Sunday, April 28, 2013

Repost: Spirit of the Style

This is one of my first posts here on Apostolic Fashion. I am reposting it for two reasons:

1- it really is the basis of why I started this blog; I saw some things going on around me that I was concerned about, and wanted to make a difference.

2- this is my last post. I have felt for some time now that this blog has served it's purpose - I see other blogs about modesty and holiness, and that encourages me. I'd like to think that I've made a difference in someone's life. The Bible says that there is a time and season for everything - that includes this blog - there was a time and need for it, but now the time has come for it to end. It's been a pleasure writing, as it was my hope to help people in their holiness walk.

The Spirit of the Style

When I was 14, I became infatuated with the Goth style. For those of you not familiar with it, Goth clothing is mostly black, and can usually make people feel like crossing to the other side of the street, because the wearer of said clothing looks scary, depressing, etc. Anyway, to continue my story, I began wearing a lot of black. I probably didn't strike people as Gothic, simply because I didn't own much black, and I was trying to be careful so as not to alarm my parents. When I put my black long-sleeved shirt and black skirt on (I still dressed modestly – perhaps it could be called “Apostoli-Goth”), I felt different. I felt a little “bad”. OK, I know you're probably laughing, but I was 14! I felt like a different person; almost as if I had put on a costume for a play and was going out to act like someone else. This “costume” of mine, unbeknownst to me, had a spirit attached to it... a spirit I wasn't prepared to deal with. Thank God for godly parents that prayed and prayed for me during that rough time in my life! I made it out of that phase, only by the Grace of God! (so there's a little bit of my personal testimony). Just for the record, it was a very short-lived phase... Maybe a few weeks.
Now, do I still wear black? Of course; in fact, I have a super cute black suit that I love to wear with a big black hat. The difference? The spirit. For those of you out there who don't think there is a spirit involved with what you wear, you are dead wrong (no offense...)! While I at the time did not realize what it was, I was flirting with a spirit that didn't jive with my Holy Ghost spirit. Clothing is very much linked to the spirit world. Think about it. When I put on my Goth clothes, I was putting on something else – the spirit associated with it. I won't try to figure out exactly what spirit it was – probably the spirits of depression, anger, and rebellion – but I do know that the spirit wasn't Godly. When girls dress provocatively, they are putting on the spirit of a harlot; for men dressing in the metro style, they are putting on the homosexual spirit. These spirits come with the outfit – you cannot wear the outfit without the spirit affecting you! Be wary of the spirits you keep in your closet!
Just as ungodly spirits can come with clothing, clothing can come with a bonafide Holy Ghost approval. The kind of clothing with the HG stamp of approval will help you keep your Holy Ghost. The Holy Ghost is our guide in all areas of our lives, including clothing. If we are full of His Spirit, we will notice a different feel in the clothing we pick out. That skirt may be long enough according to your church's standards, but sometimes you may not feel comfortable in that skirt. You may not be able to put a finger on why that skirt is not good, but your Holy Ghost will help you make godly decisions.

-A.F