SPECIAL NOTICE: The following is intended for Seventh-day Adventist women who are knowledgeable about the principles of Christian dress as outlined in the Spirit of Prophecy. Those unacquainted with these principles are encouraged to first read the articles on the RESOURCES page. What follows is addressed only to those who are willing to listen to "hard sayings" with a receptive heart. Be aware that these statements are not made without much research to back them up. They may sound radical and extreme to you at first, but please take the time to follow through on the research. Be sure to read Satan, the Ultimate Cross-Dresser.

Dear Seventh-day Adventist Sisters,

We know that our enemy is doing all he can to get us to follow his agenda. He uses ways and means of which we are sometimes naive. We have been duly warned by our dear Sister Ellen White about the dangers of fashion. This treacherous trap can catch us unawares.

"We have become so accustomed to the ways of the world that we no longer recognize our departure from true principle. Those who do see it are often charged with fanaticism or having an evil mind. It is easy to understand why they would be reluctant to expose themselves to such unsavory charges. Yet the dangers must be exposed by the watchmen who have been assigned that responsibility. We are not engaged in a popularity contest. The truth must be told whether it is pleasing or not." Reaping the Whirlwind, by Joe Crews

In this statement by Ellen White, notice the prophecy at the very end: "They will imitate the opposite sex, as nearly as possible. … Confusion will be the result. In this style of dress God's order has been reversed, and his special directions disregarded. Deuteronomy 22:5. "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God." ….God's prohibitions are lightly regarded by all who would advocate the doing away of the distinction of dress between males and females….God designed there should be a plain distinction between male and female dress, and has considered the matter of sufficient importance to give explicit directions in regard to it; for the same dress worn by both sexes would cause confusion, and great increase of crime." 2 SM 477

Commentators of past centuries, who were not prejudiced one way or the other by the debate on modern fashions, held that the teaching of Deuteronomy 22:5 is applicable to the Christian life.

The footnotes in the Geneva Bible (1560) said: “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman‟s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God. For that alters the order of nature, and shows that you despise God.”

Matthew Poole (1624-1679) said: “Now this is forbidden, partly for decency sake, that men might not confound, nor seem to confound, those sexes which God hath distinguished, that all appearance of evil might be avoided, such change of garments carrying a manifest umbrage or sign of softness and effeminacy in the man, of arrogance and impudency in the woman, of lightness and petulancy in both; and partly to cut off all suspicions and occasions of evil, which this practice opens a wide door unto.”

Matthew Henry (1662-1714) said: “The distinction of sexes by the apparel is to be kept up, for the preservation of our own and our neighbour's chastity, De. 22:5. Nature itself teaches that a difference be made between them in their hair (1 Cor. 11:14), and by the same rule in their clothes, which therefore ought not to be confounded, either in ordinary wear or occasionally.”

John Gill (1697-1771) said: “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, … It being very unseemly and impudent, and contrary to the modesty of her sex. … neither shall a man put on a woman's garment; which would betray effeminacy and softness unbecoming men, and would lead the way to many impurities, by giving an opportunity of mixing with women, and so to commit fornication and adultery with them; to prevent which and to preserve chastity this law seems to be made; and since in nature a difference of sexes is made, it is proper and necessary that this should be known by difference of dress, or otherwise many evils might follow; and this precept is agreeable to the law and light of nature…”

Adam Clarke (1762-1832) said: “It is, however, a very good general precept understood literally, and applies particularly to those countries where the dress alone distinguishes between the male and the female. The close-shaved gentleman may at any time appear like a woman in the female dress, and the woman appear as a man in the male's attire. Were this to be tolerated in society, it would produce the greatest confusion.”

Albert Barnes (1789-1870) wrote: “The distinction between the sexes is natural and divinely established, and cannot be neglected without indecorum and consequent danger to purity (compare 1 Cor. 11:3-15).”

Jamieson, Fausset, Brown (1864) said: “They were properly forbidden; for the adoption of the habiliments of the one sex by the other is an outrage on decency, obliterates the distinctions of nature by fostering softness and effeminacy in the man, impudence and boldness in the woman as well as levity and hypocrisy in both; and, in short, it opens the door to an influx of so many evils that all who wear the dress of another sex are pronounced "an abomination unto the Lord.‟” Taken from Dressing for the Lord, by David Cloud

Listen to this testimony from a Baptist sister: “I grew up in a strong Christian home, a Pastor's home, with biblical standards. However, after I was married I wore pants briefly. I knew it was wrong, and after about six months under conviction I returned to skirts and dresses; but I still dressed to please myself. You will hear over and over that dress reveals the heart and that is absolutely true. There are only two options here: you will dress to please God or you will dress to please yourself. Over the years, as I have come to the place where I just want God and His will, I have surrendered this area of my life to Him. Now I believe my skirts and dresses truly glorify Him, not myself. I would challenge you to consider the Biblical principles of Separation from the World, Gender Distinction, and Modesty for yourself. 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 spoke to me in this area. God says we are bought, we are not our own, so glorify God in your BODY and in your spirit -- both are His.” Taken from Dressing for the Lord, by David Cloud

We pray that you will ask the Lord for a meek and teachable spirit as you read the following. It is written with a prayer that you will see God's love in the beautiful plan that He has for you.

We would like to share with you 10 Reasons Why Satan Wants Women to Wear Pants. (By using the word Pants, we are referring to pants worn without a skirt or dress covering.) We don't expect you to take our word for it, but to study it out for yourselves. For further documentation, please read Satan, the Ultimate Cross-Dresser and The Gender Agenda.

1. Satan wants you to wear pants because….he hates God's creation! He hates the male and female design. He hates your femininity. He wants to take it away from you. He wants to blur the distinction between male and female, and he knows that pants on women are a tool that will help accomplish his devious goal.

   There is an increasing tendency to have women in their dress and appearance as near like the other sex as possible, and to fashion their dress very much like that of men, but God pronounces it abomination. "In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety." 1 Timothy 2:9. 1 T 457

2. Satan wants you to wear pants because….he wants you to help promote his ungodly feminist movement. He designed this movement to ensnare rebellious women who are opposing their God-ordained role, and fighting against God's plan. He first got men to oppress women, then got women to rise up against oppression, going to the other extreme in seeking to usurp their power over men. Pants on women grew out of the feminist movement, and is their trademark. Women who wear pants are unwittingly perhaps promoting the feminist movement.

   Those who feel called out to join the movement in favor of woman's rights and the so-called dress reform might as well sever all connection with the third angel's message. The spirit which attends the one cannot be in harmony with the other. The Scriptures are plain upon the relations and rights of men and women. {1T 421.4}

   Thousands sell their virtue that they may have means for following the fashions of the world. MYP 359

3. Satan wants you to wear pants because….he wants your worship. The feminist movement and spiritualism are bound together, and those who have accepted his program are acknowledging their allegiance to him. Evil spirits manifested themselves to the first ladies to promote pants on women. They got the idea from the devil, and those who accept it are pleasing him greatly! You cannot separate the history of pants on women from spiritualism. Pants on women give the devil a foothold in their life.

   Spiritualists have, to quite an extent, adopted this singular mode of dress. Seventh-day Adventists, who believe in the restoration of the gifts, are often branded as spiritualists. 1T 421

   If we obey the divine injunction we shall have no sympathy with spiritualists, however smooth and fair may be their words. {Con 91.1}

4. Satan wants you to wear pants because….he hates your family. He hates the sanctity of marriage. He hates God's plan of having the man be the head of the household. He would like women to be the heads of their households. He knows that if women wear pants, it tends to make them less submissive to their husbands, and causes strife in the home. Frequency in divorce has escalated with the acceptance of pants on women. The children become confused, and grow up without a clear picture of God's order for the sexes.

   Show and fashion are the demon altar upon which many American women sacrifice their children. 2 SM 266

   Parents who would teach their children the evil of following the fashions of the world, have a hard battle. 1T278

5. Satan wants you to wear pants because….he hates sexual purity. He wants to promote homosexuality, rape and sexual deviants. He knows that women in pants causes sexual confusion and increased crime. He wants men to see women as sex objects rather than to respect their graceful femininity. Women in clothing that resembles men's causes moral depravity and disorientation. He wants you to help further his agenda by wearing pants.

   The love of dress endangers the morals and makes woman the opposite of the Christian lady characterized by modesty and sobriety. Showy, extravagant dress too often encourages lust in the heart of the wearer and awakens base passions in the heart of the beholder. God sees that the ruin of the character is frequently preceded by the indulgence of pride and vanity in dress. 4T 645

   God designed that there should be a plain distinction between the dress of men and women, and has considered the matter of sufficient importance to give explicit directions in regard to it; for the same dress worn by both sexes would cause confusion and great increase of crime. 4T 460

   Demoralizing extravagance prevails everywhere, and souls are going to ruin because of their love of dress and display. MYP 359

6. Satan wants you to wear pants because….he hates godly influence. He wants to destroy your influence by having you dress just like the world in their pagan practices. This makes people believe that you are not sincere in what you are preaching. He knows that he can injure the influence of Seventh-day Adventist women who wear pants.

   Many dress like the world in order to have an influence over unbelievers, but here they make a sad mistake. If they would have a true and saving influence, let them live out their profession, show their faith by their righteous works, and make the distinction plain between the Christian and the worldling. The words, the dress, the actions, should tell for God. Then a holy influence will be shed upon all around them… 4T 634

   Let them adopt this costume, and their influence is dead. 1T 457

   Let the sisters adopt the American costume and they would destroy their own influence and that of their husbands. 1T 458

7. Satan wants you to wear pants because….he wants to use you as a stumbling block to both your brothers and sisters. Most women's pants reveal the female form in a way that tempts men to have impure thoughts. Their eyes are drawn to your private areas. This could cause you to be the instigator of their immoral thoughts, thus making you responsible for their sin. And when you wear pants, even if they are not tight, you put your approval on the wearing of pants for women, so that your sisters feel encouraged to do the same. Although theirs may be tighter than yours, your example serves to encourage them in the wearing of pants. They become bold with a false sense of security and frivolity.

   With the so-called dress reform there goes a spirit of levity and boldness just in keeping with the dress. Modesty and reserve seem to depart from many as they adopt that style of dress. 1T457

   By your unsanctified lives you have laid stumbling blocks before your own children and before unbelievers. Some of you move by impulse, act from passion and prejudice, and bring impure, tainted offerings to God. TM146

   I was shown that God would have us take a course consistent and explainable. 1T 458

8. Satan wants you to wear pants because….he wants you to be a follower of fashion. Pant styles are frequently changing, from bell bottoms, to straight legs, to Capri length, and now to harem pants. He wants you to pay attention to styles, and keep current, so he can control your affections, and wean them from God. He wants you to spend time and money keeping up with fashion. He knows that fashion followers cannot be loyal to God. He wants your fashion consciousness to cause you to wear things that don't glorify God.

   In these last days, fashions are shameful and immodest. They are noticed in prophecy. They were first brought in by a class over whom Satan has entire control, who, "being past feeling [without any conviction of the Spirit of God] have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness." If God's professed people had not greatly departed from Him, there would now be a marked difference between their dress and that of the world. 1T 189

   Obedience to fashion is pervading our Seventh-day Adventist churches and is doing more than any other power to separate our people from God. 4T 647

9. Satan wants you to wear pants because….he wants you to disobey God's Word. He wants you to do that which God has declared to be an abomination. He wants you to justify and excuse your rebellion. He wants to have you profess to be a worshipper of God, while you are actually promoting his agenda.

   I saw that God's order has been reversed, and His special directions disregarded, by those who adopt the American costume. I was referred to Deuteronomy 22:5: "The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord thy God." God would not have His people adopt the so-called reform dress. It is immodest apparel, wholly unfitted for the modest, humble followers of Christ. 1 T 421

   One of the points upon which those newly come to the faith will need instruction is the subject of dress. Let the new converts be faithfully dealt with. 1T 465

   The idolatry of dress is a moral disease. It must not be taken over into the new life. In most cases submission to the gospel requirements will demand a decided change in the dress. CG 432

10. Satan wants you to wear pants because…. he wants to bring sorrow to God's heart. He wants God's professed people to be lukewarm and powerless. He wants them to look like the world, and act like the world. He wants to lead them to think they're on the narrow path while they are actually on the broad road to destruction. He wants to grieve the loving heart of God by using women in pants in church leadership, so that all the other women think that God approves. And Satan rejoices as the angels weep.

    Were the apostle Paul alive, and should he behold women professing godliness with this style of dress, [American costume] he would utter a rebuke. 1 T 460

    Do not, my sisters, trifle longer with your own souls and with God. I have been shown that the main cause of your backsliding is your love of dress. 4 T647

    Man is forbidden to give to any other object the first place in his affections or his service. Whatever we cherish that tends to lessen our love for God or to interfere with the service due Him, of that do we make a god. PP 305

    The Spirit of Prophecy quotations were taken from the book Thy Nakedness, Lord What Shall I Wear? Used by permission.

These 10 reasons are further explained in Satan, the Ultimate Cross-Dresser (SDA)

A Little Grace by Eugene Prewitt (SDA) - Very thought provoking article. An excellent read.

Unisex by Joe Crews (SDA)- (Used by Permission. Info on ordering book.) Addresses the problem of dressing like the opposite sex

Women and Pants - Excellent article on the history of pants on women

Women in Pants by Hal Webb - powerful article

The Gender of Pants - by Lynford Heron (SDA) - More information on the history of pants on women

The Christian's Appearance

Modesty and Distinction by Loanne Clements

What About Women Wearing Pants? by Brother Potter

Proper Christian Clothing by Edward Ross (SDA)

Blow the Trumpet by Godwin Delali

What does the Bible Say About Women Wearing Pants? by Mrs. Teri Jeter - A 19 page pdf book with excellent information

For a more in depth study, you may use Testimonies for the Church, vol. 1, 4, & 5. Or you may study these chapters in the book Thy Nakedness, Lord, What Shall I Wear? by Gwen and Rick Shorter

3. Dress and My Spirituality

4. Lord, Do I have to Change My Dress?

5. Who are the Fanatics and Extremists?

11. But Lord, What About Pants?

12. The Feminist Movement and Dress Reform

13. Uni-Sex??? Address to Christian Women by a Brother in Christ

Jewelry – Ornaments, Personal Decoration and More…The Spiritualism Connection by Gwen and Rick Shorter

6. Nakedness and Cross-Gender Dress: The Spiritualism Connection

11. The Word of God: The Basis for Our Conversion and Our Principles in Dress

12. The Role of Obedience in Salvation

Dressing for the Lord

“I'm a fundamental Baptist Christian here in the Philippines. I have the conviction that as a Christian lady, I ought to be strictly following modest apparel for ladies and not to wear pants. Wearing modest apparel is one way of showing a difference in this wicked and crooked world. Through physical appearance, you can be identified as a Christian who strictly adheres to what the Bible teaches no matter what the world says to you. Since I was baptized and graduated from High School, I haven‟t worn pants at all, and it‟s really a great blessing to me. Even if not I‟m saying anything or telling people that I‟m a fundamental Baptist Christian, then the people around me know that I am because of the manner I am dressed. And when people start to question me about it, then I share my testimony and witness to them about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and how a person can be assured of Heaven when he dies. And I always thank the Lord for giving me a teachable heart.” Taken from Dressing for the Lord, by David Cloud

"The first point I would make is that it is highly doubtful whether any pants on a woman are truly modest. While loose pants on a woman are most assuredly more modest than tight jeans, and my survey of men proved that, they still show off the woman‟s rear end in a way that a modest dress does not, and they accentuate the crotch area and draw people‟s attention there as no dress does.

"Second, wearing pants for a woman is a questionable standard. If it were not questionable why do many Christian men have a conviction that it is wrong? The child of God should not allow himself or herself to pursue questionable things.

"Third, wearing pants identifies one with modern female fashions and leads to the perpetual temptation to wear tight pants. The Christian woman who is convinced that pants can be a modest and proper attire is constantly tempted to push the boundaries pertaining to the style of her dress, because of the pressure from the fashion industry.

"Fourth, it is exceedingly rare that a woman will maintain a strong conviction about modest dress and maintain the highest standard in this realm if she wears pants. In my experience, the woman who wears loose pants will wear tighter ones. Further, even if she has a true conviction about always wearing her pants in a loose, non form-fitting style, her daughters do not follow her example. I have never seen or heard of a case of a Christian woman living in a Western culture that had a true spiritual conviction about only wearing “modest” pants and stood by that conviction consistently and trained her daughters to have the same conviction. Wearing pants, any style of pants, simply does not go hand-in-hand with strong convictions about modesty."

"Finally, I would ask you to give the issue of offense serious consideration. There are literally hundreds of thousands of men in fundamentalist churches (tens of thousands of whom I have preached to and hundreds of whom I know personally) who have a conviction that women should not wear pants, that it is a unisex statement at best and less than proper even when the style is loose. Would it not be scriptural and godly to forego offending these men of God even if you think they are wrong? Is wearing pants something to live and die for? Is it so important that you don't care who you offend? The apostle Paul said, “Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend” (1 Cor. 8:13)." Taken from Dressing for the Lord, by David Cloud