Chapter 21—Dress
General Statements
521. Our words, our actions, and our dress are daily, living preach-
ers, gathering with Christ or scattering abroad. This is no trivial
matter.—
Testimonies for the Church 4:641
.
522. Turn away from the fashion plates, and study the human
organism.—
Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 91
.
523. Christians should not take pains to make themselves a gazing-
stock by dressing differently from the world. But if, when following
out their convictions of duty in respect to dressing modestly and health-
fully, they find themselves out of fashion, they should not change their
dress in order to be like the world; but they should manifest a noble
independence and moral courage to be right, if all the world differ
from them. If the world introduces a modest, convenient, and health-
ful mode of dress, which is in accordance with the Bible, it will not
change our relation to God or to the world to adopt such a style of
dress. Christians should follow Christ and make their dress conform to
God’s word. They should shun extremes.—
Testimonies for the Church
1:458
.
524. In dress we should seek that which is simple, comfortable,
convenient, and appropriate.—
The Review and Herald, June 15, 1886
.
[119]
525. A plain, direct testimony is now needed, as given in the word
of God, in regard to plainness of dress. This should be our burden. But
it is too late now to become enthusiastic in making a test of this matter.
There were some things which made the reform dress, which was once
advocated, a decided blessing. With it the ridiculous hoops, which
were then the fashion, could not be worn. The long dress skirts trailing
on the ground and sweeping up the filth of the streets could not be
patronized. But a more sensible style of dress has been adopted, which
does not embrace these objectionable features. The fashionable part
may be discarded, and should be by all who read the word of God. The
dress of our people should be made most simple. The skirt and sack
101