbing on the bathroom  floor.  It had grown healthy and down to my shoulders after I had grown it out from a very short haircut so I could wear my own hair for my wedding.  I was traumatized and it has never been the same again.  In between that, I had some bad hair dye jobs and messed up haircuts.  Once when I was in college I was preparing for a fashion show and I heated up some grease on the stove to put in my hair because I didn’t know that I needed to use the oil sheen spray and the straightening comb and I wound up getting a third degree burn on my forehead and had to wear a wig with bangs for a month to cover the bandaids.  Not to mention, my current battle to overcome an afro of dry natural kinky curly hair was defeating me.

Despite your hair story or style just remember that whether you have a weave, wig, locks, braids,  natural or relaxed hair if you grow it, sew it or glue it you still need a head covering.

There are some sisters who may say if they are wearing a wig or a weave they don’t need a head covering but you still do because it is a commandment and not a hair option.  Does the average person looking at you know that you are wearing a weave or a wig? No they do not.  All they see is a woman who is being submissive to what the scriptures say when they can SEE your head covering.

1 Thessallonians 5 vs.22

“….abstain  from  all appearances of evil.”

If you are being anointed with oil and you have on a wig, extensions, braids, a weave, etc…you can either simply separate the tracks so that the oil can go directly to your scalp or push your wig back.  If you know in advance that you will be annointed plan a different hair style.  The oil will also go through a head covering directly to the head if you just rub it in.  Basically, where there is a will there is a way.  I have had them all so I know it can be done.

 

 

Carry a head covering in your purse or bag to always be prepared.  My daughter has one in her book-bag for school.  Last spring she was wearing a pretty scarf to match her clothes and the teacher told her she needed to take it off (against school policy) and my daughter had to explain why she was wearing it.

I called and spoke to the principal and wrote a letter that this teacher was compromising my childs’ religious rights and discriminating against her and we never had that problem again.

At one point, society used to alienate a woman if she had something on her head as the importance of hats and humility wore off in modern culture in this country.  In other countries and cultures women still cover their heads as a level of respect.  In  certain Arab nations it is the law and even in England hats are still a way of life especially for formal affairs.  Sisters, it is much more widely acceptable to wear a head covering on your head today and it has become very popular in the mainstream industry.

1 Timothy 2 vs. 9

“In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold or pearls, or costly array; but(which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.”

1 Peter 3 vs. 3-6

“…whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but let it be the hidden  man ( Christ ) of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit which is in the sight of God of great price….for after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands;…”

This is not saying that you cannot get your hair done or wear and have nice things, however, let it be understood clearly that it is what is on the inside (your Spirit) that is more important in your life such as the commandments of the Lord.

1 Peter 3 vs. 6

“Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord; whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement.”

Most of us at least have a high school grade education or higher so taking that into consideration there is no need to play games with words and their meaning or ‘strive’ with the more educated amongst us.

So let’s take a look at the word lord (note the lower case  letter l  in the biblical verse in  1 Peter 3 vs. 6)

The Compact Bible Dictionary definition….. lord

Applied to both men and God and expresses varied degrees of honor, dignity, and majesty.

Webster’s Dictionary & Thesaurus   definition……lord

Noun derived from   the country Great  Britian…a nobleman or person entitled to use ‘lord’ before their name , the first word in  certain official titles, a member of certain boards  exercising high state office….(a master, ruler, or sovereign ) …a  British title of rank given  as a courtesy title to the younger son  of a duke or marquess. It is also used as a form of address or reference for a baron, marquess, earl or viscount or any holder of the courtesy title lord.

NOT to be confused with Christ our Lord, or the Lord God.

Historians and movie buffs alike can attest to the constant , and consistent use of ‘my lord’, and ‘my lady’ over time…not a problem, never a big deal…..until now.

So for those of you who say you don’t agree so be it.  This isn’t a debate.

Proverbs 21 vs. 30

“There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the Lord.”

I am sure all of us at sometime or another growing up or as adults have met or known someone that was absolutely beautiful on the outside but ugly on the inside.  We all know it when we see it…loud, disrespectful, nasty, rude….she could be your mom or mine, a store clerk, your neighbor a supermodel or a model wanna be.  As women of the Most High we should not be this way.  Life is not a popularity contest as if we are spending an eternity in high school, but rather seeking to get eternal life.  Sadly, it is a reflection of how far our self hatred for ourselves have come and our need to compete with one another.  Beauty fades, then what do you have left? Now let’s make it perfectly clear and reiterate that no one is saying you need to walk around looking a hot mess because we know our foremothers such as Sarah, Judith, Susanna and many others were known to be beautiful not only on the outside but were decked out and full righteous glamour but more importantly the spirit of the Lord  was on them and that beauty withstands the test of time.  There have been movies made about this and to quote one of my favorite lines from the movie “ The Color Purple”…… “I may be black and I might even be ugly, but I’m here ! ”