How long should be my skirt? Should I dye my hair blue or red? What of sagging my jeans? Is wearing ripped jeans a sin? Are you conversant with these questions? Have you ever found yourself asking such? Can I be a fashionista who is a Christian or a Christian who is a fashionista? Well journey with me as I give a piece of my mind.
Fashion in Christianity encompasses a range of perspectives on how believers should approach clothing and adornment. It is emphasizing on principles such as modesty, respect, and the reflection of inner spiritual values. Christianity should not be a boring religion just because of some stereotyped beliefs about how Christians should be dressed. Typically, in our Christian culture, church day is usually the day of showing off your cutesy dresses and your stylish suits. it is in Africa where you will find most Africans dressing best on Sundays compared to other days. Stereotypes often portray Christian fashion as being overly modest, conservative, and lacking in style or creativity. These stereotypes can be limiting, as they do not account for the diverse range of styles and expressions within the Christian community.
Christians in the traditional setting did not uphold fashion in the ancient times. Fashion is not secular. Christianity and fashion are crucial in the current generation, commonly known as the Genz `s. Fashion communicates. It is an outward expression of a body language.
BY MARTIN GITAU (MR MUTCU)
Fashion is more than just clothing; it’s a form of self-expression that can reveal a lot about a person’s values and beliefs. Now that we are linking fashion and Christianity, let us see how fashion and spirituality are connected. Having a good sense of fashion as a Christian should not be underestimated. Like any other person, we all want to look beautiful and handsome and smartly dressed. This will include blending colors appropriately, dressing our bodies according to our body types and adorning ourselves moderately. This among other styling techniques qualifies us in being called fashionable. More often, we find ourselves going to the extremes of compromising our inner values just to appear “fashionable”. In the recent past, I have found myself compromising my values and ending up dressing in a queer way just to please others or due to some unrelenting peer pressure. This leaves others questioning your values. Just like me, many Christians have found themselves prey to this peer pressure.
The real question is not what is right or wrong, or how to dress or not…It is what or who sets the standard for how we should do it. What is your motivation every time you wake up and dress up for the day? What is your real intention of dressing up the way you decide to dress?
Fashion should never become an idol in our lives. The fashion industry and its products should not be something we worship. The vicissitudes of the fashion world reflect the fleeting nature of the world in general: “The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:17). A fashionist friend of mine in an interview gave me his peace of mind on fashion and I really found it making a lot of sense. It was a statement that left me building castle of uninterrupted thoughts. In his statement he said…
Christians should not borrow fashion from the world. They should have their own fashion style so that they could influence the world with it. Think of a Christian named brand of stylish shoes or a Christian branded handbag. It would be a better and attractive compared to Christianized secular brand. What I mean is that Christians too have the needed creativity in making their autonomous brands and flourishing in them.
BY AAYUGU JABEZ
It isn’t wrong to wear nice things. It isn’t wrong for a Christian to be fashionable or operate in the world of fashion. But there’s more to life than fashion. Jesus said,
“Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes” (Luke 12:22–23).
It isn’t wrong to be fashionable as long as we keep things in the right perspective and the fashions. We choose not to contradict biblical standards. Fashions that are immodest, selfishly draw attention to oneself. They blur the lines of gender, which are off-limits.
We live in this world but are not of this world. Therefore, we ought to become beacons of light and represent our lord Jesus Christ. Fashions that require us to set Christ and His Word to the side, even momentarily, should be avoided. First and foremost, in our lives is Christ. We don’t have to throw away all fashionable trends. But we do have to pick and choose. In the end, we must purpose in our hearts to never throw away Christ. So, get up and be creative, unique and modest in your dressing. Inspire the world to look like a Christian. walk like it! look like it! dress like it!
BY MS KANYIRI
Leave a Reply