A
counter-culture and hopeful message is working its way across the country. The
message is counter-culture because it resists trendy ideas and dares to speak
the Truth. The message is hopeful because it encourages generations on the high
road of life.
This counter-culture and hopeful message is titled “Dressing for Life: Secrets
of the Great Cover-up.” The message is packaged as an interactive purity style
show and “sweet buffet” designed to create a mentoring environment through which
older and younger women can be encouraged to a life of “holy living.”
The idea of “Dressing for Life” was conceived by Linda Bartlett after years of
speaking to young men and women in Christian schools and congregations across
the U.S. Her topics of chivalry and purity were well-received by young men and
women who dreamed of love, marriage and family. They wanted to know how to
avoid sexually transmitted diseases, teenage pregnancy, and broken hearts.
They longed for encouragement on the “high road.” Unfortunately, Linda
observed, it’s difficult to stay on the “high road” in a state of undress.
Believing the lie, “It’s my body, my right,” too many girls (and women) have
become “temptresses” (Proverbs 7). Experience proves that “sexy” dress can
lead to “sexy” living.
But God calls male and female – not to sexy living – but holy living! (1
Thessalonians 4:7)
“Dressing for Life” has already proven to be a refreshingly different twist to
the typical purity message. Audiences in Iowa, Illinois, Oklahoma, and Missouri
have responded positively. Here are a few of the many comments: 
-
It
was fun to look at fashions from the last
100 years, but I also learned why
God wants me to “cover up” and be modest.
-
I
don’t like feeling half naked, but that’s today’s look. I need to remember
that God made me and wants what’s best for me. I need to be responsible
about what I wear and how I act.
-
I
didn’t realize that boys are so “visual.” Maybe I need to be more
respectful of them.
-
Thank you for telling me that God loves me – no matter what my size or
shape.
-
No
one ever told me why the wedding dress is really a “perfect” dress. You’ve
helped me understand a whole lot more about what “waiting for marriage”
really means.
Mothers who have attended “Dressing for Life” with their daughters report a
change in thinking – their own and their daughter’s.
-
My daughter and I went shopping for a special dress after
your style show. I was surprised to see her reject some of the more
revealing dresses and, instead, choose a more modest dress. She later
admitted that she “wasn’t comfortable” in short, tight tops that don’t reach
her hip-hugging jeans.
-
I will have to admit that I, too, have been influenced by
Victoria’s Secret and the more sensual look.
-
I get it! You started your message with “God said fig
leaves aren’t enough.” Later, you held up a bikini and repeated, “God said
fig leaves aren’t enough!” I appreciate this new perspective.
“Dressing for Life” uses vintage clothes to illustrate our cultural shift away
from feminine, modest dress and behavior. “Dressing for Life” has its own
collection of over 50 garments from 1865 to present day. The bathing suit, prom
dress, and wedding dress collections provide meaningful object lessons. Judy Hayen, wife of Rev. Neil Hayen, works “backstage” with the models and their
moms. “The girls get so excited,” says Judy. “They seem to appreciate the
opportunity to ‘dress up’ and wear such feminine clothes. The highlight,
however, is getting to model one of the wedding dresses! You should see the
sparkle in the eyes of our young models when they look at themselves in the
mirror!”
Linda notes that most little girls dream about a someday wedding. They
visualize themselves in the traditional white wedding dress. Mothers delight in
watching their daughters select the “perfect” wedding dress. But, do modern
women know what white signifies? Do they know why the wedding dress might be
considered the “perfect” dress? Do they know what it means to “wait” for the
bridegroom? It is an exciting privilege, Linda explains, to offer Biblical
answers to these and other questions.
Carting “old clothes” around the country isn’t easy. Linda and Judy both agree
that it takes time and work. But, because “Dressing for Life” is more than just
a presentation, they believe it’s worth the effort. “Dressing for Life” is an
interactive, community event that gets others involved. This is perhaps one of
the most important aspects of this unique purity style show. Why?
It has been said, “Tell me, and I’ll forget. Show me, and I may not remember.
Involve me, and I’ll understand.” For this reason, Linda and Judy welcome
opportunities to involve young “models” and their moms. Also involved are the
hostesses who create a mentoring environment in which lessons of godly womanhood
can be taught. Each hostess decorates her own elegant table and invites older
and younger women to be her guests. Tables are often decorated in ways that
initiate conversations about etiquette and home-making skills. “Dressing for
Life” has another purpose, too. This purity style show is designed to raise
funds for a local caring pregnancy center or special pro-life and family
ministry. (Specific details for the hostesses may be
found elsewhere on this site.)
What is at the heart of this one-of-a-kind style show? A simple, but
life-changing truth: God wants all women to dress for life. And here’s
the secret to dressing for life: Covering up is God’s idea; therefore, it’s a
great idea!
God is the Creator of male and female. He is also the Master Designer of
clothes. After Adam and Eve sinned, they tried to cover their nakedness and
shame with fig leaves. But God said that fig leaves weren’t enough. Fig leaves
quickly sewn together by human hands would neither cover shame nor bring
salvation. In great love -- and for their physical and spiritual protection,
God clothed the first man and woman in garments made from animal skins that
covered them from neck to knee.
But, that’s not all! The Heavenly Father covered man and woman in “a garment
of salvation and a robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10). In Jesus Christ, the
very real emotions of shame and embarrassment become our protection. God uses
the natural feelings of shyness about our bodies as a way to help us be modest
in the way we dress and act. After all, our “bodies are temples of the Holy
Spirit . . . they are not our own . . . they were bought at a price.” For this
reason, we are to “honor God with our bodies.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
But, what if we have failed to “honor God with our bodies”? Failure to live
God-pleasing lives is inevitable for men and women living in a sin-filled
world. For this reason, “Dressing for Life” brings a sure and certain message
of hope. The God who created us is a God of forgiveness and hope. Even after
their sin, God continued to love Adam and Eve. He loved them so much that He
promised them a Savior who would pay the price for their sin. That Savior is
Jesus Christ who has wiped away all of our sins and freely forgives everyone who
trusts Him and is truly sorry for their wrongful behavior. Jesus wraps Himself
around us – like protective clothing – when we are ashamed and embarrassed.
“Dressing for Life” is a voice of reason in a world that entices women to
uncover themselves and live dangerously. It is a challenge to live
counter-culture. It is encouragement to love others as we love ourselves. It
is respect for the eyes (and souls) of men. “Dressing for Life” explains that
clothing, as even some Christians insist, is not an unbounded “liberty” or
“thing indifferent.”
If you are curious about the “secret of the great cover-up,” please call Judy at
(712) 425-3328 or e-mail
Linda
(“Dressing
for Life: Secrets of the Great Cover-up” is a mentoring tool of the Titus 2
for Life ministry which operates under Word of Hope, the healing ministry of
Lutherans For Life [888] 217-8679.)
An
Update on the
Purity Lifestyle Show “Dressing for Life”
and the new Bible Study!
The purity lifestyle show called Dressing
For Life: Secrets of the Great Cover-up first debuted on January 16,
2005, in Iowa Falls, Iowa. On that day, the Gentle Student Center at
Ellsworth Community College was filled with 230 women – of all ages. Since
that time, Dressing for Life has been “on tour”!
Dressing for Life, unlike typical fashion shows, is a “lifestyle” show. That’s because it
offers counterculture ideas for living as Biblical women in the modern
world. Dressing for Life has proven to be interactive,
counterculture, and an effective fundraiser. It is interactive
because it involves young models, their mothers, and table hostesses who
mentor femininity and thoughtfulness to their guests. It is
counterculture because it shares what God says about clothing, behavior,
and loving others as ourselves. It is a fundraiser for Word of Hope,
the healing ministry of Lutherans For Life; the mentoring ministry Titus 2
for Life; or local caring pregnancy centers in the host community.
To date, Dressing for Life has been
presented in Michigan, Illinois, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Iowa. Over
$11,000.00 has been raised for the above-mentioned ministries.
As
you might imagine, it isn’t possible for this purity lifestyle show to
“tour” everywhere. Limited engagements are reality. For that reason, the
author of Dressing for Life, Linda Bartlett, was encouraged to write
a Bible study by the same name. The ten-lesson Bible study is available by
e-mailing
Linda.
The study is ideal for mothers and
daughters, youth leaders, family life workers, pastors, teachers, and “girls
only” retreats.
You may learn more about the Bible study,
Dressing for Life: Secrets of the Great Cover-up, by clicking on
Dressing for Life Bible Study.
