“Very many feel impatient and jealous because they are frequently disturbed with warnings and reproofs ...those who are reproved by the spirit of God should not rise up against...” {3T 256.3 - 257.1}
“...The testimony of the true witness is not a smooth message...” {3T 257.2}
“God leads his people on step by step. He brings them up to different points calculated to manifest what is in the heart. Some endure one point, but fall off at the next. At every advanced point the heart is tested and tried a little closer... If the professed people of God find their hearts opposed to this straight work, it should convince them that they have a work to do to overcome, if they would not be spewed out of the mouth of the lord. Said the angel: “God will bring his work closer and closer to test and prove every one of his people.” Some are willing to receive one point, but when God brings them to another testing point, they shrink from it and stand back, because they find that it strikes directly some cherished idol. Here they have opportunity to see what is in their hearts that shuts out Jesus...individuals are tested and proved a length of time to see if they will sacrifice their idols and heed the counsel of the true witness...if any will not be purified through obeying the truth...the angels of God have the charge: “they are joined to their idols, let them alone,” and they pass on to their work, leaving these with their sinful traits unsubdued, to the control of evil angels. Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the true witness, and they will receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation.” (1T 187.1)
“...Elevate the standard of truth and urge the people to come up to it...it is this pointed testimony that will bring them up to decide. A peaceful testimony will not do this....” {1T 248.2}
“...God's servants must bear a pointed testimony, which will cut the natural heart and develop character...” (1T 249.1-.2)
“If those who have been in the church for weeks and months have not learned the straightness of the way, and what it is to be Christians, and cannot hear all the straight truths of the word of God, it were better they were cut off from Israel. IT IS TOO LATE IN THE DAY TO FEED WITH MILK. If souls a month or two old in the truth, who are about to enter the time of trouble such as never was, cannot hear all the straight truth, or endure the strong meat of the straightness of the way, how will they stand in the day of battle? Truths we have been years learning must be learned in a few months by those who now embrace the third angel's message…” (1MR 33.3)
Today we will be discussing the subject of dress and how dress and physiology are connected, but before we do, I would like to share some very important quotes:
“Fashion is deteriorating the intellect and eating out the spirituality of our people. Obedience to fashion is pervading our Seventh-day Adventist churches and is doing more than any other power to separate our people from god. I have been shown that our church rules are very deficient. All exhibitions of pride in dress, which is forbidden in the word of God, should be sufficient reason for church discipline...” {4T 647.2}
“God has been testing his people. He allowed the testimony concerning dress to become silent, that our sisters might follow their own inclination and thus develop the real pride existing in their hearts....” (4T 639.3)
OUR DRESS REVEALS & DEVELOPS CHARACTER:
“We judge of a person's character by the style of dress...a refined taste, a cultivated mind, will be revealed in the choice of simple and appropriate attire.” {CH 601.2}
“...DRESS...reveal that which is most treasured by those who claim to be pilgrims and strangers on the earth...” (5T 188.4)
“Perhaps NO question has ever come up among us which has caused such development of character as has the dress reform.” {4T 636.3}
“...He who is converted from errors in eating, drinking, and DRESSING is being prepared to hear and receive the truth into a good and willing heart...” (CH 221.4)
“Self-denial and self-sacrifice will mark the Christian's life. Evidence that the taste is really converted will be seen in the dress of all who walk the narrow path...” {6MR 160.4}
“Christians should not neglect to search the scriptures on these points. They need to understand that which the Lord of heaven appreciates even in dressing of the body...even the style of the apparel will express the truth of the gospel. Their dress bears its testimony...” {6MR 161.1}.
“There is need of putting more of the bible precept into the dress, as well as the inward adorning into the character.” {DG 158.2}
WE ARE TO DRESS ACCORDING TO OUR FAITH:
“...In conversation and in dress, we must represent the truth. A decided guard must be placed upon the human agents in regard to...dress...” {DG 158.1} (Written in 1894)
“Our dress should be in strict accordance with the character of our holy faith...” {DG 158.2}
“The idolatry of dress is a moral disease...in most cases, submission to the gospel requirements will demand a decided change in the dress.” {6T 96.1}
“Should not the people of God, who are his peculiar treasure, seek even in their dress to glorify God...” (HR, February 1, 1872 par. 4)
“True dress reform regulates every article of clothing worn upon the person.” {PH022 2.1)
“...In the preparation of their clothing, are they careful not to dishonor their profession of faith? Can they seek the Lord's blessing....? ” {RH, December 6, 1881 par. 8}
DRESS FOR HEALTH & OBEDIENCE:
“God in his wisdom has established natural laws for the proper control of our dress, our appetites, and our passions, and he requires of us obedience in every particular.” -- 1883 {HL 17.3}
“The transgression of physical law is the transgression of God's law...and the human being who is careless and reckless of the habits and practices that concern his physical life and health, SINS AGAINST GOD...” {CD 43.3}
“In all respects the dress should be healthful.” Above all things, God desires us to “be in Health”--health of body and soul. And we are to be workers together with him for the health of both soul and body. Both are promoted by healthful dress.” (MH 288.3)
“...There is a growing disposition to sacrifice health and the favor of God upon the altar of ever-changing, never satisfying fashion.” {4T 638.2)
(In a little while, we will be discussing some of these “fashions” that are sacrificing our health).
WOMEN & DRESS:
“Satan knows that women have a power of influence for good or for evil; therefore he seeks to enlist them in his cause. He invents multitudinous fashions, and tempts the women of present day, as he did eve to pluck and eat, to adopt these ever-changing, never-satisfying modes.” {WM 161.1}
“It is manifest that most women do not think and act in reference to dress from reason and reflection. They accept, without questioning, that which society and fashion imposes upon them....” {HR, May 1, 1872 par. 2} (Acts 9:6)
I would ask...of today who profess to believe present truth...when they really desire an article of dress, or some ornament of convenience, do they lay the matter before the Lord in prayer to know if His Spirit would sanction this expenditure of means?” -- {RH, December 6, 1881 par. 8} (Acts 9:6)
“...In the preparation of their clothing...can they seek the Lord's blessing...? It is one thing to join the church, and quite another thing to be united to Christ. Unconsecrated, world-loving professors of religion are one of the most serious causes of weakness in the church of Christ.” {RH, December 6, 1881 par. 8}
ADDITIONAL READING:
1MR = Manuscript Releases, Volume 1
1T = Testimonies for the Church, Volume 1
3T = 258.2-.3
3T = 324.1-.2
3T = Testimonies for the Church, Volume 3
4T = Testimonies for the Church, Volume 4
5T = Testimonies for the Church, Volume 5
6MR = Manuscript Releases, Volume 6
6T = Testimonies for the Church, Volume 6
8T = Testimonies for the Church, Volume 8
CD = Counsels on Diet & Foods
CG = 432.3
CG = Child Guidance
CH = 91.2-.3
CH = Counsels on Health
CTBH = 77.1
CTBH = Christian Temperance & Bible Hygiene
DG = Sons and Daughters of God
HL = Healthful Living
HR = Health Reformer Articles
MH = Ministry of Healing
PH022 = Pamphlet022
RH = Review & Herald Articles
WM = Welfare Ministry
CONTINUE BELOW TO THE PHYSIOLOGY & DRESS SECTION
(9-14-13) Dressing for Health
DRESS & PHYSIOLOGY PART I
“Educate, educate, educate....in the dress...” {TSA 87.2} (Testimonies to Southern Africa)
TEACH PREVENTION:
“Teach the people how to prevent disease. Tell them to CEASE REBELLING against nature's laws...” (13MR 178.2)
“...An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” {20MR 1.5}
DRESS & HEALTH:
“In all respects, the dress should be healthful...” (MH 288.3)
IMPROPER DRESS LEADS TO ALL TYPES OF DISEASES:
“Disease never comes without a cause the way is prepared, and DISEASE INVITED, by disregard of the laws of health...they disregard the principles of health by their habits of eating, drinking, DRESSING, and working...” {MH 234.1-2}
“The fashionable style of woman's dress is one of the greatest causes of all these terrible diseases…”
{HL 64.2}
“More (women) die as the result of following fashion than from all other causes.” --H. R. {HL 64.3}
“Women especially are the victims of various maladies which might be lessened, if not entirely prevented, by right habits of life. Half (50%) their sufferings may be attributed to their manner of dress, and the insane desire to conform to the fashions of the world…” {HL 64.4}
“Health cannot be enjoyed where there is not an equal circulation of the blood; therefore....we advocate that the limbs of women should not be exposed, but sensibly, neatly, and comfortably clad...” {HR, May 1, 1872 par. 3}
“...To secure a good circulation of the current of human life, all parts of the body must be suitably clad....” {HR, August 1, 1868 par. 15}
EXTREMETIES/LIMBS TO BE COVERED:
“There is but one in a thousand who clothes her limbs as she should...” (HL 124.2)
Sister White mentions covering the extremities/limbs of the body many, many times.
“The limbs were not formed by our creator to endure exposure, as was the face...” (2T 531.3) Genesis 3:7, 21
“ANOTHER EVIL which custom fosters is the unequal distribution of clothing... the FEET and LIMBS, being remote from the vital organs, should be especially from cold by abundant clothing...” (CH 92.3)
“Many say they have no objections to the length of the dress, but they could never put on the pants.” {HR, May 1, 1872 par. 3}
“...The limbs thoroughly dressed with warm pants shock their modesty. Such opposition to the pants, which are positively modest, and which PROTECT THE LIMBS from exposure and chilliness, should be supported by sensible reason...” {HR, May 1, 1872 par. 4}
“True dress reform regulates EVERY ARTICLE OF DRESS worn upon the person...” {HR, January 1, 1877 par. 7}
The physiology of dress reform – Go to Proverbs 31:21
1. “...It is impossible to have health when the extremities are habitually cold; for if there is too little blood in them there will be too much in other portions of the body. PERFECT HEALTH REQUIRES A PERFECT CIRCULATION; but this cannot be had while three or four times as much clothing is worn upon the body...as upon the feet and limbs.” {CH 92.3}
“Fashion clothes woman's chest ...” {HR, August 1, 1868 par. 15}