(I feel like I'm sort of "thinking out loud" on this post today, so thanks for letting me share my thoughts. I know several of my readers have taken this journey and so I feel this is a "safe" place to do this.)
I'm not sure I think that it's "wrong" for women to wear pants. I don't think the Bible says it is. Does it? But God is pulling me toward a more modest and feminine way of dressing. Plus, I did some research today on when women starting wearing pants. Funny thing...women wore dresses for thousands of years, and it hasn't been that long that they have been wearing pants...and lo and behold, guess who first pushed for this??? Guess?? Gasp...the feminists! Why am I not surprised??? And because I am totally against everything that feminism represents, it makes me want to stop wearing pants as a statement that I DON'T AGREE WITH THE MODERN THINKING OF FEMINISM. I want to dress more feminine as a way of representing the traditional woman. Because that's what I'm all about...traditional conservative Biblical womanhood.
So this is what I am pondering. I don't know what I'm doing about it yet, other than praying about it. I haven't mentioned it to my husband. I don't know what he would think. Did you ladies who made the switch take the idea to your husband first?
I appreciate your thoughts on this, and your prayers, and thank you for listening to my rambling thoughts!
I'm so excited that you are thinking about this! I was just like you when I first made the switch. I had just the same sort of feelings, questions, and everything! :) You know, April, I think honestly that you just have to ask your husband what he likes best. I mean, the Bible does NOT tell us that we have to wear skirts. It does offer some instruction on jewelry and braids, but basically it just tells you that what you wear should glorify God. While I do wear skirts and dresses only myself, I don't think you HAVE to. I think that if you like pants, and your husband likes pants on you, and they aren't the type of pants that would be disappointing to the Lord then it doesn't matter really. I think each woman's idea of modest dress is different depending on their husbands, and also the things they do. I know women who work HARD alongside their husbands on the farm. They wear pants. They aren't thinking about what it looks like......they are just working hard and need something practical. It's hard to ride horses and put up fence posts in a long dress..ya know?! So I think that A) if you are convicted then obviously the Lord is speaking to your heart and you should obey, but B) if you are comfy wearing pants, and you don't feel convicted about it...and hubby loves it. Then go for it. The Lord is looking at our hearts after all, not our clothing choices. :) Love to you my friend. I can't wait to hear what you choose!! :) --S
ReplyDeleteOh, and I'll add this. In Deuteronomy 5:22 it tells us not to wear men's clothing. A lot of women will say that this is pants. However, in our day and age, pants aren't just *men's* clothing anymore. ya know? I think it just depends how you interpret that as well. For me, that meant no pants.....but for others they may not feel that way. :)
Wonderful, honest post! I ask my husband about anything I am thinking about doing. Not because he is controlling, and I need his permission, but because I honor his desires when it comes to making choices. I want his opinion! I'm transitioning to only wearing skirts and dresses. When I have the money I'm going to go all out, and buy what I need! I read a bunch of good articles written by different men that really made me think about wearing skirts and dresses. My husband and other men I have read about have told me that no matter what type of pants you wear they still conform to your body, and make them look at your behind and legs. They can't help it. I know it's their sin for lusting, but as sisters of Christ we are to help them not sin! Then the other day when I was out I started paying attention to what people wore, and what it made me think of. All of these women young and old were wearing form fitting pants, and you really couldn't pay attention to their face or anything else. I don't want to be like that! I want someone to pay attention to me not my body! I want only my husband to look at me! I feel that is what God wants!
ReplyDeleteApril, I think it is great that you are praying about this! That is definitely the first step. Yes, I asked my husband his thoughts after I prayed and felt God was really leading me to go skirts only. He said he didn't feel it is a command to wear skirts only but we are commanded to dress modestly. He said he would support me whatever I decided. I have been back and forth on this over the years but I must say, I feel very much led to be skirts only now. There was a time not too long ago I went back to pants and when I felt convicted to be back to skirts only, I went back to my husband. His thoughts hadn't changed. In the mean time we had changed churches and I asked him if he was ready to defend my decision if he was questioned by other men and he said yes. So that gave me the final confirmation I needed. I will admit, there are still a few times I wear jeans because as mentioned in above comments, working on fence rows and riding horses is harder to do in skirts. Now, when I am in jeans, I feel very convicted that I should be in a skirt. It's just where God has me right now. I know He leads us all in different places at different times. Keep praying and seek your husbands advice. I also agree with the comments above, some very good points were made.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Rashel
I'd say Yes, talk to your husband. And if he doesn't specifically tell you NOT to, follow the Lord's leading. My husband doesn't have a problem with women wearing pants. Our girls and I all wear dresses and pants aren't allowed. I do have to say though that I find it interesting that because they now make pants for women that they're not mens clothing only anymore. I have the same feelings for that as with things like "christian rock". Just because they change the words and stamp it with a christian label doesn't make it right. There are other things, but I'm too tired to think right now. I just feel like you're right, feminist did this so how can we justify it. Men wore pants (breeches) in the Bible and have continued to wear pants through the ages. Women have always worn dress and now in the last 100 of over 6000 years it's somehow now ok for them to wear pants? I have a post that includes more scripture if you want to read more of "my" opinion :D LOL I'm enjoying reading your blog as I haven't been here yet!
ReplyDeleteTwinkle Toes, I'm on it!! I've been enjoying reading your blog and I'm going to go find the post. Thanks for your input!
ReplyDeleteApril,
ReplyDeleteI found you through Raising Homemakers. I've been thinking a lot about the pants vs. skirts issue lately, too. Like you, the fact that the pants came in with the feminist movement is one of the main things that bothers me. I do NOT want to be at all associated with feminism!! I have not concluded that wearing pants is necessarily "wrong". However, I have concluded that in general, skirts/dresses are more modest and more feminine than pants. I did ask my husband about what he would prefer me to wear and whether or not he considers pants to be immodest. His opinion is that pants are not necessarily immodest, but skirts are more feminine. What I got from him was that it doesn't matter to him if I wear skirts or pants, but I'm pretty sure he likes me to look "nice" (as in appropriate for a Christian and NOT frumpy!). He also would prefer that I wear pants when doing "outside" things. Right now I wear skirts about 60% and pants 40%. I love wearing skirts at home, but I find I'm very self-conscious wearing skirts out to the grocery store and day-to-day errands, so I'm struggling with that. I think it's just so foreign for people to see someone wearing modest skirts. In my community, the only people I know who wear modest skirts are a religious (not Christian) group. I do not wear anything that resembles their clothing when I do wear skirts, however.
Just popped over from Raising Homemakers. I admire honest and courageous bloggers, such as yourself. Ironically, I wear skirts and dresses, exclusively. I don't condemn those who don't, but I feel there should be distinction in the clothing of men and women. It would not be cool if my husband decided he wanted to start wearing skirts and dresses. I mean, really! :)
ReplyDeleteIt is amazing to me how, through the years, things that used to not be accepted are now accepted. Modesty is out the window, even in most churches, but the Scriptures are still there. We are to dress modestly.
God bless you and thanks for sharing.
Hi! I am also now following you from Raising Homemakers also. I have been feeling really convicted of this lately too. I have briefly mentioned it to my husband and he is ok with it. I think he is worried though that it might make us stick out more when in public. I cannot afford to just buy a new wardrobe so I will be slowly transitioning. I also feel like there is not a real way to work out or do lots of manual labor in a skirt. My daughter, who is 7, is very into wearing skirts. I feel like I should encourage her to wear them more often and feel like it would be a good time to make that our "standard" in our house. Anyways, I should pray about it more... I haven't really done that at all. I know that when I see a woman out wearing a modest skirt and outfit I admire her more and I want to stand out as a confident follower of Christ. Good luck and I can't wait to read more of your posts about this and other things!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, everyone, for your support, advice, and encouragement!
ReplyDeleteha ha, I guess we're on the same page. Thanks for sharing you link, it's funny how once I posted about this subject I'm finding posts from other ladies saying the same thing. Perhaps that's the Lord laying the importance of modesty and feminity on my heart. :)
ReplyDeleteand it's nice to "meet" you too, I find so much encouragement and Godly wisdom on your blog. It's evident your heart is for the things of the Lord, your husband, and kids. It really is so refreshing to see!
this is one of the hardest things for me too. i am always praying about whether or not to make the switch to skirts only. i honestly feel more comfortable in jeans. but i live in Florida and in this heat, jeans just DON'T work. i dont feel comfortable in shorts though, and find capris too hot to wear in summer.in the summer time i found that wearing skirts is a lot cooler, and i mean A LOT. but im still not certain about the skirts v pants issue.
ReplyDeletealso, i think it really depends on where you live. in some cultures, more specifically cultures out east in eastern europe, the middle east and asia, women have worn pants for much longer than they have here. for instance in india, even in BC times, women would wrap the sari around their legs , creating a sort of pant to wear, when they had to work in fields etc. men also wore similar sari type dresses (go by a different name though) and neither men nor women wore pants until they because acquainted with northern fashions. according to one website i found, that happened in 1000 AD.
i have talked to my husband only to be met with indifference on the subject - but he is very supportive of me wanting skirts and buying skirts. my problem is usually finding a top to go with the skirts that doesnt look frumpy! lol i wish you the best with this aas you continue your walk
I this article is a year old and you have probably talked with God and your husband about this issue, but I wanted to help you along with some of the other ladies that wrote in.Yes the Bible in Deuteronomy22:5 says,"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.Now that verse is pretty straight foward and even though the apparel to me seemed somewhat the same in the Old Testament to our Lord it is quite different.A word study on modest apparel form 1 Timothy 2:9 will also help.To the nay sayers the use the excuse there are things you just can't do in a dress.Since my twelve year old daughter was born the Lord convicted me to change, not only my clothing but my life for Him,she and I have worn nothing else.She is lovely , feminine and tough as nails, their is no farm job she can't handle and she does it all in a dress,just like me.
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