Ephesians 4:1 says:

I Therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.

Ephesians 4:17 tells us to "henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk," in verse 22 to "put off concerning the former conversation the old man," and in verse 24 to "put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 1 Corinthians 11:1-2 instructs us to "be ye followers . . . keep the ordinances."

The next verse, 1 Corinthians 11:3 teaches about headship:

But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Ephesians 5:23-33 shows that the husband as head of the wife typifies Christ as head of the church. Verses 4-16 of 1 Corinthians 11 show that part of the vocation whereunto we are called is in teaching by symbolism. A man's hair is to be short and a woman's hair long--anywhere and everywhere. Also according to those verses, when assembled in church capacity for prayer, teaching, preaching, or worship a woman's head should be covered and a man's head uncovered. This symbolizes headship and submission (1Corinthians 11:3).

There is symbolism in actions and attitude of submission and subjection. ["In everything" (Ephesians 5:24)--"As unto the Lord (5:22)]. A "pattern of good works" should be shown "in all things" (Titus 2:7). It is needful to "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things" (Titus 2:10).

There is also symbolism in clothing and appearance. Proverbs 7:10 speaks of "the attire of an harlot." Clothing of sack-cloth is seen as symbolic throughout the Bible. Jeremiah 2:32 speaks of bridal attire. You may attend a wedding and never have seen the bride before, but the moment she walks in, everyone knows who she is because of the symbolism of the dress. Uniforms are symbolic of the occupation or rank of the persons who wear them. Police, nurses, military personell, even store employees are readily recognized by what they wear. Their clothing is symbolic. Consider the difference in the international symbols used world-wide on restroom doors--Dress=woman, Pants=man. Those symbols are used because it is recognized world-wide, regardless of language or culture, that a dress pertains to a woman and pants pertain to a man.

Deuteronomy 22:5 says:

The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a womans garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

Even today in such a time of perversion, a dress or skirt is thought of as a woman's garment and pants as pertaining unto a man. The restroom door placards stand as proof.

The old expression referring to an un-submissive wife as "wearing the pants" is further proof.

Some may object that both wore robes back then, so both may wear pants now. What ever they wore, there must have been a very distinct, clear, and readily visible difference or Deuteronomy 22:5 would not have made any sense.

A survey of all the occurrences of the word, robe or robes in the Bible reveals that a robe was not the common clothing for an ordinary person, but is itself seen to be symbolic in every occurrence. According to Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, the definition of robe in the Old Testament is, "a robe (i.e. upper and outer garment):--cloke, coat, mantle, robe." In every occurrence of the word robe previous to the book of 1 Samuel, it is worn by priests. In later occurrences it is worn by priests, kings, princes, soldiers, or figuratively as a "robe of righteousness." In the New Testament, in Luke 20-45-47, Jesus warned His disciples to "Beware of the scribes, which desire to walk in long robes . . . ." It is obvious that they were worn by the scribes for the purpose of special recognition. In Luke 15:22 the "prodigal son" was given a robe when he returned, as a symbolic gesture of special status. All other occurrences of robe previous to the book of Revelation is the robe that was placed on Christ in mockery, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" In Revelation 6:9-11 "white robes" were given to "the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held." In Revelation 7:9-14, "white robes" are worn by the tribulation saints. In every occurrence in the Bible, a robe is used symbolically to show special recognition, honor, or status. There is no Bible reference to a robe as being either a primary or common garment.

We should seek to please God rather than to see how far we can go. What if your son wanted to wear a dress? Or wear a cap in the church-house? Is there a double standard?

Man and woman is symbolic of Christ and church. We are teachers of each other, the world, and the angels. Does your manner of dress as a woman symbolize a church in subjection to Christ or a harlot church in rebellion toward God?  Men, what kind of a Christ do you symbolize?

Has un-christian dress contributed to moral decline? There has been a progression from men wearing a woman's haircut--to women wearing men's clothing made for women --to men wearing women's jewelry made for men--to men's haircuts for women--and then we wonder why there is so much homosexuality and lack of natural affection.

Has disregard for God's divine order of the sexes and its symbolism contributed to the falling away of many churches? First the woman's headcovering was abandoned and their hair cut short--next women were speaking out in the assembly--then leading in public prayer--wearing pants--now there are over 1200 women ordained as preachers among the Southern Baptists and who knows how many as deacons! Let us learn from others' mistakes rather than follow the same paths.

The clothing of a christian should be unquestionably decent and modest. In the Bible, the showing of nakedness is always considered shameful and symbolic of sin. Clothing and covering are symbolic of honor, glory, and of righteousness.   There should be little doubt that the un-ashamed nakedness so popular in clothing styles today has contributed greatly to the moral decline we see all around.

Shouldn't a child of God's want to look like a child of God's. Does our actions speak so loudly that people can't hear what we say? 1 Corinthians 6:20 says:

For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.

"I therefore . . . beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called" (Ephesians 4:1).