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THE CHRISTIAN YOUTH AND FASHION
Have you ever imagined Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden? How do they look? How was it recorded in the Good Books? Fashion has become a major concern in this 21st century and cannot be overlooked. This article will capture the taste of fashion amongst the youth especially the reasons why decency is becoming a thing of the past coupled with series of advice to the youth.
Let us journey through the world of fashion. Fashion can be explained in various forms such as the form, shape, or structure of anything. It could also be the style in which something is done. However, within this context, the Oxford dictionary explains it as “the current, popular or latest trend or style of clothing, hair, decoration or behavior.†This explanation elaborates that fashion goes beyond dressing even to attitude and behavior. When fashion is being mentioned, attention is drawn to the youth, especially young ladies. Who then are the youth? These are people between the ages of fifteen and thirty-five according to Ghana's National youth policy (2010). These people are said to possess youthful exuberance which makes them unique in many ways.
Now, why is fashion amongst the youth such a big deal? Does dressing matter at all? Scriptures such as 1 Timothy 2:9-10, Deuteronomy 22:5, 1 Peter 3:2-5 suggest modesty and decency, and inner beauty. A lot has been said concerning this topic because modesty and decency have now been termed 'old-fashioned'. Most ladies become victims of indecency when they dress as hot as a pot on a fire. Some of such dresses carry fancy names such as spaghetti, off the shoulder, blouson, stretch or bodycon, wiggle, or pencil which as the name suggests, draws the lady's shape in totality. Such temptation! Not forgetting guys who also put on tattered jeans and sometimes pull their trousers down with swag, ‘autofista’.
But wait a minute, has it crossed your mind why some of the youth dress so indecently yet they like what they wear and even wear what they like? They even call it fashion and do it with passion showing no compassion or concern about the troubles they will cause with those seductive outfits. Let us take a break and reflect on the reasons why people dress in a particular way. Some dress to impress, others dress to suit an occasion and claim dressing is limited to location.
Some also dress to cause distractions, others as obedience to the devil's instructions which is purposely for seduction. Some even claim they dress for personal satisfaction without caring about people’s reactions. The appalling part is that some of these seductive dresses are won to cause opposite or same-sex attractions. Some of the youths also enjoy the caption of following trends.
To end with, let me use this opportunity to give a little advice to the youth. The fact that life is short does not mean you should wear something short and hot. Even if you are not a Christian, at least dress with caution with the motive that you are dressing to be a blessing. Modesty does not only hide the body, but it reveals one’s dignity (Proverbs 31:25) and humility. Dress to be remembered and not to be reminded of your nakedness. In as much as you are conscious about your combinations, do not forget your distinctions. Always remember that elegance radiates from the inside out. You are more beautiful when you set your selfishness aside.
Finally, as a youth, know that fashion is not supposed to expose what you are expected to cover. Though the world has a lot to discover it is not what you are seeking to uncover. If all you are seeking to do is to uncover yourself to find a lover, then kindly use that opportunity to discover a hobby, you can choose to become a book lover, or better still you can become a gospel music lover.
Written by Miss. Esther L. Teye
REFERENCES
1. Retrieved from https://www.christiantoday.com/article/5-bible-verses-on-how-a-christian-woman-should-dress/103602.htm on 30th July, 2021.
2. https://www.google.com/search?q=names+of+dresses+people+wear&tbm=isch&chips=q:names+of+dresses+people+wear,online_chips:different+types:g7LNMdCJI1I%3D&bih=512&biw=320&client=ms-android-transsion-itel-rev1&prmd=inv&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiQhaPalIvyAhUKw4UKHW6kD5cQ4lYoAXoECAEQBw#imgrc=ifwwzjWSNWG4wM
3. https://www.youthpolicy.org/factsheets/country/ghana/#:~:text=Definition%20of%20Youth,those%20between%2015-35%20years
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Very helpful and powerful