Issue #59 - March 2017
Are there boundaries as far as Christian dress code is concerned?
We caught up with Florence Nalumu who shared her thoughts on Christian
dress code in this months Key Ring.
1. In your opinion, what is decent dress code?
First and foremost, dress code is a set of guidelines or rules for dressing; people
do not just dress. One must have guidelines for dressing. Dress code is
something a bit wide but also narrow at the same time. The Bible says Be very
careful, then, how you livenot as unwise but as wise, making the most of
every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but
understand what the Lords will is. (Ephesians 5:15-17) This therefore implies
It is important to consider
smartness and decency
that a Christian has to be considerate on how they dress because it is one way
that portrays someones way of life. As I dress, I consider two things: What
appeals to me and what appeals to the public. I love putting on what fits me,
this makes me feel comfortable but also look smart. As a Christian, it is
important to consider smartness and decency.
It is important that when I am ready to
leave home, I first look into the mirror
and check if I am smart for myself and
decent for the public.
For example, as a woman, when you
dress up, look into the mirror and ask
yourself these questions: If I sit down,
will I be decent? If I bend, will I be
decent? This implies that for a
Christian woman to look decent, you
need to put on something that's at
least below the knees.
You cannot claim decency when you
have exposed your private body. The
young generation calls it 'okulaga ku-
mubiri' (showing off your body) which
involves exposing their thighs, breasts,
etc. A Christian shouldn't dress in such
a manner.
How you dress can make you feel uncomfortable depending on what people
see and their comment. When people like boda boda riders commend you, in
most cases, it is evident that you have dressed poorly. These kinds of people
just fantasize about you because you have shown them what they actually
want to see. They barely comment when you have dressed decently because
they don't see what they want to see.
2. How do we, as a church, strike a balance between the come as you are
concept and decent dress code?
Christ accepts us as we are but the Bible warns us not to stay the way we have
been. Our past is gone and the new has come. In church we are a fellowship of
believers and everyone comes from a different background.
Before I got saved, as a teenager, my guardian was this free woman who could
encourage me to wear short garments saying that it was okay for me to put on
Drop us an email at kbcmediateam@gmail.com
FLORENCE NALUMU
Florence is a born again
Christian. A daughter to the
Late Paul Bosa and Janet
Namusisi.
She works at Uganda Golf
Club as a Front Desk
Executive.
whatever I wanted. I could put on the shortest of any kind of dressing though
they always gave me a lot of discomfort. When I got saved however, I started to
realise how ugly my dressing was. It is okay for me to dress the way I want to but
how about the fellowship of believers? You may get into someone's life by way
of lust, for those who are still single.
When dressed indecently, you cause someone to make conclusions about you. It
is important that you consider people who fellowship with you in relation to
your dress code. People come to church to find people who will make their
relationship with God grow. You may dress the way you want but be careful not
to lead others into temptation or stumble them.
Even when you come as you are, others must see the change in you once you
come to the Lord. When Jesus called his disciples, they were all from very
different walks of life but they gave up their lifestyles and followed Jesus' ways.
We should also emulate this. Even the Apostle Paul in Romans 12:1-2 urges us to
offer our bodies as living sacrifices and never to conform to the patterns of this
world.
3. Is there a specific dress code that represents our stand with Christ?
There isn't a specific dress code to represent us as Christians but we should be
different in a way that we do not stumble others. People sometimes comment
but we dont take negative comments well. We always fail to judge our selves
yet the public does. We should take such comments seriously.
A Christian should dress up depending on the situation or occasion. For
example, it is okay for a woman to put on her very short skirt or dress at home, it
is her right. However, this needs to be for your private life because from home
you are going to meet other people who do not want to see your short private
wear.
4. There are many fashion trends in the world today. Should we, as Chris-
tians, adopt these trends?
To an extent, yes and no. The Bible says we are in the world but not of the
world. A growing Christian should have a sense of identifying what is right and
wrong.
If a trend comes and it's a good style, then yes, go ahead and get it, but with two
things in your mind: smartness and decency. Christians need to have a sieve
when it comes to trending things.
The KEY RING is a monthly publication by the Kampala Baptist Church Media
Team that seeks to provide an avenue where men and women can share
knowledge and understanding of the word of God, experiences and
encourage one another as the older perform the act of paralambano to the
younger.
Our prayer is that the Lord will speak to you through this publication.
Visit the church website at www.kbcuganda.org