Why Christian Women Dont Dress Like Nuns
The discourse over whether it is right or wrong for women to wear trousers is one that has continued for a long time particularly in Nigeria. Women are forbidden to wear trousers in some churches while it is no big deal in other churches. There are varying theories on this subject as some quote the scripture to back their standpoint, Deuteronomy 22 verse 5: "Women are not to wear men's clothing, and men are not to wear women's clothing; the Lord your God hates people who do such things."
There are those who also believe trouser eases free movement when worn by a woman and as such do not frown at it as long as the woman's nakedness is not in any way revealed.
Others also assert that if both genders can wear same clothing in some cultures or climes why the fuss over women wearing trousers, which they believe was not in any way mentioned in the Bible.
Days ago, a leader of a Christian religious movement reposted a graphic illustration that a particular leading Nigerian Pentecostal Church allows the wearing of trousers by females in its United States and Europe branches but otherwise is the case in the home branches, as it even frowns at the use of earrings.
The post drew many responses as a particular Instagram user refuted the statement.
Pastor Bella Alex-Nosagie once told Sunday INDEPENDENT that if God has convicted a woman that wearing trouser is wrong then she should obey God. She believes individuals should dress to honour God and not to glorify sin.
She said some churches frown at it based on the scripture that says women should not wear what pertains to a man, Deuteronomy 22:5.
"This is the way I interpret that scripture: what were the outfits of that period? If God has convicted a woman that wearing trouser is wrong then she should obey God. I am not going to argue with those who say it is a sin to do so. God's wisdom must be sought on this matter. How do we dress to honor him today?
"There are female trousers and male trousers. If a woman wants to wear trousers to church she should ask God if it is okay to do so. I will not be the one to tell her that it is wrong because what they wore then is not what we are wearing now. Trousers are not sinful unless they are tight and revealing. If you are wearing a typical pant suit to church I will not condemn you," she stated.
Another female cleric, Bishop Priscilla Otuya, who revealed that she is more comfortable in trouser, views that the doctrinal differences is a ploy by the devil to victimise and relegate women.
Expressing her take on this subject she said that: "There was a time someone approached me and said 'Mummy Otuya I love you, but I don't like one thing you do.' I asked him what and he said 'wearing trousers'. So I asked him if he eats Titus fish, he nodded and I told him it is an abomination judging from the same Bible he is looking at to condemn trousers.
"Not only eating Titus fish but wearing suits of diverse material and planting several crops on one land. Even the crayfish you use to cook is an abomination. Then there the Holy Spirit told me to tell him that he gave him an assignment to do and he has refused to do it. When I told him this, he became sober.
For her, there are many dos' and don'ts' in the scripture that has to do with the era the laws were given."
Otuya continued that: "We need to understand the era that we are. So if you want to go back to the time of old, go and be riding on donkeys. What makes you think that trouser belongs to men. In my place men tie wrapper as their traditional wear. In Scotland men wear skirts.
"If you can point one scripture that shows that trouser belongs to man I will stop wearing it. So stop assuming. The devil is only cooking up different teachings to cage, victimise, women and relegate them because he knows God in the last days will use them mightily than men."
Reverend TimPaul, disagrees with Otuya as he described as demonic the doctrine that permits women to wear trousers. According to him, a carnal man sees it as no sin but to a Spirit filled Child of God, it matters a lot because the word of God condemns it.
He however advised Christians to stand on the truth of the word of God, no matter the cost as the time therein is a perilous one. He added that: "We are in the last days so let's be careful of the doctrines of demons and deceiving spirits. I encourage women to read Titus chapter 1 verses 15 to 16, Revelation 22 verses 18- to 19 and 2nd Timothy 3 verses 1 to 9."
Pastor Chris Fidelis, opined that that "in the times we live in, there are trousers that are made specifically for women which are not offensive, and those for men also, so it's not about the trouser but how it is worn that matters. Men have their trousers and women have theirs, let everyone wear that that belongs to them but have in mind that if the way you dress causes another to sin then it is a sin, so it's not about trouser but how it is worn," he said.
Pastor Tunde Strong supports the respect for doctrinal differences, as he charged women not to wear trousers as long as the churches they attend do not permit it. He however notes that the clime and weather to an extent influences the dressing of individuals.
Strong shared that: "There was a time in our culture when it would have been wrong for women to wear pants. Yes, when they were viewed as only male clothing. But as the decades have passed, clothing styles have changed and pants have been designed in very feminine ways for women.
"A Christian woman can definitely find pants that do indeed 'pertain to a woman' that a man would not be caught dead in. For men who claim that no pants can look feminine on a woman I would bet you would never want to wear a pair of women's slacks or skinny jeans because you know that they 'pertain to a woman'.
"The Bible does not in any place say that men must wear pants at all times or that women must wear dresses at all times nor does it say it is a sin for a woman to wear trouser. The only way it is sin for a woman to wear trouser is if her father or her husband forbids her to wear them or if she wears trouser to her church when her pastor has made it clear that female member should not wear trousers to church. But if a woman's father, husband or pastor allows her to wear pants, then there is no sin in her doing this as long as the pant she wears pertains to a woman and not to a man."
"What matters is that a woman is well covered and not whether she wears trouser," said Dr. Tunde Elebute, a leader in the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN).
To Elebute, people do not understand the Bible properly and do not know how to combine the old and new testaments which is why an argument as this still goes on. He believes there are many important things that should be addressed.
He however emphasised that a Christian sister should be sensitive enough to know where not to wear trouser to.
Bishop Abraham Olaleye, expressed disgust over the topic on the basis that the Bible has no mention of trouser anywhere. The doctrine of women not wearing trouser is a misconception and wrong application of God's word which is also evidence that some people do not have theological understanding of the things written in the Bible, he made known.
In his expression, Olaleye did say that: "I feel so sick when I hear this kind of thing because having traveled to so many places and come across a lot of tradition and culture. There is no scripture in the Bible that says a woman should not wear trousers. It is not in Deuteronomy as being quoted. What God said in the Mosaic law is that a woman should not wear what pertains to a man and vice versa.
"People do not know the theological background that in the olden days women were unclean because of their menstrual cycle If God in a modern day wants to segregate and classify dressing then the Scottish men would be in trouble because they wear skirts. The India wear sari, Urhobo men wear wrapper, etc. So are you now saying God would busy himself to address each tribe and the way they should dress? People always get it wrong.
"Personally I like women wearing trouser because it gives them liberty to move freely without being extra careful. What matters is that we should dress to God's glory and not to expose their bodies. Don't forget that God was limited to the Jews but now he is dealing with a global people, so one of the minutest things is what we wear because at the end of the day is not really what we put on but the condition of our heart and the love of God with all our heart and soul that matters."
Primate Sunday Matilukoro of The First African Church, also called for caution as long as dressing is concerned.
His stance: "I once said in an interview that what the Scriptures say is that a man should not wear a woman's cloth and vice versa. However it is relative. By our culture, men wear trousers, while women wear gowns, wrapper etc. If for some obvious reasons a woman must wear trousers, it should not expose the figures of the woman in such a manner that will tempt men.
"The privacy of a woman is her pride. Once it is exposed, she is likely to be tossed around, and eventually becomes a laughing stuff. We must be very careful in copying foreign culture; which God warned the Israelites against. A woman wearing trousers could wear a gown on top of it."
Source: https://independent.ng/how-sinful-is-wearing-of-trousers-by-christian-sisters/