Let me invite you to the great debate.
Christian: You should give up _________ because the Bible tells us it’s wrong.
Non-Christian: Do you do everything the Bible tells you to do?
Christian: Yes, I try.
Non-Christian: Do you wear polyester?
Christian: What?
Non-Christian: Do you wear mixed fabrics?
Christian:…
Non-Christian: The Bible says in the Old Testament not to wear mixed fabrics.
Christian (finally getting it): Oh, that’s for the Jews, specifically during that time.
Non-Christian: Well, a lot of what you tell me is wrong is only in the Old Testament. How do you know what applies? If you can pick and choose what is relevant and what is not, so can I.
The Christian is defeated but brushes it off, thinking that non-Christian just doesn’t get it.
The non-Christian is feeling victorious and concludes Christians are just a bunch of hypocrites.
Who is right? Maybe both.
The passage I’m talking about is Leviticus 19. When I committed to reading the Bible without the influence of any preconceived notions, I had to throw out the idea that “maybe this didn’t apply to me” based on past conversations and teachings. As I read Leviticus 19, I realized so much still applies. The chapter begins with God telling Moses to tell the children of Israel to be holy. Well, if I’m not mistaken, He also calls us to be holy. Leviticus 19:2 Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.
Then I got to this verse: Leviticus 19:19 Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.
I couldn’t find any reason it didn’t apply to me, but I thought, Nah. I kept reading. Nope, nothing so far. I re-read starting at the top. So many verses surrounding this one made sense, and still apply. Don’t steal, don’t lie, don’t seek wizards, don’t prostitute your daughter. Got it.
But this one verse had me puzzled. How should I interpret this? I prayed. I read it again. Don’t mix your animals, don’t mix your seeds, don’t mix your fabrics. It sure seemed pretty direct. I prayed. I read it again. It didn’t have anything to do with sacrificial law, and it didn’t have anything to do with going into the land of Jerusalem specifically, so it must still apply. Could it have been relevant in Biblical times, but not now?
Oops. Wait. Did I really just think that? Yikes!
You’ve probably heard people dismiss the Old Testament or parts of the New Testament because they say it applied in Bible times, but not now. If you are a Christian, you likely rolled your eyes and shook your head at how they just don’t get it. I admit I’ve done it myself. But here’s the thing. God knew I would be reading His Word now, and He felt it necessary to leave that verse in without making it clear that it didn’t apply to me. I had to consider it, so I head first I went.
Mixed animals, crossbreeding. I completely got that. Mixing DNA is a bad idea altogether. Seeds? Like, GMOs? OK, that made sense. Those GMOs are not good for my body and my health, and He knew people would be engineering seeds and creating harmful food products.
So that just left mixed fabrics and here’s some real honesty. I don’t know the reason for this one and I can’t even come up with what it might be. Polyester is a carcinogen, so there’s that. Some fabrics are more flammable. Am I going to need protection from some monstrous fire someday? And what, specifically, did the passage mean? What about mixed cotton and linen? What about cotton and spandex? Is it only linen and wool that can’t be mixed? I really don’t have many answers.
What I do know is that God didn’t say to obey only when I understand. He didn’t say to question Him. He didn’t say to decide for myself. He didn’t say I could pick and choose. He just said obey. I don’t know what it is He is protecting me from with the fabrics scripture, but if He’s dishing out some protection, I want it!
Logistically, here is how the situation transpired. It was our first Feast of Unleavened Bread and my husband and I wanted to consider everything. We overhauled our whole house and our hearts. We discussed this verse, prayed about it, and began to throw things out.
We don’t have a nefarious lab where we crossbreed animals in our home, so no worries with that one. We threw out our GMO foods. Pretty easy. Then came the most extensive part.
We got rid of all our clothes that weren’t 100% pure fabrics, and by that, I also mean fabric blends (like polyester, rayon, and nylon). Getting rid of it all was easy. I just read the tag and tossed it if it didn’t fit the new plan. Replacing items, however, was a little tougher.
I now wear 100% cotton or 100% linen dresses and shirts. I found some jeans that were 100% cotton. My socks are 100% wool. You get the idea.
Some items were hard to find or expensive, but it is a work in progress, just like me. I am building back my wardrobe as I find things and have the money. I still don’t know what I am supposed to wear if I ever go back to the beach. Will I have to wear mixed fabrics in that situation because a swimsuit is more modest than cotton or linen? Will I just enjoy the beach from the sand? I’m not sure, but two things I know. One, I have to do the best I can in the world I live in and judgment calls are ok after praying and listening for God to guide me. Two, if I am standing with my feet in the sand looking at God’s breathtaking views, how could I be stressed about what I am wearing? Well, as long as it’s modest, of course.
The good news is, I have nearly everything I need now, and my closet is so easy to navigate. I love the freedom that comes with a paired-down, non-complicated closet!
So now that I’ve spilled the total weirdo beans and you can honestly say you’ve never known anyone to do what I’ve done, I can honestly say…same. Just my husband and that’s because we did it together. I know several wonderful Christians who wear mixed fabrics and I don’t judge them. They may know more on this topic, and I just haven’t learned it yet.
My goal was to read the Bible and do what it says unless I find a reason not to. I still haven’t found a reason not to do this one. So here I sit in my cotton shirt and my cotton shorts, wondering where the flames are that God is sparing me from, or feeling a little perkier now that carcinogens aren’t seeping through my skin. I don’t feel conflicted. I feel like I am doing what I am supposed to be doing to honor God the best way I know how. I am doing my very best. Even if it looks odd. Even if it’s bumpy. Even if God is chuckling at me because maybe I took it too far. I just want to obey Him, and if that makes me look different than anyone else I know besides my husband, good.
If you’ve decided this is a lifestyle choice you want to make, please let me know. I can pray for you and give you some resources for where to find replacement items.
Fully immersed in The Scarlet Letters.