ATTIRE REGULATIONS
Regulations concerning attire are clearly out of fashion among most Westerners. Even among many Western Christians there is a prevalent attitude that God is merely concerned with a person’s heart, and indifferent regarding a person’s attire. But such an attitude runs counter to clear scriptural teaching. I Corinthians 11:1-16 (“Every man praying or prophesying, having [his] head covered, dishonoureth his head. But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with [her] head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven…Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered? Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for [her] hair is given her for a covering. But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.“) alone should suffice to debunk the false notion that God is indifferent about attire and silent regarding its regulation by the church. Therefore, it is entirely appropriate that the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland should seek to regulate attire among its membership.
Among the regulations of attire of the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland are:
1. Women are required to wear headcoverings in the public worship of her people.
2. Make-up is forbidden.
3. Hair-dying is forbidden.
4. Women are required to wear dresses.
5. Earrings are forbidden.
6. Women are required to have longer hair and men shorter hair (where this is reasonably feasible).
As an historical note, the historic reformed Church of Scotland was at least as strict as the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland currently is on the matters above, and generally more so.
My own personal opinions addressing some of the topics above are as follows:
1. Make-up and Jewelry - http://www.puritans.net/news/attire040604.htm
2. Headcoverings - http://www.puritans.net/news/headcoverings122403.htm
3. Hair-dying - http://www.puritans.net/news/hairdying041207.htm
4. Dresses - http://www.puritans.net/news/dress080907.htm
Some may question why I have devoted so much attention to the topic of attire in the articles of Puritan News Weekly. The reason is simply that I have found some of the greatest resistance to joining with the Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland relates to this topic of attire regulations. Therefore, I have felt the need at least to explain my own thoughts on the topic, as one seeking membership in that denomination.