They say the clothes make the man-or woman! Why do we worry so much about our appearance?
How do I look?” I asked my husband. “Should I wear this top or the green one?” Oh, oh, this was dangerous territory. I could tell by the look on his face he was thinking, Does it matter what I think? He knows that no matter what he says, I’m going to wear what I want to wear. He knows I have a mind of my own and usually just says, “Sure honey, you’re beautiful no matter what.” When he doesn’t, he gets in big trouble.
Why do I worry about what I look like? What is it that drives us to wear things that other people will approve of? I went to the website for The Learning Channel’s What Not to Wear and took a quiz. I know, it was stupid to admit that I’m either in a midlife crisis or menopausal. Sure enough, however, apparently I’m “not doing badly but could stand some improvement.” Tell me something I don’t already know. Elsewhere on the website, they give you all kinds of advice on what to wear. There are tips for men’s fashion, wedding fashion, maternity wear and even underwear (oops! I mean undergarment). Apparently, you can improve your look just by changing what you’re wearing underneath.

In episodes of What Not to Wear, alleged fashion experts go through your closet, make horrible fun of your clothing choices and teach you how to dress for success. It’s usually some poor guy or gal that has gotten into a rut in the clothes department. You know them. They wear things like that old holey T-shirt of my husband’s that miraculously finds its way back into his drawer each laundry day even though I know I threw it out. How about that old comfy sweater that has seen better days, is covered with lint and was knit by Moses’ grandmother? I had an old Tweety Bird tank top since I was 14 and as skinny as a rake, until last year when I finally let go.

People have been dressing for success since the beginning of time. From fig leaves to togas to the extravagant pleated collars of Elizabeth I, what a person wears seems to matter very much in society. What is appropriate by today’s standards would have been considered indecent 100 years ago. Just check out the pages of GQ, Vogue or Style magazines. “Dress like a winner-and the world will treat you like one!” is their mantra.
We also have dress codes in the workplace and schools. Even in the culture of The Salvation Army there are fashion rules. Uniform skirts must be the right length, hair shouldn’t touch the collar and even though women officers can wear pants now on non-formal occasion, they have to be a certain style and colour. We have Salvation Army polo shirts, vests, ball caps and even umbrellas with our Red Shield on them-all acceptable for Salvationist fashionistas. Obviously, there is a “dress for success” rule in our organization as well.
Just like our wardrobe, our lives need a makeover, too. That’s what the Apostle Paul meant when he told us to take off our “old self” and put on something new. But it’s not easy to clean out our closets and throw away old favourites. You know what I mean-the jacket of deceit, the red gloves of anger and the green shirt of envy. Even when we accept the new garments of salvation, letting go of old attire isn’t easy. Sometimes we keep the old habits underneath, never really completing the makeover. Or we put them in the closet, and when we can’t decide what to wear, we look through the racks and wonder if that old favourite still fits.
The only way to address this problem is to get completely naked before God. Yes, naked! If you’re like me, you have no desire to know what’s really underneath it all, but God already knows about that. We can avoid looking in the mirror, but we can’t avoid God. He’s the Extreme Makeover King. We need to take off those old habits and behaviours for good. Don’t even think of putting them away in the closet, either. You need to pack them up and send them off to the thrift store.
Your new clothes will put a whole new spin on things. You’ll be elegant in your new shawl of grace, your gloves of kindness and your jacket of holiness. I can guarantee you that your new look will turn heads and make a difference in your life. People will be drawn to the new you and you’ll be sharing your new fashion secrets with all your friends. You’ll be dressed for spiritual success.

by Major Kathie Chiu
Corps Officer and Executive Director of The Caring Place Ministries, Mountain View Community Church, Maple Ridge, B.C.

Reprinted from Salvationist, January 2008